ADB releases $200 million for Sindh and Punjab projects
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released 200 million dollars to Pakistan for two projects - 100 million dollars for Sindh Growth and Rural Revitalisation Programme and another 100 million dollars for Punjab Millennium Development Goals. Another 100 million dollars, earmarked for Balochistan Resource Management Programme, is likely to be released soon more... (BR)

Japan urged to continue giving aid despite crisis
A financial adviser to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called on Japan Thursday to continue giving aid to Pakistan despite the global financial crisis, a press report said. The adviser, Shaukat Tarin, explained his country's economic reform efforts during a meeting here with Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa, Kyodo News said more... (BR)

$2.26 billion paid in debt servicing in 6 months
Pakistan’s foreign debt servicing bill has inflated with an accelerated pace during the last six months creating serious problem for the dollar-starved country as it could barely meet the current account gap with the help of IMF more... (D)

World must play role for just solution of Kashmir issue: Prime Minister
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday called for ending human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir and urged the international community to play its role for just resolution of the lingering issue. Addressing the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Council on the Kashmir Solidarity Day here at the PM House more... (BR)

Gilani calls for end to human rights violations in Kashmir
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday called for an end to human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and revival of a result-oriented composite dialogue process more... (D)

India links ISI to Mumbai raid planners
India has for the first time directly accused ISI of links to the planners of last year's deadly militant attacks on Mumbai. "The perpetrators planned, trained and launched their attacks from Pakistan, and the organisers were and remain clients and creations of the ISI," Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said in a speech in Paris more... (BR)

'National Assembly body to advise removal of CVT and dividend'
The National Assembly standing committee on finance and revenue would recommend the government to withdraw CVT on trading of shares, and taxation on dividends, to boost the investor confidence. This was stated by Fauzia Wahab, chairperson of NA standing committee on finance and revenue while talking to media persons during her visit to Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) here on Wednesday more... (BR)

Payment to PSO, refineries: Finance declines to release Rs 30 billion
The Finance Ministry has expressed inability to provide Rs 30 billion to Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and the oil refineries despite persistent efforts in this regard by the Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum, Dr Asim Hussain, sources told Business Recorder more...

Engro, FFC, FFBL profits hop 24pc in CY08M Yasir Yousuf
Profitability of 3 fertiliser sector giants namely Engro, FFC and FFBL swelled by 24 per cent to Rs13.7 billion in the year 2008 as compared to Rs11.0 billion in the year 2007. Engro was the leading performer as it registered a growth of 34 per cent followed by FFC with 22 per cent while FFBL grew by 14 per cent more... (FD)