Domestic debts cross Rs 3.6 trillion mark
Domestic debts surged by 10 percent to the record level of Rs 3.6071 trillion during seven months of the current fiscal year, from Rs 3.2661 trillion on June 30, 2008, due to a significant rise in fiscal deficit and slow foreign inflows more... (BR)

No change in tax regime for shares business in 2009-10: Tarin
The government will continue the current tax regime without any change for shares business for the next fiscal year ie 2009-10. This was stated by Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin while speaking at the Top-25 Companies Awards ceremony for years 2006 and 2007 at the Karachi Stock Exchange, here on Saturday more... (BR)

Interest rate to lower in July-August: PM's Finance Advisor
The Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, Shaukat Tareen said Saturday that the interest rate will come down to single digit in July-August this year and further fall to about 6 per cent on an average next year, APP reported more... (D)

Chaudhry to be restored
Government agreed on Monday to reinstate Iftikhar Chaudhry as chief justice to defuse a political crisis and end a street agitation that was threatening to turn into violent confrontation, officials said. "Chaudhry will be restored, and there will also be a constitutional package," a government official with knowledge of the deal told Reuters more... (BR)

US welcomes Pakistan move to reinstate chief justice
‘Now is the time to work together to peacefully strengthen democracy and ensure a positive dialogue.’ more... (D)

COAS holds 2-hour long meeting with Prime Minister
Chief of Army Staff Gen Parvez Kayani Sunday held two-hours long meeting with Prime Minister Gilani, sources said. According to the sources, the progress has been made in the meeting towards solution of the ongoing political crisis more... (FD)

Rs four billion released to Pepco for payment to PSO
The government on Saturday released Rs 4 billion to Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) for making payment to Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for furnace oil supply, it is learnt. The PSO management had requested for immediate release of Rs 20 billion to import oil as it feared default of LCs. PSO had supplied oil costing Rs 14.1 billion during February but received only Rs 6.4 billion more... (BR)

Opec keeps oil output unchanged
The Opec oil cartel on Sunday froze its output at current levels and urged its 12 member nations to comply with last years deep cuts as a savage global downturn dents energy demand. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries said it will reconvene here on May 28 for an extraordinary meeting to assess the market more... (BR)

Arif Habib, AKD form Real Estate Investment Trusts
Arif Habib and Akeel Karim Dhedi (AKD), two of the country’s leading stock-brokers have now officially entered the real estate business more... (D)