Speedy completion of privatisation deals ordered
The Privatisation Commission Board on Wednesday directed speedy disinvestment of 23 public sector entities through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode more... (D)

Forex stack eases to $11.11bn
Foreign exchange reserves of the country fell by $40 million to $11.11 billion in the week that ended on May 2, a central bank spokesman said on Thursday. The State Bank of Pakistan's reserves fell to $7 more... (FD)

Transit trade facility to India: nothing has been finalised yet: foreign office
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit has said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the transit trade with Afghanistan has been signed in Washington not at the dictation of any other country and modalities in this regard would be set after comprehensive negotiation more... (BR)

Military ordered to eliminate militants: PM takes the nation into confidence
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday announced a full-fledged military operation against militants in Swat, Buner and Malakand Division by calling army to eliminate militants after failing to restore peace in NWFP despite signing the controversial Nizam-e-Adl Regulation last month more... (BR)

Kayani vows 'decisive ascendancy'
The top brass of Pakistan Army has expressed resolve to deal with the militancy in Swat and other district of Malakand without withdrawing troops from eastern border more... (BR)

US troops won't be sent to Pakistan: Gates
There are no plans to deploy US ground troops to Pakistan, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday, despite concerns over increasing violence between Pakistani troops and Taliban militants. Speaking to about 300 Marines at Camp Leatherneck in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, Gates assured them that they wouldn't be fighting in the neighbouring sovereign nation more... (BR)

Oil refineries oppose processing fee: another body formed to resolve deemed duty issue
The Sub-committee of Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has failed to develop a consensus on the proposed increase in deemed duty from 7.5 to 10 percent for oil refineries and has constituted another high-level committee, headed by chief of Fuel Section of the Planning Commission Arshad Maqsood Malik, to resolve the issue more... (BR)

Telecom sector attracts huge foreign investments
The telecommunications sector attracted an investment of about $9 billion in the last three years more... (D)

Textile sector seeks 'bailout' package
Textile sector is urging Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for a bailout package for the recession-hit industry on the same pattern as is being given by Pakistan's competitors more... (BR)