Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) has set a deadline of May 28, asking all vessels to return ashore and comply with the annual fishing ban. The ban will start from June 1 and last till July 31 and the new fishing season will begin from August 1 this year, according the KFHA notification.

Agricultural credit disbursement by banks surged by 15.74 percent on year-on-year basis to Rs 259.1 billion in the first 10 months (July-April) of the current fiscal year (2012-13). In absolute terms, disbursement of credit to the agriculture sector increased by over Rs 35.23 billion in July-April of FY 2013 when compared with the total disbursement of Rs 223.85 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.

Presidential Ordinance on taxation measure has proposed 16 percent standard rate of sales tax on sugar. Sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that earlier the FBR has proposed to enhance sales tax on sugar in coming budget (2013-14). Now, the 16 percent sales tax on the commodity would be imposed through the Presidential Ordinance before the announcement of budget.