ISLAMABAD (June 05, 2010): The economy grew by 4.1 percent in the outgoing year but to maintain the growth path would be the biggest challenge for the economic managers in the coming years because of energy crisis and ongoing war on terrorism.

ISLAMABAD (June 05, 2010): Public expenditure on education as percentage to GDP is lowest in Pakistan as compared to other countries of the South Asian region, revealed Economic Survey 2009-10. According to the Survey, Bangladesh allocated 2.6 percent of the GDP for education, India 3.3 percent, Indonesia 3.5, Iran 5.2, Malaysia 4.7, Nepal 3.2, Pakistan 2.1, Thailand 4.5 and Vietnam 5.3 percent of GDP.

ISLAMABAD (June 05, 2010): Due to the poor performance of major crops, Pakistan missed agriculture growth target, which grew by 2 percent, against the set target of 3.8 percent, according to Economic Survey 2009-10. The Survey said that the sector showed positive growth only because of 4.1 percent growth in livestock sector, which contributed 53.2 percent to agricultural value-added-more than the combined contribution of major and minor crops (43.9 percent).

ARTICLE (June 05, 2010): Few in this country await statistics on the state of the economy as prepared by the Principal Economic Advisor's Wing referred to as the Economic Survey with any degree of trust. This year was different: the man in charge of drafting and finalising the publication had already tendered his resignation which many believe would become effective from today.

ISLAMABAD (June 05, 2010): The Economic Survey failed to adequately take account of domestic factors that contributed to inflation, and cited high commodity prices in the global market as a major cause of price hike in the country. The Economic Survey, released here on Friday jointly by the high-ups of the Ministry of Finance and the Planning Commission, mentioned house rent as the biggest contributor to year-on-year inflation.

ISLAMABAD (June 05, 2010): The government has acknowledged that the cumulative effect of energy crisis on the economy is estimated at two percent of Gross Domestic Product during 2009-10 as 1.7 percent negative growth has been witnessed in electricity consumption. According to Economic Survey 2009-10 released on Thursday, energy sector issues and developments continued to severely constrain Pakistan's economy in 2009-10.

ISLAMABAD (June 05, 2010): Exports amounted to $15.9 billion in July-April 2009-10 against $14.7 billion in the same period last year, showing a growth of 8.0 percent compared to the negative growth rate of 3.0 percent in same period last year, revealed Economic Survey on Friday.

ISLAMABAD (June 05, 2010): Economic Survey 2009-10 confirms that the defence outlay for the ongoing fiscal year is equivalent to the allocations made in the budget 2009-10. Former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin hinted on various occasions that defence expenditures were estimated to be somewhere between Rs 400 billion and Rs 410 billion, up by around Rs 70 billion against the allocation of Rs 342.9 billion for 2009-10.

ISLAMABAD (June 05, 2010): During the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2009-10, Pakistan's external debt and liabilities increased by $2 billion, or 3.8 percent, and reached $54 billion, compared to $52 billion at the end of financial year 2009, Economic Survey 2009-10, released on Friday, said.

ISLAMABAD (June 05, 2010): The Economic Survey of Pakistan 2009-10 reveals that unemployment rate increased to 5.5 percent during 2008-09 from 5.2 percent in 2007-08 amid fragile growth rate of 4.1 percent. The Survey aptly described poverty in terms of the inadequacy of income to meet basic needs, low quality of life, denial of opportunities and choices basic to human development are different facets of poverty.