Foreign direct investment in Mexico plummeted during the first quarter to $2.663 billion as the United States trudged through its worst downturn in decades, the economy ministry said on Friday. That would be a 36.5 percent fall from the figure reported by

One American civilian and a person working for the Pentagon died inside central Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone in unrelated incidents, the US military said on Saturday. The body of a US citizen working for the US Department of Defence (DoD) was fo

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday voiced support for Pakistan's "vital" drive against Taliban militants, as government troops entered the capital of the Swat valley. In a statement shortly before Pakistan's advance was announced, Brown pledg

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday voiced support for Pakistan's "vital" drive against Taliban militants, as government troops entered the capital of the Swat valley. In a statement shortly before Pakistan's advance was announced, Brown pledg

The military operation in Swat and other parts of the country would continue till last terrorist is flashed out, said Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Interior here on Saturday. "Pakistan is the frontline state in war against terrorism and the governmen

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while greeting the new Indian government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed the hope that process of composite dialogue would restart. In a telephonic interview to a private TV channel from his hometown lat

Australia's special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard C Smith called on President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday and discussed with him regional situation. The meeting was attended among others by Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Secretary General t

Pakistan stepped up the drive to secure assistance for displaced people of Swat with its ambassador in Washington highlighting to the Americans that their support would reassure the Pakistanis, who are determined to rout the Taliban insurgents in the nort

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched a tirade against Israel on Saturday, branding it the "major obstacle" to peace in the Middle East and backing the right of resistance to recover occupied land. He said the current state of Middle East peacemaking

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched a tirade against Israel on Saturday, branding it the "major obstacle" to peace in the Middle East and backing the right of resistance to recover occupied land. He said the current state of Middle East peacemaking

Britain's shocking expenses row is fuelling calls for early elections, a poll indicated Saturday as a "whistleblower" behind the embarrassing revelations said he was proud of his role. The opinion poll, showing two thirds of Britons want elections this ye

Two people were killed, including a teenage girl, and 14 wounded when a bomb exploded Saturday in a Roman Catholic church packed with worshippers on the outskirts of the Nepalese capital, police said. A Christian leader said the attack, the first on a Chr

Saudi Arabian oil minister Ali al-Naimi urged Opec to "stay the course" when it meets on May 28 and said oil prices would eventually hit $75 but cited weak demand as a problem, Platts oil agency reported on Saturday. "The problem is the market. Demand is

Governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer here on Saturday reached the scene for inspection of trucks with relief goods for displaced persons of Swat and Malakand. However, the media persons complained of outrageous behaviour of four police personnel who fled the

The government's decision to broaden the tax net to increase revenue generation and ease the burden on the already taxed, at a time when Pakistan is faced with an acute shortage of resources is welcomed and fully supported by the Overseas Investors Chambe

Pakistan is maintaining a minimum nuclear deterrent capability and its determined ongoing anti-terrorism effort should not be confused with the nuclear programme but seen and supported in its proper perspective, Islamabad's top diplomat in Washington said

Mass exodus from the insurgency hit areas of Malakand Division has forced the local journalists to move to some safer places as publication of newspapers in the ongoing situation has become impossible. Four daily newspapers out of the five have ceased pub

Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM-Araiser Group) has called for strike tomorrow (Monday), Aaj TV reported. According to the channel, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has supported the strike call given by the JSQM. A four-member delegation of JSQM led by

A total of 1377 villages of 22 districts of Sindh except Karachi have been energised by Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) under Village Electrification Programme during July 2008 to April 2009. The project Director Construction/Operation Hesco Muh

Federal government and provinces on Saturday failed to evolve consensus on the imposition of federal excise duty in value added tax (VAT) mode on service providers.

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) is devising an effective strategy to promote tourism between Pakistan and Turkey and will shortly organise a one-day seminar in this connection at the Federation House here.

The Ministry of Textile Industry is to consult Ministry of Finance (MoF) to finalise terms and conditions for raising additional rupees one billion funds for cash-strapped Textile City in Karachi, official sources told Business Recorder on Saturday

Fifth round of Pakistan-Japan Joint Study Group meeting is starting on Monday in Tokyo to reach an agreement on establishment of Pak-Japan Special Economic Zone in Pakistan. Briefing newsmen on a three-day visit of a Pakistani delegation consisting of pub

The new management of Karachi Electric Supply Company has claimed investing a total amount of $72 million into the Company after it took over in mid-September last year and will confirm full details of investment made to date during next week, to refute c

Election of Karachi Custom Agents Association (KCAA) would be held on May 30, 2009 for the eight seats of office-bearers and 12 seats of managing committee. Syed Shams Ahmed Burni chairman executive committee of CAF and Qamar-ul-Salam chairman United Pane

Government of Sindh is establishing relief camps for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) coming from Malakand division and the process of registration has already started so as to facilitate all those entering the province. This was revealed by the Si

Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) is insisting on registration of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) upon their arrival in Sindh to thwart any attempt by terrorists to disrupt peace, MQM Deputy Parliamentary Leader in National Assembly Syed Haider Abbas

Sindh government has finally resolved settlement issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and decided to provide relief to the victims of military operation in Swat and NWFP, by setting up camps at border areas. Sindh home department has identified pl

Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati on Saturday said he would be more than happy if Chief Justice of Pakistan takes suo moto notice of the plan to purchase an old ship at an escalated price.

A group of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) workers from Lyari on Saturday demanded of the government to provide them employment at the PQA at the earliest threatened to go for self-immolation, if the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) did not issue their joining le

The Scientific Programme Committee of the 10th Islamic Countries Conference on Statistical Sciences (ICCS-X) has invited statisticians to submit abstract/paper for the three-day programme scheduled for December 20 to 23 at Cairo. The conference is being o

Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek on Saturday said that Pakistan has started military operation as a last resort to eliminate extremism and terrorism from Swat, Malakand and other adjoining areas and to ensure peace and security in the region.

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has forwarded the budget proposals to the government in which it has been emphasised to address the taxation issues and present a tax free budget. The proposals also underlined the need to take measures f

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has forwarded the budget proposals to the government in which it has been emphasised to address the taxation issues and present a tax free budget. The proposals also underlined the need to take measures f

NWFP Minister for Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that militant's agenda has been exposed now and the nation should get united for complete elimination of such elements from the country. He expressed these views while briefing newsmen here Sat

To help Pakistan government to meet the daily needs of ever-growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Swat and adjoining areas, the Chinese government has announced 30 million Renminbi (RMB/Yuan) further assistance for the affected people,

'The Government would soon achieve the historical target of 6 million metric tonnes wheat.' the Provincial Minister for Food, Malik Nadeem Kamran said. He said that Rs 150 billion had been fixed for the purchase of wheat. Out of which Rs 140 billion had b

NWFP Governor, Awais Ahmad Ghani said on Saturday that nation is fully supporting the strong commitment of government of purging the country from militants and Malakand operation will continue till the miscreants are complete eliminated. He was talking to

Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hasan has expressed confidence in the efforts of the Conservative Parliamentarians for support of Pakistan on various bilateral and international issues.

Avoiding collateral damages, the Swat operation would be completed in minimum and shortest possible time to give safe passage to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes in Swat, Dir and Buner, NWFP Chief Minister, Ameer Haider Khan

Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has announced the result of examinations held for registration and equivalence of foreign graduates under National Examination Board (NEB). According to a press release issued here on Saturday, total 409 candida

The Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has constituted seven benches for the next week starting from May 25 at the Principal seat to hear a number of cases. The first bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahm

The UN refugee agency has welcomed the airlift of more then 36,000 kilograms of relief supplies by the Italian government for its operations helping Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of NWFP. The urgently needed goods including generators, tents, plasti

The Staff members of the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad, on behalf of its government, have donated 300 foam mattresses and pillows to help the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Swat, Malakand and Buner.

The sheer numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has taken the government by surprise. This is the consensus of legal fraternity and civil society members on IDPs issue, when they were contacted by this scribe.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) will set up a satellite hospital for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to provide them best medical care. Executive Director PIMS Dr Altaf Hussain while talking to APP on Saturday said that the hospital to b

The students and teachers of Islamabad College for Girls (ICG), F-6/2 have collected relief goods for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) which will be dispatched on Sunday (today).

Pakistan Navy on Saturday dispatched 10 trucks containing 86 tonnes of relief goods for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Swat. Pakistan Navy Women Association (PNWA) also contributed 2 trucks for this great cause. The relief goods included a lar

Mirpur Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Muhammad Tayyeb said on Saturday that an extensive campaign was underway for the collection of donations for the relief of displaced families of Swat and other parts of the Malakand. He said that generous donations incl

Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) government has started implementing a plan to provide basic infrastructural facilities in the already-existing residential colonies of AJK refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971, official sources said. The sources told APP here on Saturd

Punjab Medical Relief Camp established on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab at Mardan Medical Complex had treated 2334 patients in 2 days. According to an official from Mardan, Director General Health Punjab Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry informed the h

A team of hundred doctors announced by the Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Malakand division have started providing healthcare facilities at camps. Mardan Medical Complex has been made a base camp

Traders of yarn market have given donation of cash Rs 2.5 million for the Faisalabad Relief Fund set up for the help of Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) of Swat and Malakand Division.

DCO Saeed Wahlah has ordered to conduct physical verification of all kind of record of wheat procurement centres in the district constituted committees comprising Deputy District Officers (R) and other officers and notified them in this regard.

The sector of small enterprises is the backbone of the economy that needs to be promoted by the youth of the country rather than looking for jobs in public sector. Chairman, Task Force of Punjab Assembly of Chief Minister, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan express

To chalk-out a roadmap for translating National Sanitation Policy into action, Pakistan's first conference on sanitation (PACOSAN) will be held in federal capital from May 28, 2009. Ministry of Environment will be organising this conference in collaborati

Speakers at a seminar stressed the need for improving productivity through skilled manpower urged the government to develop standard training institutions to cater to the rising demand of required workforce in textile industry.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani speaking at the 11th convocation of National College of Arts at Lahore on Saturday said that NCA was a distinguished and unique centre of creative learning. In these difficult times, it gave him greater pleasure to

A British Asian of Pakistani heritage has been elected as the new mayor of Luton located 32 miles north of the British capital with a large Muslim population. Councillor Muhammad Riaz will take oath of the office on May 27 for a period of one year after s

The Minister of Communication has rejected a proposal of All Pakistan Marble Industries Association to waive Rs 5000 penalty on overloading marble and granite in commercial vehicles, carrying such items from NWFP to down country. Office-bearers of All Pak

Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Fauzia Wahab, on Saturday said that she received a letter from Taliban, which warned the government that the government would have to face dire consequences if it did not stop the military ope

The government has graciously increased the 2009-10 budget of Ministry of Health to Rs 29.685 billion, which is 56 percent higher than the previous year's sanctioned budget. This was announced in the Standing Committee meeting on Health held here on Satur

Pakistan was ranked 72 among 75 less developed countries as the best places to be a mother, according to Save the Children's 10th annual Mothers' Index. In the same list, Sri Lanka ranks 54 and India 70. The global ranking is highlighted in the organisati

Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) has alleged that Customs Appraisement was harassing its registered members and delaying the clearance of pharmaceutical raw material, pharma API consignment on various excuses for the last 15 days.

Responding to an application moved by two female medical students against the transfer of their father, Irshad-ur-Rehman, Assistant Manager, Habib Bank, from Karachi to Jhelum, Regional Director, Ministry of Human Rights has requested the bank to cancel t

Chairman, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan criticised the Sindh government for not allowing IDP to enter into the province on the pretext of completing registration process prior to entry. While talking to media personnel on Saturday.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and senior leader Pervaiz Elahi here on Saturday maintained that armed forces instead of firing on their own countrymen were fighting against anti-Pakistan elements and added that key pla

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Saturday signed a package deal with the affectees of sector I-11and I-12 to solve the forty years old outstanding issue to get clear possession of both these sectors. Speaking on the occasion Tariq Mahmood Khan,

Punjab Irrigation Department has selected 317 locations at various canals and barrages for the construction of small hydraulic power stations in order to overcome the current electricity crisis in the province. Punjab Senior Minister and Minister for Irri

Secretary School Education Punjab Nadeem Ashraf has asked concerned authorities to ensure the implementation of Chief Secretary's order regarding holding of open kutchehry for three days in a week. He also asked the officials to dispose of pension cases o

The Lahore High Court was moved on Saturday against bottled drinking water which allegedly caused of various human diseases. Petition was filed by President Watan Party, (Punjab Chapter), Hashim Shaukat Khan, through counsel Barrister Zafarullah Khan.

Emergency Response Unit (ERU) has taken strict notice of charges being made by IDPs about misuse of relief items being provided by various donor agencies and directed the security agencies to arrest all elements found guilty of selling food and other item

Chief Justice Lahore High Court taking suo motu notice of non-submission of challan in a murder case by Bhai Pheru police has directed the Member Inspection Team (MIT) to sought report from the DPO Kasur.

The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP) celebrated its "58th Anniversary" in Pakistan on Saturday (May 23, 2009). The ICMAP Secretary Zia ul Mustafa Awan highlighted that Management Accountants have duly been contributing in s

The Chief Justice, Lahore High Court, Khawaja Muhammad Sharif on Saturday constituted 16 divisional benches (DBs) and 33 single benches (SBs) for the disposal of the cases pending at the principal seat for the week starting from May 25.

Rampant load shedding or what is being termed as 'forced closure' has hit the country again, despite the promises made by the Managing Director (MD), Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), before being appointed to the post that the company would observ

Punjab agriculture department has advised the cotton growers to sow only those varieties that have strong resistance power to fight leaf curl virus. The department has also advised the farmers to uproot weeds and not to sow those plants known for hosting

The Lahore High Court (LHC) would take up two petitions challenging the 'Commissionerate System' established in the province through an amendment in Punjab Land Revenue Ordinance, 2008 on May 25. The Attorney General Pakistan and Advocate General Punjab w

A single bench of Supreme Court comprising Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday on Saturday ordered suspension of personal assistant (PA) to DIG (Security), Punjab, who took undue benefit of his post and got a man implicated in fake case.

Punjab Minister for Culture and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Tanvir-ul-Islam has said that Punjab Sports Board (PSB), by holding Inter-Provincial Under-16 Girls Sports Gala has conveyed a message that people of Pakistan want peace and will defeat terroris

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) has established Help-Desk in the office of All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association (APCEA). The decision into this effect was taken during a meeting between Smeda NWFP Chief Javed Iqbal Khat

Chairperson National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on Saturday said that the Committee would work as a bridge between the Defence Forces and the Parliament. Chairing the meeting of the Standing Committee on Defence held in t

US President Barack Obama signed into law on Friday sweeping reforms that restrict credit card interest rates and fees, marking a victory for Democrats trying to help recession-weary consumers and a setback for banks seeking to retain sorely-needed revenu

The architects of a new global climate change deal should not lose sight of the achievements already made, despite calls for wholesale reform, a senior executive with Italian power giant Enel said on Saturday.

President Barack Obama says General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC must emerge from their restructuring as "leaner, meaner" companies and that a substantial market awaits them if they make the right decisions. Obama said in an interview broadcast Saturday o

India's veteran Congress party leader Pranab Mukherjee takes over as finance minister at a time when Asia's third-largest economy faces slowing growth, worsening public finances, falling exports and massive job losses. Mukherjee, 73, has decades of experi

Bank regulators closed Citizens National Bank, of Macomb, Illinois, on Friday, the 36th US bank to fail this year as the struggling economy and falling home prices take their toll on financial institutions. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp said Citizens

A UN summit to discuss the global financial crisis planned for early June may be postponed by a few weeks, the spokesman for General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann said on Friday. Enrique Yeves told reporters that in the past few days some m

If we gave you a million dollars today, where would you invest it? That was the question posed to executives at the Reuters Global Technology Summit this week - with the caveat that they couldn't pick their own company, of course. It's not an easy answer

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet on Saturday stressed the importance of low inflation for confidence and categorically ruled out any change in the ECB's definition of price stability. Trichet, speaking to reporters after a meeting of th

China wants to set up a 3 million tonne reserve of oil products this year, which is practically impossible, a researcher at a think-tank run by the country's top oil refiner, Sinopec Group, was quoted as saying on Saturday. "In reality, this goal is impos

A senior agriculture ministry official suggested in comments published on Saturday that Iran could produce enough wheat to meet domestic demand in the 2009-10 year after imports jumped last year due to a drought. The semi-official Mehr News Agency quoted

The United States moved to subsidise some of its dairy exports on Friday, saying it was forced to respond to new European subsidies that have made it hard to compete in global markets depressed by the economic downturn.

A banknote venture half-owned by Australia's central bank has called in police over allegations its money may have been used indirectly to pay kickbacks to foreign governments, the bank said on Saturday. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said in a state

Leading universities competed in the national finals for the Microsoft software design competition 'Imagine Cup 2009'. The winning team belonged to the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore and will be sent by Microsoft for an all-expense paid t

The Central Zakat Council (CZC) of Ministry of Zakat and Ushr has collectively enhanced annual Zakat grant from Rs 24.600 million to Rs 50.600 million for various hospitals and health institutions across the country.

National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) has seized 01-kg Heroin, 120-kg Charras and 16-kg Opium worth millions of rupees and arrested three smugglers. The officers of motorway police during routine checking in the area of Chakri, signaled to stop an

The Apex Policy Committee of NWFP, met under the chairmanship of NWFP Governor, Owais Ahmed Ghani at Governor House, Peshawar on Saturday, reviewed the over all law and order situation in the province and Fata with special focus on state of relief activit

Criticising the strike in Sindh, the opposition members of the City Council said that it was politically motivated, which caused losses of billions of rupees to the people of the province. This was said by the opposition leader, Saeed Ghani.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has called an emergency conference of the Director Generals of Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) on Sunday (today) to discuss budget proposals (2009-2010) and finalise short-term strategy to inc