DAILY LATEST NEWS UPDATE: 22.03.2012

US, Pakistan have shared anti-terror interest: Clinton

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that the United States and Pakistan share interests in fighting terrorism after a panel in Islamabad made demands over the troubled relationship. Clinton declined to comment in-depth on the panel s recommendations but said that the United States was committed to an 'honest, constructive, mutually beneficial relationship with Pakistan.' 'We ve been working through these difficulties and challenges. We believe we have shared interests. We believe we have the same enemies,' Clinton said a news conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul. 'We believe that it s important to support counter-terrorism against the insurgents who kill and maim tens of thousands of Pakistani people, who send teams across the border to kill and maim people in Afghanistan and to kill and maim our soldiers and others,' Clinton said. Pakistani lawmakers on Tuesday demanded a US apology over NATO air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November, leading Islamabad to close supply lines for US forces into Afghanistan. Lawmakers also demanded taxes on NATO convoys and an end to drone attacks in which the United States has killed militants in Pakistan s lawless border areas. Pakistan has voiced anger over civilian deaths. Clinton said that she would not comment on the recommendations until the panel s findings come up for debate before the Pakistani parliament.

 

Pakistan switches over to negative list regime for India trade

ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce here on Wednesday has issued the Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) for switching over to negative list regime to trade with India.
According to the notification as many as 1209 items have been included in the negative list and would not be importable from India to Pakistan.
Talking to APP, an official in the ministry said, of total importable items from India under the SRO, 137 items would be importable from India to Pakistan through land route from Wahgah.
Major items included in the list of importable items are livestock, vegetables and newsprint in rolls or sheets.
For the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, the manufacturer could also import raw material (except basic manufactured locally) and packing material approved by the Director General Health Government of Pakistan.
Import of vaccines shall be allowed only from World Health Organization (WHO) approved plants.
Pakistan, currently, trades with India under positive list regime and imports items through other countries which increases the cost of the items in the local market.
He said that finalising the list will help to formally start trade between both the countries which will be beneficial for the people.
He further said that the trade with India in negative list regime was allowed only to protect our local industry and the negative list would be phased out in December 31,2012.
The government will ensure the removal of all non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and provision of free access of Pakistani products in the Indian markets before phasing out of negative list.

Business News:

Thu, 22 Mar 2012
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-	Asian shares down on weak China data HONG KONG: Asian markets were mixed Thursday as more weak data out of China added to concerns over a slowdown in t
-	Yen firms on surprise Japan trade surplus TOKYO: The yen strengthened against the dollar in Thursday morning trade after Japan posted an unexpected trade su
-	HP to merge printer, PC businesses SAN FRANCISCO: Hewlett Packard Co will merge its printer and PC businesses, combining two of its largest divisions
-	Chrome wins weekend browser battle with IE: report HELSINKI: Google Inc s Chrome web browser overtook Microsoft Corp s Internet Explorer (IE) to become market leader
-	Karachi stocks come to a flat end on profitbooking KARACHI: Stocks at the premiere bourse ended almost flat on Wednesday as investors chose to book profits after the
-	Rupee extends losses against dollar KARACHI: The rupee Wednesday ended weaker at 90.75/79 to the dollar, compared with Tuesday s close of 90.70/71 bec
-	Pakistan notifies negative list for trade with India ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government today issued a notification for switching over to a negative list regime for tr
-	India eyes Pakistan for access to Afghan mine bonanza NEW DELHI/KABUL: India will explore a route through rival Pakistan to transport iron ore from Afghanistan, the hea
-	Asian markets slip on China fears, oil edges up HONG KONG: Asian stocks were mostly lower on Wednesday, weighed down by concerns over a slowdown in China s econom
-	Euro jumps on optimism over debt crisis TOKYO: The euro on Wednesday rose to its highest level in nearly five months against the yen and also gained groun
-	Crude rebounds in Asia on signs of stronger US demand SINGAPORE: Oil rebounded from an overnight dive in Asian trade Wednesday as data showing stronger US energy demand
-	Crude rebounds in Asia on signs of stronger US demand SINGAPORE: Oil rebounded from an overnight dive in Asian trade Wednesday as data showing stronger US energy demand
-	Mari Gas supplying 44MMSCF gas to SNGPL KARACHI: Mari Gas Company Limited has started supplying 44 MMSCF per day gas to Sui North Gas Pipeline Limited (SN
-	New FBR laws feared to cause dearth of pulses KARACHI: After the imposition of stringent conditions by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) brokers have stopped p

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MOHAMMED SALEEM MANSOORI