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Greeks weigh consequences of pivotal vote Page 02
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Sunday, 17 June, 2012
aFGHaNIsTaN cHases sUKUK as FoReIGN aId eNds
Name’s BoNd, IslamIc BoNd okay, since the afghans actually believe that foreign troops would abscond in 2014, they’ve started planning for life after that. They believe sale of Islamic bills is their best bet after international aid takes a nosedive. This should ensure that they’re ready to rule the world by 2025... g
KABUL NNI
FGHAnISTAn plans to sell Islamic bills for the first time early next year, as it prepares for a reduction in international aid after the withdrawal of foreign troops in 2014. Draft laws will be submitted to the government “soon” and an offering of longer-maturity sukuk will take place at the end of 2013, noorullah Delawari, the head of Da Afghanistan Bank, said in an interview. Progress stalled in 2011 following the resignation of his predecessor in June over the disappearance of funds from Kabul Bank, which was the largest commercial lender, the Bloomberg reported. The nation, invaded twice in the past four decades and riven by civil war, is looking for alternative financing as it prepares to become self-sufficient by 2025, Wahid Tawhidi, a Finance Ministry spokesman, said in a June 10 interview from Kabul. Total banking assets have increased to $4 billion from $100 million a decade ago, with 10 percent complying with Islamic principles, according to data from the central bank. “Sukuk will offer the first light to the Afghan debt market,” Sergey Dergachev, who helps manage $8.5 billion of emerging-market assets at Union Investment Privatfonds in Frankfurt, said in an e-mail on June 9. “The good thing will certainly be that dependence on foreign grants will be lowered, and a new market will appear on the map for sukuk investors that will provide interesting diversification opportunities.” Funding Gap The South Asian country currently sells short-term securities that don’t comply with Islamic tenets to help local banks manage their funds, and these will be replaced by the new Shariah-compliant notes, Khan Afzal Hadawal, the first deputy governor of the central bank, said in a May 28 interview. The monarchy was deposed in a coup in 1973 and the Soviet Union invaded to support the communists’ claim to power. The nation has been ravaged by civil war ever since, with the Taliban rising to prominence in the mid-1990s until the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. Some U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan after the 2014 with-
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drawal as agreed by President Barack Obama and his counterpart Hamid Karzai during the signing of a strategic partnership pact in Kabul in May. Former central bank Governor Abdul Qadir Fitrat quit and fled to the U.S. last year after investigators called him in for questioning over Kabul Bank. Siamak Herawy, a spokesman for President Karzai, said at the time that Fitrat left the country following a letter from the attorney general asking for an explanation over the scandal. Fitrat said he had resigned because he received threats from officials he had implicated, the Ariana Television channel reported. The international community has provided $56.8 billion in aid to help rebuild the country since 2001, Tawhidi said. natural resources such as copper and coal will lift government revenue and fill the funding gap, he added. Afghanistan has 17 banks, with seven providing Islamic services at booths, Emal Hashoor, the central bank’s spokesman, said in a June 10 interview. About 99 percent of the 30 million people are Muslim, according to the CIA World Factbook. ‘Stabilize’ Markets “Selling Islamic bonds will help stabilize Afghanistan’s capital market,” the central bank’s Hadawal said. “Sukuk is important to
develop the country’s financial market because it complies with Shariah law.” Global sales of Islamic bonds, which pay returns on assets in accordance with the religion’s ban on interest, almost doubled to $16.6 billion in 2012 from a year earlier, after reaching a record of $36.7 billion in 2011, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The securities returned 3.8 percent this year, according to the HSBC/nasdaq Dubai US Dollar Sukuk Index, while debt in developing markets gained 5.6 percent, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s EMBI Global Index shows. Average yields on Shariah-compliant notes fell four basis points to 3.69 percent last week, according to HSBC. That’s 194 basis points, or 1.94 percentage points, less than developing- market bonds, a separate JPMorgan index shows. The difference between average yields on Islamic debt and the London interbank offered rate narrowed five basis points to 263 basis points. ‘Cautious’ Banking The yield on Malaysia’s 3.928 percent dollardenominated sukuk due in April 2015 was little changed at 1.95 percent yesterday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The difference in yields between Malaysia’s debt and the Dubai Department of Finance’s securities
maturing in 2014 shrank three basis points to 179 and has declined 33 basis points since the end of May. Afghanistan’s introduction of Shariah-compliant banking laws should draw local investors who shun lending that doesn’t comply with Islamic tenets, Malek Khodr Temsah, vice-president of treasury and investment at Albaraka Banking Group (BARKA) BSC in Manama, Bahrain, said in an e-mail on June 10. AMID MARKUP WAIVER, KABUL BANK UP FOR SALE: The country’s largest private sector bank is being put up for sale at a time when $34.9 million of its loan mark-ups have been written off, senior officials announced on Saturday. The Kabul Bank that the government took over after it came to the verge of collapse two years back as a result of issuing unauthorised loans has been renamed as new Kabul Bank. The bank’s outstanding loans work out at $937.7 million. noorullah Delawari, the central bank governor, told reporters in Kabul that bids for the new Kabul Bank’s sell-off would be called in August in line with a Cabinet decision. Afghan and foreign investors will take part in the bidding process. Khan Afzal Hadwal, Da Afghanistan Bank’s deputy chief, said that waiving off interest on loans was common practice in other countries of the world. He linked the waiver to the borrowers’ inability to pay the mark-ups. For his part, Delawari revealed that $128.2 million of the new Kabul Bank loans had been recovered so far and repayment guarantees received from the individuals who had to return $235.1 million. But the central bank governor acknowledged that $410.4 million credit remained unaccounted for, with auditors trying to resolve the issue. He was confident that a sizeable portfolio of infected loans would be recovered. The Ministry of Finance accepted some shares of the bank after it ran into a serious financial crisis. In December, Delawari said nearly $850 million were taken from the bank in off-book loans. A high-level meeting, chaired by President Hamid Karzai, decided earlier this month to refer the Kabul Bank loan case to court. The Attorney General Office presented a detailed report on the crisis, saying properties belonging to the defaulters had been sold in Kabul and Dubai.
Just cement? Please? Pretty please?
Kashmiri traders present their usual rhetoric regarding augmentation of items in the tradable list via the Line of Control with a special ‘throwing toys out of the pram’ act reserved for cement. The reason put forward for this grumbling is that, well that cement in Pakistan is much cheaper than in Srinagar. Somehow that does make sense… SRINAGAR/MUZAFFARABAD NNI
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n a bid to remove barriers in cross LoC trade, business fraternity from both sides of Kashmir has unanimously demanded inclusion of more items in the ‘tradable items list’ approved by India and Pakistan. Traders have specifically laid stress on inclusion of cement in the list which at present includes 22 items. Muhammad Yaseen Khan, Chairman, Kashmir Economic Alliance - an amalgam of hoteliers, traders and transporters - told Greater Kashmir that prices of cement are increasing day by day in the state and ‘we need to put lid to it.’ “We think the best solution to this problem is to import cement from Pakistan via Muzaffarabad Road. Rate of cement in Pakistan is much cheaper than in Srinagar and there are many cement manufacturing industries. We appeal to both Governments to include cement in tradable items list,” Khan said. According to experts, the cost of best quality cement produced in Pakistan ranges from 400 to 430 Pakistani rupees per 50 KG bag in local market, equivalent to about 250 Indian rupees. Its factory rate would be 7-10% less than the retail price.
“Both the governments should increase the number of items in the list, in fact government should make a ‘negative list’ according to which number of tradable items will be increased except few items included in the negative list set by both India and Pakistan. It will act as Confidence Building Measure,” Khan said. Pakistan has a thriving cement industry and is known for producing best quality cement. There are lots of cement manufacturers in the country, however Maple Leaf, Deewan Cement, Chirat Cement, Fauji Cement, Lucky Cement, Attock Cement, DG Cement, Pioneer Cement, Portland Cement and Kohat Cement are the most popular brands and well known for their superior quality. Current rates of cement in Pakistan are: Lucky Cement 433 Pak rupees equivalent to 253.1558 Indian rupees, Best Way Cement 431 Pak rupees equivalent to 251.9865 Indian rupees, DG Khan Cement 435 Pak rupees equivalent to 254.2791 Indian rupees, Maple Leaf Cement 435 Pak rupees equivalent to 254.2791 Indian rupees. Dr Mubeen Shah, President, Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JKJCCI) said: “We appeal to governments of India and Pakistan to increase the number of cross LoC tradable
items.” “Our view is that instead of having positive list of 22 items, both governments should make a negative list in which only few items will barred for trading, while other items should be included in the tradable list,” Shah said adding, “We have raised this issue with the Union Home Secretary during his recent visit.” “Prices of cement are soaring day by day, we should hold discussion with cement manufacturers here and with their consent trade cement from Pakistan which is much cheaper than here,” he said. Local dealers in Kashmir are also pitching hard for the inclusion of cement in the list of tradable items. “Rising prices of cement has affected common people very badly and if we can get cement from Pakistan at much cheaper rates then governments of India and Pakistan should sit together and include this item in the list of tradable items for the benefit of people in both countries. It would not only provide cement at cheaper rates in Srinagar, but also increase sales volume of Pakistani cement manufacturers,” Bashir Ahmad, a local cement dealer said. Traders from Azad Kashmir are also demanding that cement should be included in the tradable items list. Talking to Greater Kashmir, Zul-
fiqar Abbassi, former President of TransLoC Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “Since the initiation of historic CBM, it has been traders’ foremost demand to the governments of India and Pakistan to include more goods in the list of 22 traded items to make it productive, profitable and sustainable business.” “But unfortunately, the governments of both countries have not fulfilled the long pending demand,” he said. “As per the agreement, no country can single-handedly make any change in the list of tradable items that have been mutually agreed upon by representatives of both the countries,” he said. “Cement which is being exported to India from Wagah can be one of the commodities that could be exported to Kashmir valley on much cheaper rates. Rather than exporting cement to India and then to Jammu and Kashmir, I believe that it would be more convenient and cost effective if traders on this side are allowed to export cement to the buyers on the other side of LoC,” he said adding that after opening up of special trade gate at Wagha border and normalization of trade ties the Kashmiri business community is highly optimistic that steps would be taken to strengthen the trans-LoC trade. “Besides
the inclusion of more goods in the trading list we have also demanded that Kashmiris should be allowed to use Pakistan as a land route to export goods and fresh fruit to Central Asian countries,” Abbassi said adding that there are hundreds of commodities which can be traded across LoC to boost the local economy. Expressing similar views, Khurshid Mir, member of cross-LoC traders committee, said that traders on both sides of the divide have played significant role in making this CBM a success. He, however, was of the view that limitations of trade has been one of the major irritants that has deescalated the real potential of the trade. “Amongst the 22 listed items, ban was imposed on essential items like Garlic, Mongi and Coconut and only a few commodities are now being traded which is one of the reasons that the volume of trade has declined as compared to last two years,” he said. “Garments, cosmetics and food items should be added to the list of goods,” he said. “Export of cement, if allowed, would be beneficial to both traders as well as consumers in the valley as Pakistani cement would be available on cheaper rates as compared to cement produced in other states of India,” Mir said.
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Sunday, 17 June, 2012
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FdI inflows decline by 62.5pc in Jul-may KARACHI INP
The net FDI investment landed $ 678.9 million during Jul-May 2011-12 after $42.5 million outflow of capital was brought back by the foreign investors in the bonds and stock markets, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) statistics said. FDI has registered decline of 48.3 percent to reach $765.4 million in eleven months of the current financial year 2011-12 as against $1,463 million in the same period of previous financial year. The uncertain political, energy crisis and prevailing law and order situation coupled with global economic slowdown has kept foreign investors at bay for expanding their business in the highly risky environment. The FPI recorded 101 percent decline after an outflow of $42.57 million in JulMay 2011-12 as compared with previous year’s $ 5.4 million figures. FDI landed from USA recorded 202.9 million as compared with outflow of $26.3 million FPI by end of May. FDI inflows from UK recorded at $186.6 million whereas the $29 million FPI outflow was registered.
Rice Trade Forum to start on Tuesday ISLAMABAD ONlINe
A two-day Asian Rice Trade Forum will start from Tuesday in Cambodia in order to serve as a platform for promoting coherent and coordinated policy actions on rice trade. The forum will also help to advance the goal of food security in the Asian region. The theme of the Forum is managing the risks of extreme rice price volatility caused by policy shocks and supply distortions brought about by climate change, through coherent and coordinated policy actions. The Forum is convened, on a pilot basis, by the ASEAn Food Security (ADB). Reserve Board (AFSRB), in coordination with the ASEAn Secretariat and the Asian Development Bank(ADB). ADB's technical assistance on food security of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAn) provides financial support for the ASEAn Rice Trade Forum.
Central banks prepare for turmoil after Greek vote g
central banks from Tokyo to london checked their ammunition on Friday in preparation for any turmoil from Greece's election, with the european central Bank hinting at an interest rate cut and Britain set to open its coers FRANKFURT/LONDON
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AGeNCIeS
EnSIOnS were high about how to manage the euro zone's debt crisis - epitomized by Greece's bankruptcy and need for international aid - and a rare fight broke out between Germany and France, normally the glue that keeps the bloc together. German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized France's economic performance, effectively taking a swipe at Socialist President Francois Hollande who has called for more emphasis on economic growth and less on budget austerity. The feeling of crisis was real. "We must do everything possible to prevent the euro zone from falling apart," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on television. ECB President Mario Draghi, one of many policymakers gearing up for trouble after Sunday's vote in Greece, said his bank was ready to step in and fund any viable euro zone bank that gets in trouble. He painted a picture of a deteriorating euro zone economy with no inflation danger - conditions for monetary easing. "There are serious downside risks here," Draghi told the annual ECB Watchers conference in Frankfurt, two days before the vote that could set Athens on a path out of the euro zone and stoke turmoil in financial markets. "This risk has to do mostly with the heightened uncertainty." Japan's top financial diplomat Takehiko nakao warned that authorities in Tokyo would respond to unwelcome currency moves as appropriate, a clear threat of intervention if investors seeking safety push the yen too high. It was an echo of strong pledges from the Swiss national Bank on Thursday that it would do what it takes to protect the franc from soaring. The Bank of England followed up on Thursday's joint announcement with the government of a 100 billion pound ($155 billion) offer of loans to banks by saying it will start next week with a charge of just 0.75 percent. In the United States, Treas-
ury Under Secretary for International Affairs Lael Brainard offered assurance that Washington has a "tool kit" and stood ready to preserve market confidence. "Everyone is well prepared, too, in the wake of the elections on Greece, to work together to make sure there is a path forward that is sustainable for Greece and bolsters confidence more broadly," she said. GETTING READY: Officials from the G20 nations, whose leaders are meeting in Mexico next week, say numerous central banks are preparing to take steps to stabilize financial markets - if needed - by providing liquidity and prevent any credit squeeze. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy convened a conference call on Friday afternoon with the leaders of Germany, France, Italy and Britain, officially to discuss preparations for the G20 summit, expected to be dominated by the euro zone debt crisis. Depending on the depth of any turmoil, an emergency meeting of ministers from the Group of Seven developed nations could be held on Monday or Tuesday during the summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, sources said. The focal point for all is Sunday's repeat general election in Greece, a knife-edge race that could be won by parties vowing to tear up the harsh economic terms that the European Union and International Monetary Fund imposed as conditions of a bailout for the near-bankrupt state. Such an outcome could drive Greece into default and possibly out of the euro zone, a prospect that could undermine faith in the currency bloc and add to pressure on the finances of bigger economies such as Italy and Spain. Madrid's borrowing costs rose above 7 percent on Thursday, a level that is widely considered unsustainable. They fell slightly on Friday and European shares gained on expectations of global central bank response. The euro was lower, however. "At best, we are going to have a situation that is extremely serious on Monday," Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg told journalists. "In all likelihood, whatever
the outcome, we are going to have a government which is going to find it hard to live up to the agreements they (the Greeks) have signed up to." WORSENING OUTLOOK: In a sign of growing strain between Europe's central powers, Merkel hit out at France in response to Hollande's proposals for joint euro zone bonds and a joint bank deposit guarantee scheme. "Europe must discuss the growing differences in economic strength between France and Germany," Merkel said. Responding to Hollande's call for more euro zone solidarity, she said Germany had wanted to give the European Court of Justice the power to reject national budgets that breach EU rules but others had objected. She meant France. Draghi said the ECB was ready to provide money to solvent banks if they needed it, a clear plan to avoid the kind of credit crunch that occurred during the Lehman Brother crisis in 2008. "The ECB has the crucial role of providing liquidity to sound bank counterparties in return for adequate collateral. This is what we have done throughout the crisis, faithful to our mandate of maintaining price stability over the medium term - and this is what we will continue to do," he said. Draghi also said that no euro zone country faces an inflation risk, which is the bank's main concern. That gelled with comments from ECB policymakers a day earlier that the central bank might be open to cutting interest rates. Britain did not wait for the Greek vote to announce action. Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said on Thursday the country would launch a scheme to provide cheap long-term funding to banks to encourage them to lend to businesses and consumers. The central bank would also activate an emergency liquidity supply, King said. King said the euro zone's problems were causing a crisis of confidence in Britain that was leading to a self-reinforcing weaker picture of growth. "The black cloud has dampened animal spirits so that businesses and house-
holds are battening down the hatches to prepare for the storms ahead," he said. On Friday, the bank said it will hold a first emergency liquidity operation for banks next week with at least 5 billion pounds on offer. Loans would be at a minimum of the Bank Rate, 0.5 percent, plus an additional 25 basis points. STAND-OFF IN ATHENS: In Athens, the election was seen as too close to call. Alexis Tsipras, leader of the main antibailout leftist party SYRIZA, said on Thursday the deal with Greece's international lenders, which has helped push the economy into a depression, would not last beyond the weekend. "The memorandum of bankruptcy will belong to the past on Monday," Tsipras, who has rapidly emerged from fringe politics to challenge the mainstream for power, told his last campaign rally in Athens. European leaders, however, have warned that Greece will get no help if it reneges. Officials have also hinted that Athens might be granted more time to achieve its fiscal targets if a new government sticks to the core reforms in the program. French President Francois Hollande warned Greek voters about seeking what Tsipras has promised - a future in the euro while ditching the 130-billion-euro ($160 billion) bailout deal sealed earlier this year and its demands for punishing austerity policies. Hollande said on Greek TV that he wanted the country to stay in the euro, rather than reviving its drachma currency. "But I have to warn them, because I am a friend of Greece, that if the impression is given that Greece wants to distance itself from its commitments and abandon all prospect of recovery, there will be countries in the euro zone which will prefer to finish with the presence of Greece in the euro zone." SYRIZA is running neck-and-neck with the mainstream conservatives for Sunday's parliamentary vote, a re-run of an election last month that produced a stalemate in which neither the pro- nor antibailout camps was able to form a coalition.
Greeks weigh consequences of pivotal vote European leaders urged Greece to reject radical leftists who threaten to tear up the terms of a bailout deal should they win an election on Sunday, a result that would send shockwaves through global financial markets ATHENS AGeNCIeS
Riding a wave of anger to rise from political obscurity to contender for power, leftist SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, 37, is promising to reject the punishing terms of the 130 billion euro ($163.75 billion) bailout if he wins the nail-biter vote on Sunday. On the right, establishment heir and new Democracy leader Antonis Samaras, 61, says that would send Greece crashing out of the single currency and condemn it to even greater economic calamity. With the election set to go down to the wire, European leaders weighed in on Saturday, urging Greeks to vote with their heads. The bailout will not be renegotiated, warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country's wealth is vital to shoring up its weaker partners in the bloc. "That's why it's so important that the Greek elections preferably lead to a result in which those that will form a future government say: 'yes, we will stick to the agreements'," Merkel told a party conference of the Christian Democrats. Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker said there would be serious consequences if SYRIZA secured victory. "If the radical left wins - which cannot be ruled out - the consequences for the currency union are unforeseeable," Juncker, head of the group of euro zone finance ministers, told Austrian paper Kurier. "We will have to speak to any
government. I can only warn everyone against leaving the currency union. The internal cohesion of the euro zone would be in danger." Tsipras says Greece's lenders are bluffing when they threaten to turn off the funds if Athens reneges on the terms of the bailout - tax hikes, job losses and pay cuts that have helped condemn the
country to record-breaking recession. FEARS FOR SPAIN, ITALY: He says the euro zone will not allow a Greek exit, fearing the pressure it would heap on the far larger economies of Spain, which has already secured a 100-billioneuro rescue for its banks, and Italy, which could be next to seek a bailout. Sunday's vote is a re-run
of a May 6 election that produced stalemate, when anger at the close-knit and often corrupt political clique that has run Greece for years propelled SYRIZA from the political fringe into second place. Opinion polls published until a ban two weeks ago put the two parties almost neck and neck. neither is expected to win outright, leading to coalition talks. "My heart says I should vote for the left, for all the horrible things these (mainstream) politicians have done to us, but my mind says vote for the right, so that Greece does not leave the euro," said part-time teacher Kostas Manitsas, 28. The result will dominate a meeting of the Group of 20 world economic powers in Mexico on Monday and Tuesday. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy made a plea on Saturday for greater political and fiscal union in Europe, and urged Greeks to stick to the course. "Europe has to transmit to the world that the euro is an irreversible project," Rajoy told a political rally in San Sebastian. Greeks say they want to keep the euro, but they do not want the pension, wage and jobs cuts imposed by the bailout package and which have seen living standards plummet and unemployment reach almost 23 percent. "Tomorrow's vote must not be based on anger but on hope," the liberal left daily Ta nea implored in an editorial. "It must be based on the Greece of the euro, not the Greece of the drachma."
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Sunday, 17 June, 2012
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spain Pm pleads for political, fiscal unity in europe MADRID AGeNCIeS
Saying Spain's business, banks and regional governments were struggling to finance themselves at current high borrowing costs, he urged Europe to integrate its banking system more closely, although he did not go into details. "Europe has to transmit to the world that the euro is an irreversible project," he said. Spain secured a 100 billion euro ($126 billion) rescue last weekend from Europe for its troubled banks, struggling with losses from a decade-long debt binge linked to a burst property bubble. But the country's financing costs have continued to rise, bringing it closer to joining Greece in needing a full-scale bailout. The yield on Spain's 10-year bond topped 7 percent on Thursday, a danger level that triggered bailouts for Greece as well as Ireland and Portugal. Rajoy said Spain needed to continue to reduce its fiscal deficit. "We cannot live beyond our means on a permanent basis," he said. "We cannot have double the number of airports as Germany, for example." The euro zone could find itself scrambling to prevent a break-up if a radical left-wing party wins Sunday's vote in Greece. Rajoy said he was convinced Greece would stick to its commitments and stay in the euro.
samsung introduces exciting new dual sIm phone LAHORE NNI
Samsung Electronics, a market leader and awardwinning innovator in telecommunications and consumer electronics has announced the arrival of the sleek Samsung Utica E2252. According to a press release issued here on Saturday, a combination of comfort and durability, this mobile phone delivers a rich and smart mobile experience, with ‘Active’ Dual SIM and long-lasting battery life ensuring maximum connectivity 24/7. Samsung Pakistan continues to unveil new mobile phones at a rapid pace to keep abreast of technology and consumers’ needs, offering users a wide variety of phones to enrich their lives. The metallic silver Utica E2252 offers consumers a 208 MHz single-core application processor and a 2.0-inch display with color depth of 262K. This innovative device sports a simple curved-edged design and a 2.0-inch TFT capacitive display supporting a pixel resolution of 128x160. Its features include 20 MB memory, a, single and dual SIM support a 1000mAh battery with talk-time up to 710 minutes and stand-by time upto 760 hours. It offers exciting multimedia features including a VGA camera, MicroSD (up to 32GB), FM Radio, and built-in torchlight. Connectivity features include: Bluetooth,, USB 2.0 connectivity , Samsung Apps, instant messaging through Samsung ChatOn, IM.
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British pudding next after Turkish delight g
lccI delegates meet UK counterparts after productive Turkey visit LAHORE
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STAFF RePORT
FTER having hectic and high profile business meetings during their five-day stay in Turkey, the 37-member LCCI delegation Saturday reached London and had a very fruitful meeting at Pak-UK Chamber of Commerce. The delegation headed by LCCI president Irfan Qaiser Sheikh and comprising LCCI former Senior Vice Presidents Engineer Sohail Lashari, Tahir Javaid Malik, Executive Committee Members Khawaja Shahzeb Akram, Khawaja Khawar Rashid, Fahimur Rehman Saigol, Chaudhry Wajid Ali and other prominent businessmen belonging to all sectors of economy spent over two hours at Pak-UK Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The LCCI delegation got a briefing of opportunities available in the UK for Pakistani businessmen besides having one-to one meetings with their counterparts in the United Kingdome. While welcoming the LCCI delegates, the President Pak-UK Chamber of Commerce and Industry Syed Qamar Raza threw light on the very objectives of the establishment of the chamber and said that the enhancement of trade between the United Kingdom and Pakistan, identification of mutual investment and business opportunities, provision of an optimum networking platform to maximise two way business are the targets that are being pursued day in and day out. He said that expatriate Pakistanis, particularly those living in the United Kingdom, are keen to make investment in Pakistan through joint ventures with potential businessmen. He said that UK being the fastest growing economy in the
European Union, has a huge potential for Pakistani businessmen as the process of globalization is bringing the people closer and there is a need to learn from the experiences of each other. He said that the UK Pakistanis are committed to a long-term, productive and friendly partnership with their counterparts as they view it as a long-term strategic partner and Pak Uk Chamber would continue to support all LCCI endeavors aimed at expansion of trade relations between the two countries. He added that a good number of UK Pakistanis were already doing business in Pakistan and the LCCI delegation’s visit would further strengthen these relations. He said that it is needless to mention that “we must take advantage of each others’ strength. We believe that through collaboration, the role of UK based business community can be ensured in Pakistan.” Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh urged the UK Pakistanis to pay their due role in getting GSP Plus status from EU for bringing the much-needed economic turnaround. He said that for a sustained private sector based economic cooperation, there is need to develop and promote a network of business relations in both the countries. Exchange of trade delegations between the two countries can prove to be an effective strategy for boosting the level of bilateral trade. He said that to supplement exchange of information, sector specific weeks focusing on a selected field of interest like agricultural, health, energy, infrastructure, can be organized at major cities of Pakistan and UK. It will greatly help create mutual awareness. He assured UK Pakistanis of full LCCI support if they make investment in lucrative sectors like
ISLAMABAD: Harvey Law Group (HLG) recently held its Annual General Meeting 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where it also celebrated its 20th anniversary. Picture shows Mr. Jean-Francois Harvey, Founder and Managing Partner, Ms. Catherine Dulude and Mr. Mikael Charette, Partners along with participants from HLG offices worldwide.
telecommunications, information technology, financial services, petrochemicals, livestock, dairy, consumer goods, food processing, pharmaceuticals, minerals, and particularly in energy sectors. The LCCI President said that Pakistani businessmen attach a lot of value to these facts that UK is one of the top five export markets in the world for Pakistan. With regard to major importing countries to Pakistan, UK takes the 15th position. And in terms of favourable balance of trade, UK stands at the fifth place. Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that the presence of different multi-national companies from UK which are growing and doing well in Pakistan is indicative of the fact that there are ample opportunities and potential for UK investors for business in Pakistan. LCCI HAILS CUT IN PETROL PRICES: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Saturday while welcoming the decrease in the POL prices has said that it would definitely ensure relief to the masses and help bring down the cost of doing business but at the same time to government should also take measures for provision of uninterrupted supply of electricity that is spoiling the entire business atmosphere. In statement issued here, the LCCI Acting President Kashif Younis Meher and Vice President Saeeda nazar said that after a long period, government has passed on the benefit of oil prices decrease in the international market to the users. They said that there was no second opinion about it that it would help bring down the inflation rate in the country. They said that agriculture sector was the engine of growth. The cut in petroleum prices would bring down the input cost of agriculture production as
high speed diesel is being used in tractors, tub-wells, harvesters, thrashers and other agriculture machinery. They demanded of the government to announce cut in electricity tariff also as a major chunk of electricity was being generated through thermal resources. Meanwhile, the LCCI office-bearers also demanded of the government to make a considerable cut in the markup rate and bring it to the single digit for the sake of revival of businesses, overcome low-growth scenario, encourage new investments and give a jumpstart to the sluggish economy. Kashif Younis Meher and Saeeda nazar said that the availability of cheaper money to the business doing people is a must to bring down the cost of doing business in Pakistan and expedite the process of industrialization that would ultimately result in curtailing poverty, inflation and help in muchneeded job creation. They said that Interest rate in the United States is 0.25 per cent, in UK 0.5 per cent, in Canada 1 per cent, in Australia 3.5 per cent, in Japan 0 per cent, in China 6.56 per cent, in India 8 per cent, in Sri Lanka 7.75 per cent and in Bangladesh 7.75 per cent. They said that how Pakistani merchandise could get a respectable place in the international market in the presence of such a high mark up that neither has a parallel in the developed world nor in the region. They said that ongoing economic scenario shows that there is hardly any time left for economic managers of the country to help stop industrial closures and defaults therefore the people sitting at the helm of affairs in the government and the State Bank of Pakistan should understand well that a cut in interest rate would be a great favour to the economy.
ISLAMABAD: Ms.Sharmila Farooqi (Advisor to C.M.Sindh),Mr. Haji Masood Parekh,Chairmain Momon Khadmat Farom Mr.A.K.Memon are seen in group photo at Hajj balloting of H&H Money exchange.
GREECE’S CATHARSIS? YANNOS PAPANTONIOU UnDAY’S election in Greece will decide whether confrontation or negotiation will be used to change the terms of Greece’s refinancing agreement with the eurozone. Rather than helping Greece to overcome its crisis, the austerity policies pursued since May 2010 have plunged it into a deep recession that perpetuates fiscal deficits and aggravates financial uncertainty. It is becoming increasingly clear that if Greece proceeds to unilateral action – whether by repealing unpopular austerity laws or renouncing the loan agreement itself – the eurozone will suspend disbursement of the loan. The government will find it impossible to fulfill basic obligations, such as paying salaries and pensions, and the country will formally default. International banks will cease to finance Greek enterprises, including imports, creating shortages of fuel, food, and medicines. As confidence that Greece will remain in the eurozone plummets, a run on deposits will cause the banking system – and, eventually, the real economy – to collapse. The next step will be forced exit from the euro and reintroduction of the drachma, implying a dramatic drop in living standards, owing in part to immediate devaluation of the new currency and high inflation. Meanwhile, the benefits in terms of competitiveness will be very limited, owing to the country’s narrow export base, and will evaporate in a vicious circle of devaluations and rising interest rates. Long-term
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stagnation and high unemployment are the likely result of confrontation with the eurozone, which leaves only the path of renegotiation. The new political balance emerging in Europe after the Socialists’ victory in France’s presidential election creates scope for changes in the terms of the loan agreement that would help to boost economic growth. Opting for renegotiation assumes the victory of pro-euro political forces in Sunday’s elections. new Democracy, Pasok, and Democratic Left belong to this group, as opposed to Syriza and some smaller parties on the extreme right and left, which support a confrontational stance vis-à-vis the eurozone, eventually leading to the euro exit. If a pro-euro majority emerges on June 17, the new government’s main challenge will be to propose a new policy agenda, and then to negotiate a revised deal with the eurozone. The key to growth is increased competitiveness through higher productivity and lower production costs. In the 1990’s, in the run-up to joining the eurozone, Greece achieved substantial gains on this front. With inflation falling sharply, real incomes increased. Fiscal deficits were reduced. Important structural reforms were implemented, particularly privatization. Investment accelerated, and major infrastructure projects were realized. High growth rates were achieved in conditions of stability. Unfortunately, that effort ceased over the last decade. Selfish interests prevailed. Business groups attempted to capture specific markets. Public-sector
trade unions fought for preserving privileges. Tax discipline was further weakened. The welfare state was transformed into a system of endemic waste. A gap emerged between the economy’s productive base, which remained stagnant, and Greeks’ expectations (and demands), which were rising fast. The agreement with the eurozone attempted to close the gap in a clumsy and misguided way. Instead of focusing on structural reforms to liberate the economy’s productive forces, it relied on income cuts and tax increases. The incompetence of the governments that implemented the agreement exacerbates that defect by sidelining structural reforms and enacting only the terms concerning austerity. The renegotiation should aim at changing the policy mix in the following directions: n Extending the timetable of fiscal-deficit reduction in order to limit the depth of the recession. n Avoiding any new cut in incomes or new taxes, with reduction in indirect taxation to start immediately. n Social-protection measures, particularly for the unemployed. n A European Marshall Plan, through grants from the European Union’s structural funds and loans from the European Investment Bank, in order to sustain economic activity and create new jobs. Achieving these targets presupposes that Greece’s new government implements all of the
structural changes agreed with the eurozone. Privatization, opening up closed markets and professions, promoting entrepreneurship, and eliminating public-sector waste should proceed at a fast pace over the next few months. The European Marshall Plan would offer a unique opportunity to reorient growth policies. Greece should move beyond its traditional focus on sectors such as tourism, shipping, and construction, and search for new areas of comparative advantage in renewable energy, high-value-added services, and selected lines of manufacturing that benefit from the country’s research potential. If Greece succeeds in fulfilling the requirements of a revised financing agreement with the eurozone, it may win the confidence bet by convincing financial markets that it is determined to achieve the targets. Confidence will unlock the door to economic recovery. The fear of a return to the drachma will recede. Consumption levels will begin to recover. Deposit outflows will cease. The banking system will be reinforced. Investors will reevaluate opportunities for undertaking new initiatives. A virtuous circle may be set in motion, leading the country, eventually, to escape the crisis zone. The outcome of Sunday’s election will determine which way Greece goes – and, also, of course, how the unfolding Greek drama affects the eurozone’s future. Courtesy: Project Syndicate