Author: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ising international oil and other commodity prices remains a concern. These prices are predicted to move in upward direction, which would be affecting local inflation especially in Pakistan. However, given the rise in agriculture production and enough food supplies, stable exchange rate, effectual monetary policy, inflation is predicted to remain below the target of this fiscal year. Presently, the Government of Pakistan mentioned in its report that CPI (consumer price index) inflation general rose by 3.9 percent on year-on-year (YoY) basis in September 2017 as against to a rise of 3.4 percent in the last month and 3.9 percent in…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he proper implementation of fiscal and monetary policy can help reduce cyclical fluctuations and be able for the economy of a country to progress its GDP (gross domestic products) in the world. Many foreign economists foresee the economy of Pakistan is increasingly becoming vulnerable to external shocks and funding crisis, although it stuck to its earlier growth forecast for the country of 5.5 percent for the current FY2018, while some experts have also mentioned that Pakistan’s growth has enhanced, but the present government needs to address fiscal and external sector vulnerabilities that have reappeared with the wider current account deficit,…

PSX TOUCHES THE LOWEST FOR 2017 The stock market underwent a relentless battering in the last trading session of the week on Friday as the benchmark index dropped to a record low for the year. Undermined by endless political drama and concern over the mounting trade deficit as well as persistently falling foreign reserves, the KSE-100 index dropped from the word go. It plunged almost 750 points and hit an intra-day low of 39,478.05 points. However, as trading began after the midday break, the index posted a decent recovery with investors coming forward to pick stocks at attractive valuations. Despite…

OIL PRICES SURGE ON CHINESE IMPORT BOOST AND MIDEAST TENSIONS Oil prices firmed on Friday as bullish news from strong Chinese oil imports to turmoil in the Middle East put Brent on track for a more than 3 percent weekly gain. The developments added to other signs that the market was finally rebalancing after years of excess. Brent LCOc1 was at $57.42 at 1139 GMT, up $1.17. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 was at $51.59 per barrel, up 99 cents from its last settlement. The contracts were on track for weekly gains of more than 3 percent and…

MAQTA GATEWAY, A DIGITAL PLATFORM LAUNCHED Abu Dhabi Ports has launched Maqta Gateway, a digital platform which provides digital services to different entities including shipping agents, traders, freight forwarders, custom brokers among others to boost trade and efficiency. The new system was inaugurated in the presence of Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court last Tuesday. Maqta Gateway provides customers with all the information they need about their transactions any time and from anywhere in the world. It provides customers with all the information they need about their transactions any time and from anywhere…

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ONG-RANGE PLANNING THE FUTURE REQUIRES NOT JUST HAPPEN IF ONE WISHES HARD ENOUGH. The future requires decisions – now. It imposes risk – now. It requires action – now. It demands allocation of resources, and above all, of human resources – now. It requires work – now. The idea of long-range planning – and much of its reality – rests on a number of misunderstandings. The long range is largely made by short-run decisions. Unless the long range is built into, and based on, short-range plans and decisions, the most elaborate long-range plan will be an exercise in futility. And…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATOR EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 25-Aug Friday 8-Sep Friday 15-Sep Friday 22-Sep Thursday 28-Sep Friday 6-Oct DOLLAR Buying 107.55 107.35 106.75 106.7 106.6 106.6 Selling 107.85 107.65 107.05 107 106.9 106.9 POUND Buying 135.25 137.5 142.25 142 141.5 139.5 Selling 137 139.25 144 143.75 143.25 141.25 EURO Buying 124.25 126.5 125.25 125 124.25 124.5 Selling 125.45 127.7 126.45 126.2 125.45 125.7 CANADIAN $ Buying 83.5 86.5 86 85 84.5 85 Selling 84.35 87.35 86.85 85.85 85.35 85.85 JAP YEN Buying 0.95 0.96 0.93 0.92 0.91 0.91 Selling 0.98 0.99 0.96 0.95 0.94 0.94 HK $ Buying 13.4…

PAKISTAN’S TOP 10 RICHEST BUSINESSMEN IN 2017 1) Shahid Khan 2) Mian Muhammad Mansha 3) Asif Ali Zardari 4) Sir Anwar Pervez O.B.E 5) Nawaz Sharif 6) Sadruddin Hashwani 7) Malik Riaz Hussain 8) Nasir Schon 9) Abdul Razzak Yaqoob 10) Tariq Saigol [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] DOMINANT BUSINESS WOMEN OF PAKISTAN 1. Jehan Ara 2. Marium Afzal 3. Saba Gul 4. Roshaneh Zafar 5. Shahnaz Wazir Ali 6. Maria Umar 7. Saniya Waqar Shaffi 8. Ambarine Bukharey 9. Ms. Alia Khan 10. Kalsoom Lakhani 11- Rabia Garib 12- Sabeen Mahmood 13- Salaina Haroon 14- Samina Fazil 15- Nida Farid…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]akistan State Oil (PSO), is the largest oil marketing company and is continuing to supply greater than its market share to ensure an uninterrupted availability of petroleum products in the entire country. Despite all the issues on liquidity front, the Company is providing its customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services and petrochemicals products for industrial and individual needs. PSO’s after tax profitability has risen by Rs3.3 billion in FY 2016 as against to FY 2015. This rise was mostly because of: fall in finance cost by Rs3.9 billion on account of reduction in borrowing…

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]conomists believed that the brokerage companies run in competitive industry in which trading activities can be really impacted by the sustaining economic environment and business cycles. They also mention that the index volume can also be highly affected by event risk, especially resulting from regulatory and political developments of any country. Such factors can lead to greater volatility in earnings and productivity/profitability relative to other industries. The regulatory structure for broker companies, besides being a statutory requirement also is as significant for offering financier protection and curbing risk factors; strict adherence to the same is considered essential. In addition to…

PAKISTAN STOCKS TAKE A BREATHER AS INDEX RISES MARGINALLY The trading session provided some respite to the battered stock exchange despite volatile trading on Thursday with value buying in the opening and closing hours overcoming selling pressure to take the market up a notch. Ongoing political uncertainty also continued to dent investor interest amid thin trading in stocks listed on the KSE-100 index. At close, the benchmark KSE-100 index registered a rise of 7.49 points or 0.02 percent to stand at 40,468.49. Overall, trading volumes fell to 150 million shares compared with Wednesday’s tally of 192 million. Shares of 386…

OIL STABILIZES ON PREDICTIONS OF EXTENDED OUTPUT CUT, BUT US CRUDE EXPORTS DRAG Oil prices stabilized on Thursday on expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia would extend production cuts, although record US exports dragged on the market. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $55.89 per barrel, up 9 cents, or 0.16 percent, from their previous close. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that a pledge by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers, including Russia, to cut oil output to boost prices could be extended to the end of 2018,…

PROVINCES PLAN TO LEVY TAX ON OIL TANKERS Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) Chairman Rahil Siddique said on Thursday that all four provincial tax bodies were on board to tax the powerful oil tanker operators and chalk out a strategy in that regard. “They blackmail the federal government through strikes which brings the entire country to a standstill,” he said while talking to the Lahore Economic Journalists Association. Such tactics would not work in the future, he emphasised and said a unanimous decision had been made to bring them under the tax net. “If the federal government protects them, then it…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]RACTICE COMES FIRST DECISION MAKERS NEED TO FACTOR INTO THEIR PRESENT DECISIONS THE “FUTURE THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.” Decision makers – in government, in the universities, in business, in the labor unions, in churches – need to factor into their present decisions the future that has already happened. For this they need to know what events have already occurred that do not fit into their present-day assumptions, and thereby create new realities. Intellectuals and scholars tend to believe that ideas come first, which then lead to new political, social, economic, psychological realities. This does happen, but it is the exception.…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES Currency Activity Friday 18-Aug Friday 25-Aug Friday 8-Sep Friday 15-Sep Friday 22-Sep Thursday 28-Sep DOLLAR Buying 107.7 107.55 107.35 106.75 106.7 106.6 Selling 108 107.85 107.65 107.05 107 106.9 POUND Buying 136.25 135.25 137.5 142.25 142 141.5 Selling 138 137 139.25 144 143.75 143.25 EURO Buying 124.25 124.25 126.5 125.25 125 124.25 Selling 125.45 125.45 127.7 126.45 126.2 125.45 CANADIAN $ Buying 83.25 83.5 86.5 86 85 84.5 Selling 84.1 84.35 87.35 86.85 85.85 85.35 JAP YEN Buying 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.93 0.92 0.91 Selling 0.98 0.98 0.99 0.96 0.95 0.94 HK $ Buying 13.4…

SECTOR WISE FDI INFLOWS IN PAKISTAN ($ Million) Country 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 (Jul-Aug) Oil & Gas 740.6 512.2 629.4 559.6 502 300.5 248.9 157.6  30.6 Financial Business 163 310.1 64.4 314.2 192.8 256.4 289 64.3  13.5 Textiles 27.8 25.3 29.8 10 -0.2 43.9 20 15.1  1.5 Trade 117 53 25.3 5.7 -3.2 50.5 26.8 31.6  5.6 Construction 101.6 61.1 72.1 46 28.8 53.5 46.7 467.7  55.7 Power -120.6 155.8 -84.9 28.4 71.4 282.2 1,159.20 795.4  210.8 Chemicals 112.1 30.5 96.3 71.6 94.9 60.3 88.5 12.6 Transport 132 104.6 18.7 44.1 2.7 6.2 70.2 53.5…

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]wadar port is the gateway of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and one can believe that the progress of Gwadar port will bring economic gains to the province of Balochistan with potentially capable to act as industrial power house, an appropriate transit and transshipment hub in the region. Presently, it is becoming almost a proverbial to narrate Gwadar Deep Sea Port as a ‘game changer’ in trade and economic development in Pakistan. It is mentioned in the dissimilar reports that the economic advantages of Gwadar port, are: capitalizing the opportunities for trade with landlocked Central Asian Republics and Afghanistan; promotion of…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Government of Pakistan proclaimed in their statistical report that Pakistan’s balance of trade in August, 2017 was (-) 3,086 million in US dollar. Although the balance of trade statistics cumulative from July-August, 2017 were recorded (-) $6,290 million. According to the provisional statistics compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, in terms of US dollars the exports in August, 2017 was $1,866 million (provisional) as compared to $1,631 million (provisional) in July, 2017 showing an increase of 14.41 percent and by 12.89 percent as against to $1,653 million in August, 2016. Furthermore, exports during July-August 2017 was recorded at…

WALL STREET PARES GAINS AFTER DONALD OUTLINES TAX PLAN US stocks pared gains on Wednesday after President Donald Trump’s administration called for slashing tax rates but offered few details about how to pay for tax cuts without expanding the federal deficit. The plan proposed a 20 percent corporate income tax rate, a new 25 percent tax rate for pass-through businesses including partnerships and a reduced 35 percent top income tax rate for individual Americans. Six of the 11 major S&P indexes were higher, led by a 1.17 percent gain in the financial index. Shares of big banks, including Bank of…

OIL PRICES DECLINE AFTER SURPRISE FALL IN US INVENTORIES Oil prices fell on Thursday, with US crude giving up some of the previous session’s gains that were driven by a surprise fall in inventories, while Brent moved further away from recent 26-month highs. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) dipped 7 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $52.06 a barrel after rising 26 cents in the previous session to just below 5-month highs. Brent was down 11 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $57.79 a barrel, slipping further away from Tuesday’s more than two-year high of $59.49 following a near 1 percent…

EUROPEAN BUNKER PRICES REMAIN AT 2 YEAR HIGH European bunker prices have hit repeated two-year highs on strong gains in ICE Brent and gasoil futures over the last week. Crude and gasoil futures are driving bunker prices at the moment, there is nothing else really behind it. The hike in bunker prices has in turn boosted Supramax freight rates in the basin, which had already received firm support from strong Q4 expectations and tight tonnage in much of the North Atlantic. The Rotterdam to Aliaga scrap route, basis 45,000 mt, was assessed at $16/mt, the highest level since late April.…

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ANAGING ONESELF: WHAT TO CONTRIBUTE? SUCCESSFUL CAREERS ARE NOT THE PRODUCTS OF LUCK OR PLANNING; THEY ARE BUILT BY PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO SEIZE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MATCH THEIR OWN STRENGTHS. Now that you have identified your strengths and work style you can begin to look for the right opportunities. These are the assignments that will enable you to use your strength, match your work style, and fit within your personal value system. They are also the assignments that help you to make the right contribution. But you first have to decide what your contribution should be. Figuring out…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY FRIDAY 11-AUG FRIDAY 18-AUG FRIDAY 25-AUG FRIDAY 8-SEP FRIDAY 15-SEP FRIDAY 22-SEP DOLLAR Buying 107.85 107.7 107.55 107.35 106.75 106.7 Selling 108.15 108 107.85 107.65 107.05 107 POUND Buying 138.5 136.25 135.25 137.5 142.25 142 Selling 140.25 138 137 139.25 144 143.75 EURO Buying 125 124.25 124.25 126.5 125.25 125 Selling 126.2 125.45 125.45 127.7 126.45 126.2 CANADIAN $ Buying 83.8 83.25 83.5 86.5 86 85 Selling 84.65 84.1 84.35 87.35 86.85 85.85 JAP YEN Buying 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.93 0.92 Selling 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.99 0.96 0.95 HK $ Buying 13.4…

PAKISTANI WOMEN WHO MADE US PROUD 1. Syeda Ghulam Fatima 2. Marium Mukhtar 3. Muniba Mazari 4. Samya Arif 5. Dr Nergis Mavalvala 6. Fiza Farhan 7. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy 8. Rukhsana Parveen and Sofia Javed 9. Minhal Sohail 10. Ikra Saleem Khan 11.Shazia Perveen 12. Malala Yousafzai 13. Samina Baig 14. Zenith Irfan 15. Twinkle Sohail 16. Namira Saleem [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] DOMINANT BUSINESS WOMEN OF PAKISTAN 1. Jehan Ara 2. Marium Afzal 3. Saba Gul 4. Roshaneh Zafar 5. Shahnaz Wazir Ali 6. Maria Umar 7. Saniya Waqar Shaffi 8. Ambarine Bukharey 9. Ms. Alia Khan 10.…

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ational development should be balanced with equivalent distribution of resources to population both (males and females) in any country. Economists urge that the empowering women is vital to build stronger economies, attain globally planned targets for development and sustainability, and enhance the quality of life for women, men, families and communities. No doubt, the present Government of Pakistan is planned to meet SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and the goal is to get gender equality; ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls. The government is also a signatory of the UN Convention for Elimination of all forms of Discrimination…

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]very state is liable to increase the size of the economy and for its development offers different welfare programs apart for their major economic programs. The developing countries like Pakistan, despite its limited resources, offering Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), a flagship social protection program of the Government of Pakistan to give social assistance to women. The Government of Pakistan mentioned in its yearly report that the quarterly cash grant has been gradually improved by present government from Rs3,000 per family to Rs3,600 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-14, Rs4,500 in FY 2014-15, Rs4,700 in FY2015-16 and Rs4,834 in FY 2016-17.…

PAKISTAN STOCKS ALMOST FLAT Political uncertainty continued to influence investor sentiment, as the stock market ended marginally in the red with the index hovering in a narrow range on Friday. The KSE-100 Index fell over 200 points in the early hours, but reversed the fall and climbed to hit a high of 42,900 points before retreating after the break to end almost flat. At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index recorded a fall of 24.85 points or 0.06 percent to stand at 42,750.19. Overall, trading volumes fell to 132 million shares compared with Thursday’s tally of 165 million. Shares of…

MARKET TO REMAIN DULL ON UNCERTAIN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SCENARIO The week ended 22nd September 2017 was lackluster at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and closed almost flat at 42,750 level. Domestic politics continued to impact market sentiments with Lahore High Court (LHC) order to make the Model Town report public adding to pressure on the ruling junta. Average daily traded volumes was up by 8.59%WoW to 170.63 million shares and volume leaders were WTL, TRG, DSL EPCL and KEL. Major gainers were: FFC, ABL, MCB, UBL and EFERT; while laggards included: HBL, EFOODS, LUCK, PIOC and DGKC. Foreign participation declined…

OIL RISES AS OPEC DEFERS EXTENSION OF OUTPUT CUTS Oil prices ended nearly 1 percent higher on Friday, close to their highest levels in months, as major producers meeting in Vienna said they may wait until January before deciding whether to extend output curbs beyond the first quarter. “I believe that January is the earliest date when we can actually, credibly speak about the state of the market,” Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major producers finished meeting. Other ministers said a decision on extending cuts could be taken in…

HONG KONG CONTAINER THROUGHPUT DIPS 1.7PC Hong Kong’s container volume dipped slightly in August falling 1.7 percent to 1.76 million TEU compared to 1.79 million TEU in the same month last year, according to statistics from the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. Most of Hong Kong’s volume is from the container terminals at Kwai Tsing that handled 1.34 million boxes in August, an increase of 3.5 per cent over the same month last year. However, boxes handled by the other terminals in Hong Kong saw a sharp decline of 15.5 per cent to 420,000 TEU compared to 497,000 TEU…

BUSINESS NOT FINANCIAL STRATEGY “THERE AIN’T NO BARGAINS,” AND “YOU GET AT MOST WHAT YOU PAY FOR.” Successful acquisitions are based upon business plans, not financial analyses. Acquisition targets must fit the business strategies of the acquiring company; otherwise, the acquisition is likely to fail. The worst acquisition record of the last decades of the twentieth century was that of Peter Grace, the longtime CEO of W. R. Grace. He was a brilliant man. He set out in the 1950s to build a world-class multinational through financially-based acquisitions. He assembled the ablest group of financial analysts and had them scout…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 4-Aug Friday 11-Aug Friday 18-Aug Friday 25-Aug Friday 8-Sep Friday 15-Sep DOLLAR Buying 107.9 107.85 107.7 107.55 107.35 106.75 Selling 108.2 108.15 108 107.85 107.65 107.05 POUND Buying 140.25 138.5 136.25 135.25 137.5 142.25 Selling 142 140.25 138 137 139.25 144 EURO Buying 126 125 124.25 124.25 126.5 125.25 Selling 127.2 126.2 125.45 125.45 127.7 126.45 CANADIAN $ Buying 84.25 83.8 83.25 83.5 86.5 86 Selling 85.1 84.65 84.1 84.35 87.35 86.85 JAP YEN Buying 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.93 Selling 0.97 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.99 0.96 HK $ Buying 13.4…

PRODUCTION & SALE OF VEHICLES IN PAKISTAN Details Unit Feb’17 Mar’17 Apr’17 May’17 Jun’17 Cumulative 1300 and Above cc TOTAL CARS Prod. 17,071 18,394 15,861 17,074 10,684 79,084 Sale 17,119 18,295 15,863 17,478 12,870 81,625 TRUCKS TOTAL TRUCKS Prod. 502 601 746 869 608 3,326 Sale 638 644 728 805 645 3,460 BUSES TOTAL BUSES Prod. 85 90 68 82 75 400 Sale 96 88 101 99 77 461 LCVS, VANS & JEEPS (4X4) TOTAL JEEPS Prod. 152 232 860 1,020 838 3,102 Sale 237 243 739 989 995 3,203 TOTAL PICK-UPs Prod. 1,990 2,010 1,922 2,368 1,338 9,628 Sale…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]ak Suzuki Motor Company Limited always endeavors to enhance profitability, sales and diversity in its operations by upgrading the existing products and introducing new products. The management of the Pak Suzuki introduced its first crossover ‘Suzuki Vitara’ on December 21, 2016 and 1400cc sedan ‘Suzuki Ciaz’ on February 8, 2017. The experts of the company predicts that introducing of ‘Ciaz’ and ‘Vitara’ would support Pak Suzuki to penetrate in higher segment vehicles. Pak Suzuki also introduced new Suzuki Cultus on April 22, 2017. The new Suzuki Cultus brings with power-packed features like ABS brakes, airbags, electronic power steering, electric windows…

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]conomic experts identified that healthy sales of vehicles in Pakistan during fiscal year 2016-17 enabled the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and the parts suppliers to operate at maximum capacities to meet the rising demand. It is also calculated that the total of 213,119 domestically manufactured units were sold in Pakistan during 2016-17 as against to 217,679 units sold previous year, showing a 2 percent drop. The sales growth appears dampened because of inclusion of 32,000 unit sales in previous year on account of Apna Rozgar Scheme. However, excluding the scheme from 2015-16, the growth in 2016-17 recorded a 15 percent…

PAKISTAN STOCKS END HIGHER AS FTSE, S&P REBALANCING PROVIDES TRIGGER Despite a volatile session, the Pakistan Stock Exchange ended in the green on Friday on the back of massive foreign buying due to the upcoming FTSE and S&P rebalancing that would see the inclusion of Pakistani companies in their emerging market indexes. At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index recorded a rise of 103.62 points or 0.24 percent to end at 42,787.19 points. It is said that the market remained volatile, making an intraday high/low of +331/ -145 points to close at 42,787 in anticipation of FTSE and S&P rebalancing…

OIL EASES, BUOYED BY HOPES FOR ROBUST DEMAND Oil prices eased on Thursday, but held on to most of their gains in the previous session when the market was buoyed by a forecast for firmer global oil demand by the International Energy Agency. London Brent crude for November delivery was down 13 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $55.03 a barrel by 0247 GMT, after rising 1.6 percent on Wednesday. NYMEX crude for October delivery was down 9 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $49.21, after a 2.2 percent gain in the previous session. Wednesday’s gains came despite US government data showing…

SINGAPORE MARINE FUELS SALES HIT RECORD Sales of marine fuels in August at Asia’s biggest ship fuelling port of Singapore rose 3.2 percent from a year ago to 4.364 million tons, but were down 0.7 percent from July. The latest sales volumes are the highest on record for the month of August and are the third highest for 2017. By Sept. 11, the Baltic Dry Index, an economic indicator which tracks the demand for shipping raw materials such as coal, iron and steel, climbed to its highest since November 2014 as trade activity improved. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] BALTIC MAIN…

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]UCCESS ALWAYS CREATES NEW REALITIES ONLY THE FAIRY STORY ENDS “THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.” Success always obsoletes the very behavior that achieved it. It always creates new realities. It always creates, above all, its own and different problems. It is not easy for the management of a successful company to ask, “What is our business?” Everybody in the company thinks that the answer is so obvious as not to deserve discussion. It is never popular to argue with success, never popular to rock the boat. But the management that does not ask “What is our business?” when the company…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 28-Jul Friday 4-Aug Friday 11-Aug Friday 18-Aug Friday 25-Aug Friday 8-Sep DOLLAR Buying 107.2 107.9 107.85 107.7 107.55 107.35 Selling 107.5 108.2 108.15 108 107.85 107.65 POUND Buying 139.25 140.25 138.5 136.25 135.25 137.5 Selling 141 142 140.25 138 137 139.25 EURO Buying 124.5 126 125 124.25 124.25 126.5 Selling 125.7 127.2 126.2 125.45 125.45 127.7 CANADIAN $ Buying 84.5 84.25 83.8 83.25 83.5 86.5 Selling 85.35 85.1 84.65 84.1 84.35 87.35 JAP YEN Buying 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.96 Selling 0.96 0.97 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.99 HK $ Buying 13.4…

PAKISTAN: EXPORT OF CEMENT AND CLINKER Financial year Cement Clinker Total Exports % age Incr/(Decr) Export Breakup Afghanistan Via Land India Via Sea & Land Other Countries Via Sea Other Countries Via Sea North Zone South Zone Quantity in Metric Tons Quantity in Metric Tons 2008-2009 3,148,306 634,455 6,061,035 908,690 10,752,486 39.34% 6,989,136 3,763,351 2009-2010 4,017,361 722,968 5,625,391 283,436 10,649,156 -0.96% 6,952,774 3,696,381 2010-2011 4,726,996 590,104 3,910,675 200,169 9,427,943 -11.47% 6,688,655 2,739,284 2011-2012 4,715,109 605,453 3,247,268 – 8,567,830 -9.12% 6,266,327 2,301,503 2012-2013 4,404,633 482,214 3,487,255 – 8,374,103 -2.26% 6,105,815 2,268,288 2013-2014 3,655,201 677,305 3,804,021 – 8,136,528 -2.84% 5,418,214 2,718,314 2014-2015…

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]nternational adepts revealed that the international steel production grew to 977.32 million ton during the first 7-month of 2017, up 4.6 percent from 933.97 million ton in the corresponding period last year. During July 2017, international steel production reached at 143.24 million ton, showing an increase of 6.3 percent over 134.79 million ton in the corresponding period last year. They also said that out of this China, the world’s premier steel producer registered an output of 74.02 million ton last month, up 10.3 percent over July 2016, when the country had produced 67.12 million ton. Furthermore, India’s crude steel output…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]akistan’s manufacturing sector constitutes as the second largest sector of the country’s economy contributing 13.5 percent to GDP and generating biggest number of industrial career opportunities with technology transfer. In the manufacturing the role of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) is unforgettable where the Association is continuously trying to upgrade the whole cement sector of Pakistan in the challenging economic environment. The Association calculated that though capacity utilization this July stood 87 percent as against to 61 percent previous year; it is not because of any so-called turnaround in exports. In fact, exports share in all dispatches declined from…

US SHARES DIP AS HURRICANE IRMA APPROACHES FLORIDA Wall Street stocks dipped early Friday as a monster-sized Hurricane Irma ripped through Caribbean and headed towards the United States. About 15 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 21,771.81, down 0.1 percent. The broad-based S&P 500 lost 0.1 percent at 2,462.35, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index shed 0.2 percent to 6,387.65. Credit reporting agency Equifax sank 13.2 percent after it disclosed that it suffered a hack that affected as many as 143 million US customers, nearly half the country’s population. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] BRITAIN’S FTSE DECLINES…

CRUDE DIPS, GASOLINE SPIKES AS FLOODS KNOCK OUT QUARTER OF US REFINERIES Oil prices dipped on Wednesday but gasoline spiked to its highest since mid-2015 as flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey knocked out almost a quarter of US refineries, crimping demand for crude but raising fears of fuel shortages. Harvey, which has been downgraded to a storm, has caused massive floods across coastal Texas, including in Houston. It is now moving into Louisiana, where more floods are expected. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $46.35 per barrel at 0644 GMT, down 9 cents from their…

BALTIC MAIN INDEX GAINS NEARLY 3PC ON STRONGER VESSEL ACTIVITY The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index rose nearly 3 percent on Wednesday to post its biggest percentage rise in three weeks as rates for all vessel segments perked up. The overall index tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities was up 35 points at 1,250 points. The Baltic index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, rose 2.88 percent to register its biggest one-day percentage rise since Aug. 17. The capesize index gained 125 points, or 5.4 percent, to 2,438 points. Average daily…

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ANAGING ONESELF: IDENTIFY STRENGTHS IT TAKES FAR LESS ENERGY TO MOVE FROM FIRST-RATE PERFORMANCE TO EXCELLENCE THAN IT DOES TO MOVE FROM INCOMPETENCE TO MEDIOCRITY. You can learn to identify your strengths by using feedback analysis. This is a simple process in which you write down every one of your key decisions and key actions along with the results that you expect them to achieve. Nine to twelve months later, check the actual results against expectations. After two to three years of use, you will know your strengths by tracking those decisions and actions where actual results fell in line…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 14-Jul Friday 21-Jul Friday 28-Jul Friday 4-Aug Friday 11-Aug Friday 18-Aug DOLLAR Buying 106.6 107.05 107.2 107.9 107.85 107.7 Selling 106.9 107.35 107.5 108.2 108.15 108 POUND Buying 137 138.25 139.25 140.25 138.5 136.25 Selling 138.75 140 141 142 140.25 138 EURO Buying 120.85 124 124.5 126 125 124.25 Selling 122.05 125.2 125.7 127.2 126.2 125.45 CANADIAN $ Buying 83 84.25 84.5 84.25 83.8 83.25 Selling 83.85 85.1 85.35 85.1 84.65 84.1 JAP YEN Buying 0.92 0.92 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.95 Selling 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.97 0.98 0.98 HK $ Buying 13.4…

3G/4G SUBSCRIBERS IN PAKISTAN Operator CMPak (Zong) PMCL (Jazz) Telenor PTML (Ufone) Warid Total Technology 3G 4G 3G LTE 3G 4G 3G LTE 2013-14 417,814 – 425,992 – 895 – 539,376 – 1,384,077 2014-15 2,898,094 105,128 3,656,345 – 4,162,616 – 2,570,283 106,211 13,498,677 2015-16 5,988,197 680,620 8,919,218 – 8,371,991 – 5,223,096 347,132 29,530,254 2016-17 8,640,333 4,041,766 12,443,340 937,209 10,453,885 607,013 4,960,486 – 42,084,032 [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] PER CAPITA INCOME IN PAKISTAN ($) FISCAL YEAR FY2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 Value 1274 1320 1334 1389 1514 1531 1629 PAKISTAN GDP PER CAPITA (PPP)…

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]or the last 70 years, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) Pakistan’s largest broadband services providers has embarked upon an ambitious transformation program for technology and customer services. Its network is being upgraded to provide reliable high speed internet and digital services to consumers and the corporate sector. The company is modernizing its shops and other customer service touch points and recently announced the partnership with iflix PTCL customers will get a one year access to iflix – the world’s leading Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) service for emerging markets, offering users an unlimited access to thousands of TV shows, movies…

[dropcap]Nestlé[/dropcap] Pakistan is proud to offer healthy and quality of brands/products in the market and has high aims to be the leading health, nutrition and wellness company. No doubt, the company is the leading food and beverages in Pakistan and operates in many ways but people, products and brands are the main flag bearers of the company’s image, and the management continues to improve the quality of life of Pakistanis. The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) has tested that Nestlé’s brands are good for human consumption. In this regard some food industry researchers are of the view…

PAKISTAN SHARES RECOVER ON SUPPORT FROM LOCAL INSTITUTIONS Pakistan stocks once again bounced back to recover some of the losses of the previous session and ended in the green in another volatile session on Friday. The KSE-100 Index declined over 400 points in the first 2-hour of trading, however, soon after it started to climb. The positivity continued even after midday break as the index shot up 500 points. It fell slightly before the end of trading, but still remained positive. At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index recorded an increase of 373.13 points or 0.88 percent at 42,641.75 points.…

COPPER HITS THREE YEARS HIGH AS SPECULATORS PILE INTO MARKET Copper hit a three-year high and nickel touched its strongest in eight months on Tuesday as mostly technical signals prompted speculators and funds to pour more cash into base metals. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange struck $6,642.50 a ton, the highest since November 2014, before paring gains to $6,620 in official open outcry trading, a gain of 0.5 percent. It rose 1.5 percent in the previous session. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] SILVER, GOLD TRADE LOWER Silver and gold were trading lower on Thursday on account of subdued demand…

BALTIC MAIN INDEX SLIDES ON LOWER RATES FOR LARGER VESSELS The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, slipped for the second straight session on Wednesday, hurt by falling rates for larger vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, fell 27 points, or 2.16 percent, to 1,222 points. The capesize index shed 107 points, or 4.3 percent, at 2,382 points – its biggest one-day percentage fall since July 27. The index snapped a 17-day rally on Tuesday. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically…

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ITTING THEM WHERE THEY AREN’T “HITTING THEM WHERE THEY AREN’T” OUTFLANKS THE BY CREATIVE IMITATION. Here, the innovator doesn’t create a major new product or service. Instead, it takes something just created by somebody else and improves upon it. This is imitation. But it is creative imitation because the innovator reworks the new product or service to better satisfy customers’ wants and needs. Once the innovator succeeds in creating what customers want, it can achieve leadership and take control of the market. The prefect example is how IBM became the leading producer of PCs in the 1970s. Apple invented the…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 14-Jul Friday 21-Jul Friday 28-Jul Friday 4-Aug Friday 11-Aug Friday 18-Aug DOLLAR Buying 106.6 107.05 107.2 107.9 107.85 107.7 Selling 106.9 107.35 107.5 108.2 108.15 108 POUND Buying 137 138.25 139.25 140.25 138.5 136.25 Selling 138.75 140 141 142 140.25 138 EURO Buying 120.85 124 124.5 126 125 124.25 Selling 122.05 125.2 125.7 127.2 126.2 125.45 CANADIAN $ Buying 83 84.25 84.5 84.25 83.8 83.25 Selling 83.85 85.1 85.35 85.1 84.65 84.1 JAP YEN Buying 0.92 0.92 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.95 Selling 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.97 0.98 0.98 HK $ Buying 13.4…

PAKISTAN STOCK EXCHANGE Description 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 (end March, 2017) Total Listed Companies 569 557 560 560 560 New Companies Listed 4 5 9 6 4 Funds Mobilized (Rs. billion) 29.5 47.6 79.6 111.2 21.9 Total Listed Capital (Rs. million) 1,116,005.0 1,100,340.9 1,189,518.9 1,289,081.0 1,297,159.0 Total Market Capitalization (Rs. million) 5,154,738.0 6,655,294.8 7,421,031.6 7,588,472.2 9,594,805.0 Total Shares Volume (million) 54,319.0 56,580.6 64,617.2 55,430.3 70,518.6 Average Daily Shares Volume (million) 221.0 229.1 261.0 220.8 379.1 [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] GLOBAL STOCK INDICES COUNTRY STOCK NAME DATE CHANGE JULY, 2016/MARCH2017 June 30, 2016 March 31, 2017 Points % 1 Pakistan…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan is working well-organized to develop a modern and efficient corporate sector and the capital market in Pakistan. The Commission is making best measures to counter the issues in the fast growing capital market and presently it has developed a Capital Market Development Plan (CMDP) (2016-18) detailing the way forward for the Pakistan capital market. The plan is a roadmap for initiatives envisaged by SECP for development of the capital market in the near future. Mutual fund companies have been trying to achieve their targets but due to negative perception, which is rising day…

Mutual fund industry takes a rise of over 7pc in Q1 of 2017 [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he capital market of any state plays as an important role in the economic development and the progress of a country hence the accumulation and mobilization of a capital for development is mainly dependent on local savings and even inflows of overseas capital. Therefore, proper resource mobilization by the stock exchange is an effectual means for development in the entire world. In realization of this consideration, the Government of Pakistan has been trying utmost fairly to encourage more foreign investors to participate in the market, maintaining state-of-the-art…

WALL STREET ENDS DOWN US stocks lost ground late to end lower on Friday following a White House-focused week that raised more questions about the Trump administration’s ability to implement its pro-growth agenda. While the day’s losses were small, Friday marked the first time stocks haven’t risen the day after a more than 1 percent drop since Donald Trump was elected president on Nov. 8. The week’s losses further dented the post-election rally, which was built on Trump’s promises of tax cuts and higher infrastructure spending. Thursday’s 1.5-percent drop in the S&P 500 came a week after a similar fall,…

OIL EDGES UP ON FALL IN US CRUDE STOCKS Oil prices edged up on Thursday, clawing back some ground after losses in the previous session. It is said the market was range-bound as falling crude inventories provided price support while high output was capping gains. Brent crude futures were at $50.44 per barrel at 0543 GMT, up 17 cents, or 0.3 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $46.84 a barrel, up 6 cents, or 0.1 percent. The slight gains followed a more than 1 percent fall in the [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]…

GLOBAL SHIPPING FIRMS GOING SUPER-SIZED The hulking container ships that transport sneakers, bananas and barbie dolls around the world keep getting bigger. So are the companies that own them. A massive consolidation is underway in the $500 billion global industry and the survivors now enjoy big economies of scale and increased demand, one year after excess capacity caused the sector’s worst-ever crisis — the bankruptcy of South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] CARGO HANDLED AT KARACHI PORT TRUST (in 000 tones) Period Exports Imports Total 2011-12 11,674 26,201 37,875 2012-13 12,150 26,700 38,850 2013-14 11,007 30,343 41,350 2014-15…

[dropcap]U[/dropcap]NREALIZED BUSINESS POTENTIAL “OPPORTUNITY IS WHERE YOU FIND IT,” NOT WHERE IT FINDS YOU. Luck, chance and catastrophe affect business as they do all human endeavors. But luck never built a business. Prosperity and growth come only to the business that systematically finds and exploits its potential. No matter how successfully a business organizes itself for the challenges and opportunities of the present, it will still be far below its optimum performance. Its potential is always greater than its realized actuality. Dangers and weaknesses indicate where to look for business potential. To convert them from problems into opportunities brings extraordinary…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 7-Jul Friday 14-Jul Friday 21-Jul Friday 28-Jul Friday 4-Aug Friday 11-Aug DOLLAR Buying 106.5 106.6 107.05 107.2 107.9 107.85 Selling 106.8 106.9 107.35 107.5 108.2 108.15 POUND Buying 136.5 137 138.25 139.25 140.25 138.5 Selling 138.25 138.75 140 141 142 140.25 EURO Buying 120 120.85 124 124.5 126 125 Selling 121.2 122.05 125.2 125.7 127.2 126.2 CANADIAN $ Buying 81 83 84.25 84.5 84.25 83.8 Selling 81.85 83.85 85.1 85.35 85.1 84.65 JAP YEN Buying 0.91 0.92 0.92 0.93 0.94 0.95 Selling 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.97 0.98 HK $ Buying 13.4…

FDI INFLOWS IN PAKISTAN ($ Million) Country 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 USA 238.1 227.7 227.1 212.1 223.9 13.2 71.1 UK 207.1 205.8 633 157 169.6 151.6 68.9 U.A.E 284.2 36.6 22.5 -47.1 213.6 109.7 55.8 Japan 3.2 29.7 30.1 30.1 71.1 35.4 45.2 Hong Kong 125.6 80.3 242.6 228.5 136.2 93.3 25 Switzerland 110.5 127.1 149 209.8 -6.5 58 16.9 Saudi Arabia 6.5 -79.9 3.2 -40.1 -64.8 24 1.9 Germany 21.2 27.2 5.5 -5.7 -18.2 -10.6 -5.2 Korea (South) 7.7 25.4 25.8 24.4 14.3 4 7.8 Norway -48 -275 -258.4 -21.6 2.7 172.5 -12.6 China 47.4 126.1 90.6…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is regarded as one of the most significant contributors of economic development of any state. I would also like to mention here that the positive character of population also attracts the FDI in any state if the population is dishonest nobody will come to invest in any state. No doubt, FDI is an integral part of an open and effective global economic system and a main catalyst to development. Yet, the advantages of FDI do not accrue automatically and evenly across states, sectors and local communities. National strategies and the foreign investment architecture also matter…

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ince 1947 to present, various governments took charge of Pakistan and have been trying to achieve the economic targets but unluckily due to some major challenges the targets couldn’t achieve in the appropriate and complete manner. Some country’s economic experts are of the view that economic growth has historically remained volatile, lacking a steady growth path and adding to the economic unrest of Pakistan’s economic conditions. Historical statistics suggests that Pakistan reached a high of above 10 percent growth level during 1954, but the following year it fell to 2 percent and went up again to above 9 percent between…

US STOCKS EDGE HIGHER AFTER 3-DAY RETREAT Wall Street stocks edged higher early Friday, as investors waded back into the market following a 3-day sell-off sparked by US tensions with North Korea. The deepest declines this week came Thursday after President Donald doubled down on threats against North Korea over its nuclear program. In day’s early trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 21,868.95, up 0.1 percent. The broad-based S&P 500 added 0.1 percent at 2,440.81, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.2 percent to 6,228.19. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] KSE-100 INDEX DIPS FURTHER…

U.S. IS A NET EXPORTER OF NATURAL GAS FOR 1ST TIME IN 59-YEAR The U.S. has been a net exporter of natural gas for three of the first five months of 2017, according to a note released by the EIA. This is historically significant, as February, April and May are so far, the only months in which the U.S has been a net exporter of natural gas since 1958. The U.S. natural gas trade is dominated by pipelines, with pipelines from Canada supplying the vast majority of all imported gas. The TransCanada Pipeline was completed in 1958, transporting gas from…

INDIA TIGHTENS RULES FOR OVERSEAS SHIPS TO PLY ON LOCAL ROUTES State-runs firms have been vested with powers to scrap contracts awarded to fleet owners on the basis of Indian registered ships offered by them under a local rule if they convert their ships into foreign flag before the tenure ends. The so-called right of first refusal or RoFR allows fleet owners to take the benefit available to Indian registered ships for doing business along the Indian coast. In a public tender, an Indian flag ship or ships registered in India has the right of first refusal to match the…

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ANAGING CASH IN THE NEW VENTURE THERE IS AN OLD BANKER’S RULE OF THUMB ACCORDING TO WHICH ONE ASSUMES THAT BILLS WILL HAVE TO BE PAID SIXTY DAYS EARLIER THAN EXPECTED AND RECEIVABLES WILL COME IN SIXTY DAYS LATER. Entrepreneurs starting new ventures are rarely unmindful of money; on the contrary, they tend to be greedy. They therefore focus on profits. But this is the wrong focus for a new venture, or rather, it comes last rather than first. Cash flow, capital, and controls come much earlier. Without them, the profit figures are fiction – good for twelve to eighteen…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 23-Jun Friday 7-Jul Friday 14-Jul Friday 21-Jul Friday 28-Jul Friday 4-Aug DOLLAR Buying 106.15 106.5 106.6 107.05 107.2 107.9 Selling 106.45 106.8 106.9 107.35 107.5 108.2 POUND Buying 133.5 136.5 137 138.25 139.25 140.25 Selling 135.25 138.25 138.75 140 141 142 EURO Buying 117.75 120 120.85 124 124.5 126 Selling 118.95 121.2 122.05 125.2 125.7 127.2 CANADIAN $ Buying 79.5 81 83 84.25 84.5 84.25 Selling 80.35 81.85 83.85 85.1 85.35 85.1 JAP YEN Buying 0.92 0.91 0.92 0.92 0.93 0.94 Selling 0.95 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.97 HK $ Buying 13.35…

THE KEY INFORMATION OF LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES (quarter ender 31 March 2017)div S.No. Name of company Total gross Premium Total net premium Claims Expenses Income Net claims Total Gross Acq. Cost Gross admin Expense Commission from Reinsurers Investments Others A B C D E F G H 1 Adamjee Life 2,668,583 2,571,947 1,156,503 377,951 211,921 0 378,909 0 2 East West Life 4,147 3,821 7,173 536 5,820 -16 3,400 0 3 EFU Life 7,010,979 6,818,321 4,437,155 1,123,187 319,280 -3,841 3,004,729 6,986 4 IGI Life 1,704,369 1,669,028 1,040,379 164,274 132,604 5,730 341,227 25,353 5 Jubilee Life 10,998,539 10,467,266 3,465,488 1,891,825 663,558…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]akistan’s insurance industry is comparatively small compared to other regional and developing states despite the sector having huge potential for expansion and growth. During FY2016, the government statistics revealed that the industry’s total premium revenue reached almost Rs259 billion as against to Rs233 billion in FY2015. However, the insurance penetration and density have recorded as upward trend at 0.88 percent and 12.87 for FY 2016, as against to 0.84 percent and 12.04 in FY2015. The statistics also shows that the asset size of total insurance industry as of December 31, 2016 reached at Rs1159 billion as against to Rs982 billion…

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]conomists believe that a well-organized and professionally working insurance industry in any state can perform significantly in the social and economic development and help in declining uncertainty over the economy and pooling long-term financial resources. Taking the above consideration, I like to add that this industry also shares in the development of other financial markets and institutions, thus indirectly facilitating the economic growth of a country. Adamjee Insurance Company Limited (AICL) having presence in Pakistan in the region and including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sustains its standing through an unwavering commitment to its corporate philosophy. The company’s competitive competency…

MALAYSIAN PALM OIL POSTS 3RD SESSION OF DECLINE Malaysian palm oil futures were headed for a third straight session of decline on Thursday as forecasts of rising output, and weaker performing related edible oils weighed on the market. The benchmark palm oil contract for October delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was down 0.7 percent at 2,624 ringgit ($612.58) at the midday break. Palm oil has shed 1.2 percent so far this week and is in line for its first weekly decline in a month and a half. Traded volumes stood at 32,098 lots of 25 tons each at…

BALTIC INDEX INCREASES ON IMPROVED CAPESIZE RATES The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose for the second straight day on Tuesday, supported by higher demand for capesize vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was up 19 points, or 2.01 percent, at 965 points. The capesize index gained 106 points, or 8.65 percent, to 1,331 points. Capesize rates are on the rise with average earnings increasing up to about $10,500/day as the market continues to gain some traction in the Pacific as…

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]OCIAL INNOVATION: THE LAB WITHOUT WALL STEINMETZ’S TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN SCIENCE IS ANATHEMA TO MANY ACADEMIC SCIENTISTS. Steinmetz’s innovation also led to the “lab without walls,” which is America’s specific, and major, contribution to very large scientific and technological programs. The first of these, conceived and managed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s former law partner, Basil O’Connor, was the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (March of Dimes), which tackled polio in the early 1930s. This project continued for more than twenty-five years and brought together in a planned, step-by-step effort a large number of scientists from half a dozen disciplines, in a…

PAKISTAN EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 16-Jun Friday 23-Jun Friday 7-Jul Friday 14-Jul Friday 21-Jul Friday 28-Jul DOLLAR Buying 106.05 106.15 106.5 106.6 107.05 107.2 Selling 106.35 106.45 106.8 106.9 107.35 107.5 POUND Buying 135 133.5 136.5 137 138.25 139.25 Selling 136.75 135.25 138.25 138.75 140 141 EURO Buying 118.5 117.75 120 120.85 124 124.5 Selling 119.7 118.95 121.2 122.05 125.2 125.7 CANADIAN $ Buying 79.7 79.5 81 83 84.25 84.5 Selling 80.55 80.35 81.85 83.85 85.1 85.35 JAP YEN Buying 0.94 0.92 0.91 0.92 0.92 0.93 Selling 0.97 0.95 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.96 HK $ Buying 13.35 13.35 13.4…

PROVINCE WISE DISTRIBUTION OF FACULTY AND MANAGEMENT STAFF TRAINED (Nos.) Programs Federal Punjab Sindh KPK Balochistan AJ&K Gilgit/ Baltistan Total Professional Training Programmes for HEIs Teachers (MT-FPDP) 14 21 22 13 11 6 – 87 Professional Training Programmes for HEIs Management 7 21 14 14 2 3 – 61 Transforming English Language Skills (TELS) 33 196 50 35 29 – 24 343 Continuous Professional Development (CPD) 120 90 240 90 30 – – 47 Total 174 328 326 161 72 9 24 1,047 [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER HRD SCHEMES DURING FY 2016-17 (Nos.) Scholarship…

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e all believe that education is central to economic growth and prosperity. And the Government of Pakistan proclaims it as a main concern. But still in the country educational quality and outcome, particularly in public sector schools, have not enhanced proportionate to resource transfer and improved awareness. When we look our surroundings, we find that Pakistani society is split into two segments the secular and religious curriculums both are totally dissimilar from each other. As a result, both curriculums have produced dissimilar mindsets in the students, while increasing challenges in the country. PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION The government officials have revealed that…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he poor quality of public education sector in Pakistani society is often quoted as the main reason of growth in the private education sector. The country with population of 199.1 million; must attract the foreign investment in this sector. Pakistani universities can play an important role in the international market for education and studies with the help of Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. Furthermore, many local universities have already started operations in some other states, but it is necessary to bring sizable foreign investments to build this sector more. For FY2017-18, the government has allocated Rs35,662.801 million for HEC…

PAKISTAN STOCKS BEAR BUMPY RIDE TO CLOSE FLAT Stocks seesawed on Friday as fears began to fade over ongoing political instability after the Supreme Court verdict on Panama Papers case that led to a flurry of volatility but no overall direction. The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s KSE-100 shares gained 0.01 percent or 6.27 points to close at 45,912.03 points. KSE-30 shares index shed 0.31 percent or 73.70 points to close at 23,854.00 points. As many as 364 scrips were active of which 218 advanced, 132 declined and 14 remained unchanged. The ready market volumes stood at 327.756 million shares as compared…

GOLD STEADY AHEAD OF US GDP DATA Gold steadied on Friday after retreating from a more than six-week high hit in the previous session, with investors looking for cues on the health of the US economy from second-quarter gross domestic product data due later in the session. A recovery in the world’s biggest economy would give the beleaguered dollar some respite from the recent sell-off, and also dent the likelihood for higher interest rates which benefits non-interest yielding and safe-haven gold. Spot gold were mostly unchanged at $1,259.10 per ounce at 0656 GMT, and was up slightly this week in…

BALTIC INDEX INCREASES ON HIGHER CAPESIZE RATES The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Tuesday, supported by higher rates for capesize vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was up 3 points, or 0.31 percent, at 980 points. The capesize index jumped 50 points, or 4.27 percent, to 1,221 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, were up $332 to $9,547. The panamax index was down 23 points, or 1.84 percent,…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]UNNEL-VISION INNOVATION OFTEN A PRESCRIPTION DRUG DESIGNED FOR A SPECIFIC AILMENT SOMETIMES ENDS UP BEING USED FOR SOME OTHER QUITE DIFFERENT AILMENT. When a new venture does succeed, more often than not it is in a market other than the one it was originally intended to serve, with products or services not quite those with which it had set out, bought in large part by customers it did not even think of when it started, and used for a host of purposes besides the ones for which the products were first designed. If a new venture does not anticipate this,…

PAKISTAN MARKET INDICATORS EXCHANGE RATES CURRENCY ACTIVITY Friday 9-Jun Friday 16-Jun Friday 23-Jun Friday 7-Jul Friday 14-Jul Friday 21-Jul DOLLAR Buying 106.05 106.05 106.15 106.5 106.6 107.05 Selling 106.35 106.35 106.45 106.8 106.9 107.35 POUND Buying 136.75 135 133.5 136.5 137 138.25 Selling 138.5 136.75 135.25 138.25 138.75 140 EURO Buying 118.75 118.5 117.75 120 120.85 124 Selling 119.95 119.7 118.95 121.2 122.05 125.2 CANADIAN $ Buying 78.5 79.7 79.5 81 83 84.25 Selling 79.35 80.55 80.35 81.85 83.85 85.1 JAP YEN Buying 0.94 0.94 0.92 0.91 0.92 0.92 Selling 0.97 0.97 0.95 0.94 0.95 0.95 HK $ Buying 13.35…

POWER PLANTS STARTED OPERATION SINCE 2015 2015 2016 2017 Plant Names Fuel Type Installed Capacity (MW) Plant Names Fuel Type Installed Capacity (MW) Plant Names Fuel Type Installed Capacity (MW) RYKML Bagasse 30 APOLO SOLAR Solar 100 Fatima Coal/Bagasse 120 FWEL-I Wind 50 Best Green Solar Solar 100 Hamza Bagasse 15 QUAID AZAM Solar 100 Crest Energy Solar Solar 100 Bhiki Gas 760 NANDIPUR Furnance Oil 425 Younus Wind 50 Dawood Wind Wind 50 SAPPHIRE Wind 50 Metro Wind 50 Sachal Wind Wind 50 CHINIOT Bagasse 62 Tapal Wind 30 TOTAL 995 TOTAL 717 Master Wind 50 Tenaga Wind 50…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resently, Pakistan’s electricity generation is recorded at 23,234MW and shortfall almost 4,000MW mainly due to growing population size. To overcome the energy crisis the present Government of Pakistan has been making all attempts to grow the energy supply with strategic vision of the energy sector to meet the country’s electricity demands in a proper manner. Experts have calculated that the power projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be helpful to remove the energy crisis by 2018 as $35 billion is expected to spend in this sector. Furthermore, the government has mandated AEDB (Alternative Energy Development Board) to act as…

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ny state with intention to boost its economy and to enhance the standards of living must need to secure a robust energy supply. In this fast moving technology world, make availability of electricity is very first need and in this regard Pakistan government is doing its best to meet the supply and gap demand of energy though the sufferings continue but there are number of projects in the offing that will be the sigh of relief for the citizen of our country for the next coming years. The experts in the International Energy Agency expect electricity demand in Pakistan at…