After the extension of US$1.5 billion loan by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s balance of payment crisis seems to have eased, at least for the time being. However, concerted efforts have to be made to boost exports to reduce heavy dependence of remittances. There is also need to create conducive environment for the inflow of direct investment. While there are expectations that after the grant of GSP Plus status to Pakistan …

  Despite having tropical wet and dry climate, extensive irrigation makes Punjab a rich agricultural region. Its canal-irrigation system established by the British is the largest in the world. Wheat and cotton are the largest crops. Other crops include rice, sugarcane, millet, corn, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, and fruits. Livestock and poultry production are also important. Punjab contributes about 76% to annual food grain production in the country. Cotton and rice …

  Gujranwala and Sialkot are the major agricultural and industrial cities of northeastern Punjab and fast emerging cities of Pakistan for the development of economic growth. Gujranwala being having an important industrial base in north eastern Punjab contributing a major part in its export growth through its dry port handlings. The major exports through this port include rice, sugar, textiles, carpets, glass goods, medical equipment, leather products, metal utensils, agricultural …

  In 2003, Punjab Government had established Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC), on the basis of public-private partnership to achieve orderly planned and rapid industrialization in the province. Over the years, PIEDMC actively participated in the industrial developments and now successfully runs four industrial estates and it is busy in developing another five estates in different parts of the province. One of the landmark achievements is that …

  The Punjab Board of Investments is actively involved in finding opportunities for business. Punjab being an agricultural land, needless to say there are numerous investment opportunities in farming. The government has identified potential sectors, which need investments and on the government target list. Many initiatives have been taken to resolve the energy and power crisis including development on Thar coal. The government has set positive examples by keeping law …

  Pakistan has a poor record when it comes to women’s rights. Under the anti-women practices like wanni or budla-i-sulh, the women are traded like commodity and they are given in forced marriages against their will to settle personal, family or tribal disputes. These practices are widespread in rural areas of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh province where tribal and feudal system is still very strong even women are …

  In 2014, global oil demand will be higher than formerly predict, after consumption in US rebounded to its strongest stage in 5-year. Economic adepts predicted that demand will boost by 1.2 million barrels a day to 92.4 million a day coming year, increasing its projection from November by 240,000 a day. USA fuel utilize increased over 20 million barrels a day in November for the first time since 2008. …

  Crude oil determines inflation and also determines the GDP of an oil exporting nation. In more advance economics as discussed earlier, oil is used for investments i.e. trading of commodity futures. Irrespective of the current market price, futures are locked at a higher price being traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (or NYMEX), as well as the International Petroleum Exchange. Speculation that who trade large volumes can easily …

  Over the past 30 years, one of the major players in the world is considered to be Asia in term of high growth rate. China and India are developing at a rapid pace, more rapidly than what anyone had expected. Due to this, the demand of electricity is likely to increase each year by 8% till 2015. With such increases in demand along with the increase in prices, electricity …

  It seems there is a deliberate attempt to create justification for the import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and bid farewell to Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project. This lobbying is being done on the behest of those who have been opposing the project for one or the other reason. The bottom line is to keep Iran and Pakistan at a distance and the efforts have been further enhanced by …