U.S. issues travel alert after bin Laden killing

WASHINGTON: The U.S. State Department on Sunday warned Americans worldwide of “enhanced potential for anti-American violence” following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

“Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations,” the State Department said in a statement.

Winning toss will play crucial role in Indo-Pak semifinal: Butt

LAHORE: The winning of toss will play a very crucial role in tomorrow’s World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan in Mohali, said the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt on Monday.

Butt said while talking to the media, before leaving for Mohali at Wagah Border check post, that it is not fair to declare a semifinal cricket match as a war between India and Pakistan.

He added that it is expected that the match will be a remarkable cricket competition as both teams contain some very fine players of the current time.

“We miss Muhammad Aamir in this mega event,” Butt added. TrendPK

Cold winds to lash Pakistan

KARACHI: The Meteorological office has forecast a sharp surge in cold weather conditions across Pakistan after three days.

The intensity of the current cold wave is likely to increase as chilly winds are about to enter Pakistan from Siberia.

The cold winds will affect Karachi and others parts of Sindh.

The temperature is expected to drop to five degrees celsius in Karachi. TrendPK

Central bank raises interest rate

Staff Report

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan has increased the interest rate by 50 basis points to 13.5 percent from September 30, 2010 for a period of two months.

According to a statement released from Karachi today (Wednesday), the interest rate has been increased in view of the current price hike.

The statement further said that the recent floods have further worsened the existing fragile economic situation. SAMAA

SBP raises policy discount rate by 50bps

In its second monetary policy of the current fiscal year, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has raised the benchmark policy discount rate by 50bps to 13.5%, Dunya News reported on Wednesday. The policy has been announced for next two months.
The bank stated that flood has badly affected the economy due to which growth rate would be 2 percent and deficit would further be increased. It is feared that volume of non-operation bank loans would be increased.
Earlier, in its first monetary policy, SBP had raised interest rate by 50 basis points.

Production of oil refineries decrease due to floods

Gross production of oil refineries decreases due to the situation developed by floods.
According to an initial estimate, the gross product in the first two months of the current fiscal year has decreased by 18 percent. Product in July and August appeared to be 12 hundred thousand tons, which is 2 hundred thousand tons less than previous year. In the month of August, only 482 tons of refined petroleum products were produced due to a blockade by PARCO because of floods. Production of furnace oil decreased by 20 percent and of high speed diesel and petrol by 13 and 16 percent respectively, as compared to the previous year.

Floodwater inundates Sujawal, heads to Thatta

Flood inundates Sujawal, heads to Thatta

Staff Report

KARACHI: Floodwater submerged Sujawal on Sunday, spreading further destruction in an area where hundreds of thousands of people who fled to higher ground are in dire need of food and water.

Almost all of Sujawal’s 250,000 residents fled from the town before the water rushed in, but the damage to homes, clinics and schools added to the widespread devastation the floods have caused across Pakistan, said Hadi Baksh, a disaster management official in southern Sindh province.

Authorities in Sujawal were trying to limit the damage, but the water level has already risen to five feet (1.5 meters) in the center of town and up to 10 feet (3 meters) in the surrounding villages, said Anwarul Haq, the top official in Sujawal.

The floodwaters also threatened Thatta, one of the major cities in southern

Match-fixing: Ali points finger at PCB

Staff Report

KARACHI: Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports, Iqbal Muhmmad Ali, has said that involvement of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) can not be ruled out in match-fixing.

Speaking to SAMAA today, he said the PCB chief has become a king, who had been announcing bonuses and cash awards for the players.

“Enough is enough. Players have stained Pakistan’s image. All those who are found guilty must be banned for life,” said Ali.

“Muhammad Amir, if proven guilty, should immediately be called back from England,” he added.

British police said they had arrested a man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers following newspaper allegations of match-fixing in the ongoing cricket Test between England and Pakistan.

The News of the World alleged that some members of the Pakistan team were involved in

President Zardari visits Kotri Barrage today

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to make a visit to Kotri Barrage to assess the flood situation, SAMAA reported on Sunday.

He will also visit flood-ravaged areas around the barrage.

In addition, President Zardari will be briefed about the current flood situation and its impact. SAMAA

Nawaz demands withdrawal of power tariff hike

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has called for withdrawal of the current hike in power tariff, describing it as unjustified, ARY NEWS reports.

The rest is here:
Nawaz demands withdrawal of power tariff hike

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