Banks to remain open today
for taxes collection
KARACHI (Staff Reporter):  Branches of all commercial banks will remain open for collection of taxes. Therefore, 30th June, 2014 will be a normal working day for all types of banking. The banks would also make necessary arrangements for deduction of Zakat on opening balances of deposits of 1st Ramzan-ul-Mubarak, 1435 A.H in terms of Zakat and Usher Ordinance 1980. NBP from 08:00 AM to 10:00 PM for cheque collection-12 midnight for cash counters, other commercial banks from 08:00 am to 10:00 pm while the special clearing timings 03:00 PM and 10:00 PM. The banks to keep their related clearing branches open today till such time the aforesaid two special clearings by NIFT are completed.

Punjab govt takes steps to boost
agri commodities yield
LAHORE (APP): The Punjab government is taking steps to make rice produce as per international standards and remove hurdles in its export. Punjab Agriculture department sources told APP on Sunday,Punjab Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh Javed had directed the representatives of rice export association to provide the list of those farmers whose rice they wanted to export. Sources further said the Punjab agriculture department would impart training to growers to deal with diseases and insects which harm the rice crop. The government wanted to enhance the production of agriculture commodities in the larger interest of agriculture sector and farmers.

 The Minister has also announced to form a board comprising agriculture officers and representatives of rice exporters, sources added.

CNG association demands adequate gas pressure
ISLAMABAD (APP): The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Sunday urged the authorities concerned to ensure adequate gas pressure at the compressed natural gas (CNG) stations. Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA, Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha in a statement said the CNG outlets in Punjab were getting low gas pressure and supply for two days in a week, badly affecting the owners financially.  He claimed that over 300 CNG stations had closed down in the province due to ‘limited natural gas supply and irrational pricing.’ It is also causing unemployment, he added.  He said an APCNGA delegation would meet officials concerned of Ministry of Petroleum on Monday to seek solution to CNG sector’s issues. 

Textile industry fetches $10.38b
in nine months
ISLAMABAD (APP): The textile industry has contributed precious foreign exchange of $ 10.385 billion to national exchequer during first nine months of this fiscal year.  The cotton, having a share of 1.4 per cent in GDP and 6.7 per cent in agriculture value addition is an important source of raw material to the textile industry, which was cultivated on an area of 28,06,000 hectares, 2.5 per cent less than last year’s area of 28,79,000 hectares. According to the Ministry of Textile figures, the production stood at 12.8 million bales during the period against the target of 14.1 million bales.  

The cotton production is decreased due to fall in the area sown which is due to less rates of cotton nationally and internationally prevailed during last two years that discouraged the growers to put more area under crop and shifting the area to maize and rice crops in some districts of Punjab due to their better market returns.–APP

MCCI for early completion of
Multan airport
MULTAN (APP): President Multan Chamber of Commerce, Khawaja Usman has urged the authorities concerned to ensure Multan airport operational by August 14, 2014. Presiding over a meeting here on Sunday, he said that the completion of airport would open an era of progress and prosperity in the area while problems of the exporters would also be resolved.  He said the MCCI would continue its struggle for the economic progress of this region and the resolution of problems. The MCCI members urged the district government to complete the sewerage project from Eidgah to Kumharanwala chowk as early as possible to facilitate the people.