Fresh milk prices increased in twin cities

 

ISLAMABAD: The prices of fresh milk have been increased Rs 5 to 6 per litter by Milk Association in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, a private news television reported Thursday.

According to television report, the milk was being sold at Rs 70 to 80 per litter and yogurt on Rs 90 to 100 per kilogram but now the rates have been increased by Rs 5 to 6 in the market and across city.

The daily milk consumption especially in summers every year increases manifold including demand of packaged and un-packaged milk and yogurt.

According to details, the milkmen have unilaterally started selling milk at shops on increased rates.

It is pertinent to mention here that there is no proper price control system in the city as the milkman like suppliers of other commodities particularly of daily use items have been given a free hand and the departments concerned are taking no appropriate action in accordance with the law.

The shopkeepers are fleecing the customers by charging high rates of their products.

The citizens criticized the increase in milk prices, asking the authorities concerned to intervene into the matter to save them from profiteers, according to report.

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CNG stations to remain closed in Sindh for 24 hours

KARACHI: The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations would be closed across Sindh for the next 24 hours as part of Gas Load Management Plan, Geo News reported.

The gas outlets would shut down for business from 8:00 Am Friday till 8:00 AM Saturday.

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Asian stocks rise on US stimulus hopes

Hong Kong: Asian stocks gained Friday, with Tokyo clawing back some ground after plunging in the previous session as tepid US data eased concerns that the Federal Reserve could begin tapering its aggressive stimulus program.

Tokyo climbed 1.64 percent after the Japanese government released a barrage of economic data just before the market opened, including a stronger-than-expected on-month rise of 1.7 percent in April factory output.

The benchmark Nikkei index on Thursday lost 5.15 percent as jittery investors dumped shares on the back of a stronger yen and mounting concerns over global growth.

In other markets, Hong Kong rose 0.39 percent, Seoul gained 0.56 percent while Sydney and Shanghai traded flat.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.14 percent at 15,324.53 on Thursday as weaker-than-expected economic news fueled hopes the Federal Reserve will continue to keep its foot on the stimulus pedal.

New claims for unemployment insurance benefits unexpectedly rose in the US last week, by 10,000, and pending home sales edged up 0.3 percent in April, when 1.5 percent was forecast.

The US government's revised estimate of first-quarter economic growth came in barely changed at 2.4 percent. Analysts had expected that it would hold unchanged at 2.5 percent.

In currency markets, the dollar firmed to ¥101.01 in early Asian trade from ¥100.74 in New York late Thursday.

The euro bought $1.3040 and ¥131.85 against $1.3043 and ¥131.39.

Oil was down in Asia, with New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July dropping eight cents to $93.53 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for July delivery shedding seven cents to $102.12.

Gold was at $1,419.80 at 0220 GMT from $1,399.52 late Thursday.

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Sindh caretaker set-up dissolved; notification issued

KARACHI: The caretaker government of Sindh has been dissolved, Geo News reported.

According to details a notification to this effect has also been issued.

Earlier, Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad Khan administered oath to the newly elected Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah at a ceremony here on Thursday night.

A seven-member provincial cabinet comprising of Manzoor Hussain Wassan‚ Makhdoom Jamiluz Zaman‚ Ali Nawaz Mahar‚ Dr. Sikander Mangro‚ Sharjeel Inam Memon‚ Mir Hazar Khan Bejarani and Nisar Khoro was also sworn in.

Moreover, Syed Murad Ali Shah was appointed advisor to CM on Finance.

Even earlier in the day‚ the Sindh Assembly elected Syed Qaim Ali Shah of Pakistan People's Party as Sindh Chief Minister on Thursday evening.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah got 86‚ Sardar Ahmed of MQM 48 and Imtiaz Shaikh of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) 18 votes.

An 18-member caretaker cabinet of Sindh comprising businessmen, agriculturists, writers, doctors and civil society activists was sworn in on March 29, 2013.

The interim ministers included prominent writer and civil society activist Anis Haroon, TV playwright Syeda Noorul Huda Shah, Iqbal Dawood Pakwala, Khalid Tawab, Sardar Yaseen Malik, Raees Ghulam Qasim Jiskani, Sardar Khan Ghoto, Khalid Latif, Nawab Qalab Hussain Lahori, Nawab Ameer Ali, Barrister Mahmood Madviwala, Dr Junaid Ali Shah, Shabbar Zaidi, Dr NK Lohano, Shukaib Qureshi, Abdul Qadeer Chauhan, and Muhammad Sharif Ansari. Haroon Farooqi and Mian Zahid Hussain were appointed as Advisors to Sindh Caretaker CM Alavi.

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Indian-American wins National Spelling Bee

OXON HILL: Indian-American Arvind Mahankali, after years of heart- breakingly close calls, has triumphed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The 13-year-old from Bayside Hills, New York correctly spelled ``knaidel,'' a German-derived Yiddish word for a small mass of leavened dough, to win the 86th version of the competition Thursday night. The bee tested brain power, composure and, for the first time, knowledge of vocabulary.

Arvind finished in third place in both 2011 and 2012, and both times, he was eliminated on German-derived words. This time, he got two German-derived words in the finals, including the winning word, eliciting groans and laughter from the crowd. He spelled both with ease.

Arvind outlasted 11 other finalists, all but one of whom had been to the National Spelling Bee before. Thirteen-year-old Pranav Sivakumar of Tower Lakes, Illinois, finished second.

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