LONDON (March 15, 2010): An international team of scientists has managed to transfer disease resistance from one plant family to another, offering broader protection from potentially costly and destructive pests.

HYDERABAD (March 15, 2010): Director Gen-eral (DG) Agriculture Research Sindh (ARS), Hidayatullah Chhajro, has said that research findings are being disseminated to the growers through media, in this context complaint cells have been set up in different institutes, including Agriculture Research Tandojam, Wheat Research Institute Sakrand, Rice Research Institute Dokri and Sindh Horticulture Research Institute Mirpurkhas.

FAISALABAD (March 15, 2010): The Punjab government has evolved a comprehensive plan for introducing drip irrigation system at subsidised rates to overcome an acute water crisis in the province.

KARACHI (March 15, 2010): Sindh Irrigation and Power Minister Syed Murad Al Shah, Katchi Abadis Miniter Engr M Rafique Advocate and Advisor to Sindh CM for Information Jameel Ahmed Soomro on Sunday expressed deep sorrow over deaths in accident at Laki Shah Saddar involving visitors to Qalander Lal Shebaz Mazar, Sehwan.

ISLAMABAD (March 15, 2010): The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has directed the State Bank of Pakistan and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Minfa) to draft a joint strategy to dispose of surplus wheat, official sources told Business Recorder.

KARACHI (March 15, 2010): Steel importers have clearly refused to accept the customs' revised import trade price (ITP) for three steel items and raised demand for release of imported consignments at provisional assessment till the issue is resolve, sources in customs said.

ISLAMABAD (March 14, 2010): Minister for Science & Technology Senator Mohammed Azam Khan Swati on Saturday called upon the government to review the funds allocation to his ministry as science and technology was the lifeline for the country enabling its people to face the modern-day challenges.

PESHAWAR (March 14, 2010): Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC) organised a two-day 9th Gem Bazaar in Peshawar at its Gem Exchange, Namak Mandi, Peshawar on 13th and 14th March 2010. Managing Director, Bank of Khyber (BoK) Bilal Mustafa, chief guest, inaugurated The Gem Bazaar.

KARACHI (March 14, 2010): Pakistan Steel on Saturday announced raise in the prices of seven steel products by up to Rs 4,000 per ton, dealers said. They said that PS has raised the prices of cold rolled, hot rolled, billets, copal plate, slab, galvanised products and chequered plat to rationalise its products prices in line with international market and just after increase in the import trade price (ITP) of three major steel products by customs.

ISLAMABAD (March 14, 2010): The prices of chicken increased by 1.86 percent during the week ended on March 11 as compared to the previous week. The chicken prices were recorded at Rs 142.56 per kilogram during the week under review as against the prices of Rs 139.96 per kilogram recorded during previous week, according to weekly Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) figures provided by the Federal Bureau of Statistics.