LAHORE (March 10, 2010): Mangla dam has reached its dead level of 1,040 feet, therefore the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) is releasing only run of the river water instead of daily 30,000 cusecs water downstream in the river Jhelum command area from Tuesday, consultant Irrigation Punjab, M.H. Siddiqui, told Business Recorder.

MIRPUR (March 10, 2010): Chief Secretary Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Khalid Sultan has directed Mangla Dam Resettlement Organisation to ensure the allotment of plots to displaced families of Mangla Dam Raising Project by March 15 here on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD (March 10, 2010): The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved import of 0.4 million tons of urea, and directed the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to make immediate arrangements through Karachi port for the Kharif season 2009-10. The ECC meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, also approved distribution of urea through NFC/NFML for Kharif 2010.

KARACHI (March 10, 2010): Manufacturers on Tuesday raised the ghee and cooking oil prices by Rs 20 respectively because of a surge in the global crude oil prices. Now, ghee and cooking oil prices of a 16kg/litre tin have reached Rs 1680 in the retail market becoming costlier by Rs 1.25 per kg. Previously, both the commodities were available at Rs 1660 per kg/litre, according to retailers.

KARACHI (March 10, 2010): The lowest bidder, American Investment, which for the second time submitted a defective Standby Letter of Credit (SBCL) in TCP's fifth sugar import tender, has asked for four days' time to correct the defective LC. Sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday that the TCP had already granted two days' to the American Investment group (AIG) for correction, but till Tuesday evening it had failed to submit corrected LC, as per Corporation's terms and conditions.

KARACHI (March 10, 2010): Malaysia is expected to increase its rice import from Pakistan four fold this year. This was disclosed by the Commercial Counsellor for Pakistan High Commission Wijiuallah Kundi in Kuala Lumpur.

LAHORE (March 10, 2010): Diamond Paints, Pakistan's largest selling national paint brand, has entered into a technology agreement to deploy SAP's ERP software at Diamond Paints. Abacus, a SAP implementation partner in Pakistan for 25 years, will oversee the implementation process.

KARACHI (March 10, 2010): "Pakistan Steel is striving hard to acquire its routine position and being a national asset, every possible step would be taken to facilitate Pakistan Steel financially in order to improve its production and capacity utilisation," said Ghous Bux Mahar, Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production on his visit to Pakistan Steel Tuesday to discuss the affairs and performance of Pakistan Steel.

ISLAMABAD (March 10, 2010): Minister for Interior A Rehman Malik on Tuesday chaired a meeting in pursuance of the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to look into the corruption which took place in the Pakistan Steel Mills during the last decade. Director, FIA, Karachi briefed the minister about the progress made in the investigation so far.

ISLAMABAD (March 10, 2010): The operator of a $3 billion joint venture copper and gold project in Balochistan is hopeful the project will go ahead despite a government threat to scrap it because of misgivings about the share of benefits. The project is owned by Canada's Barrick Gold and Chilean copper miner Antofagasta.