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Karachi:
Foreign investment in the country has fallen 15 percent in six months (July-December) of 2010-11 fiscal year referred to national and international economic slowdown and security hampered the flow of money to supply chains that drive the economy .

According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan on Friday, foreign investment totaled 1.05 billion dollars in July-December 2010 compared to 1.24 billion kronor for the same period the previous year, showed a decrease of 15.4 percent. Of total investment was $ 828,500,000 in the form of FDI, while $ 221.5 million was in the form of portfolio investment on the stock markets of the country.

Assistant Vice President for Research BMA Capital, Abdul Shakur, said the slowing national economy, political instability, law and order situation has discouraged foreign investors from putting their money into the country. He said that the international economic recession over the past two years and the turmoil in global markets following the debt problems of large scale have also stopped the flow of money to Pakistan.

While the budget deficit breaks all records, the government opposes an increase in local oil and electricity prices for political reasons.

However, in doing so, the Treasury short of money is bound to face serious consequences, the fact that international oil prices are on a steady increase, says a research report released Friday by the Securities Topline.

In January this year, the price of Saudi light crude oil - a benchmark local companies for exploration and production (E & P) - has increased by eight percent to $ 96 a barrel.

If this trend continues, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) meeting later this month to decide the price of local oil in the month of February has a crucial impact on the state budget, according to Farhan Mahmood Topline Securities.

INDIA: Stampede began the night in a dense forest road accident has killed more than 100 Hindu pilgrims in the southern state of Kerala in India, police and officials said Saturday.

The state police said Deputy General 102 people were killed late on Friday. Officials at a Hindu temple has estimated the death toll at about 100, Kerala Temple Kadannappally Minister Ramachandran said by telephone.

Kerala Prime Minister has called an emergency meeting of government, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised up to 100,000 Indian rupees compensation for each of relatives killed, Press Trust of India.

"It's an unfortunate incident. The Prime Minister has called us and said that all measures be taken. My government will decide on an appropriate amount of compensation," said VS Achuthanandan, Kerala Chief Minister, CNN-IBN.

Hundreds gathered at the hill shrine of Sabarimala on Friday evening, the last day of an annual religious festival of two months.

A bus carrying pilgrims returning from the neighboring state of Karnataka came into collision with a jeep and went out of control, crushing people walking nearby, Kadannappally said. Panic Pilgrims flocked, triggering a stampede.

"Rescue operations are very difficult since the incident occurred in a dense forest, where roads are very narrow," he said.

New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket players continue to miss the Indian Premier League (IPL) Bonanza after none of them were included in the auction event for the money-spinning of Next year, organizers said Tuesday.

None of Pakistan on a list of 416 players, whose services will be auctioned in January in Bangalore 8-9 for the fourth edition of the Twenty20 tournament to be held in April and May. Pakistan cricketers took part in the inaugural IPL in 2008 but were expelled in 2009 due to security concerns following the attacks in Mumbai, and were then ignored in the 2010 tournament.

IPL official said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not give any names at auction in January. "The rules state that a player must apply through his home board, if he would be placed on the auction. There are no names have come from Pakistan," the official told AFP.

WASHINGTON:

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday offered to look for new ways to help troubled economy of Pakistan has shown its support to President Asif Ali Zardari was at the meeting of the White House, officials said.

Zardari held a private meeting with Obama after a flight to Washington for a memorial service for Richard Holbrooke, U.S. envoy end of Pakistan and Afghanistan, which was a priority for the U.S. administration.

Obama "underlined the importance of US-Pakistan relations and our continued support for Pakistan," The White House said in a statement.

RAWALPINDI: The brother of Mumtaz Qadri, the custodian who killed Salman Taseer, is optimistic that his brother will not be processed.

Qadri brother Dilpazeer Awan, the only brother of six years in the family who do not work for the government, said about 17 state investigative agencies were still question whether parents had any affiliation to groups political or religious.

Awan said he believed Qadri acted on their own.

"If God is willing, even if the government will support him when the time comes. We hope that the judiciary does not do justice," Awan told Reuters.

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prime minister, Amir Haider Khan Hoti on Saturday announced that it has increased by 50 per cent of basic salary of officers and jawans of the police.

Speaking at a meeting of police officers in Peshawar police lines, Hoti appreciates the work done by police in the province.

"Looking at your strength, service, sacrifice and given your needs, it is my honor to announce that the monthly salary of each officer and Jawan police rose 50 percent," Chief Minister DOAS.

KARACHI: The death toll from the latest wave of violence in Karachi rose to 31 Saturday, reported. Most victims were Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party (ANP) workers.

Both sides came out strong against the killings. ANP moved to postpone the movement against violence by the Senate to say the killings are undermining the city.

MQM also condemned the violence in Karachi and said that a stable country and has the advantage that the killings undermine peace.

MQM came back strongly after a former union council members were shot dead in Orangi Town earlier today (Saturday).

WELLINGTON: Pakistan wicketkeeper Akmal Adnan took five catches in New Zealand's top order did not take advantage of voice and fought in the 246 begins to wind six to play the first day of the second test windy Basin Reserve on Saturday.

Host wicketkeeper Reece Young, playing his second Test match, was 28 and captain Daniel Vettori has 38, with a false unbroken 66-run partnership to ensure the visitors had taken full control of the match.

Strong northerly winds gusting over 80 km / h, has wreaked havoc with Pakistan Bowling, who was forced to repeatedly go out of their approach to the fence when they were pulled over.

Ross Taylor was the standout in the New Zealand innings, ending a barren run to notch his 11th Test half-century before being dismissed for 78 just when it appeared his sixth Test century was proposed.