Adnan Yousef, Chairman of the Union of Arab Banks has said that the total assets of banks in the Arab world grew 3.57% to $2.26 trillion in 2009 despite the global financial crisis, Khaleej Times has reported. Addressing the Emirates Bankers’ Forum, Yousef said that the total assets of the top 100 Arab banks in terms of assets exceeded $1.5 trillion, deposits reached $1 trillion, total loans amounted $831bn, shareholders equities reached $164bn and net profits reached $24bn.

Banque Saudi Fransi plans to meet investors in Europe, Asia and the Middle East next week to test the waters for a potential debt issuance, Reuters has reported. ‘If investors show appetite for bond, of whatever nature, then we will see if we will issue or not,’ one bank executive, who declined to be identified said. The Saudi affiliate of France’s Credit Agricole is set to begin presentations in Saudi Arabia on March 14 before moving to selected countries in Asia and Europe, he said.

The UAE’s finance ministry has said that it injected Dhs50bn into the country’s banks, Bloomberg has reported. The amount was part of a Dhs70bn facility set up to support banks’ liquidity in 2008, Younis Al-Khoori, director general at the ministry said.

Remittances sent home by overseas Pakistanis continued to show a rising trend as an amount of $5,786.89 million was received in the first eight months (July?February) of the current fiscal year 2009?10, showing an increase of $868.26 million or 17.65 percent over the same period of the last fiscal year. The amount of $5,786.89 million [...]

Pakistan Cricket Board took a u-turn on fixing the time frame of ban imposed on former captains, Younis Khan and Muhammad Yousaf and said there is no specified term on it.
Media has interpreted the first recommendations of the inquiry committee regarding Younis and Yousaf as being a life ban on these [...]

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that the dialogue with the Taliban is underway, and added that reconciliatory process would be continued to maintain peace in the region.
Talking to media in Islamabad, Karzai said that Taliban were being provoked to fight against their own country, adding that talks would be held only with those Taliban who have got no links with al-Qaeda.He noted, Both Afghanistan and Pakistan have been bearing terrorism for the last two years, however, now we have realised that the Pakistans loss is greater.
Replying to a question, the Afghan President said that despite huge financial aid from India, his government gives more importance to its ties with Pakistan. Later, Karzai called on Army Chief Ashfaq Kayani and is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Gilani today.

Two persons, including the son of Maulana Abdul Ghafoor, Amir of a banned religious outfit, were killed, while five people including Maulana himself and another of his sons got severely injured in Nazimabad, Karachi.
Karachi Amir of an outlawed religious organisation Ahle Sunnat Maulana Abdul Ghafoor received gun shots at his abdomen and foot. The injured [...]

The Board of Directors of Warid Telecom have appointed Mr. Muneer Farooqui as company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr. Farooqui is a 20 year veteran of telecom industry, who started his professional journey in the telecommunication arena in 1993. In May 2004 at the time of inception of the company, Mr. Farooqui joined Warid [...]

Two persons, including the son of Maulana Abdul Ghafoor, Amir of a banned religious outfit, were killed, while five people including Maulana himself and another of his sons got severely injured in Nazimabad, Karachi.
Karachi Amir of an outlawed religious organisation Ahle Sunnat Maulana Abdul Ghafoor received gun shots at his abdomen and foot.The injured were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where Abdul Ghafoors condition is stated to be out of danger.