Faridkot (Pakistan''s Punjab province), Dec. 7 : Residents of a village in Pakistan Punjab''s Okara District have reportedly told a British daily that Ajmal Amir Kasab, the surviving gunman involved in last week''s terrorist attacks on Mumbai, hails from there.

According to a report in The Observer, electoral lists for Faridkot show 478 registered voters, including the name of Kasab''s father Mohammed Amir.

The paper further goes on to say that a villager, who cannot be named for his own protection, said the village was an active recruiting ground for the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Metro Cash & Carry is planning to invest Rs 900 crore in retail market of Punjab. The German wholesale retailer would set up six distribution centers in the state initially and further expand its business to other major towns. The company is present in 29 countries of world having more than 600 centers.

Amritsar, Dec 4 : Pakistan traders in Amritsar fear that the recent terrorist strikes in Mumbai could hamper trade and economic co-operation between India and Pakistan.

Pakistani traders participating in the Punjab International Trade Expo 2008 (PITEX) apprehend that if circumstances do not change, trade between both countries will decline.

"Trade has been affected. We are mentally perturbed by what has been happening here," said Mohammed Afzal, a Pakistani exporter.

Several Pakistani traders were expecting to participate in this trade fair, but abstained for security reasons.

Chandigarh, Dec. 3 : It’s winter season, a time when various non-resident Indians prefer visiting India, their native homes. Utilising this moment a golf tournament was organised here recently, which was participated by about 70 NRIs from different parts of the world.

The 3rd Chandigarh Golf Tournament gained significance with so many expatriate Punjabis enjoying a gala time.

For these amateur golfers, the three-day event involved much more than sports, as everyone also enjoyed sharing memories and business experiences.

Ferozepur, Dec. 3 : The Punjabi Durbar programme of the Pakistan Radio wants India to adopt its style of democracy.

Indian democracy, the Pakistan Radio feels, has been taken over by the mafia. For the good of the people of India, the country should adopt the Pakistan system.

Instead of political mafia, India should have a system where the military exercises all power and the politicians have all the pleasures of going round the world. Pakistan papers recently had scores of articles giving details of planeloads of ‘politicians’ accompanying President Zardari.

Ludhiana, Dec. 3 : With global economic slowdown affecting almost all countries around the world and the United States economy being the worst-hit, the Indian exporters and manufactures have not been able to escape the heat.

The small and medium scale enterprises in Punjab are facing a major crisis and now seeking a bailout from the government. The State’s leather industry particularly is facing a major downturn.