Karachi  - Pakistan's federal cabinet on Monday decided an overhaul of its economic backbone, agriculture, by announcing several measures such as increasing wheat buying prices for farmers.

The government hiked the minimum wheat purchase price by around 45 per cent for upcoming crop to 950 rupees (12 US dollar) per 40 kilogram against previous 650 rupees.

Karachi- Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi after police raided their hideout on Friday, foiling a major plan to bring carnage during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr, officials said.

On a tipoff police raided a house in the Baldia Town area where Islamic militants from a banned group, Lashkare Jhangvi, were holed up in the western part of the city, mostly inhabited by Pukhtoon laborers from restive North West Frontier Province.

The rebels opened fire at the law enforcers with assault rifles and hurled five hand grenades, spreading terror in the city's congested area.

After running out of ammunition, they blew themselves up.

Karachi, Sept 25 : Members belonging to minority communities in Pakistan like Hindus, Christians, Parsis, want a change in the laws to lessen their miseries. In the absence of proper family laws to protect their interests in the country, Hindu couples are often harassed by the Police on lame pretexts like not carrying marriage certificates to prove their marriage, or holding proper national identity cards to prove their identities.

The Hindu Law introduced by the British government in 1946 has not still been officially included in Pakistan’s judicial system.

As a result, legally wedded couples belonging to minority communities are not allowed to hire hotel rooms or move freely at public places before they prove marriage with a nikahnama.

Karachi, Sept 25 : One of the German shepherds brought in specially from Islamabad as a part of sniffer-dog squad ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani’s next visit to Karachi, is reportedly suffering from maggots, a kind of worm which multiplies very fast and could prove fatal in not treated within time.

The dog was secretly admitted in a veterinary hospital for treatment after maggot worms and pus was seen oozing out of its right ear.

Karachi - Pakistan's Karachi Stock Exchange on Tuesday banned short-selling in all stocks following Moody's down-grading of the country's credit rating, traders said.

The ban on short-selling follows similar moves this week by Wall Street and other top international markets to avoid dangerous speculation in tumultuous economic times.

The Karachi bourse, which is already virtually at a standstill, is expected to lift the cap by early next month.

Karachi, Sept 22 : The Hindus living in Karachi have begun preparations for the forthcoming “Navratras”, the nine-day fasting period preceding Diwali scheduled to begin from October 1.

Temples are being decorated and stalls erected to sell puja-samagri. In some temples, shopkeepers are already selling Pooja items, including brass lamps, charnamantra pots, and incense sticks stands on makeshift stalls.