Islamabad, Feb 3 : President Asif Ali Zardari has called for increased US aid to Pakistan's ailing economy and to enhance intelligence sharing between the partners in the war on terror, in a meeting with a six-member US congressional delegation.

The president on Monday urged the US Congress to pass the legislations for financial assistance to Pakistan as early as possible, saying the measure would strengthen Pakistan's efforts against terrorism, the Daily Times quoted sources privy to the meeting, as saying.

Islamabad - Pakistan has faced direct and indirect losses to the tune of 34.52 billion dollars in its fight against Islamist militants since 2001 when it joined the international alliance against terrorism, the latest government data revealed.

The financial losses, which have impacted all sectors of the economy, were expected to hit 8.46 billion dollars during the current financial year, which ends June 30, according to a document from Pakistan's Finance Ministry obtained by Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Islamabad, Feb 3 : Pakistan's investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks is in the final stages and the findings will be shared with India and the world this week, diplomatic sources have said.

"Top jurists of the country are currently analysing the report prepared by security and intelligence experts on the basis of the information provided by India," they said.

Pakistan had also asked its High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik to return and help in finalising the report; the Daily Times quoted diplomatic sources, as saying.

New York  - The attack that killed a UN staff member and resulted in the kidnapping of an official with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan was condemned in the "strongest terms" by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday.

Syed Hashim died in the attack while his companion, American John Solecki, was kidnapped while traveling in Quetta, Pakistan, by unknown assailants, local police said.

In Washington, the US State Department said it was looking into reports of the kidnapping, but could not confirm the victim's identity as an American.

Islamabad, Feb. 2 : The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that though former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been pardoned in the case relating to his disqualification from contesting the by-elections, he still remains an offender.

According to The News, Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali observed that Sharif was still an offender and not eligible to contest the elections.

Earlier, during the hearing, Sharif's lawyer Akram Sheikh argued that the case against his client does not have legality to stand in the court as it was filed three days after the specified time.