Washington, Dec. 15 : With Pakistan engulfed by internal political turmoil and international pressure to take action against radical elements operating from its soil, it is headed for a major economic crisis, claims former Finance Minister Shahid Javed Burki.

There is going to be a drastic reduction in national growth rate - with high inflation, galloping urban unemployment and a sharp increase in poverty, he warned.

"The gravity of the economic crisis facing Pakistan has not been sufficiently recognised, considering that the country's 2009 gross domestic product (GDP) will decline to 2.5 percent and there will be a sharp fall in its rate of growth," the Daily Times quoted Burki ,as saying.

Islamabad, Dec 15 : It is very important for Pakistan not to isolate itself while responding to the challenges produced by terrorists doing mischief abroad from its soil, a leading Islamabad based daily has said.

The world knows that Central Asian rulers are all despots, but it is developing tolerance for them because of their resistance to the Taliban and Al Qaeda, the Daily Times has said in its lead editorial.

Lahore, Dec 15: Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell has called on the international community to help Pakistan to fight the war on terror.

Karachi, Dec. 15 : Pakistan's chief cricket selector and former leg spinner Abdul Qadir has said that India should tour his country and not deprive cricket fans across the globe of an enthralling contest.

Qadir told reporters here at the National Stadium on the sidelined of the Pentangular One-day Championship that no matches in international cricket ignite more passion and emotions than the Pakistan-India encounters.

Islamabad  - Islamist militants killed an anti-Taliban militia chief and eight of his supporters at the weekend in Pakistan's restive Swat district, according to a media report on Monday.

Pir Samiullah, an influential elder leading a militia against pro-Taliban militants in Swat, was gunned down by insurgents loyal to radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah in Mandaldag area late Saturday, the Dawn newspaper said.

Peshawar, Dec. 15 : Frightened by the recent torching of truck-trailers in terminals in Peshawar, drivers who used to take NATO supplies to Kabul are on the look out for other options.

The truck drivers fear their lives are at stake.

Two drivers belonging to Punjab's Mianwali District were shot dead by the militants during an attack on NATO supply terminals on December 7. The drivers were dragged out of the trucks and shot dead.