ISLAMABAD: The government has linked the economic growth with recovery in the large-scale manufacturing sector in financial year 2012-13 which can capitalize upon its existing idle capacity, say an official. However, the agriculture sector also needs to sustain the existing growth momentum and prospective candidate to steer the growth are wheat and rice in the major crops and many minor crops like fruits an ...

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa's selectors have expressed confidence in the players that won the Test series in New Zealand 1-0 and named an unchanged squad for the tour of England in July and August. South Africa, the No. 2 Test side, can claim the No 1 spot from England by winning the three-match series. Graeme Smith, South Africa's Test captain, has recovered from ankle surgery that ruled him out of the IPL, ...

ARENA LVIV: Portugal coach Paulo Bento is confident his side will qualify for the quarter-finals despite losing their opening game to Germany. With Denmark also picking up a win against Holland, it means Portugal and the Dutch find themselves three points adrift. "I continue to think we can get through to the quarter-finals," he said. "We lacked a greater capacity in the final third of the pitch against Ger ...

SOCCEROOS: star Tim Cahill believes Australia might have struck a critical psychological blow against Japan in Brisbane on Tuesday night that could prove decisive in the race to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Australia remains five points behind Japan after the opening week of qualification matches but the Blue Samurai have benefited from a comparatively easy draw, playing an extra match at home and enjoyi ...

Dr M Arif Hafeez Sports Reporter KATHMANDU: Pakistan is highly honoured as Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has appointed Mr. Khurram Shahzad as FIFA Referee to officiate the AFC U22 Championship 2013 Qualifiers-Group D from 16th June to 24th June 2012 being held at Kathmandu, Nepal. According to the press release issued here by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), AFC Referees Committee has selected and a ...

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf has expressed confidence that banned pacer Mohammad Amir could make an early return to international cricket if he appeals to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider his five-year ban on humanitarian grounds. "I think if Amir goes to ICC and appeals to them not now but after some time he might get a sympathetic hearing and ban period could be ...

COLOMBO: Before the match the Pakistanis got a huge boost as Afridi was cleared fit to play, yet the jubilation was short-lived as the rain fell just 1 ball into Pakistan’s innings after skipper Misbah Ul Haq won the toss and chose to bat first. Sri Lanka rested Rangana Herath, surely preserving him for the Test series and replaced the wily off spinner with Weerakoon, the 34 year old who made his debut and ...

MUMBAI: Priyanka Chopra is extremely busy these days. She is juggling so many things together that her priority is getting neglected. We are talking about her family who is not getting enough time with the pretty lady. Hence, the actress coupled business with pleasure recently when she went to Singapore to perform at an awards night. She flew down her parents to spend some time with them too. Priyanka’s pub ...

WASHINGTON: Actor Charlize Theron attends a special screening of Young Adult hosted by the Cinema Society and Dior in New York. Charlize Theron has shaved her head in preparation for her role in much-anticipated new Mad Max movie. The Oscar winner flaunted her new buzz cut in Hollywood on Monday. The Monster star will portray Furiosa in Mad Max 4: Fury Road, which is slated to commence shooting this summer ...

  SYDNEY: NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen Wednesday vowed not to abandon Afghanistan as foreign nations plan to transition forces out of the country after a decade of conflict. "We will not abandon Afghanistan, we will not leave behind a security vacuum," he told a National Press Club lunch in Canberra. NATO plans to withdraw its 130,000 troops by the end of 2014, and Rasmussen said there would also b ...