The Pak federal government is still indecisive on clipping profit rates on various national saving schemes, according to sources close to the finance ministry.

Finance minister Ishaq Dar recently indicated more than once that mark-up on saving schemes will be reduced following the last week's government decision to reduce interest rate on bank borrowings, writes Dawn.

``It is understood that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has not agreed to bring down profit rates on saving schemes for it may hurt the government efforts to induce general public to maximise their savings,'' the sources quoted senior ministry officials as saying.

Sources said pressure was building up on the government from the commercial banks, which only recently agreed to cut down mark-up on lending by about 1.5 per cent, for lowering interest rate on the saving schemes as well. The banks fear that due to higher profits given under these schemes common people will keep theirsavings there and not with the banks. ``It is a hard decision for the government to bring down profit rates on its guaranteed schemes. It knows that in most cases savings have been invested in these schemes by retired government servants, widows or wage earners,'' official sources maintained.

Salary blues

The employees of the Pak Federal Secretariat have said they would not accept the recommendations of the National Pay Committee unless their representatives were included in the committee, reports Dawn.

They said employees of Grades 1 to 16 had never been given representation in such committees. The low-paid employees, they added, had always been ignored and were never given their due rights while the officers were already enjoying all kinds of perks and privileges.

They urged the government to curtail non-developmental expenditure by cutting lavish spending on bureaucrats and utilise the money saved, for the welfare of the low-paid federal government employees.

Dubai next toParis

Dubai comes a close second to Paris as a tourist destination, according to a survey by the Italian travel trade publication `In Viaggio'. In a world survey of destinations popular with incentive tours, the magazine ranked Dubai second behind Paris, reports Gulf News.

The survey cited Dubai's top class hotels, bargain shopping and exotic atmosphere, which is a confluence of the modern and Middle Eastern charm.Naples was third followed by Jordan, Prague and Morocco. Other destinations which came close included Hong Kong, Thailand, New York and Rio de Janeiro. ``The results of the survey show that Dubai has the facilities and services to compete with the best in the world,'' said Khalid bin Sulayem, Director General of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Nepal on cell path

Nepal is all set to get its first mobile phone service next month, writes South China Morning Post. So far just over 1,000 subscribers in the capital and surrounding Kathmandu Valley have been signedup.

But Chet Prasad Bhattarai, general manager of the state-run Nepal Telecommunications Corporation, said last week the plan was ``to swiftly expand service to the outlying districts''.

Birgunj, Biratnagar and the tourist town of Pokhara are three other urban centres selected to receive the cellular service in its initial phase.Israel's Telerad company is about to complete installation work, including the setting up of 17 base stations within 25 km of the capital.

Corporation officials concede the number of subscribers is short of their 3,000 target, but believe more will sign up once it starts marketing the service more widely.

Subscribers must make an initial payment of up to Rs 53,000 (HK$6,000).