Awazonline: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday said power and energy were most crucial for the economic development of the country and directed swift measures on war footing to end load-shedding and power shortage.

Pakistan's trade deficit ballooned to all time high $5.549bn during the first quarter of the current fiscal year up by 52.65% from $3.635bn over the corresponding period last year, latest official data shows.

In September the trade deficit became worst as it grew by 62.13% to $2.027bn from $1.25bn a year ago, and the country appears heading toward a balance of payments crisis unless relief arrives soon from the ‘Friends of Pakistan'.