UBER HIRES SAFEE SHAH AS GM FOR PAKISTAN
Uber, the international smartphone app that seamlessly connects riders to drivers, and operating in Lahore and Karachi; two of Pakistan’s largest cities has recently hired Safee Shah as the GM for Uber in Pakistan. Safee will be heading Uber in Pakistan as the company looks to expand its operations and range of services across the country.
Uber helps millions of people every day to move around their city, offering access to affordable, reliable and most importantly safe rides in over 500 cities worldwide at the simple push of a button.
Safee Shah, GM Uber Pakistan, said:
“I am honoured to be a part of Uber as it touches the lives of thousands of people in Karachi and Lahore who are using our digital platform to commute across the two metros. This is an exciting time at Uber as we look to expand our reach after receiving incredible response from both Lahore and Karachi. We believe in and are making it possible for anyone and everyone to now enjoy an affordable, reliable and safe ride at the push of a button thanks to uberGO and uberAuto. The competitive price means using uberGO and uberAuto is the perfect option for anyone wanting to get around the city. I personally look forward to another year of growth and expansion across Paksitan.”
Prior to joining Uber, Safee worked in the investment management industry for US hedge funds Timescape Capital Management and Corey Macro Management in New York, Karachi, and Lahore. Safee holds a bachelor’s degree from Lahore University of Management Sciences and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School on a Fulbright Scholarship.
WHAT IS UBER?
Uber is available on all iOS, Android, Blackberry 7 and Windows smartphones. Users simply download the free app and create an account to get riding.
Every potential driver must undergo a screening process before they can use Uber – which requires their national identity card, driving license, car registration, a police verification certificate and a social referral character certificate. All drivers must also go through comprehensive training on how to operate the app and attend a mandatory anti-sexual harassment seminar by Rabbt.
Once passed, the incredible technology connects successful independent drivers to more riders, so they can take more trips per hour. The drivers who partner with Uber choose when they drive, and can dictate their own schedule, day-to-day, week-to-week. Uber is creating thousands of similar economic opportunities for people in every city where the service is available.
The app uses GPS-enabled maps to find the closest available driver, usually just minutes away. Once requested, the rider sees the driver’s photo, name and car registration and can watch on their smartphone in real-time as the vehicle arrives. They can also check whether others have had a good experience with him or her. The app notifies the rider when their driver has arrived, so gone are the days of waiting outside in the dark.
During the trip, riders can share their estimated time of arrival or a live map with friends or family who can track their progress and know when to expect them. And at the end of the journey, the trip can be completely cashless, as payment can be made automatically made through app wishes so there’s no worrying about carrying enough cash. These features provide increased safety as well as unprecedented convenience.
After every ride, you and your drivers need to rate each other and provide feedback. Uber’s safety team reviews this information and investigates any issues. Plus there is 24/7 support so if something happens, whether it’s a traffic accident or a disagreement, our customer support staff are ready to respond to any issues at any time.
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TOTAL PARCO BAGS BRANDS OF THE YEAR AWARD 2015-16 IN THE MNC PETROLEUM CATEGORY
The governing body of Brands Foundation (A nonprofit, public company) being the accredited permanent observers of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO-Specialized Agency of United Nations), on 2nd January-2017, awarded Total Parco Pakistan Limited with the Brands of the year award trophy and certification for the period 2015-16 in the category of MNC-Petroleum Services, at a ceremony held at the Grand Convention Marquee, on PAF Museum Road, Karachi. Mr. Mian Raza Rabbani (Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan) was the chief guest on the occasion, who distributed the awards to almost 150 brands in the country in different categories, out of a total of 1500 contestants, scrutinized by the Brands Foundation. Husnain Qayum Khan (Manager Marketing) received the award on behalf of Total Parco Pakistan Limited.
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ABRAAJ GROUP PARTNERS WITH LEADING PAKISTANI DIAGNOSTICS BUSINESS IDC
The Islamabad Diagnostics Centre operates 20 centers across Pakistan with the aim of adding up to 30 more in coming years; the deal is Abraaj’s 30th investment in healthcare across growth markets and the first investment in Pakistan’s fast growing diagnostics space; Abraaj will leverage its expertise to support IDC’s network expansion, develop partnerships and diversify its current service offerings
The Abraaj Group (“Abraaj” or the “Group”) – a leading investor operating in global growth markets, today announced that it has partnered with Islamabad Diagnostics Centre (“IDC” or the “Company”), a leading diagnostics chain in Pakistan, through its Funds.
Founded in 2003 by Dr. Rizwan Uppal, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Nafees Medical College, and his brothers Dr. Imran Uppal and Dr. Rehan Uppal, IDC is an affordable diagnostics business operating in 20 centers across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Wah Cantonment and Hasanabdal. The Company is looking to expand its presence across Islamabad, Rawalpindi and additional cities in the Punjab province, with the aim of expanding its presence to over 50 centers in the next five years.
Since inception, IDC has built a successful track record and is known for its latest imaging technologies, broad range of laboratory tests and quick turn-around times, with over 350 staff members and one of Pakistan’s largest pool of qualified radiologists on its team. It is also the only diagnostic center in the capital that provides lab and imaging services on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year.
Pakistan – the sixth most populous country in the world with over 180 million people, has a relatively underfunded public healthcare system which is not equipped to meet the needs of the population. The private sector has been filling the gap and 87% of healthcare spending is funded out-of-pocket. The diagnostics market is extremely fragmented with less than 10 players across the country with more than 20 centers. There are more than 200,000 potential healthcare referral points in Pakistan, yet less than 6,000 diagnostic service providers, leaving significant room for the sector to grow and meet market demand.
IDC marks Abraaj’s fourth investment in the diagnostics space globally and the first in Pakistan. Abraaj will leverage its expertise and relationships to help IDC roll out its presence across the Punjab region, develop partnerships with government and private hospitals, and expand its service offerings. Abraaj will also support IDC in identifying bolt-on acquisitions across the country and institutionalizing its management team and board of directors. The partnership will allow IDC to procure its equipment and consumables as part of the wider healthcare platform and to benefit from its central investment into data, analytics and insight.
Commenting on the investment, Hisham Moussa, Managing Director, The Abraaj Group, said: “Increased healthcare awareness and a growing requirement for detecting lifestyle diseases is increasing the demand for diagnostics services across Pakistan. IDC is clearly positioned to capitalize on this growth, through its world class infrastructure and diagnostics technology, and its competent management team. This partnership is an important step for us in building our presence in the diagnostics space across South Asia.”
Commenting on the investment, Dr. Rizwan Uppal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IDC, said: “14 years ago, IDC started as a concept offering full medical diagnostics services on a 24-hours basis under one roof, with state-of-the-art technologies. We have grown at an exponential rate since then and we have ambitious expansion plans for the years ahead to serve wider population groups, augment the healthcare needs of the community and create more job opportunities. We look forward to the partnership with The Abraaj Group which has an outstanding track record in healthcare and are jointly committed to delivering on the growth plans for IDC.”
The Abraaj Group has a strong track record of investing in healthcare, having deployed over USD 1.2 billion globally in 29 investments across the healthcare spectrum in growth markets. In 2015, the Group exited its diagnostic platform in the Middle East, Integrated Diagnostics Holding, via an IPO on the London Stock Exchange.
In Pakistan, IDC represents Abraaj’s first investment into the diagnostics space and the fifth transaction in the country across five different sectors.