Month-long Yayvo cricket festival begins
Yayvo.com, Pakistan’s leading e-commerce platform is all set to launch ’Yayvo Cricket Festival’ starting from February 15, 2018. This was communicated at a press conference held at a local hotel in Karachi on February 07, 2018.
The press conference was arranged to announce the launch of the month-long cricket Yayvo Cricket Festival and Yayvo.com’s exclusive partnership with Karachi Kings. Yayvo will also offer a host of discounted offers along with kits, shirts, jerseys and other Karachi Kings merchandise exclusively.
Tickets for the PSL matches being in Pakistan will be sold online by Yayvo.com and TCS, Pakistan’s leading express and logistics service provider.
Babar Azam, Imad Waseem and other players of Karachi Kings were there to grace and add star power to the event.
M. A. Mannan, President, and CEO, TCS Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd, Salman Hassan, CEO, Yayvo.com, Salman Iqbal, CEO, ARY Digital Network and Tariq Wasi, CEO, Karachi Kings, addressed the press.
President and CEO TCS Holdings, M. A. Mannan said, “We thank PSL and Karachi Kings for placing its trust in our ability to manage a delicate task. We were aware of the issues that cricket fans had to face in the recent past to get tickets and made sure to provide them relief. TCS has always taken challenging tasks head-on in the past and will continue to do so in the future as well.”
Expressing his views about the partnership, CEO ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal said, “We are excited to be a part of this initiative. Karachi Kings is Karachi’s very own team and I am hopeful that they will reach the finals this time.” He also shared his big plans for this season of PSL as the final is scheduled to be played in Karachi.
Tariq Wasi, CEO, Karachi Kings, lauded the efforts of Yayvo.com in multiplying the joy and excitement of PSL by joining hands with Karachi Kings as its official partner.
Singer Shehzad Roy, and actors Humayun Saeed and Faisal Qureshi, who are also the brand ambassadors of Karachi Kings, were present at the conference.
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International Conference on Business, Economics and Information Technology held
Experts term entrepreneurship most profitable career option for youth
Two-day third International Conference on Business, Economics and Information Technology held last week at Shaikh Ayaz Auditorium, Arts Building, University of Sindh Jamshoro, organized by Sindh University Campus Dadu.
In his address on the occasion, Dr. Burfat said that intelligence; vibrant imagination, brain smartness and competence had effectively substituted possession of wealth and assets as a means of initiating trade. “If we surf information on Google and other available online search engines we will come to know that innumerable successful and leading world entrepreneurs began business with the lowest wherewithal and humble means, and had later made it big by virtue of their powerful ideas and smart opportune moves. This exactly what you also need to do”, he said, directing his remark to students.
Dr. Burfat cited several success stories in the given context, bracketing sparkling careers of successful entrepreneurs from Sindh, Pakistan and the world.
Speakers in conclusion ceremony advocated that every University in Pakistan should establish entrepreneur and incubation centers across Pakistan, to promote small business to facilitate group of Pakistani business experts to visit Stanford University USA, ANU Australia, and other renounced universities of the world with excellent entrepreneur centers to study various business models with an objective to replicate them in Pakistan to invite officials of small Business Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to Business Schools at universities to gain theoretical and conceptual input to be incorporated in national policy frameworks, to setup incubation centers at all universities and technical colleges to encourage budding entrepreneurs in Pakistan, to encourage regular visits business academicians to the business department at the universities to develop long term university-industry linkage and introduce China-Pakistan Economic Corridor related subjects in business, commerce and economics departments and institutes at universities to boost entrepreneurship in Pakistan.
These proposals were forwarded by all the participants’ international and national scholars in consensus in form of formal recommendations of this global moot.
Conclusion ceremony was organized to warm up proceedings of moot. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Dr. Anwar Ali Shah G. Syed Prof-Vice Chancellor, Sindh University Campus Dadu University of Sindh; Prof. Dr. Nadeem Bhatti (Canada); Dr. Mahmood Shah Converty University UK; Prof. Dr. Feddric Chrichen Boolmer; Prof. Dr. Syed Tahir Hijazi, Vice Chancellor MY; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ehsan Malik PU-Lahore; Prof. Mushtaq A. Sajid, Ex-VC-University of Azad Kashmir Kotli; Prof. Amanullah Khan Dean Rapha University Rawalpindi; Dr. Prof. Arif COMSATS-Abbottabad; Prof. Syed Turab Hussain LUMS-Lahore; Prof. Dr. Zahida Azam Abro HOC-SZABIST Larkana and Umair Anjium COMSATS-Islamabad were present on occasion.
In a message read out at ceremony Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat Vice Chancellor University of Sindh Jamshoro, congratulated to organizer Prof. Dr. Anwar Ali Shah G. Syed and his team on successful completion of conference and stressed the need for youth to go for entrepreneurship as a career option, observing that the change in time has also brought about drastic change in the way businesses are done. Wealth as a prerequisite for small ventures is no longer an obligation. One can start a modest trade just by the help of a single laptop by exercising online options; as is the popular practice nowadays with millions of people across the globe. Youth should not only get abreast of such changes, but should also depart from traditional outlook of necessarily join government sector employment and should rather actively consider trying hands at entrepreneurship.
Dr. Shah informed that 360 research papers were received for the conference, out of which 260 were accepted for presentation and were also included in the in Book of Abstracts. He said the conference covered almost all contemporary issues related to the theme of the conference.
Earlier, a plantation ceremony to perpetuate memory of conference was also carried out at University premises. Certificates and memento shields were given to presenters, participants, and members of organizing committee of conference.
In Professional Category, the first best paper awarded to Dr. Anwar Ali Shah G. Syed & Dr. Faiz Muhammad Shaikh on paper titled “Forecasting Welfare Effect of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Agricultural Trade Development and Economy of Pakistan” by using Computable Equilibrium Model (CGE) Model. Second best paper awarded to Naveed Anwar, Assistant Professor SZABIST-Larkana Campus and third was awarded to Shoaib Ali Shah and Vikram Kumar, Assistant Professor SZABIST-Larkana Campus.
In students category first best paper awarded to Mr. Arslan Jokhio student of MBA-SZABIST-Larkana; second to Furqanullah Abbassi, Department of Economics SALU-Khairpur Mirs and third to Miss. Rukhsana Shaikh, SZABIST-Larkana.
The conference guests were presented with memento shields and other traditional souvenirs. Among others Pro-Vice-Chancellors of various SU campuses, deans of various academic faculties, academic and administrative heads, faculty, researchers and large number of students participated in the event.–PR
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NBP Aitemaad Islamic Banking Sets Foot in Mohmand Agency
President and CEO National Bank of Pakistan, Mr. Saeed Ahmad inaugurated National Bank of Pakistan’s (NBP) Aitemaad Islamic banking branch in Ghalanai, Mohmand Agency. With this move, the bank aims to provide financing facilities to the community based on Islamic modes to strengthen the financial stability in the violence affected region. This is the first time ever that this area has been visited by a president of any bank.
“Due to die-hard efforts of the law enforcers, political leaders and tribal chiefs, peace has finally returned to Mohmand Agency. NBP has opened Aitemaad Islamic banking branch in the area to instigate economic activity in this part of the region. We will be approving financing facilities to traders and locals based on Islamic mode which will aid in meeting their financial needs. We are thankful to the political agent and the locals for the tremendous reception we have received from them and are looking forward to facilitate local unemployed educated youth and government workers, courtesy of our Hamsafar Auto-Finance Program.” said Mr. Saeed Ahmad while expressing his thoughts on the occasion.
“We are putting our share in the upbringing of Mohmand Agency. We are confident that NBP will quickly begin to facilitate and support the community and its financial equilibrium after years of unrest due to terrorism in this region.” said Mehmood Aslam, Political Agent while appreciating the initiative taken by the bank.
Furthermore, the bank aims to offer financing facilities for the purchase of modern machinery for efficient extraction of marble from the hillside, based on Islamic modes. Aitemaad Islamic banking plans to sanction similar financing facilities to the educated unemployed citizens through Prime Minister Youth Business Loan Program, enabling them to contribute in the financial health of Mohmand Agency.
Aitemaad Islamic banking of NBP strives to support the populace and areas which have been massively destroyed by terrorist activities in the past. For this purpose, CEO and President NBP also announced 10 Qingqi rickshaws which will provide free transport to the students of affected area in a bid to promote education.
Ms. Saima Rahim, Regional Head KPK, NBP Islamic Banking along with other senior officials from NBP and local area were also present during the inauguration. Following the tribal customs, Mr. Saeed Ahmad was also honored with a traditional gift Kila-Langi.
Aitemaad Islamic Bank has a wide range of Shariah Compliant Products and Services which can be availed from dedicated Islamic banking branches all over Pakistan. Each branch covers all aspects of Islamic financial transaction, meeting the customer’s financial needs free of RIBA.
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Accord BE&OE Protectorate Fee Collection system signed
An exclusive ceremony was held at the Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OPHRD) Islamabad. National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BE&OE), Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) & State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC), signed an agreement for BE&OE Protectorate Fee Collection system. This is a major step forward by the 4 organizations to offer an interoperable digital solution enabling the citizens of Pakistan who are traveling abroad for employment to pay their Protectorate Fee through NBP Digital Platform.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Saeed Ahmed – CEO/President NBP, Mr. Shoaib Mir Chairman – SLIC, Mr. Habib Gilani MD – OPF and Mr. Kashif Noor – DG BE&OE in the presence of senior officials from all the mentioned organizations including Dr. Muhammad Hashim Popalzai – Secretary OPHRD, Mr. Mudassir H. Khan – SEVP/Group Chief Payment Services & Digital Banking Group NBP, Mr. Azfar Jamal – EVP/Head of Innovation and other officials. This initiative will not only open the Fee Collection at numerous branchless banking outlets of partner organizations of NBP but will also remove the previously practiced manual mechanism of payment through 3 banks. This, in turn, will facilitate the intending 1 Million annual overseas employment emigrants of Pakistan.
Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Saeed Ahmed said “This customized solution depicts NBP’s resolve to ensure best practices in financial services for the people of Pakistan. Our role in providing digital & online solution is the key factor in this arrangement to facilitate and provide easy access of payment to Pakistani emigrants, as well as real time funds settlement for BE&OE, SLIC and OPF with online visibility of their funds”.
Representing BE&OE and OPHRD BE&OE DG Mr. Kashif Noor commented “It is hoped that this will surely result in minimizing the emigration cost and due to involvement of alternate channels, the emigrants from far flung area shall also get benefit from this facility at their home place. This will also save time and money of emigrants, additionally they will be safe from agent exploitation.”
The Chairman State Life Mr. Shoaib Mir said “State Life is proudly serving the emigrants since 1982 who are the main source of foreign currency remittances. The recent initiative will definitely ease out the intending emigrants in finalizing the documentary requirements for proceeding abroad. State Life will always keep on exploring avenues to serve its customers efficiently and effectively using state of the art IT technology”.
MD OPF Mr. Habib Gilani remarked “This day embarks a great milestone achieved by OPF in collaboration with its stakeholders, including BE&OE, SLIC and NBP as it has extended another landmark facility to Overseas Pakistanis. This digitalized collection solution of one window facility will enable Overseas Pakistanis to process their case in shortest possible time by depositing all protector fee in any NBP branch throughout the country and its allied fee collecting partners. This great initiative reflects Government’s commitment to create comfort for Overseas Pakistanis who contributes immensely in strengthening country’s economy.”
Under the Emigration Ordinance and Emigration Rules 1979, BE&OE is responsible to control and regulate the legal migration from Pakistan on one hand and look after the interest of the emigrants on the other. BE&OE is the centralized agency of Federal Government of Pakistan to process recruitment demands of the Pakistani manpower through Licensed Overseas Employment Promoters for different manpower importing countries. For an emigrant, it is a legal binding to get Foreign Service agreement protected from the concerned Protectorate of Emigrants (PE) Office by depositing government fees.
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JS Bank wins CSR award of ‘social Impact’ under CSR initiatives
JS Bank received an award in the category of “Social Impact”. The award recognizes the overall positive social impact that JS Bank initiatives have had through its community programs in the areas of health, education, sustainable development and relief efforts across the country.
JS Bank has been recognized for the 6th year in a row for its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives at the 7th Corporate Social Responsibility Summit & Awards 2018. JS Bank conducts its CSR activities through the charitable arm of JS Group, Mahvash & Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation. Over the years the initiatives led by Mahvash & Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation have improved lives of numerous Pakistanis. Mr. Zaid Haroon, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Brand Management received the award on behalf of the Bank.
The 7th Corporate Social Responsibility Summit & Awards 2018 was organized by The Professionals Network. The honorary award was presented to JS Bank in a ceremony held at the Marriott Hotel in Karachi, which was attended by prominent personalities belonging to Corporate Sector, Government Organizations, NGO’s, Academia and Media.
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First-Ever HUAWEI Experience Store Opens in Karachi
HUAWEI has inaugurated its first-ever Experience Store in Pakistan. Nestled in the vibrant city of Karachi, the store is HUAWEI’s biggest and most-advanced sales + service center in the country. The outlet offers tremendous convenience for people who would love to indulge in the amazing HUAWEI experience.
The HUAWEI Experience Store is located at Amma Tower in Sadder which is the heart of Karachi’s mobile shopping. It houses state-of-the-art facilities where people can try out HUAWEI smartphones before purchasing them, while also availing after-sales services. A courteous team of brand ambassadors awaits to guide people about HUAWEI’s remarkable products and thrilling accessories.
While commenting on the expansion of HUAWEI’s footprint in Pakistan, Blueking, General Manager, HUAWEI Consumer Business Group said: “We welcome people from all over the country at the biggest HUAWEI Experience Store. The opening of this outlet serves as a testimony to the growing love of people for HUAWEI – a company that offers the very best experience in smartphone technology. The experience store is an exciting avenue for people to check out our cutting-edge devices and revel in the HUAWEI shopping experience.”
Recently, HUAWEI has received an overwhelming response from Pakistanis making it one of the most popular brands in the country. According to the latest GfK report, HUAWEI Mate 10 lite took the top spot in the mid-range segment (USD 200/- to 300/-) in the month of December 2017 over all other smartphone brands.
Appreciating the overwhelming response of its customers in Pakistan, HUAWEI seeks to ensure nationwide availability of highly innovative products, along with prompt after-sales service and support, through an increasingly larger network of outlets.
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DWP Group displays new innovations in Lifestyle exhibition
DWP Group actively participated in the Lifestyle Exhibitions held in Karachi Lahore, and Islamabad recently. DWP featured its high quality products in all cities.
The Lifestyle Exhibition has been successfully held annually for more than 15 years now, in the three big cities, to showcase innovation and solutions that have a positive impact in raising the standards of living for the consumers in our society.
Under the umbrella of DWP Group, the most active participation was from EcoStar – the world-renowned brand of electronics. Their LED TVs are the smartest hub of home-entertainment, enriched with the most advanced technologies to deliver outstanding performance. Other EcoStar products such as top-of-the-line Washing Machines, Water Dispensers, UPS, Batteries and Solar Panels were also displayed at the exhibition, to gain market recognition and awareness.
The Lifestyle Exhibition provided on-spot shopping facilities for all EcoStar products, as the consumers could directly purchase their favorite products. Numerous products of EcoStar were also available at specially discounted prices. Gree also showcased its revolutionary AC’s on the exhibition stall. A wide range of inverters, conventional and floor standing air conditioners was displayed for visitors. GREE is the pioneering innovator in smart air-conditioning technologies that saves up to 60% energy.
DWP Group has always sought fresh opportunities to engage and interact with its consumers through such vibrant marketing opportunities and innovative channels, to create more awareness and enhance its image. It has been consistently introducing new technologies in accordance with the changing needs of the consumers.
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APBF rejects 20% hike in fuel rates in six months
The All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) has condemned the sixth consecutive hike of petrol prices, showing a jump of around 20% from Rs.70 to Rs.85 per liter during last six months of Sept 2017 to Feb 2018, leading to increasing cost of production ultimately.
The Ministry of Finance kept the rates of petroleum products at the existing level for the month of August 2017 at about Rs70 per liter despite reduction of oil prices in the global market.
In Aug 2017, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had recommended the government to reduce the prices of Petrol and High Speed Diesel by Rs3.67 and Rs5.07 per litre respectively for the month of August but the govt maintained the rates at previous level, instead of passing on benefit to the public.
Ibrahim Qureshi flayed the government for increasing prices of petroleum products by over Rs15 per liter in last six month, terming it bad news for the country’s economy. He said though the prices of oil in global market are going up yet the authorities can keep the rates stable by reducing tax ratio which is highest in the region.
He said that against the standard rate of 17 per cent general sales tax, currently the government is charging 31 percent GST on high speed diesel and 17 per cent on other petroleum products including petrol, kerosene oil and LDO.
In addition to the GST, the government was charging highest rates of Petroleum Development Levy from the consumers. Currently, the consumers are paying Rs10 per litre petroleum development levy on petrol, Rs.8 on HSD, Rs.6 per litre on kerosene oil and Rs.3 per litre on the LDO.
In the past, the government did not pass on the full benefit of declining oil prices to the public by imposing heavy taxes. It is the time to relax the duties and absorb the burden of soaring petroleum prices in international market by keeping the prices stable.
Ibrahim Qureshi, terming it a bad news for the country’s economy which was already facing a number of challenges, said that the increase would put extra burden on the consumers.
At a time when country’s trade deficit was further stretched by over 35 percent owing to rise in imports and slow exports growth amidst high cost of doing business, the continuous hike petroleum as well as power tariff is very unfortunate.
As per the notification, the government increased price of HSD by Rs5.92 per litre or 6.58 per cent taking the price from Rs89.91 to Rs95.83 per litre. Diesel is widely used in transport and agriculture sector, and therefore, increase in its price would increase the input cost of farmers.
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Ground breaking ceremony widening of G.T. section
Punjab Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Mian Mujtaba Shuja -ur-Rehman broke ground for the project of Widening and Improvement of G.T. Road section from Thokar Niaz Baig to Hudiara Drain during a ceremony held at National Highway Authority regional office in Lahore.
Chairman NHA, Jawwad Rafique Malik gave a detailed briefing about the project and its importance. He informed that the existing road consists of 4 lanes which are not sufficient to accommodate the ever increasing traffic with the result that it faces frequent traffic jams causing immense inconvenience to the travelers. More than 63000 vehicles pass this section daily. He said the road will be widened to 8 lanes to ensure the smooth traffic flow. The project also includes construction of pedestrian bridges, bus bays and U-turns to facilitate the traffic. It will greatly facilitate the traffic moving from Lahore to Southern Punjab. The project will cost around Rs. 10 Billion and will be completed in less than a year time. It will benefit around 3, 50,000 persons who daily commute on this road.
He informed the gathering that NHA was successfully executing government’s vision to establish a wide network of highways and motorways stretching from Khunjrab to Gwadar Port including the all important China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said within next two years the country’s motorway network will increase four times to around 2400 km. The improved road network will reduce distances, save travel time and minimize accidents. The easy and quick traveling will tremendously boost trade and economic activities. He said all the provinces will get benefitted by this unprecedented road development activity.
The chief guest, during his address, appreciated NHAs role in the development of the country. He said the project will immensely help the people of Lahore and adjoining areas by ensuring the free flow of traffic between the provincial capital and South Punjab.