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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Leading global B2B e-commerce marketplace, Alibaba.com held a Seller Summit; titled ‘Unlock Business Growth Code’ in Sialkot to bring Pakistani sellers aboard its platform, thereby helping them to access over 200 markets globally. The summit featured talks by representatives of Alibaba.com, local trade associations, senior government officials and a number of successful online sellers.

Alibaba is one of largest business-to-business marketplace platforms that drive global e-commerce and continue to register substantial growth by the day. The company is actively working to tap into Pakistan’s unexplored potential for e-commerce and has launched multiple similar initiatives in the recent past. According to business estimates, Pakistan is expected to witness an annual growth of 28% in e-commerce in the next 3 years, crowning it as one of the biggest exporters of online goods.

The Sialkot Summit will help Alibaba reach out to local micro, small and medium scale businesses, who can grow their businesses by selling through Alibaba’s platform. In order to ensure sustainability of the new businesses, particularly those who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Alibaba.com will extend support services like advertising, logistics, payments and daily operations systems. The platform will help the SMEs connect with new buyers and explore new markets globally. 

The summit featured roundtable conference and keynote speeches of important stakeholders for exchange of ideas and consultation in order to chalk out a clear pathway for growth of local businesses and exports.

Speaking at the event, Head of Alibaba.com, APAC, Mr. Stephen Kuo said we are thrilled by the enthusiasm and keenness of local business leaders and entrepreneurs to explore new horizons. There is a lot of untapped potential for growth of e-commerce in Pakistan and Alibaba.com wishes to help unlock it for sustainable economic growth of SMEs and in turn the national economy. He said that the ecommerce giant will fully support local sellers by helping them start their business online, right from setting up their stores, uploading products to logistics and operations. He further said, the collaborative arrangement will create unprecedented shared value and facilitate mutual growth in the long run.

Also speaking, Vice President, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ms. Shabina said, we are thankful to Alibaba.com for its efforts to open newer avenues for local businesses to enhance their sales and profitability. The world is changing fast through digitization; therefore traditional businesses should also change for good. E-commerce is the future and is beneficial for the small and medium business holders because it is less effort and operational cost for better revenues. Through, Alibaba’s global platform, our businesses can access markets all over the world and contribute effectively to the national economy.

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) foodpanda and Islamabad United Join Hands – foodpanda Pakistan, the nation’s leading online food and grocery delivery platform has announced their collaboration with the most successful franchise and two time champions ‘Islamabad United’ led by Shadab Khan and owned by Ali Naqvi. foodpanda has been named the Official Q-Commerce Partner of Islamabad United.

This is the first time that ISLU will play in foodpanda PINK kits for all their away matches and it’s the first time any team has changed the colour of their kit for a strategic partnership.

Syed Waqas Azhar, Director Marketing at foodpanda Pakistan said:
“The strategic partnership between the giants foodpanda and ISLU, seeks to combine two of the nation’s biggest passion points, food and cricket. With this collaboration, we intend to leverage our combined audiences to create an unforgettable impact, and set the tone for the 2022 cricket season. Celebrating the love for cricket and the love for food, is a partnership which will surely be a massive success.”

Speaking of the collaboration, team owner ISLU, Ali Naqvi said:
“We are pleased to partner with one of the most renowned online platforms in Pakistan. Their reach across Pakistan is unparalleled and their values of professionalism and excellence are ones that we share. Thus, it’s obviously a natural partnership for us.”

Islamabad United is the most successful franchise in HBL PSL history. Being the only team to win multiple titles and owning the highest win percentage in league history, the franchise believes in bringing change to Pakistani sports. ISLU has been able to introduce international standards of practice and a commitment to continuous growth and progress. Since the start of the HBL PSL no franchise has inducted more players into the Pakistan national team than ISLU.

foodpanda Pakistan is the country’s leading online delivery marketplace, offering a convenient app and web-based platform to order food, groceries and essential items nationwide. With over 20,000 restaurants, homechefs, shops and pandamart stores across more than 40 cities, foodpanda aims to generate business growth and create employment opportunities for Pakistanis all over the country.

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir)  H.E. Mr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan, recently welcomed the opportunity to speak candidly with CEO of Bookme, Mr. Faizan Aslam. In the meeting, the two gentlemen had a substantive conversation regarding the complex nature of the e-commerce industry, their interests and priorities across a range of issues, the impact that startups are creating upon the tech sector of the country and the importance of managing competition responsibly.

Mr. Faizan accentuated the powerful impact that Bookme, as a startup, has originated in the e-commerce industry of the country. From being a comprehensive e-commerce solution for tickets booking to raising a prodigious 7.5 million investment, Bookme has made a splash in the tech sector of the country. The continuous determination of Bookme being the best solution for its customers was also communicated in the meeting.

As Bookme aims to engulf more verticals and services under its umbrella, it will be offering a supreme amount of job opportunities for hundreds and thousands of people. The two gentlemen also discussed the existential nature of competition in the economy that can be covered by reducing imports. And bringing foreign currency in the country would greatly help in escalating value towards the economy, and that Bookme has done just recently.

By bringing millions of dollars of investment in the country to be used for digitization of travel sector, it will be beneficial to cover the gaps in the grey economy and eventually will create a huge impact. Mr. President congratulated and strongly aided the multilateral efforts of Bookme for a great support towards the economy through the services of their business. And for upholding the commitments that the government made with the public.

Regarding this meeting, CEO of Bookme, Mr. Faizan Aslam quoted his thoughts, “I felt honored to meet The President and to share the emerging value that Bookme has anchored. I gratefully acknowledge the productive time that he shared with me. I found it really encouraging the way our government is showing interest in the developing startups of Pakistan and taking measures for e-commerce and tech sector. This ecosystem is beneficial for entrepreneurs and it will eventually be helpful for Pakistan’s economic growth.”

UNICEF and Telenor Pakistan hand over Digital Birth Registration system to Punjab government to scale across the province

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Leveraging innovation in technology, Telenor Pakistan and UNICEF have handed over the Digital Birth Registration (DBR) system to the Punjab Government. After its successful launch and implementation in 5 pilot districts, the local government in Punjab is now all set to take over the Digital Birth Registration project and scale it across the province. The project transfer took place at an event in Lahore, attended by officials from Telenor Pakistan and UNICEF along with Punjab Government officials.

Designed with the goal of birth registration for kids under the age of 17, with special focus on children under 5 years of age, the Digital Birth Registration system since its inception in 2016 has already helped recognize the identities of approximately 1.8 million children across Pakistan. The DBR project ensures that every child gets their basic right of identity which would lead to give them better access to education, healthcare, and basic human rights. Together, UNICEF and Telenor Pakistan have facilitated the creation of easy to access, convenient and real time mechanisms bringing birth registration to the doorstep in far flung, hard to reach area; thus, reducing the high opportunity cost and time incurred by the parents. This successful public-private partnership model has shaped regional collaboration in technology and best-practice sharing for the achievement of universal birth registration for children across South Asia. 

Commenting on the development, Irfan Wahab Khan, CEO Telenor Pakistan said, “Millions of children in Pakistan remain unaccounted for and without an identity despite birth registration being the fundamental right of every child. Our collaborative initiative Digital Birth Registration, has been instrumental in giving unnamed children an identity, thus bringing Pakistan a step closer towards socio-economic empowerment and the eradication of social inequalities. After successfully handing over the project to the Sindh Government, today, UNICEF and Telenor Pakistan are furthering this ambition by handing this flagship project to the Punjab Government to scale across the province and reach more families. Together with UNICEF, we are stretching the boundaries of inclusion while enabling the nation’s transition to digitalisation in every aspect.”

“Government of the Punjab is striving hard to translate the vision of Prime Minister of Pakistan of Digital Pakistan. Today we are advancing towards the realization of inclusive digital society. Local Government Department Punjab in collaboration with NADRA has launched Web based Application to have real time and authentic data for better planning”, said on the development Mahmood ur Rasheed Minister for Local Government Punjab. “Birth Registration is the proof of legal identity of children and is our responsibility towards international commitments,” Minister said.

“Birth Registration is a fundamental right of a child recognized by convention on the right of the child (CRC). Registration of birth is the first legal binding at national and international level to incorporate full range of human rights. In addition to contributing to a country’s civil registry, birth registration also strengthens the quality of vital statistics, straightening planning and government efficiency. Moreover, a child who remains uncounted is less likely to be included in development policies and planning for the provision of social services. Ownership of the idea of digitization by LG&CD Department Punjab through the Launch of Baldiaonline Application is highly appreciated”, commented WilbroadNagmbi, Chief Field Office, Punjab.

“Local Government Department is focusing on Girl Childbirth Registration and due to socio cultural constraints, registration of girl child is low in South Punjab. LG&CD Department has formulated Birth & Death Registration Rules to facilitate the general public and enhance registration”, says Noor ul Amin Mengal, Secretary Local Government Punjab. “In future, the department plans to integrate with health sector for scaling up birth & death registration in Punjab”, the SLG shared.

The upscaling of the DBR project shall ultimately contribute to universal birth registration for children in Pakistan; an obligation that Pakistan upholds under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the government’s commitment under the Asia Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Regional Action Framework. The Digital Birth Registration project will also help Pakistan in fulfilling its commitment of fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals (16.9), particularly those relating to children.

Reckitt Pakistan and MOCC Partner to Ensure the Sustainable Provision of Clean Water To Control Water-Bourne Diseases By Installing Solar Panels

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Dettol Pakistan’s initiative ‘Hoga Saaf Pakistan’ has actively been working with the Ministry of Climate Change, and once again has joined forces itself with the Government of Pakistan and the Prime Minister’s initiative, ‘Clean Green Pakistan’ to achieve their targets primarily under three pillars; personal hygiene, sanitation, and solid waste management.

According to the latest stats, 53,000 Pakistani children under five lose their lives annually from diarrhea due to poor water and sanitation. The effects of climate change and rapid urbanization also contribute to challenges of improving access to safe water and sanitation.

With that in mind, and the support of MOCC, Reckitt Pakistan is working on renewable energy, unveiling a filtration plant in Attock made sustainable by installing Solar Panels. The purpose of the installation is to ensure the provision of clean water for the people to help control water-borne diseases.

Alongside creating sustainable change through renewable energy to improve access to facilities regarding better hygiene and sanitation, Dettol Pakistan continues its efforts on increasing awareness by conducting Dettol handwashing activities in schools across the nation. This awareness campaign aims to stress the importance of handwashing while instilling the habit amongst all kids.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that washing hands with soap and water could reduce diarrheal disease-associated deaths by up to 50%. A large percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks are spread by contaminated hands. Appropriate hand washing practices can reduce the risk of foodborne illness and other infections.

Mr. Kashan Hasan, CEO of Reckitt Pakistan stated “Every day, Reckitt’s brands are supporting people to lead cleaner, healthier lives through better health, hygiene, and nutrition. We put ‘purpose’ at the heart of the company and our brands. “Hoga Saaf Pakistan” is not just a movement but is our commitment to Pakistan through which we want to educate and instill responsibility amongst all Pakistanis to work towards a cleaner and healthier Pakistan. We believe access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right for people across the nation.”

Also in attendance was Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam. During his stint as Special Assistant, Mr. Malik Amin has installed as many as 45 water filtration plants in different areas of Attock, Hazro, and Hassan Abdal at the cost of more than Rs. 60 million.

“An estimated 70 percent of households still drink bacterially contaminated water. Due to this, people in the area have been suffering from different water-borne diseases including Hepatitis and Diarrhea. These filtration plants will help control the spread of such deadly diseases by ensuring the provision of clean water for the people to control water-borne diseases,” stated Malik Amin Aslam while explaining the importance of the installation.