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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  Atlas Foods (Pvt) limited and Syngenta Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to impart training to rice growers regarding the need-based application of pesticides. The training will create awareness among the farmers to avoid excessive usage of pesticide.

Managing Director & CU Head Syngenta Pakistan Kazim Hasnain and CEO Atlas Foods Sami Ullah Naeem inked the document on behalf of their respective organizations.

Atlas Foods (Pvt) Limited CEO Sami Ullah Naeem said that 55 per cent of Pakistan economy relies on agriculture and rice crop is one of the most important crops, which is earning precious foreign exchange for the country. He said that monitoring of pesticides residue in rice crop had increased by the European Union (EU), USA and Saudi Arabia for the last three to four years. He said that our products are going to the high-end market and we have to keep the pesticide residue at the required level.

He said, unfortunately, pesticide residue in rice crop in Punjab is high but in Sindh, it is very good. This is why paddy of Sindh is getting more price than Punjab. He said that the provincial agriculture department has divided the Punjab province into Red, Blue and Green zones to highlight where pesticide residue is high and need to control it. He said we have to stop wrong and excessive use of pesticides as it is also harmful to the growers.

Head Crop Protection Syngenta Pakistan Andre Oliveira and Business Sustainability & CPD Head Syngenta Muhammad Tuseef ul Haq while speaking on this occasion disclosed that their company was training 400,000 farmers per annum on a balanced use of pesticides. They disclosed that their company invests US$ 1.3 per annum million in research and development. They said that they were committed to bringing more products to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector with a focus on better and safe products.

The Punjab Government will soon be launching an ambitious Rs 6 billion project to promote mechanization, usage of certified seed and responsible application of pesticides, said Director Agriculture (Extension) Gujranwala Javed Iqbal while speaking on this occasion.

Under this project, farmers will be given 50 per cent subsidy on purchase of certified rice seed, educated on responsible and controlled use of pesticides etc.  Right now the department is in the phase of pre-qualifying seed companies in this regard. It is a complete package being given by the government to enhance the productivity of the rice sector.

The project is also aimed at promoting mechanization through subsidizing the use of different machines such as transplanters for increasing plant population and other agricultural implements.

Dr. Javed Iqbal said that the government would bear 50 per cent of the cost on the usage of different types of machinery such as transplanters, nursery raising machines, DSR-drill, rice straw choppers, rotavators and power sprayers. ‘It is aimed to convert this sector from the present status of tractorization into real mechanization,’ he added.

Fauji Fertilizer Company Bags Best Corporate Excellence Award by Management Association of Pakistan FY 2019

 Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) has been awarded “Best Corporate Excellence Award” in the fertilizer sector category for the 6^th consecutive year as adjudged by Management Association of Pakistan (MAP). Company Secretary FFC, Brig Ashfaq Ahmed (Retd), SI (M) received the award from Mr. Asad Umar, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives during the 35^th Corporate Excellence Award ceremony held at Karachi. The award is as an acknowledgement of exemplary management standards upheld by FFC in the industry and reaffirms commitment of FFC to its global aspiration as a leading national entrepreneur.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited and Jubilee Life Insurance Company Limited have recently entered into a distribution alliance for Jubilee Life’s Window Takaful products to bring ease of access to innovative products as part of delivering an unparalleled level of customer service. Mr. Javed Ahmed, MD & CEO, Jubilee Life Insurance, Mr. Mohsin Ali Nathani, President and CEO, HabibMetro Bank along with other senior representatives of the company attended the signing ceremony.

This strategic alliance among the leaders of the financial arena is expected to play a vital role in developing a very strong mutually beneficial business relationship between HabibMetro Bank and Jubilee Life Insurance. As a result, the end benefit will trickle down to the consumers who have placed their trust and faith in these organisations.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Javed Ahmed, MD & CEO, Jubilee Life Insurance said, ‘Bancatakaful is the commencement of a new chapter in the Shariah compliant market and a means of strategically penetrating through the industry which has witnessed prodigious growth in Pakistan; penetration is the foremost benefit that the insurance carriers gain out of a Bancassurance alliance. We appreciate the success of our current Bancassurance relationship with HabibMetro Bank and this Bancatakaful partnership will reinforce the alliance and provide us with an additional opportunity to expand our product portfolio. Through this partnership, we intend to offer banking clients our custom designed Bancatakaful solutions without compromising on their religious values.”

Taking the opportunity, President and CEO of HabibMetro Bank Mr. Mohsin Nathani emphasised the importance of Takaful (shariah compliant alternate to insurance) in the growth of the Islamic finance industry. He said, “Joining hands with one of the leading life insurance companies in Pakistan is another step towards the expansion of our product portfolio, which also aims to cater the broader financial needs of the HMB customers. With the continued support of our business partners, we hope to add maximum value to our customers’ wealth management solutions and extend our Shariah-compliant product base for our Islamic segment.”     

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) Telenor Pakistan, country’s leading telecom and digital services provider, marked 15 years of its operations in Pakistan through successful trial of 5G. During a ceremony at the company’s 345 campus, Irfan Wahab Khan CEO Telenor Pakistan & Head of Telenor’s Emerging Asia Cluster along with Khurrum Ashfaque, Deputy CEO & Chief Technology Officer, briefed the media on Telenor Pakistan’s successful operations as the leader in innovation and digital transformation, shared future plans and showcased 5G use cases.

 In a ground-breaking development, Telenor Pakistan executed the most comprehensive 5G trial setup in Pakistan. It involved multiple suppliers, and established the fastest cellular 5G test data connection in the country, achieving connectivity speeds greater than 1.5 Gbps. In addition to the speed demonstration, Telenor Pakistan showcased relevant 5G use-cases including a virtual reality-based classroom for remote education enablement and ultra-HD, 4K live video coverage using a drone-cam. This highlights the ability to enable potent opportunities for society, extend network capacities to support future technologies, allow substantial increase in the number of connected devices and ensure new business models. 

The latest development showcasing cutting edge technology is reminiscent of the company’s 15-year journey of innovation, empowerment, reducing inequalities, maximising the impact of connectivity, creating shared value for the society and helping shape a sustainable future for all. Telenor Pakistan has disrupted the landscape in multiple sectors of the economy by reducing inclusion gaps and providing best-in-class and award-winning products, services and solution services including Easypaisa, Khushaal Zamindar, Digital Birth Registration, content and streaming platforms, IoT, analytics, personalisation, gaming and governance solutions.

Addressing the media at the 345 campus, Irfan Wahab Khan, CEO of Telenor Pakistan & Head of Emerging Asia Cluster said, “First and foremost I want to thank millions of Pakistanis for choosing us as their preferred service provider in the last 15 years. It is a proud day for us, as we not only renew our commitment for the years to come; but have also raised the bar once again through our innovative capabilities to venture out on a journey that will benefit the people of Pakistan. The market is ripe with possibilities and we are excited to continue our journey of leveraging technology to achieve the Digital Pakistan vision. Staying true to our purpose, we will sustain and expand our efforts towards empowering societies and reducing inequalities.”

Khurrum Ashfaque, Deputy CEO & Chief Technology Officer of Telenor Pakistan said, “We started the journey towards 5G readiness last year by beginning the evolution of our network core from legacy architecture to state-of-the-art virtualised Telenor Hybrid Cloud and rapid fiberisation to the tower. Today, we have further ventured into the next era by establishing the fastest cellular 5G test data connection in Pakistan and showcasing relevant, impactful use cases in our trial. We will continue taking strides towards enhancing the ecosystem that we set out to build years ago through network transformation and expansion.”

Telenor Pakistan is proud to be truly committed to reducing inequalities in the country through connectivity and digitalisation. The company has made strides in Pakistan’s foremost sector of agriculture, through services such as Khushaal Zamindar due to which millions of farmers are resolving longstanding challenges. It has revolutionised financial services and its access through Easypaisa impacting over 30 million people; leveraged mobile connectivity to give children their right to identity through the Digital Birth Registration and has developed innovative solutions and platforms in collaboration with tech giants like Facebook, Google and Netflix to provide customers with personalisation at every touch point.

Telenor  has been operating in Pakistan since 2005 and has made a significant impact on the socioeconomic uplift of the country. Since inception, Telenor Pakistan has made an investment of over USD 4.5 billion, making it one of the largest foreign direct investors in the country and has paid over USD 2.5 billion in direct and indirect taxes. The company has been a frontrunner in digitalisation and innovation, with a 46 million strong and growing customer base. It has created thousands of direct and indirect jobs and is one of Pakistan’s most preferred employers.

Telenor Pakistan will  continue to serve Pakistan by supporting the Digital Pakistan Vision, being a gateway to the latest technological innovations and creating solutions to close the digital, financial and social inclusion gaps in the country.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited (PQGTL) has signed an agreement with Machinesells.com, Pakistan’s first and largest industrial machinery trading platform. The signing ceremony was held recently and the agreement was signed by Mr. Azeem Iqbal Pirani, (DCEO, Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited) and Mr. Zeeshan Sheikh (CEO and Co-Founder of Machinesells.com). Through this strategic alliance, the customers of Machinesells.com will have an opportunity to get need based Takaful coverage for their machines instantly.

While speaking on the occasion, Mr. Azeem Pirani said, “This agreement with Machinesells will definitely be very good for consumers. Consumers will now have access to Islamic insurance (Takaful) while purchasing industrial equipment. Insurance is a tool definitely required at industrial and commercial level. Consumers will now have the option on their fingertips. Machinesells (being an online portal) is doing a great service to the industrial sector of Pakistan by allowing consumers to interact with distributors and manufacturers.”

He further added, “This was something direly needed. Such platforms will play significant role and I am hopeful that this agreement will bring fruitful results not only for Pak-Qatar Takaful and Machinesells.com but customers of this particular segment as well.”

Mr. Zeeshan Sheikh (CEO, Machineseels.com), commented, “The main purpose is to introduce insurance on our platform through Pak-Qatar Takaful is to create a one stop solution for the customers who are intending to sell, buy or rent machines across Pakistan. This collaboration will not only help reduce the traditional time frame in obtaining coverage facility but give a hassle free experience throughout the policy period. I hope this agreement will be beneficial for both Pak-Qatar and Machinesells and will lead to long-term business relationship.”

This initiative has been taken to facilitate the decision of customers for buying machines and getting it secured through Pak-Qatar General Takaful. This is the first step to make machinesells.com a one-stop solution for the customers of this industry. Machinesells.com is expanding and accumulating to build a strong connected wall for their clientele. Machinesells.com will procure to have more steps and stands on this industrial platform with its strategic collaborator.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Focus on women is one of the overarching themes of all Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company (PMIC)’s interventions. As the apex institution and sector developer, PMIC advocates for gender equality with the central objective of improving the socioeconomic status of the women.

In line with this year’s theme – Each for Equal, PMIC held Women’s Day event to celebrate and recognize the entrepreneurial spirit and accomplishments of women in the country.  Women beneficiaries from PMIC funded Microfinance Institutions – were invited to share their perspective with the PMIC Board and team.  The beneficiaries were resilient examples who have used their microfinance loans to challenge stereotypes and have adopted non-conventional roles such as joining a ride hailing service as a driver, operating a pick and drop transport service and setting up a vocational training center. These diverse and accomplished women shared their life journey, role of microfinance in helping them overcome challenges, lessons learnt and their future plans. Through their commitment and resolve, they have inspired many more women to become drivers, trainers, beauticians and businesswoman among others. Moreover, these women have been able to educate their children, an encouraging example was that one of the beneficiary’s daughter has recently completed her studies to become a dentist.

During the event Chairman PMIC Naved A. Khan, Borad member PMIC and CEO Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) Qazi Azmat Isa and CEO PMIC Yasir Ashfaqreiterated PMIC’s commitment to enhance access to finance for women and improve their socioeconomic standing in the society. They praised the commitment of these women to embrace non-conventional roles andemphasized on the resolve to pursue initiatives that lead to financial empowerment of women.

Through its network of more than 22 Microfinance Providers in more than 65 districts of Pakistan, 86% of the borrowers are women. PMIC also focusses development of women centric financial products and initiatives leading to financial inclusion, financial literacy, empowerment and sustainable livelihoods for women contributing towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS). 

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Hutchison Ports Pakistan, the country’s leading container terminal operator, has been acknowledged as the ‘Port/Container Terminal of the Year – South Asia 2020’ Award. The ceremony was held in Dubai as part of the Global Port Forum Award 2020. The platform aims to recognize some of the most notable contributions across various sectors of the ports and shipping industry made by organisationsaround the world.

H.E. Mr. Muhammad Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Economics and Trade of UAE, presented the award to Eric NG, Business Director – Middle East and Africa, Hutchison Ports. Senior professionals from the ports, trade and other relevant industries across the globe attended the event.

The Global Ports Forum is an organisation that collaborates with port authorities across the globe to bring various stakeholders together with a vision to create robust shipping practices and streamline international trade. Hutchison Ports Pakistan has had the honour of receiving this award for the first time through its demonstration of continuous innovation and introduction of efficient cargo-handling mechanisms at the South Asia Ports Terminal, Karachi. 

Commenting on the development, Capt. Syed Rashid Jamil, General Manager & Head of Business Unit, Hutchison Ports Pakistan, highlighted that the organisation is committed to revolutionizing the way trade is handled at Pakistan’s shipping terminals. “Karachi is an important shipping port connecting many landlocked states with the world through sea. Streamlining operations at this terminal is imperative because it makes up a significant chunk of the contribution to global transit of goods. This accolade is an acknowledgment of the innovative steps being undertaken by Hutchison Ports Pakistan including the introduction of state-of-the-art machinery, tools and techniques to create a hassle-free supply chain.”

Hutchison Ports Pakistan recently became the first terminal in the country to acquire electrical remote-controlled semi-automatic rubber-tyred gantry cranes to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo at its phase 2 extension. The company has made some significant contributions to increase efficiency at the trading ports in Karachi.