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More than 85% of Pakistani online shoppers have shopped on Daraz, study finds

By Muhammad Yasir

Rapid growth of e-commerce over the last few years has greatly influenced shopping trends as well as the retail landscape in Pakistan. According to a study conducted by the global measurement company, Nielsen, more than 85% of Pakistan’s online shoppers have shopped on Daraz. A report called “Understanding the E-Commerce Landscape of Pakistan” was compiled in October 2019 using insights from interviews with individuals from various backgrounds in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan and Peshawar.

The report findings highlight that Daraz is very well known among online shoppers, and has a total awareness of 96%. Nielsen found that 94% of Daraz shoppers have used the platform’s app. Motivations to visit the Daraz app included the ability to compare prices of different products, and browse through the online marketplace’s assortment. Nielsen also found that the average user visits the Daraz app at least 5 times a month. Females visit the app almost 6.6 times a month – a higher frequency compared to males who visit the platform 4.1 times a month on average.

The entertaining and personalized experience that Daraz has curated for users, by harnessing its access to artificial intelligence, is another important factor that attracts visitors. Over the past year, Daraz has pioneered the art of shoppertainment by launching features such as Shake Shake and in-app gamification that have increased user engagement and generated heavy traffic on the platform especially during mega campaigns such as the 11.11 sale.

During the research, Nielsen evaluated three main categories of goods, namely, apparel, groceries and electronics. The analysis indicated that 68% of online shoppers in the country have shopped for apparel from Daraz at least once. Similarly, in the groceries and electronics categories, 76% and 66% of Pakistan’s online shoppers have shopped from Daraz at least once, respectively.

“Customer experience is paramount at Daraz. The findings from Nielsen’s study have helped us not only identify our strengths but also understand the measures we can take to make the customer journey more entertaining and seamless. In 2020, our aim is to further improve the customer journey and offer a greater degree of entertainment,” said Ammar Hassan, Chief Marketing Officer Daraz Pakistan.

 

MCB Bank Ltd. consolidates Retail Banking portfolios to enhance customer delivery

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) MCB Bank Limited, one of Pakistan’s largest banks, has announced plans to consolidate its Retail Banking-North and Retail Banking-South business portfolios into one unified Retail Banking Group. Mr. Zargham Khan, Head RBG North (former), has been appointed as Group Head Retail Banking with immediate effect.

Mr. Zargham Khan Durrani has been with MCB Bank since 2007 and has diverse experience with local & international banks in various capacities spanning over 20 years. Mr. Durrani, as Head of Retail Banking Group-North has managed a network of over 700 branches encompassing their operations, liabilities business and growth and commercial and agriculture lending. In the past, he successfully handled the Bank’s Branch Network Optimization project and has also served as Business Head for North & East business areas.

45 units of Hyundai Porter H-100 Pickup Delivered to a local Distributor company- Fleet Handing Over ceremony 

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) An impressive handing-over ceremony of 45 units of Porter H-100 pickup to M/s Shan Distributors & Shan Marketing Services was held at Hyundai Nishat Motor Pvt. Ltd., plant, Faisalabad.

The event was attended by the Directors of Shan Distributors and Shan Marketing who received the ceremonial keys of their brand new Hyundai Porter High-deck and Deckless variants from Mr. Tatsuya Sato-COO HNMPL & Mr. Junya Masuda – EVP Sales & Marketing HNMPL. Other senior company officials from HNMPL were also present at the occasion.

The production of Porter H-100 pickup and its committed deliveries to the customers have already begun from early January 2020.

M/s Hyundai Nishat Motor is committed to not only provide highly quality products and services, but also to work closely with the Pakistani clients to set the new benchmark for Pakistan’s transportation industry.

Meezan Bank announces partnership with Bookme.pk for the provision of E-ticketing services through its Mobile & Digital Channels!

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank has recently entered into a partnership with Bookme.pk – Pakistan’s first & largest online ticketing platform that helps customers buy bus, airline and event tickets online using the Bank’s state-of-the-art Internet & Mobile Banking channels.

The partnership will enable the Bank’s customers to simply log on to their Meezan Bank Internet and Mobile Banking Application portals to conduct secure online transactions and instantly buy tickets by directly checking out with their existing Meezan Bank accounts. In addition, the customers will also get to avail best value fares and discounts from Bookme.pk’s large portfolio of digital tickets.

Commenting on this partnership, Meezan Bank’s Head of Alternate Distribution Channels, Mr. Shariq Mubeen said: “Meezan Bank is committed to facilitating advanced and innovative methods of payments that can offer greater convenience to its customers. This initiative with Bookme.pk will provide them with an instant and convenient way to purchase great value tickets through our seamless ADC Channels.”

“We strive to curate a seamless ticket booking experience for our customers as a leading disrupted in the e-ticketing space in Pakistan. We are very proud to announce the on boarding of Meezan Bank, the first and largest Islamic Bank in Pakistan, as our digital ticketing partner for the ennoblement of e-ticketing services across Pakistan. We look forward to a mutually beneficial strategic partnership with Meezan Bank and further disrupting the e-ticketing industry across Pakistan,” said Faizan Aslam – CEO, Bookme.pk.

JS Bank Enables Ease of Business for Freelancing Community

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) According to Forbes, Pakistan is the world’s 4th largest freelance market primarily due to mushrooming numbers in call centers, software houses, tech companies, and content freelancers. The greatest challenge being faced by the sector is payment receipt with popular options such as Paypal absent from the market and traditional wire transfers taking ages to arrive.

Realizing the need of the market, JS Bank has launched ‘Freelance Wallet’, a global payment product allowing freelancers to receive payments from more than 40 countries directly on their mobile numbers. This product was launched in alliance with Paysend, one of the fastest growing international money transfer services under the State Bank of Pakistan’s initiative of Home Remittance Account (HRA).

Funds can now be sent direct to mobile numbers in Pakistan with the receiver receiving SMS intimation of the transfer. Funds can be withdrawn after verification from branchless banking agents, JS Bank branches or via ATM cards (for existing customers). This has greatly simplified the process for incoming freelancer remittances through reduction of gray channels and improved safety and transparency. Freelancers can open a completely paperless account in less than a minute against their Mobile number. All they need to do is to visit nearest JCash Agent and provide Biometric verification.

Noman Azhar, Country Head Branchless Banking & Digital Implementation at JS Bank said, “In line with the State Bank’s strategy, we are working aggressively on increasing the value proposition in the International Remittance space. JS Bank has provided freelancers with a practical digital platform to the to ease the fund receipt process without any extra cost. This is a game changing initiative and cements our position as a market leader.”

Committed towards its role as a catalyst towards the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, JS Bank hopes to continue this journey of digitalization by providing a variety of innovative conventional and digital solutions in the years ahead.

Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited (“PMPKL”), an affiliate of Philip Morris International (“PMI”), received the Annual CSR Award 2020

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited (“PMPKL”), an affiliate of Philip Morris International (“PMI”), received the Annual CSR Award 2020 from National Forum for Environment and Health (NEFH) for Community Development & Services. PMPKL continues to work to create a positive, sustainable impact in the areas it operates whilst focusing on achieving PMI’s goal to become a truly gender balanced, inclusive workplace. In 2019 PMPKL became the first organization in Pakistan to obtain the Equal Salary Certification, and PMI became the first multinational company in the world to be certified.

Picture shows: Manager Communications and Company Secretary, Mustafa Kamal Zuberi receiving the award at the ceremony held in Islamabad

Pakistan presents USD96 billion opportunity for the private sector to invest in sustainable development, says Standard Chartered

• Opportunity2030 study reveals the almost USD10 trillion private-sector investment opportunity in contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in emerging markets

• Pakistan offers a potential private-sector SDG investment opportunity of USD96.2 billion

• At USD44.7 billion, the greatest private-sector opportunity in Pakistan is investment in achieving and maintaining universal access to electricity (SDG 7)

 Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) The Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map reveals an almost USD10 trillion (USD9.668 trillion) opportunity for private-sector investors across all emerging markets to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with Pakistan representing USD96.2 billion of that totals.

The study identifies opportunities for the private sector to contribute to three infrastructure-focused goals between now and 2030: SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure across emerging markets.

Need for private investment intensifying

The greatest investment opportunity in Pakistan is found in achieving and maintaining universal access to electricity (a key SDG 7 indicator), representing a USD44.7 private-sector opportunity. This considers the proportion of the population currently without electricity access (29 per cent), projected population growth, and the growing demand for power as the economy develops.

There is also significant opportunity for investment in digital infrastructure, with a potential private-sector contribution of around USD34 billion needed to achieve full digital adoption (measured by a combination of mobile phone subscription rates and internet connectivity). Digital access is a key indicator for SDG 9, which encourages improvement in industry, innovation and infrastructure. The other SDG 9 indicator in Opportunity2030 is transport infrastructure. To significantly improve Pakistan’s transport infrastructure by 2030 indicates a USD13.5 billion investment opportunity for the private sector.

The opportunity in the water and sanitation sector is smaller but could make a significant impact. Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of Pakistan’s population still do not have access to clean water and sanitation, a key SDG 6 indicator. Closing this gap by 2030 will require significant investment, with an opportunity for the private sector to provide around USD4 billion of the funding.

 Mr. Shazad Dada Chief Executive Officer at Standard Chartered said:

“Pakistan has demonstrated strong commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals by becoming the first country to adopt the SDGs as part of its national development agenda through a Parliamentary Resolution. The private sector will play a crucial role in enabling Pakistan to hit these targets and there is substantial opportunity for investment that supports infrastructure development, including digital, energy provisioning as well as clean water and sanitation.

“Opportunity2030 provides an important map of the SDG opportunities for private sector investors looking to invest with impact and improve the lives of millions of Pakistanis over the next decade.”

Opportunity2030: Investment opportunity in achieving the SDGs in Pakistan, by sector indicator:

 

	SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Sector	Water and sanitation	Power	Transport	Digital access
Current performance	76% access to clean water and sanitation	71% access to electricity	Logistics Performance Index (LPI) infrastructure score of 2.2	27% digital access
Target by 2030	100% access to clean water and sanitation	100% access to electricity	LPI infrastructure score of 2.53	100% digital access
Total investment required to 2030	USD40.1bn	USD99.3bn	USD38.5bn	USD56.6bn
Potential private-sector investment opportunity to 2030	USD4.0bn	USD44.7bn	USD13.5bn	USD34.0bn

 

You can download the full Standard Chartered Opportunity2030 report here.