Ports in Pakistan set for revolutionary smart, zero-carbon, fully automated digitalized operations powered by 5G, AI and clou.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) Tianjin Port Group and Huawei announced that the two companies will deepen cooperation to build a digital twin of the world’s first smart, driverless, zero-carbon port terminal, making it more automated and intelligent. Yang Jiemin, Vice President of Tianjin Port Group, explained that this plan consists of three parts: Construction of new automated terminals, upgrading traditional terminals, and comprehensive digital transformation. The Section C Terminal in the Beijiang Port Area of the Port of Tianjin was the world’s first smart, driverless zero-carbon port terminal. It entered large-scale commercial operations in October 2021 and has been operating stably ever since. Using 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies at the terminal makes operations safer and more efficient. At the terminal, remotely controlled quay cranes lift loaded containers from cargo ships and put them onto intelligent robots for horizontal transportation. Supported by the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, these robots are guided to automatic locking/unlocking stations to load/unload containers and then to the container yard along optimal driving routes that are calculated in real-time. The entire process runs with clockwork precision. Jiemin explained how the new solution, which combines 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies, has been put into large-scale commercial application in a partially public scenario at the Section C Terminal for the first time. This has provided a new model for upgrading and transforming traditional container terminals worldwide. “These innovations being used at the Port of Tianjin are having a huge impact on the port industry, creating new value for ports by improving operating environments, driving green and low-carbon development, and increasing operational efficiency. We believe that these practices will promote the intelligent development of the global port industry,” said Yang. Shunli Wang, Vice President of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, said, “Ports in Pakistan are set for revolutionary, smart, zero-carbon fully automated digitalized operations that leverage 5G, AI and cloud and other advanced digital capabilities. We are keen to utilize our expertise to enable ports in the region to be safer, more efficient, smart, green and more intelligent.” Yue Kun, CTO of Huawei’s Smart Road, Waterway & Port BU, stated, “Ports are a vital link in the international supply chain, connecting trade and supply markets across the globe. Building more efficient smart ports is becoming an increasingly pressing requirement for the global supply chain. Section C Terminal of the Port of Tianjin has been operating stably for over one year, proving that 5G and L4 autonomous driving have already been successfully adopted by industries in China and are creating true commercial and social value.” Kun believes this progress will benefit various industries, with next-generation digital technologies, such as 5G and AI, combined to solve industry problems, promote digital industry transformation and upgrading, and generate social value. As a major modern port, the Port of Tianjin boasts 300,000-ton-class terminals with a channel depth of 22 m. It has 213 berths of various types. In 2022, its container throughput exceeded 21 million TEUs, ranking among the top 10 ports worldwide.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) With the purpose of delivering convenience to its customers, Pakistan’s leading delivery service, foodpanda, has added a wide range of pharmaceutical products and services to its shops platform. Users can now also avail lab services, like blood tests and x-rays within the app. Additionally, a new category has been launched in the Health & Wellness vertical that allows users to avail 24/7 teleconsultation services from doctors, dieticians, psychiatrists, and psychologists, a first of its kind to be offered by any delivery platform.

Commenting on the latest addition, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer foodpanda, Muntaqa Peracha said, “It gives us immense pleasure to add to our list of ‘firsts’ with the new suite of digital solutions now available on our app. Embracing innovation and the adoption of new technologies has always been the cornerstone of foodpanda’s commitment to elevating the quality of its service. We are extremely excited to have new products and services on board that will prove useful to millions of satisfied customers across the nation.”

Customers in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad can now order a complete range of medicines from different retail and hospital pharmacies, with delivery within half an hour and at discounted rates.

Being a country that spends only 3.39% of its GDP on the healthcare system, Pakistan ranks 122nd on WHO’s list of 191 countries, in terms of its overall quality of healthcare. Many Pakistanis still lack adequate healthcare due to a severe shortage of qualified doctors in their vicinity. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, for every doctor around the country, there are close to 1,000 patients in need of care. Furthermore, Covid-19 proved to be a wake-up call for the telemedicine sector for making rapid advancements to counter the shortcomings of traditional healthcare.

These additions to the app confirm the need to extend health services to platforms that are readily accessible to use for millions across the country. With the new suite of healthcare services on its app, foodpanda is truly leading the industry by example while empowering people to take control of their health into the palm of their hands.

Strategic partnership between Visa and WIZZIT aims to promote financial inclusion and digital transformation, and will facilitate digital payments across merchant network in Pakistan.

 

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)  Visa (V): Visa, the world leader in digital payments, signed an MoU with WIZZIT to bring innovative payment solutions to Pakistan. According to the MOU, Visa will invest in adding new payment solutions through the WIZZIT mobile app that will provide, low cost, seamless and secure payment solutions including Tap to phone services for merchants and SMEs across the country for the first time in Pakistan. The Tap to Phone service is aimed as a solution for low-cost acceptance for merchants especially as Pakistani consumers are increasingly indicating a preference to pay with digital payments over cash and 4 out of 5 consumers surveyed said they’d switch stores based on the payment methods offered . According to Visa’s 2021 Small Business recovery study, 79% of Pakistani SMEs saw digital payments as an important investment in business recovery. When the Tap to Phone feature is enabled, merchants can quickly start accepting contactless payments as long as they have a smartphone running on the Android 7 platform or above, which is equipped with a near-field communications (NFC) chip and download the Tap to Phone application. Customers can then tap their contactless payment card or payment-enabled smartphone against the seller’s Tap to Phone-enabled device to make a payment. In terms of payment security, there is no difference between Tap to Phone and a traditional hardware-based point-of-sale (POS) system, with a generated dynamic cryptogram verified by Visa in a matter of seconds. Gideon van den Broek, Chief Commercial Officer of WIZZIT, said: “WIZZIT aims to apply the latest technology to provide seamless and secure payment solutions through “Tap-on-Phone”. He added: “Our company is constantly striving to find partners who can further our goal of providing a seamless experience and the best solutions to users. Thus, we are pleased to partner with Visa, as Visa’s extensive network is a key differentiating factor in giving our customers the greatest flexibility.” Leila Serhan, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for North Africa, Levant and Pakistan, said: “Visa is committed to supporting merchants and helping small businesses thrive and meet consumers’ demands in the digital economy age. Tap to Phone is a low cost digital payment tool, that enables SMBs to sustain and grow their business, considering 4 out of 5 consumers say they will switch stores if digital payments options are not available , contactless payment adoption is no longer simply an option for SMBs – it’s a necessity not only for survival but also for growth.” SMBs have traditionally been lagging in accepting digital payments for a number of reasons including cost to entry. Visa innovations in low-cost solutions, such as Tap to Phone, are designed to support SMBs in their digital transformation goals by empowering them to provide a convenient, secure and seamless checkout experience to their customers and reduce their dependency on cash.

Learn more at Visa.com. 

Paksitan (Muhammad Yasir)

inDrive, the world’s fastest-growing online ride-hailing service, today announced that it is utilizing global risk intelligence company SHIELD’s Device Intelligence. SHIELD’s technology is strengthening inDrive’s defenses against fraud and helping it achieve the highest levels of trust, transparency and fairness for drivers and passengers worldwide. With the second most downloaded mobility app in the world, inDrive provides for the mobility needs of users in over 700 cities and across 47 countries. Today, the inDrive app has been downloaded more than 150 million times. A people-driven business on a mission to challenge injustice, the platform uniquely empowers drivers and passengers to negotiate fair price offers based on route or other factors. SHIELD provides industry-leading risk intelligence which eliminates injustice and unfairness by ensuring that negotiations and prices are kept transparent. Dishonest and fraudulent users are kept out of the inDrive platform, preventing them from causing issues such as unwarranted price hikes. SHIELD’s Device Intelligence will provide the driving force for inDrive to stay ahead of ride-hailing fraud syndicates across the world. These fraud groups often use fake accounts, which can be created with tools such as app cloners, with stolen identities, or even by taking over legitimate accounts. Using app cloners, fraudsters are able to create and access multiple instances of the same app from a single device. Fraud syndicates further scale the breadth of their fraud strategy by replicating this across a large number of devices. Fake accounts can be used to complete ghost rides – rides that do not actually happen – to quickly rack up ride completion incentives. Fake accounts can also be combined with the use of GPS spoofers to simulate high demand in one area, causing fare surges fraud syndicates profit from. Proactively looking to stop fraud, inDrive will leverage the SHIELD ID, the global standard for device identification that can help link fake devices created from the same physical device, which could number in the thousands. The SHIELD ID will empower inDrive to identify instances of multiple driver or passenger accounts being operated from the same device. At the same time, SHIELD’s AI technology can pinpoint large numbers of accounts tapping on the same IP address or subnet. SHIELD’s Risk Indicators will detect the installation and activation of all malicious tools and techniques on the platform, such as GPS spoofers, tampered apps, and app cloners. SHIELD’s Risk Intelligence does this all without the need for Personal Identifiable Information (PII), ensuring that inDrive remains compliant with data protection and privacy laws around the world without compromising on security. inDrive was rapidly launching in new markets and needed to account for the diverse and distinct fraud risks. SHIELD’s Global Intelligence Network ensured that inDrive could stay ahead of emerging threats while catering to the unique risk profiles of each region. Arsen Tomsky, CEO & Founder, inDrive said, “inDrive is dedicated to challenging injustice and upholding transparency and fairness in the mobility and transportation space. Our partnership with SHIELD empowers us to stay true to our mission of helping people, as well as ensuring the highest standards of trust and fairness for all while maintaining our rapid pace of growth.” Justin Lie, Founder and CEO of SHIELD, added, “inDrive’s revolutionary price negotiation model is a breath of fresh air in the ride-hailing industry. Trust is a two-way street, and SHIELD is proud to be helping inDrive ensure fair prices and a level playing field for genuine drivers and passengers.”

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) TECNO Mobile, a global leader in the smartphone industry, is proud to announce its partnership with JoChaho, a leading e-commerce platform that offers a one-stop solution for online buying. TECNO is a brand committed to bringing innovation in its users’ lives through premium technology while keeping it affordable!

The JoChaho mobile application is designed to provide customers with a convenient and seamless shopping experience. The app offers a range of features such as fast delivery, easy returns, and exceptional customer support. Customers can also trust in the authenticity of the products they purchase, as JoChaho promises to provide genuine products only. The partnership will bring exclusive deals and discounts to customers on a wide range of mobile phones available on JoChaho’s platform.

Through this memorandum of understanding, TECNO will provide pre-booking of all their devices through the JoChaho platform. Moreover, TECNO will promote and share the digital campaigns of JoChaho and vice versa. Both parties will help each other grow in both offline and online markets. To attract more customers on the JoChaho platform, TECNO will provide them with exclusive discounts, which will benefit both JoChaho and TECNO.

JoChaho will in return give premium placement to TECNO mobile during their campaigns. JoChaho will promote all of TECNO’s campaigns on their digital, offline and online markets.

“We are excited to join forces with JoChaho to provide our customers with even more value and convenience,” said TECNO Pakistan CEO Kelvin Zeng. “This partnership will allow us to reach more customers and offer exclusive promotions that are not available anywhere else, along with the added convenience of fast delivery, easy returns and exceptional customer support, provided by JoChaho.”

Announcing JoChaho as the official online partner for TECNO CEO JoChaho Zhao Liang said, we have high hopes for this collaboration. TECNO has been revolutionizing the digital experience in the emerging global market. This collaboration will bring out the best of our partnership for the Pakistani market and users. We as JoChaho team will put our best efforts and expertise to smoothen the e-commerce sales and relationship of TECNO users.

Customers can expect to see a wide range of discounts and deals on TECNO Mobile’s latest smartphones and other mobile devices, as well as other products and services offered by JoChaho.

 

ZoodPay will serve as Mastercard’s lending partner for consumers and SMEs across multiple geographies.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) ZoodPay, a leading digital lending platform for e-commerce in the Middle East and Central Asia, has entered into a strategic partnership with Mastercard to launch the first-of-its-kind prepaid virtual installment card in the Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) region. This collaboration will expand financial and digital inclusion, benefiting the underbanked population and those with no credit data or limited access to finance.

The introduction of the virtual installment card will allow ZoodPay to scale its offerings and provide Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) solutions to customers and merchants anytime and anywhere without being restricted exclusively to the ZoodPay network.

The offering will be available to consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across multiple geographies. Zoodpay will make its SMEs ecosystem available to Mastercard’s merchants, facilitating end-to-end digitization. This ecosystem will span product onboarding, fulfillment, last-mile delivery, and distribution channels, including ZoodPay’s own marketplace as well as other online platforms.

Mastercard will supplement this by providing access to its wide network of merchants, innovative payment methods, and state-of-the-art technical infrastructure for enablement and scalability.

This partnership can serve up to 300 million people, including 5 million SMEs and 4,000 merchants, providing BNPL options for consumers and loans for SMEs.

Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development at Mastercard EEMEA, said: “Consumers and merchants want choice and safety when it comes to payments. By partnering with ZoodPay, we are leveraging our technology to enable these payments in a digitally secure way.”

ZoodPay has 4,000 online and offline merchants with a proprietary marketplace, which is used by over 10 million people.

According to Juniper Research, BNPL services will account for more than 24% of global e-commerce transactions for physical goods by value by 2026, up from 9% in 2021. The number of global installment users will more than quadruple to 1.5 billion in 2026 from 340 million in 2021.

 

Pakistan (Nut Desk)

Nowadays, there are few options for devices offering value for money. Most devices do not offer high-end features which will enhance user experience in a budget segment. If they do, then those devices are also on the higher side of the price range.

Consumers can be divided into segments, users who want a phone just for photography, gaming, or everyday usage. Every consumer has their reasons and expectations for a mobile device. The year 2023 has also been tough economically for Pakistan and the mobile industry. Hence it is not feasible to release an expensive high-end device. In this uncertainty, we have found a device called the Camon 19 Pro by TECNO, which will provide you with the most luxurious and technologically advanced features without breaking the bank!

Your Camera Partner

The Camon 19 Pro is perfect for photographers since it offers a unique and advanced camera unit. The primary 64MP Camera sensor has a unique RGBW (G+P) lens, which allows for amazing nighttime photography. There are pro camera modes as well, where you can precisely control the exposure, white light, and other things to take the perfect pictures.

There is a secondary 50MP portrait lens for the best portrait pictures, featuring the perfect depth, Bokeh, and colors. A dedicated 2MP lens achieves the Bokeh. Furthermore, selfies are made more aesthetically pleasing by a 32MP front selfie camera which smart sensors and lenses.

Fashionable Device

The Camon 19 Pro series is fashion-conscious, offering sleek looks and sharp lines to help users carry it with style. The phone is one of the sleekest on the market, with 0.98mm bezels! The ergonomic grip makes it a pleasure to hold.

However, the deal-breaking feature is the color-changing back of the 19 Pro Mondrian, for which it achieved several awards! The 19 Pro Mondrian achieves this using photo chromatic isomer technology, which allows it to change the color of its back under direct sunlight!

Salient Features

The Camon 19 Pro offers something for every type of user. If you are not fashion-conscious and are not into photography, don’t worry.

Gaming Beast

This device has something for you too! The 19 Pro is powered by a powerful MediaTek G96 Processor, which means operations are lightning-fast. When you combine this with the 120HZ refresh rate this device supports, its user experience elevates to a new level!

Performance Master

The ram of this device is expandable from 3GB to 8GB which is more than enough for all your daily tasks and needs; safe to say this device won’t disappoint! Moreover, battery timing is not an issue for this device, thanks to its 5000 mAh battery, which supports fast charging through a 33W charger. This phone truly has it all.

We are sure that other devices provide the same features as well, maybe even better, but all of those options are not cheap or affordable. The Camon 19 Pro has made keeping in point its target market, and hence it is one of the best affordable luxury devices in its segment. This has made it quite popular as well!

 

 TECNO Camon 19 Pro is a device for every user!

TECNO Camon 19 Pro caters to a wide range of users!

 

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Mubadala Energy, the Abu Dhabi-based international energy company, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with OMV Downstream GmbH (OMV) and Pak-Arab Refinery Limited (PARCO) to explore opportunities in sustainable fuels and feedstock production in Pakistan. Under this agreement the companies will explore the possibility of pursuing projects in circular economy initiatives, including plastics production and recycling, sustainable fuels and feedstock as well as the development of synthetic oil and chemical products. The collaboration builds on a well-established partnership between Mubadala Energy, OMV and PARCO and seeks to utilize cutting edge technologies while leveraging existing infrastructure and market access. In line with Mubadala Energy’s strategy to pursue opportunities in new energy sectors and low-carbon solutions, the agreement also supports its recently launched sustainability strategy that pinpoints three key priorities: Creating a positive environmental impact, supporting responsible operations, and being a partner of choice. Through the MoU the partners also hope to further support efforts to ensure energy security within key customer centers. Mansoor Mohamed Al Hamed, Mubadala Energy CEO, commented: “We have set out a clear strategy to pursue new energy sectors and low-carbon solutions in support of the energy transition. This agreement brings together existing partners to combine leading technology, energy transition expertise and market infrastructure to realize the potential of circular economy solutions, at scale. With the UAE’s commitment to net zero emissions, I am excited to see this collaboration contribute to these goals.” For OMV, the project supports the company’s net zero emissions targets and is in line with a strategy to become a leading, innovative producer of sustainable fuels and feedstock. For PARCO, the agreement has the potential to position the company as an important player in the circular economy and deepen integration into the chemicals & materials industry, while proactively developing sustainable, low-carbon solutions that help diversify its business. Mr. Shahid Mahmood Khan, Managing Director, PARCO, commented: “As the energy lifeline of the nation, we resolve to secure a sustainable energy future for the Country. Pakistan has immense potential to move towards environmentally friendly fuels. We are glad to collaborate with Mubadala Energy and OMV to accelerate energy transition in Pakistan. Their technology and expertise will play an instrumental role in exploring avenues for circular economy and sustainable fuels.” Martijn van Koten, Member of the OMV Executive Board and Executive Officer Fuels & Feedstock, said: “We are delighted to participate in this joint activity, which supports our sustainable business strategy. The sourcing of sustainable raw feedstock and plastic waste is key to our intention to expand sustainable fuel production and our ReOil technology. I am convinced that OMV, with its extensive know-how in key sustainable technologies, can make a significant contribution to the success of this cooperation.”

Zong 4G partners with Pakistan’s first intranet-based app, GreenApp, to offer exclusive services to customers

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) Zong 4G has partnered with GreenApp to integrate services for customers such as mobile top-ups, post-paid, and other bundles, through their retailer network and their app. The partnership was signed in an exclusive signing ceremony in Islamabad on the 27th of December.

 The contract was finalized through signing ceremony held on 27^th December at Zong HQ. The event was graced by the representatives from Zong 4G, the CEO of GreenApp, Wasif Ayub.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Wasif Ayub CEO of GreenApp said, “This partnership is an essential step in providing innovative solutions to both Zong 4G and GreenApp users. We hope to see this relationship grow in the future.”

Zong 4G’s official spokesperson added, “Zong 4G continues to add value to its user experience and proves once again that it is a customer-centric company by partnering with GreenApp to promote access and reachability for Zong’s subscribers.”

Zong 4G Along with E-top-up, the Green App helps its users with P2P communication, energy bills, and school fee payments, as well as much more, all in one location. It is a global supplier of voice and data mobile communication services in nine different nations.

GreenApp is Pakistan’s first intranet-based mobile application containing facilities for a local audience. GreenApp is an ambitious business that is committed to offering cutting-edge solutions. It has all the resources required to offer its clients the greatest digital services available on the intranet. By partnering with GreenApp, Zong 4G customers get access to over 10,000 retailers currently committed to GreenApp.

Zong 4G prides itself on partnerships such as these, where companies work together to bring people innovative solutions that make everyday life easier and more efficient. Zong 4G understands the importance of having innovative solutions and products in the market, which is why it chose to partner with GreenApp.

 

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistan’s leading shoe-making companies participated in a three days footwear fair of Expo Riva Schuh from January 14-17 in Italy under the aegis of Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association PFMA) to have a preview of fashion collections, gather orders, acquire new international clients and have peep into innovation within the sector.

Led by Lt. Col (Retd) Ahmad Fawad Farooq, Secretary General – PFMA, the participating companies got ideal opportunities to interact with exhibitors and visitors besides exploring new avenues for their business expansion through international collaboration.

“Expo Riva Schuh has become a dynamic and interactive network that allows to meet multiple exhibition needs, from those typical of the exhibition market to one-to-one meetings,” said Lt. Col (Retd) Ahmad Fawad Farooq, adding that the management of the fair honoured only PFMA representative to accompany their officials team at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

UE Pvt Ltd,Service Industries Ltd, EPCT, Firhaj, Starlet, Shafi Pvt Ltd and KTM Footwear were the participating footwear-making companies from Pakistan.

“Pakistan’s exhibitors got a fair share of attention from the shoe enthusiasts as they got a complete preview of new fashion trends in Pakistan and plan orders well in advance besides promptly identifying trends and changes in the footwear market,” Lt. Col (Retd) Ahmad Fawad Farooq said, adding that this platform allowed participating companies find suppliers by destination, price or country of origin.

He said that Expo Riva Schuh provided Pakistani exhibitors a golden chance to meet with the major world production clusters and get vast international offer of their product categories other than suggesting different ways of conducting business through meetings and exchanges. He said that meetings with Indian shoe-makers were also very fruitful as they said that they would happily take part in any such event organized by Pakistan in Dubai. “We may arrange such an event after consultations with our counterparts in Bangladesh, India and other regional bodies,” he said.

Exhibitors at the fair gathered plenty of new contacts, creating interaction between national and international workers. Some of these contacts were subsequently transformed into orders, resulting in sales that are surely an important sign of recovery for the footwear sector.

“My experience of Expo Riva Schuh was positive. We made a lot of contacts, some of which resulted in serious collaboration with unternational shoe-manufacturers,” said Lt. Col (Retd) Ahmad Fawad Farioq.

Expo Riva Schuh is the most important international exhibition dedicated to volume footwear. It has become the reference point of the footwear sector for years, thanks to the exclusive combination of advantages it offers its visitors and exhibitors.

Great protagonists in the footwear, leather goods and accessories industry, institutional bodies, consortiums and private realities at national and international level companies from 41 countriesincluding Italy, Germany, Spain, France, UK and others, and visitors from over 100 different countries participated in the fair.