Category: Business

LAHORE (ZAHID CHUGHTAI)

After successfully promoting the sowing of hybrid rice in Pakistan which brought prosperity to the farmers and enhanced the crop size, Guard Agricultural Research & Services (Pvt) Limited has joined hands with another Chinese food giant Litong Food to promote the sowing of high-yielding hybrid chillies in Pakistan over an area of 8,000 acres of land. Under the umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agriculture programme, both companies have plans to grow Chinese hybrid chillies and then export back all the production to China. Initial estimate of export potential of this joint project is US$ 500-550 million. As per the initial negotiation between the two sides, Litong Food in collaboration with the Guard Group of Pakistan will sow high-yielding hybrid chilli crop over 5,000 acres of land during the coming season while another 3,000 acres will be sown on its own in Pakistan. As per the plan, this area under the chilli crop will be increased to 200,000 acres of land in the future. Setting up a processing plant after achieving 50,000 metric tons of hybrid chilli production and a breeding station to ensure the transfer of technology to chilli production is also part of the proposed collaboration. Guard Agricultural Research & Services (Pvt) Ltd, Executive Momin Ali Malik said that the Chinese government has shortlisted its two companies under its CPEC projects in Agriculture & Livestock. Litong has been selected for Agriculture while Royal Company has been selected for livestock projects. He said his company is already experimenting with the sowing of high-yielding hybrid chilli seeds produced by another Chinese company ‘Paprika’ in Pakistan for the last six years and got very encouraging results. He claimed that the Chinese company keeping in view the track record of successful promotion of hybrid rice, chilli and tomatoes contacted them to work in collaboration with them. It has also been planned to set up a 500 acres model farm in Southern Punjab which will start working by the end of October after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both companies. Sixty per cent of the planned 5,000 acres of land will be in Badin, Tando Muhammad Khan, Kunri, Matli and Mirpur Khas areas of Sindh while 40 per cent will be in Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan in South Punjab. ‘Hybrid Chilli gives three picking per sowing and a production of 600 maunds per acre in contrast to traditional varieties which give only 200 maund per acre,’ said Momin Ali Malik said and added that contracts will be made with interesting farmers with a buy-back guarantee of their crop. Farmers will get the market rate plus a premium for their produce under this agreement. Chairman of Litong Food will soon be visiting Pakistan most probably in the second week of October 2022 to sign an MoU in this regard, Malik concluded.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) United Bank Limited (UBL) and Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam (SAUT) recently entered into an agreement to initiate a research project for the development of improved cotton and wheat seed varieties. This research will develop climate resilient wheat and cotton seeds with better germination rates, significantly improving crop yields and income for the agriculture sector of Pakistan.

The agreement signing ceremony was held at UBL Head office Karachi and was attended by Mr. Shazad G. Dada, President & CEO UBL and Dr. Fateh Muhammad Mari, Vice Chancellor of SAUT along with senior executives from both institutions.

During the session, Mr. Shazad G. Dada said, “As Pakistan’s most progressive and innovative bank, UBL’s vision is to support the agricultural sector of Pakistan through research, development and use of technology. We feel the need for this is now, more than ever, as we start the re-building process following the devastating floods earlier in the year.  As the State Bank of Pakistan’s nominated champion Bank for the province of Sindh we are proud to collaborate with SAUT and will continue to work towards finding innovative solutions to support the agriculture sector of Pakistan.”

Dr. Fateh Mohammad Mari, Vice Chancellor of SAUT said, “SAUT is one of the premium agriculture institutes of the country. It has been actively exploring all the avenues of improving quality agriculture graduates who are contributing towards the adoption and extension of best agricultural technologies.” Mr. Mari thanked UBL for their support in meeting this shared objective and agreed with the points highlighted by Mr. Shazad G. Dada.

The leadership of both the institutions expressed their resolve for effective collaboration and for exploration of other possibilities which may help in the overall development of Pakistan’s agriculture sector.  

UBL and Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam (SAUT) recently signed an agreement for the development of Pakistan’s agriculture sector. The signing ceremony was held at the UBL Head Office in Karachi. Picture shows Mr. Shazad G. Dada, President & CEO UBL (seated 2^nd right) and Dr. Fateh Muhammad Mari, Vice Chancellor of SAUT (seated, 2^nd left) along with senior executives from both institutions.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  Xiaomi Pakistan has launched its latest tablet, the Redmi Pad, a device that utilizes state-of-the-art technologies, providing consumers with an immersive high-quality audiovisual experience.

The Redmi Pad comes equipped with quad speakers which are compatible with Dolby Atmos® providing you unparalleled sound. It also boasts a 10.6” display with a 90Hz refresh rate with lower visual latency giving you a viewing experience like never before. The Redmi Pad is also the first tablet in the world to have received the SGS low visual fatigue certification, making any viewing relaxing and easy on the eyes. The Redmi Pad is also certified by TÜV Rheinland for low light, which protects your eyes from screen fatigue and makes binge-watching a relaxing pastime. These features alone make the Redmi Pad a must-have.

It also boasts an 8MP 105° ultra-wide camera with FocusFrame technology making it perfect for group video calls.

An 8,000mAh long-lasting battery keeps the Redmi Pad powered for longer movie marathons, gaming, or hours of photography. It comes with a 22.5W in-box charger which also supports 18W fast charging.

Market Availability

The new Redmi Pad is available at our local stores as well as online stores at Corecart, Mistore and Daraz for PKR 57499/-.

Quick Specifications

Display	10.6” Display
Sound	Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos®
Battery	8,000mAh Battery
Front Camera	8MP 105° Ultra-wide camera with FocusFrame technology
Rear Camera	8MP main camera
Processor	MediaTek Helio G99

 

 

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL) signed an agreement with Sehat Kahani, to introduce free OPD consultations and telemedicine solutions through digital platforms to their customers.

Mr. Azeem Iqbal Pirani (CEO, PQFTL), Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram (CEO, Sehat Kahani), Mr. Zeeshan Haider (Head of Alternate Distribution and Bancatakaful PQFTL) and Dr. Iffat Zafar (COO, Sehat Kahani) signed the agreement along with senior officials of both companies.

On the occasion, Mr. Azeem Iqbal Pirani (CEO, PQFTL) said “We are delighted to partner with Sehat Kahani as this strengthens our resolve to continuously provide innovative solutions to our customers in healthcare. We are moving towards digitalization at a fast pace and partnership with Sehat Kahani will further enhance our reach and help us spread awareness about Takaful products while providing online healthcare solutions to our customers who will now have the convenience of availing healthcare consultations even from their homes without having the need go to healthcare centers.

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram (CEO, Sehat Kahani) said, “Pak-Qatar is the leading Takaful coverage provider in Pakistan and a trustworthy name for Takaful services. We are excited for this opportunity to reshape the health takaful market through this groundbreaking partnership. With combined efforts of Pak Qatar and Sehat Kahani, this partnership will greatly reduce the burden at tertiary care facilities and help us achieving a healthier Pakistan”.

Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL) is the first and largest dedicated Family Takaful Company in Pakistan. PQFTL is a progressive and a technology-driven Shari’ah Compliant company providing innovative Takaful solutions since 2007. PQFTL is the fastest growing Family Takaful operator in the country. The company is rated “A++” (having a Stable Outlook) by VIS Credit Rating Co. Limited and Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA). The Company’s paid-up capital is in excess of Pak- Rs. 2.45 Billion.

Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited is recipient of several domestic and international awards and nominations including, ‘Best Takaful Company’ Award from FPCCI in 2020, ‘Brand of the Year’ at the FPPCI Awards in Karachi 2018, ‘Best Takaful Operator’ by IFN Awards in 2017, ‘Best Takaful Operator in Pakistan’ award at the 10th International Takaful Summit London 2016 and ‘Best Takaful Company in Pakistan’ for the year 2015 at ‘RTC Islamic Banking & Finance Awards’ ceremony in Islamabad.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Faysal Bank Limited (FBL), one of the leading Islamic Banks in the country, and K-Electric have come together to ease customer’s payment burden in times of economic crunch.

As part of the collaboration, Faysal Islami Noor Card holders will now be able to pay their electricity bills through easy instalment plan options of up to 3 months. Faysal Islami Noor card has gained immense popularity amongst industry card customers because it is a Shariah compliant alternative to conventional credit cards that offers amazing discounts and offers.

Speaking on the occasion, Head Consumer Finance (FBL), Mr. Aneeq Malik said: “Customer convenience has always been of paramount importance to the Bank and our partnership with K-Electric is a depiction of our commitment to our customers. We are confident that through the proposition will allow customers to manage their monthly expenditures in a more convenient and relaxed manner.”

Delighted at the launch of this campaign, Chief Distribution Officer at K-Electric, Mr. Amer Zia said, “Our collaboration with Faysal Bank through this offer is another testament of our commitment towards providing maximum relief to our consumers”.

Mr. Feroz Khan, Head Unsecured Business (FBL) further added, “We are committed to further building customer loyalty by offering the best in class products and benefits to our valued customers. This collaboration aims to ease customer expenditure on their KE billings specifically in the high billing periods.”

METRO DONATES ESSENTIAL FOOD ITEMS WORTH Rs 11. MILLION TO PAKISTAN RED CRESENT SOCIETY FOR FLOOD AFFECTEES

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)  METRO Pakistan, supported by its parent company METRO AG, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) for delivering essential food supplies worth PKR 11 million to flood affectees. The MoU was signed by the Director Corporate Affairs Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar, representing METRO Pakistan and Dr. Adeel Nawaz, Secretary General representing PRCS, in the presence of the Chairman PRCS Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari, Mr. Philipp Deichmann, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany and Representative of the German Red Cross Ms. Munazza Fatima.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar said, “As part of our ‘METRO Care & Share’ initiative, we feel contented to be part of relief operations after the devastating floods. The donation of food essentials will be enough for approximately 15000 people for a month.” The food supplies will be routed through the channels of Pakistan Red Crescent Society to reach the people of the areas where it is most needed. “We have always been at forefront of community welfare during national disasters like floods of 2010 and covid-19 pandemic and will continue to give back to the society through our CSR initiatives” He further added.

While expressing his views, Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari thanked METRO for standing with the people of Pakistan in these testing times. “The unprecedented floods have played havoc across the country, causing loss of property and life. We need joint efforts for alleviating the suffering of the vulnerable people”. He further said that this generous donation by METRO is indeed inestimable and will increase our humanitarian capacity to bring ease to the flood victims.

METRO was the first corporate enterprise from the wholesale/retail industry in Pakistan to initiate its relief supply provisions right at the beginning of the floods and in the first instance handed over food, drinks, and other edible items worth PKR 1.2 million for the flood affectees.

Meezan Bank wins the ‘Best Company in Financial Category’ award at MAP 37th Corporate Excellence Awards

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank has been conferred with the top honour in the Financial Sector category at the Management Association of Pakistan’s (MAP) 37th Corporate Excellence Awards ceremony held recently, at Movenpick Hotel, Karachi. The Award recognizes Meezan Bank for its outstanding performance and demonstrating progress and enlightened management practices.

Founding President & CEO of Meezan Bank, Mr. Irfan Siddiqui received the award on behalf of the Bank at the ceremony which brought together senior management, dignitaries, business leaders and eminent personalities from the corporate sector of Pakistan. Also present at the occasion were Meezan Bank’s Senior Management including the Deputy CEO, Mr. Ariful Islam. 

This award is a testament to Meezan Bank’s continued leadership in the banking sector. This win also coincides with the Bank’s 25 Year anniversary of providing unparalleled Islamic banking services in the country.

Commenting at the occasion Mr. Irfan Siddiqui expressed his gratitude to Allah (SWT) for His blessings on the entire Bank and thanked the organizers for conferring the Bank with the ‘Best Company in Financial Category’ award. He said, “Since inception to date, Meezan Bank remains one of the fastest growing banks of the country. Throughout this period our teams have remained agile, decisive and innovative in providing Shariah-compliant financial solutions to our customers in a simple and seamless manner. Our approach and commitment towards our Vision of establishing ‘Islamic banking as banking of first choice…’ will further our drive in the journey to make Pakistan Riba-free, InshaAllah.”

The Corporate Excellence Awards were instituted by MAP in 1982 and are divided into Industrial and Financial categories, and Not-For-Profit organizations. Short-listed companies are evaluated on the basis of a detailed financial evaluation and management practices criteria. It is worth mentioning that the financial evaluation covers the period of preceding three years in order to absorb the effects of fluctuations and also to recognize the impact of long-term policies and strategic decisions.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) TECNO Mobile Pakistan is doing an exciting fashion-style collaboration with BTW Pakistan. BTW is a fashion-forward brand, popular for chic western and Ethnic clothing.   The Mondrian variant is the inspirational muse for this style collaboration between the two leading brands. The handset becomes an instant hit from its launch and was on trending on Twitter with #ColorChangingMobile.

BTW’s renowned designer Hamza Vaince has designed Mondrian art-inspired costumes for this amazing design collaboration. The brand will feature Five exclusive winter collection shirts based on the Mondrain art theme. All articles will be on display soon and available for sale in all BTW outlets. These designer shirts will be in vogue with the incredible fashion shoot of popular names like Sachal Afzal, Zahib Malik, Laiba Khan, and Momina Tariq. All these artists are known for their high-end style statements.

Camon 19 Pro Mondrian itself is a style statement with the industry’s slimmest bezel and sleek design. Combining “sunshine drawing” technology with aesthetic design, the phone’s back produces a multicolored glow when exposed to sunlight. This first-ever color-changing handset has recently won two global design awards, the 2022 MUSE Design Award from the US and the A’ Design Award from Italy, for its superb workmanship and creative aesthetic appeal.

Kelvin Zheng, the CEO of TECNO Mobile Pakistan stated, “We are excited to announce this fashion collab with BTW which will give a new dimension to art and style in Pakistan. Camon 19 Pro has been praised globally for its amazing design and style. We are optimistic that our customers will surely love these designer merchandises available on all BTW outlets in Pakistan.”

Hamza Vaince, the designer of BTW Pakistan too shares his thought on this occasion: “One of the best things about this collaboration is that our brand ideologies synchronize at so many points, either it is to push the boundaries bringing out the innovative design or a fabric or a cut for the resilient youth, the artists as well as a person who likes to vibe and slay in his own signature look.”

TECNO’s Camon 19 Pro Mondrian will be the smart choice for people who adore art, fashion, and visual art. Pakistani consumers can purchase the phone for PKR 51,999 in both online and retail stores.

 

50 women graduate from Tech Hub in RYK launched by Unilever Pakistan and CIRCLE Women Association

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) A graduation ceremony for 50 women who have been trained in digital skills at Unilever Pakistan and CIRCLE Women Association’s Technology Hub was organized in Rahim Yar Khan on Monday, 3^rd October 2022. This tech hub was initiated by the two organizations to promote women’s digital literacy and inclusion in the city of Rahim Yar Khan.

The organization behind the program, CIRCLE Women Association (CWA) is a tech non-profit working on imparting digital and financial literacy and startup support to women startups, including micro and small enterprises.

During the two-month long program, 50 female students aged between 18-30 received training on core digital concepts, platforms and tools such as Google Suite, Canva, and social media marketing as part of an effort to increase their employability.

Unilever Pakistan and CIRCLE’s vision behind this program is to promote financial inclusion and bridge the growing gender gap in the country by empowering young women in Rahim Yar Khan. In the next stage of the program, Unilever Pakistan and CIRCLE have pledged to train 400 more women in 2023.

Amir Paracha, Chairman & CEO, Unilever Pakistan congratulated the students on completion of the training and said, “The city of Rahim Yar Khan has so much to offer to Pakistan’s future. I am certain that the skills these young women have learned here are going to play a crucial role in their professional careers and help in accelerating gender equity and diversity in Pakistan’s workforce. We will continue to support such programs and partnerships that help future proof our talent and enable women to earn a respectable and dignified income that empowers them and supports the economy of Pakistan”.

Arif Surti, Works Director RYK, Unilever Pakistan shared, “We are proud of these young women who not only completed their digital training but have also kick started their careers through freelancing. We are proud to announce that some of these women will be working on data analytics assignments for us and we are excited for the future of this partnership with CIRCLE”.

Sadaffe Abid, CEO of CIRCLE Women Association, addressing the participants said, “The young women in Rahim Yar Khan have proven that there is nothing they cannot do if given the right opportunity. Digital literacy and digital skills offer tremendous potential to boost financial growth and it is critical for stakeholders to invest in ensuring access for women and girls. I would like to extend our gratitude to Unilever Pakistan for partnering with us on this empowering initiative. I am eagerly waiting for the next batch to start in the Rahim Yar Khan Tech Hub and meet the young, bright minds of the future who will contribute to Pakistan’s economy!”.

Chaudhary Iqbal Hafiz, President of the Business Chambers, Rahim Yar Khan applauded the candidates for their hard work and enthusiasm and ensured continued support for such initiatives.

Unilever Pakistan is the country’s largest FMCG, present in Pakistan since 1948. The company has over 30 brands spanning Home Care, Personal Care, Foods, Beverages, and Ice Cream with over 97% local production, through 4 factories and 5 co packers.

CIRCLE is committed to women’s empowerment and leadership development through advocacy, research, technology and innovative entrepreneurship labs combined with impactful leadership programs to grow women in leadership. CIRCLE provides digital skills from basic digital literacy for women at grassroots level to coding, digital marketing, entrepreneurship and more.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Paymob, the leading Omni channel payments gateway and financial technology enabler in the MENAP region, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with medIQ Smart Healthcare, Pakistan’s first integrated virtual care platform to drive financial inclusion and lead the way for swift payment acceptance.

Smart healthcare is an opportunity that has a lot of potential in Pakistan, a country where the ratio of healthcare personnel to population is around 0.8 to 1000. While larger cities still have relatively better access to private healthcare, the challenge is in territories that are distant and not easily accessible due to lack of infrastructure and education.

medIQ Smart Healthcare, the B2B virtual care platform, provides a highly customizable plug-and-play technology stack, custom-made health and life insurance plans, and an integrated OPD solution consisting of a comprehensive network of online pharmacies, online laboratory services and teleconsultations with general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists.

Speaking at the occasion, Fawad Abdul Kader, Country Manager Paymob said, “It is great to work with like-minded people and organisations which are using technology to extend the reach of necessary services to people without the limitation of proximity. Paymob is proud to support medIQ in partnering with them to support the cause and enabling their platforms with our unique and diverse collection options for accepting payments against the services. Through this partnership, we are facilitating patients and healthcare professionals in order to uplift the entire ecosystem. We believe in democratising payments across Pakistan and we are thrilled to be able to partner on an issue that we deeply care about which is healthcare.”

Dr. Saira Awan, CEO of MedIQ was quoted saying, “Healthcare access and financial inclusion go hand in hand. medIQ and Paymob’s partnership will result in having access to useful and affordable financial services that meet their healthcare needs of medIQ’s consumers – healthcare transactions, payments, credit and or even purchase of micro health insurance. We are on our journey together to make Pakistan healthy with financial wellness”.