Category: Business

Lahore (Nut Desk) Chairman Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association (PFMA) Mr. Zahid Hussain has said that it is due to sustained growth that Pakistan’s shoes export is on the higher side and this stability in the sector is a welcome sign, mainly due to the effective and dynamic trade policy for which the government lent a commendable support.

Chairman Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association (PFMA) Mr. Zahid Hussain said this while addressing a press briefing at a local hotel on Monday.

“The govt decision to impose a ban on the import of imported goods is a wise and right decision. We call upon the government to sustain this ban for atleast five years so that the industry could grow and exports could be increased,” he said, adding that this measure will also lead to creation of 25,000 jobs for engineers, diploma, degree holders and skilled workers.

Mr. Zahid Hussain said that this would lead to the 100 per cent local shoes manufacturing during the next five years. “We had set the shoes export target of USD 1 billion for the year 2027, but hopefully, we shall achieve this target by 2026,” he said, adding the component and shoes-making production had increased to 20 per cent and crossed the exports target of USD 180 million.

He said that the PFMA is the part of the government strategy for cluster development, which will also augment shoe manufacturing sector to become the number in the region besides competing Brazil, Vietnam and China.

“We shall focus on the capacity development with the help of TEVETA to enhance our productivity,” he said, and added that the government should grant concession in the taxes. “The government has granted protection to the sector in tariff and it should also extend Extension in Local Taxes and Levies Drawback (DLTL) scheme so that the sector could progress and play an effective part in the income generation,” he maintained.

The footwear industry is facing some challenges which need attention of the key policy makers for immediate resolution. Some of the most important ones are the resumption of Extension in Local Taxes and Levies Drawback (DLTL) scheme for three years atleast to enable the industry to position itself in the international market and waiving off ACD and RD on all the raw materials for footwear industry and put them in lowest slab of custom duty to promote “Made in Pakistan Initiative.”

 

Mastercard study advocates financial inclusion as a driver for better access to health and education

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Financial inclusion is driving better access to health and education across Middle East and Africa, according to a new white paper from Mastercard.

The study, Financial Inclusion+ – Connecting People to Finance, Health, and Education, explores how health, education, digital, and financial inclusion are all intertwined to unlock greater prosperity and wellbeing for communities across the region.

It reveals that access to finance, healthcare, and education has become even more of a challenge over the past two years, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a result of movement restrictions and lockdowns. This has placed a greater need for digitally delivered financial inclusion; and for using this as a platform to distribute health and education services to the masses.

Mastercard is playing a leading role in addressing financial inclusion, with a previous goal to bring 500 million excluded individuals into the digital economy – a goal that was achieved in 2020 – and then raised during the height of the pandemic with a new pledge to include 500 million more – making a total of one billion people by 2025.

 “It is our belief that we can enhance financial and digital inclusion using a multi-stakeholder approach that brings together governments, financial institutions, regulators, mobile network operators, equipment manufacturers, and education and health service providers united by a common purpose. This, we believe, will also drive increasing inclusion in the health and education spaces,” said Umar Hashmi, Vice President, Global Product and Engineering, Mastercard.

According to the Mastercard survey on which the white paper is based, 83% of respondents across the region say they own a smartphone, with Jordan being the highest (89%) and Morocco lowest (75%). Over 41% say they acquired a new smart device in 2020-2021, as more health and education services were forced online due to the pandemic – 56% say they are connected digitally to an education service provider.

Just over half (55%) say they use digital mediums to make financial transactions, and 43% say they are connected digitally to a health service provider, with Kenya and Nigeria coming in at 55% and Iraq at 11%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safe food for better health: Nestlé Pakistan, PCSIR, Punjab University commemorate World Food Safety Day

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) In order to raise awareness regarding food safety, Nestlé Pakistan in collaboration with Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and Punjab University celebrated World Food Safety Day along this year’s theme ‘safe food, better health’.

 Shoaib Khan Jadoon, DG Punjab Food Authority (PFA) said, “PFA lays great emphasis on food safety, and we continuously work with the industry to promote the culture of food safety, by preventing adulteration and ensuring high nutrient quality in every possible way.”

 Dr. Quratulain Syed D.G Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR) said,”Food standards help to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in trade. Science based food standards are the foundation of food safety.”

 Samreen Sahar, Head of Quality, Nestle Pakistan said while addressing the participants said, “Safe food is the key towards a healthy life. The actions taken today to ensure safe food for a healthy tomorrow will lay down the foundation of a healthy future.”

 Highlighting, Nestlé’s purpose, she said, “Our purpose is to unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come, when we achieve this, we become a force for good.”

 Dr. Shinawar Waseem Chairman Department of Food Science shared that the world food safety day helps us to prevent and detect the diseases caused by unsafe food. He emphased that food safety is the shared responsibility.  

 The event brought to light the importance of food safety regulation and implementation in Pakistan for the health of consumers and featured speaker sessions by Dr. Tanveer Ibrahim, Chief Nutritionist at National Institute of Health (NIH), Dr. Imran Pasha D.G National Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFSAT), Mr. Zuzzer Ali Shamsuddin Chairman National Standard Committee (NSC) PSQCA, among others.

 

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) QNET, prominent e-commerce based direct selling company, reiterated its commitment to sustainability on the occasion of the World Environment Day. It raised awareness about the plethora of worldwide initiatives it has undertaken and its strategy for sustainable products.

The company has a long history of engaging in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities around the world through its CSR arm, the RYTHM Foundation (which stands for ‘Raise Yourself to Help Mankind’) to promote sustainable development. The company has also pledged to exclusively choose partners that adhere to the highest standards of quality and eco-friendly practices.

QNET has recently been notable for its advocacy of sustainable water development and active participation in conferences around the world on water issues.

Commenting on this, Ms. Malou Caluza, the CEO of QNET, said, “Our mission is to continuously advocate for our employees, distributors, and partners to integrate sustainable living within their day-to-day lives. We must continue actioning that message to leave a better world for the next generation.”

In 2020 and 2021, it was the main sponsor for the Arab Water Forum organised by the Arab Water Council (AWC). AWC is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Egypt that aims to raise awareness on water resource management challenges and enhance water and sanitation services in the Arab region.

In addition, QNET has also sponsored and participated in Cairo Water Week for three years in a row where its HomePure Nova water filtration products were recognised for supporting the local water scarcity strategy, reducing electricity use, and minimising resource wastage.

This year, QNET had an active presence at the 9th World Water Forum, taking place in Dakar, Senegal, from 21st to 26th March, and coinciding with Earth Hour.

QNET launched a global campaign through the RYTHM Foundation to advocate for water security and sustainability around the world. One such project was the company’s initiative, in partnership with Water for Africa (WFA) to provide clean water to rural Tanzania by building wells with the first water well, built in the Mtwango village in the Mifindi district providing clean, safe water supply for close to 2000 people.

QNET also donates their HomePure Nova water filters to increase access to clean water in these regions. “In line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, QNET pioneered the HomePure Nova water filtration range,” said Ms. Caluza.

She added, “It (HomePure Nova water filters) does not use single-use plastic, minimises water wastage and does not require electricity to run, which makes it an ideal solution for homes and communities looking for guilt-free, sustainable, and easy access to clean water.”

To combat climate change and deforestation, QNET partnered with Ecomatcher to launch the Green Legacy Program in 2021. The goal of this program is to plant a global forest with at least 10,000 trees by the end of 2022. The first phase of this reforestation initiative saw a total of 3,000 trees planted in Kenya, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates. The global initiative has sequestered 22.1 Tonnes of CO2 to date and is expected to sequester a total of 750 Tonnes over the lifetime of the forest.

Further, QNET has announced plans to eliminate all plastic from product packaging and exclusively use sustainable materials by 2025.

To that end, Bernhard H. Mayer (BHM), QNET’s luxury watch brand, is implementing cruelty-free, vegan leather straps in their BHM Lurve watches. The brand is best known for its high precision craftsmanship in precious metals and a long heritage of traditional, yet modern Swiss timepieces

Besides using vegan leather, BHM is careful about sourcing all raw materials used in its products and ensures they are all ethically sourced and packaged in a modern and environmentally friendly manner. “We collaborate with suppliers who are certified members of the Responsible Jewellery Council. It is the leading ethical standard within the jewellery industry. They make sure to respect the RJC’s Code of Practices, which again means: Ecology, labour rights, mining practices, operational integrity, equitable production, and responsible supply chain management,” said Ms. Caluza.

Speaking about the quality of Bernhard H. Mayer products, she said, “Bernhard H. Mayer’s “Timeless Tanzanite Collection” features exceptionally rare gems and all of them have been ethically and sustainably mined; in addition to supporting employees’ livelihood and the local Tanzanian mining industry.”

Additionally, QNET watches collection are thoughtfully stored and packaged in modern yet environmentally friendly boxes. The company continue to keep environmental sustainability at the forefront of its packaging habits, to limit the impact on climate change as well as encourage its patrons to also play an active role in championing a zero-carbon and climate-resilient world.

Ms. Caluza stated, “We are drawing a new path between sustainability and luxury, and we should absolutely use it. As I keep saying it is important for us to work with people who are responsible, fair, and ethical since this is an integral part of our business core values. We strive to deliver more than high-quality products.”

Karachi (Nut Desk) K-Electric requested the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to increase the power tariff by Rs. 4.86 per unit on account of fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for the month of April.

The major impact on the monthly Fuel cost adjustment of April 2022 is due to an increase in the fuel price increase of Furnace Oil and CPPA-G. The price of Furnace Oil in April 2022 has increased by 22% from March 2022.

The price of electricity from CPPA-G in April 2022 has increased by 14%. The price of CPPA-G as of April 2022 is Rs 10.664 / KWh as compared to the price of Rs. 9.387/ KWh in March 2022.

Fuel Charge Adjustment (FCA) is incurred by utilities due to global variation in fuel prices used to generate electricity and change in the generation mix. These costs are passed through to the consumers following NEPRA’s scrutiny and approval. Consumers also receive a benefit when the cost of fuel decreases.

As per NEPRA guidelines, the submissions will be discussed in the public hearing on the 14th June. The regulator will approve the request, after scrutiny, and issue instructions on the period during which these costs can be applied to consumer bills.

Trying to figure out everything about the new HUAWEI nova 9? Here are all the questions answered about the Trendy Flagship & Camera King!

You can finally now lay your hands on the Trendy Flagship & Camera King, the HUAWEI nova 9. Huawei’s latest smartphone comes with an array of splendid features including a stunning design highlighted by an all-new colourway – Colour No. 9. A magnificent 50MP Ultra Vision Camera, a large battery with blazing fast charging speeds and of course, with Huawei you can always expect EMUI 12 cool features and Super Device capabilities. Here are all your questions answered about the Trendy flagship & Camera King!

In terms of design, what is special about the HUAWEI nova 9?

If you have been searching for a phone that looks as good as it works then the HUAWEI nova 9 is surely for you. Huawei’s Trendy Flagship & Camera King explodes into the scene with a brand-new colourway; Huawei calls this new colour – Colour No. 9, there is also a Black version. The low-saturation bluish purple finish is created with a new ‘Starry Flash AG Glass’ manufacturing process[1] to produce a thrilling effect. The HUAWEI nova 9 comes with a stunning 6.57-inch Original-Colour Curved 120Hz refresh arte Display with a tapered surface that flows like a waterfall, minimising the left and right bezels for more immersive viewing. Combined with support for full-path P3 colour, the display ensures spectacular viewing experiences with smooth visuals, vivid colours and incredible details. While measuring only 7.77mm in thickness and with an overall weight of 175g, making it perfect for slipping into your handbag or pocket when out and about! In addition, the HUAWEI nova 9 sports a Star Orbit Ring design at the back, making the phone recognisable and eye-catching.

How good is the camera setup in the HUAWEI nova 9?

Dubbed as the Trendy flagship & Camera King, the HUAWEI nova 9 excels in photography and videography. Armed with a rear camera system which includes a 50MP Ultra Vision Camera, an 8MP Ultra Wide Angle Camera, a 2MP Depth Camera and a Macro Camera that lets you capture at as close as 4cm. Both the front and rear cameras support 4K shooting at 30fps, allowing you to express yourself through short videos and vlogs for social media. The main camera has a large 1/1.56-inch sensor and a RYYB colour filter array with a high light sensitivity. This collects 40 percent more light[2] compared to a standard RGGB sensor, ensuring the utmost clarity on all images, while enabling outstanding low light performance.

Is it true you can record videos continuously using the rear and front cameras at once?

Yes, that is true. The HUAWEI nova 9’s 32MP front camera is perfect for selfies in addition to its 4K selfie video recording and Portrait Mode which both help your selfie-portraits pop with Bokeh Portrait. There are also AI Beauty effects and filters you can use. Selfies never looked so slick. 

Moreover, introducing an all-new feature – Continuous Front/Rear Recording. With this innovation, you can also switch between the front and rear cameras to fluidly capture stories within a single video file. There is also Dual-View Video recording that allows you to showcase live reaction to events, simultaneously using the front and rear cameras with no editing required or, for when you want to show the big picture and the detail, you can simultaneously capture a close up shot and wide angle shot at the same time.

How long do I need to charge my phone to get a full battery?

What use is a good-looking smartphone with an amazing camera setup if it cannot power you through a day? Whether for gaming, recording, working or simply browsing the Internet, the HUAWEI nova 9 delivers excellent battery life with a large and long lasting 4300mAh battery[3], which is supported by a 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge. The smartphone can be charged much faster; it only takes 15 minutes to charge to 53% and 38 minutes to full 100%.

Modern tech-chic users need a phone with a stylish and stunning design, solid camera setup, supercharging speed, and intriguing cool features making the HUAWEI nova 9 one of the best choices out there today.

Meta Description: All your questions answered about the Trendy-flagship & Camera King – the HUAWEI nova 9

^[1] Only for the Colour No. 9 edition

[2] Data from Huawei labs

[3] Typical value.

Prioritizing health and making home worry-free spaces, AkzoNobel upgrades Dulux EasyCare with new Anti-Viral properties

As health and safety becomes a growing priority for consumers, Akzo Nobel Pakistan has taken on the task to secure families within homes. The company today launched the upgraded Dulux EasyCare Anti-Viral¹ proposition in the premium interior washable paints segment.

The paint that parents trust on their walls as it is tough on stains and bacteria², is now also tough on virus. Boosted with the new Silver Ion Technology, Dulux EasyCare provides an added layer of anti-viral protection¹ that helps to effectively work against certain virus. 

Launched today, Dulux EasyCare is now available for purchase at selected outlets across Pakistan.  

“At AkzoNobel, we are constantly on the lookout for technologies to push the boundaries in safeguarding families and enhancing living through paint. As the importance of health and wellness gains traction in a post-pandemic world, I am proud that our new Dulux EasyCare Anti-Viral can support that vision by protecting our consumers starting from the four walls of their homes,” shares Mubbasher Omar, Chief Executive Officer, AkzoNobel Pakistan Limited.

The upgraded Dulux EasyCare now provides four-pronged peace-of-mind to parents.

Dulux EasyCare actively safeguards the health of families against unseen threats and makes living environment safer.  In addition to its existing anti-bacterial² properties, the offering is now boosted with the new Silver Ion Technology for added anti-viral protection.

AkzoNobel is coming to the aid of young families who want to play, express and live worry-free in their homes. The celebrated KidProof+ technology in Dulux Easy Care ensures that walls stay stain free and clean for longer. The protective layer on the paint film actively resists common household stains caused by liquids (such as fruit juices, tomato sauce, ice creams etc.), stationary (chalk, fluorescent pens), dust and mud.

This innovative paint offering also merges the best-in-class performance with global aesthetics. The Colourguard technology helps walls remain vibrant for longer. Its now easy to bring alive your look on walls as AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center has developed an extensive palette with over 2000 colour options to choose from.

Further inspiring consumer confidence and trust is Dulux Assurance – the first-of-its-kind promise of superior quality in the Pakistan paint industry. Dulux EasyCare consumers can rest assured of Perfect Colour, Uniform Finish and Coverage stated, else the paint will be replaced*.

CDC ITMinds Limited signs an agreement with Pak Qatar Asset Management Company Limited and Pak Qatar Family Takaful Limited for Back Office service provisioning

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) ITMinds Limited (ITMinds), a wholly owned subsidiary of Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited (CDCPL), has entered into outsourcing arrangement with Pak Qatar Asset Management Company Limited (PQAMCL) & Pak Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL) to provide Back Office Accounting Services to PQAMCL & PQFTL. The agreements were signed by Mr. Farhan Shaukat CEO-PQAMCL, Mr. Ahsan Qureshi CFO-PQFTL with Mr. Iqleem-uz-Zaman Khan CEO-ITMinds in the presence of Mr. Badiuddin Akber Director-ITMinds & CEO-CDCPL.

Through this arrangement, ITMinds will facilitate PQAMCL and PQFTL in concentrating on their core business activities, i.e. managing investors’ money and savings, by relieving them from various non-core  critical  back office functions like accounting services,   Settlement of portfolios, Unit management related activities, Funds NAV calculation, Facilitation for Compliance/ Reporting, Information Security, Business Continuity and IT arrangements.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Farhan Shaukat, CEO-PQAMCL, said that this arrangement will enable PQAMCL to concentrate on its core business of managing investors’ funds while outsourcing the back office functions to a Professional Fund Administrator. Also commenting on the occasion, Mr. Badiuddin Akber, Director ITMinds & CEO-CDCPL, said that the concept of outsourcing non-core critical business activities has proved to be efficient and cost-effective in today’s business world. Hence, we have commissioned ITMinds with this aim to enable AMCs and other organizations to outsource their back office functions to a competent and reliable BPO partner, thus facilitating them to augment the focus of their management on the core business which is more integral to their commercial success while achieving efficiency, scalability & transparency of processes. Mr. Iqleem-uz-Zaman Khan CEO-ITMinds highlighted that as of 31^st May 2022, ITMinds has 8 active clients leveraging economies of scale with ITMinds BPO services, while more clients are also in the pipeline. At the ceremony Mr. Waqas Ashraf, CFO- ITMinds and others senior members of the Companies were also present.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Huawei was named Champion at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2022 Forum’s Prizes Ceremony in Geneva yesterday. The WSIS 2022 Prizes Campion, was presented to Huawei for its use of their intelligent net-zero carbon campus solution at the Yancheng Low-carbon & Smart Energy Industrial Park project. A total of 996 projects were considered for this award, and the selection process took five months.

WSIS is the world’s largest annual gathering of the ICT for development community. The event aims at advancing global sustainable development goals is co-organized by the ITU, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other UN organizations and WSIS action plan facilitators. The WSIS Prizes contest awards prizes for outstanding sustainability projects in 18 categories, including information and communication infrastructure, E-government, E-environment, E-health, and E-agriculture. Huawei’s intelligent net-zero carbon campus solution was nominated for this year’s environment category.

The Yancheng Park project was jointly developed by Huawei and the Yancheng Power Supply Company, a subsidiary of the State Grid Corporation of China. The project uses the triple-dimensional model for energy transformation, decarbonization, and digital transformation. By focusing on the three scenarios of smart energy management, carbon management, and campus management, this project delivers real-time monitoring of energy equipment, strong carbon emission management, intelligent and convenient access control management, and intelligent and coordinated micro-grid control. The campus is powered by complementary energy sources and integrates its energy consumption system with on-campus terminals. The project is a showcase of an intelligent and low-carbon campus that contributes to a green, low-carbon, safe, and efficient modern energy system.

To learn more about WSIS, please visit: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2022/

realme Opens its First-ever Global Flagship Store Promising the Ultimate realme Experience for Fans

 Spread over 13,000 sq. ft., the state-of-the-art flagship store is a one-stop destination for realme fans – an experience soon to come to Pakistan

realme has built a very strong relationship with its fans since its inception in 2018. The tech democratizer’s infectious Dare to Leap attitude has earned it a large Gen-Z following as the youth of today greatly relates to everything realme stands for including activism, fresh perspectives, and trendy technology. As a global brand that is constantly growing, realme has a significant footprint all around the world. One of realme’s largest market lies in India where the brand has unveiled its first-ever Global Flagship Store.

Taking up an area of 13,000 sq. ft., the new Global Flagship Store opened to much public aplomb. The first 100 guests to walk-in to the store were guaranteed prizes and exciting giveaways. realme aims to make this sprawling edifice a haven for those who Dare to Leap as well as an avenue towards real greatness. The realme Global Flagship Store provides a truly immersive experience with a full range of realme smartphones and AIoT products, including the latest flagship innovations.

The futuristic design of the Global Flagship Store features a line lighting design which is very modern and aesthetically pleasing. With a total of three stories, the massive store offers customers a seamless and continuous experience as they move through it. The store also features a dedicated TechLife Zone which showcases the power of a digitally integrated, futuristic lifestyle with realme’s range of wearables and audio devices, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, smart care products and smart home devices. Once you’re done browsing through the most bleeding-edge technology and making your purchases, the Global Flagship Store also has a place for you to relax and replenish your energy. A built-in realme Café which offers attractive delicacies will ensure that visitors have a wholesome and holistic experience as well. The overall setup emboldens the brand’s image as being vibrant, future-oriented, and customer-oriented. realme’s commitment to foster sustainable living, as outlined by realme’s “Go Premium” strategy, is reflected in realme’s Global Flagship Store as well, which has an e-waste recycling box to explore the fusion of technology with sustainability.

Pakistan as a market has a lot of untapped potential for realme. Geographically and culturally there are a lot of similarities between Pakistan and India. realme has really been making an effort to establish itself in the Pakistani market, especially in 2022 with the opening of realme’s local mobile assembly plant which guarantees cheaper assembly therefore cheaper prices for the end consumer. Since realme has shown they are willing to invest in the cultivation of the Pakistani market, realme fans can hold onto the hope that Pakistan might be next to receive its very own Global Flagship Store. realme fans in Pakistan are growing in number day-by-day and brand awareness is on the rise. In order to cater to this rising demand realme might open a premium store of this scale in Pakistan as well. Stay tuned for any further developments regarding future realme Global Flagship Store launches and make your voice heard if you want the next one to come to Pakistan!