Category: Business

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) President Arif Alvi underscored the need for transformational efforts towards transparent, participatory and accountable practices across the board to make the dream of Digital Pakistan a reality while addressing a discussion ethics and business held at Telenor Pakistan Campus 345.

The event, “Ethics & Business: friends or foes”, was organised by Telenor Pakistan being a torchbearer of ethical business conduct and was attended by President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, government officials, corporate leaders, and Telenor Pakistan Management. Commissioner SECP. The event shed light on the status of ethical and transparent business practice in the country and the changes that can be made to strengthen the core of any organisation.  Over the years, Telenor Pakistan has operated from high ethical and moral grounds as it navigates, builds relationships in a transparent manner, while remaining committed to the prosperity of the country for the last 17 years.

Speaking at the event, President Arif Alvi said, “I am thankful to Telenor Pakistan for inviting me here today. My purpose is to show our support for businesses which prioritize ethics with performance. To encourage organisations to create policies and programs which uphold these principles and to remind Pakistani businesses that operating with high integrity is not only their responsibility towards their shareholders but also their duty towards this country.”

He also appreciated Telenor Pakistan’s role as an industry leader, implementing a robust anti-corruption program that proactively prevents malpractices that undermine legitimate business activities, distort competition, damage reputations, and expose individuals to risk.

Commenting on the occasion, CEO Telenor Pakistan, Irfan Wahab Khan said, “I thank the Honourable President Arif Alvi for this keen interest and participation at this event. For the last 17 years Telenor Pakistan has been committed to serving the country while maintaining the highest standard of ethics, compliance, and morality. As Pakistan rolls up its sleeves to transition into a diverse, multicultural, and multi-national economy, the business community must join hands in creating a welcoming environment for investment and prosperity. We pride ourselves on our robust code of conduct at Telenor Pakistan, and it was enlightening to share knowledge with other experts on our shared aim of creating a corruption-free business environment for everyone.”

Industry leaders from the public and private sectors part of the panel discussion reiterated the importance of reinforcement in establishing any kind of a workplace culture, and the need to step away from traditional ways of thinking. They also discussed businesses’ role in establishing an honest and accountable business environment. The panellists also debated over the importance of good corporate governance and the role their leadership should play in keeping them transparent. The role of government was also discussed.

Closing the panel discussion, the guests expressed their sentiments on the importance of anti-corruption initiatives. They reiterated that businesses can achieve trust through controls and adequate regulation and create a fair and prosperous Digital Pakistan.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Abacus Consulting, a leading technology, consulting and outsourcing firm has been awarded the LCCI President’s IT Award for its contribution to the IT landscape of Pakistan. Held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad, Abacus was lauded for playing a pivotal role in the technology landscape of Pakistan and its contribution to the economy.

The award was presented by His Excellency, Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan to Fatima Asad-Said, CEO of Abacus Consulting. ‘I’m extremely grateful to His Excellency, Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industries for this recognition. This award is a testament to our innovation in providing top of the line technology solutions for our Clients worldwide.’ said Fatima Asad-Said at the occasion. She attributed the award to the Abacus team, adding ‘Our commitment to deliver world-class solutions and creating value to our Clients and Partners is truly driven by our People, without whom none of this would be possible.’

For over three decades, Abacus Consulting has been one of Pakistan’s leading technology companies with a wide portfolio of business transformation offerings including Enterprise Systems, Digital Transformation Solutions, International / Public Sector Development, Business Process Outsourcing, Cloud & Emerging Technologies, Human Capital Solutions and Strategy & Financial Consulting. Over the years, Abacus has evolved through a focus on building deep partnerships with global leaders and sustained investment in widening its global footprint. As a strategic partner to some of the world’s leading technology firms like SAP, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft, UiPath and more, Abacus is a leading ICT exporter of Pakistan. Previously, Abacus also won the prestigious ‘SAP’s Partner of the Year MENA’ award for five years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)for its excellence and market leadership in SAP platforms.

Speaking on the occasion, President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi said that promotion of information technology is vital for the development of the country and remains a top priority for the government. Underscoring the need for the training of IT graduates and youth to boost their skills to meet the country’s IT requirements, Dr. Arif Alvi said that the IT sector of the country has the potential to boost IT exports up to $5 billion by 2023. ‘Information technology and digital communication have always been vital but the importance of these has multiplied during the COVID-19 era,’ He added.

LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir, commended the government’s recent initiatives in support of the ICT sector and applauded the high growth of 40-45% surpassing other sectors. He stressed on continued collaboration between the government and business community.

President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi and LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir congratulated the winners of the first edition of theLCCI IT Awards for their excellence in the provision of outstanding services to both domestic and international clients, and for winning laurels for the country in these challenging economic times.

Infinix retains position as top Pakistani smartphone brand for straight two years 

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Infinix being the no. 1 smartphone selling brand of Pakistan proudly announces that it has once again secured its position for being the leading smartphone brand from past two years, stated by the research done by PACRA. Infinix has managed to gain 15% of per capita income and 9% of cellular subscribers in brand share during 2020 – 21 in Pakistan’s smartphone industry as compared to the competitor brands.

In accordance with PACRA’s study shows a huge ascending growth of the brand despite the globally growing COVID-19 conditions in previous years. As consumers now prefer to avoid physical contact, Infinix being the online leading smartphone brand, carried a competitive edge over its substitutes and acquired 25% of the market share in the past 2 years.  The achievements were possible due to the visionary steps taken by Infinix laying the foundation of Research & Development in Pakistan and designing products that suit and fit the demand of common Pakistani citizens. Fully aligning with the country’s initiative of “Made in Pakistan”, the company keeps growing its investment to contribute to turn the country into a regional tech hub, and it just got one step further towards its mission and local commitment to put Pakistan on road to progress and prosperity. With its initiative of localized development, Infinix became the forefront runner and a first mover in local manufacturing.

On getting this achievement, the CEO of Infinix, Pakistan, Mr. Joe Hu said, “We are highly overwhelmed by the support we get from our dedicated consumers who are trusting us for over the years. We will be dedicatedly working towards our vision of giving our customers the best experience by introducing innovative cutting-edge technology and unique designs just according to the user needs and play our part in the growth of the country’s economy. Local research and development are helping us in meeting the expectations of our customers”.

Infinix has proven itself to be a premium smartphone brand and has grown rapidly after getting customer loyalty and retention. It has explicitly displayed its understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior. Also chooses to focus on R&D so that it can provide its customers with precisely what they need.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) TECNO officials announced to be launching its latest entry-level smartphone – Spark 8C in Pakistan. The phone has been the talk of the town recently and will finally be unveiled on March 23, 2022, for the local users.

Spark is TECNO’s most selling and sort-after device in the Pakistani market. With advanced technologies, pocket-friendly prices, and stylish design Spark series has gathered a large customer base in the country. The news for the latest Spark 8C took social media by storm with hundreds of commentators awaiting the launch date.

The new Spark 8C is expected to come with a new innovative technology called the “Memory Fusion”. This is specially designed to channel RAM operations that can expand the memory of 4+128GB to 7+128GB and that of 3+64GB into 6+64GB maximum. This will enable users to expand RAM from 3GB to 6GB and 4GB to 7GB depending on the variant.

Moreover, the phone will come equipped with a 90Hz Dot Notch display, 13MP AI Clear Photography, and gorgeous designs. With the slogan #ShowyourSPARK, Spark 8C will be available in four stunning colors Magnet Black, Turquoise Cyan, Iris Purple, and Diamond grey.

Kelvin Zeng, CEO of TECNO Mobile Pakistan shared his views on the upcoming launch,

“For Spark series, we focus on bringing the masses with the latest technology at economical prices. The new Spark 8C comes with an amazing Expandable Memory Technology, a great step towards advancement where users can convert unused memory into additional RAM. This is the first time such technology is being introduced in an entry-level phone so we are optimistic about the consumer feedback.”

The price for the new Spark 8C is yet not confirmed but the phone will soon be available in both online and offline markets. So stay tuned and wait for this amazing device on the 23^rd of March, 2022.

Follow TECNO’s official social media accounts for more updates.

Lahore (Nut Desk)

Esports Marketing Pakistan Presents “The Green League” CS-GO Pakistan Day Championship 2022, Powered by Daraz “One Nation One Destination”

Like other countries in the world, e-sports attract the brands and advertisers and soon become a part of regular sports across Pakistan.

Esports Marketing Pakistan, Pakistan’s first advertising/marketing and research platform for Esports, recently entered into a partnership agreement with Daraz (Alibaba Group) the country’s leading online company.

This partnership will bring more and more E-Sports gaming events, currently presenting an online Event for the game CS-GO in which 16 (underdog) teams will participate from all over Pakistan with an (expected) Prize Pool of 10,000 to 25,000 PKR. Final will be held on Pakistan Day, 23^rd of March 2022 and will be streamed live on Esports Marketing Pakistan official page https://www.facebook.com/esportsmarketingpk/

Esports Marketing Pakistan also seeks to collaborate with other local/International organizations, investors, brands, and ad agencies to join hands with us for the future and growth of the Esports industry in the country.

Gujranwala (Muhammad Yasir) Easypaisa, the country’s leading digital payments app, has partnered with Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Gujranwala to facilitate digital fee payments for students. Through the partnership, students who appear for respective exams under BISE Gujranwala will have the convenience to make fee payments including but not limited to Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary School Certificate exams, Gazette, Certificate/DMC verification, and miscellaneous fees through the Easypaisa App or their nearest Easypaisa agent. This collaboration is another addition to the diverse portfolio of payment options available to Easypaisa users.

Under the collaboration, students from far-flung areas will be able to make payments digitally without having to physically visit bank branches, an improvement that will open new horizons as well as create more opportunities for people to embrace digital payments. Easypaisa has an extensive footprint spread across the country and the digital payments platform is constantly working on delivering secure and convenient digital financial solutions to enhance financial inclusion across Pakistan.

Commenting on the development, Omar Moeen Malik, Business Head, Easypaisa, stated; “Our economy is geared up for elaborate digital transformation with government departments adopting sustainable alternatives to conventional payment methods, and BISE Gujranwala is the latest of such organizations. At Easypaisa, we are making all-out efforts to ensure that we collaborate with everyone who wants to implement digital financial solutions and we are proud to be the leading enabler of digital payments, with over 250 unique bill payment options present on our platform”.

With more than 10 million customers using the Easypaisa App in the last 30-days across the Android and iOS platforms, Easypaisa is the most used Pakistani App across all categories and remains committed to transforming Pakistan into a cashless and financially inclusive society through the power of collaboration & technology.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) More than one hundred thousand people in Karachi to benefit from newly inaugurated water filtration plant at Pak Colony Karachi. Eugene Willemsen PepsiCo CEO Africa, Middle East and South Asia inaugurated the water filtration facility that was commissioned with the help of the international non-government organization, WaterAid, with funding from PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo. Country Director WaterAid Pakistan, Arif Jabbar was present at the inauguration ceremony.

The water filtration plant enables access to safe water for 100,000 citizens. The water facility has the capacity of filtering 50,000 liters of water every day. Clean water is served to multiple communities through 6 distribution points. Water access has been extended to three educational institutions in the vicinity of the facility. A water user committee have been formed to oversee the operation and maintenance of the water filtration plant. An integral part of the program has been community sensitization on hygiene, water safety and water conservation. 300 children were trained on hygiene promotion through interactive sessions competitions.

PepsiCo’s ‘Access to safe water’ program is supporting the Government’s Clean Green Pakistan initiative aimed at environmental sustainability by providing access to safe water to 200,000 people in the urban underserved areas of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.   

Mr. Eugene Willemsen, CEO PepsiCo Africa, Middle East and South Asia said, “Taking positive action towards the environment and communities is ingrained in our pep+ mission. Providing safe water access continues to be our priority in Pakistan and globally.”

WaterAid Country Director Arif Jabbar Khan said that “WaterAid values the longstanding partnership with PepsiCo for provision of clean drinking water to communities in Pakistan. The role of private sector is vital for achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal-6″ Mr. Khan also said that WaterAid has ensured greater ownership of and engagement with communities in Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad for long-term sustainability and continued benefits of the PepsiCo sponsored clean drinking water projects. This has been a key factor in success of these initiatives.”

PepsiCo’s water strategy is designed to enable long-term, sustainable water security for its business and for local communities that depend on an accessible and reliable supply of clean, safe water. Through partnerships funded by The PepsiCo Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, PepsiCo since 2006 has helped more than 55 million people gain access to safe water through distribution, purification, and conservation programs, far surpassing the company’s original target to help 25 million people by 2025. PepsiCo has set an ambitious new target to expand safe water access to 100 million people by 2030 with an immediate-term focus on supporting water distribution, sanitation, and hygiene practices.

Eugene Willemsen PepsiCo CEO Africa, Middle East and South Asia inaugurating the water filtration facility at Pak Colony Karachi.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistan’s cellular and digital services leader, Zong 4G, has now come up with a powerful ‘Weekly Pro’ Package for digitally savvy customers. Offering the biggest data option in the industry, the Weekly Pro Package will allow subscribers to enjoy unmatched data and voice connectivity without any restrictions. The Weekly Pro Package gives customers 40 GB of all-purpose data, 250 Other network minutes, and unlimited Zong minutes and SMSs at the promotional Load price of PKR 399 only.

The Package brings ultimate convenience and unrivalled connectivity to the customers for the entire week, allowing them to work, play and always stay connected seamlessly. The Package is in line with Zong’s proactive approach in understanding and addressing the varied connectivity needs of its customers across different segments of the country. “The Weekly Pro Package is part of our ‘Let’s Get Digital’ motto and addresses the heavy data needs of our power users. We realize that people are increasingly depending on their connectivity and data for work – especially in the wake of Covid-19.

The Weekly Pro Package turns their handsets into a connectivity powerhouse.” shared Zong’s official spokesperson. As a customer-centric company, Zong aims to uplift its customers’ experience to newer heights. Through its most advanced digital solutions, Pakistan’s leading telecommunication network is innovating to provide sought-after solutions, services, and offers to its customers and promises to continue doing so in the future.

OPPO recognized for its Hinge & Display Integration on the Find N at MWC22 Barcelona

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) This week, OPPO was presented with the Disruptive Device Innovation Award at the 2022 Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards at MWC22 Barcelona.

The Award, which recognizes OPPO for its Hinge & Display Integration on Find N, was announced during a virtual ceremony co-hosted by Sasha Twining and Justin Springham from Mobile World Live and streamed to audiences around the globe via LinkedIn.

“We are extremely honored that Find N has received the Disruptive Device Innovation Award at this year’s GLOMOs. This is a huge recognition of OPPO’s products and technology not only from our peers in the industry but also end-users themselves,” said Billy Zhang, Vice President of Overseas Sales and Service at OPPO. “Following four years of R&D and six iterations, we are delighted to see that OPPO Find N is finally making foldable devices suitable for everyday people, rather than devices purely for tech enthusiasts. User experience has always been at the center of everything we do at OPPO, and it will continue to do so as we further explore how to deliver truly practical value to people through technological innovation.”

“The strict judging process makes the GLOMOs one of the most respected awards in the industry,” said Shaun Collins, GLOMOs Head Judge and Executive Chairman at CCS Insight. “The judges were particularly impressed by the innovations of OPPO’s foldable Find N. This execution of the technology by OPPO was praised by the judges for its durability and ease of use in a rapidly maturing sector of the market. The judges also noted that OPPO had delivered it in the most affordable large foldable phone on the market.”

The GLOMO Awards, chaired by Shaun Collins, Executive Chairman of CCS Insight, are adjudicated by over 200 independent industry experts, analysts, journalists, academics, mobile operator representatives, and CTOs; and are widely recognised as the most prestigious accolade in the mobile industry. The Disruptive Device Innovation category recognizes new technology products that make use of innovation in hardware and software to enhance performance and improve user experience. In winning the award, OPPO’s Find N was recognized for its distinct, self-developed hinge mechanism as well as its unique external design.

Released at the end of 2021, Find N is OPPO’s first flagship foldable smartphone. With its ergonomic design, Find N offers convenient use with a single hand, or a highly immersive, large screen experience when unfolded. To address problems associated with screen creases typically found on other foldable smartphones, OPPO introduced its own Flexion Hinge design. The new hinge not only improves reliability and reduces the appearance of screen creases, but also enables the screen to freely stand at varying angles (between 50-120 degrees) of the display. Over one million orders have been placed for Find N to date.

During MWC 2022, OPPO has showcased the depth and breadth of its achievements in technologies in areas such as 5G/6G, device form factor, imaging, flash charge, and AR. These include the launch of 150W SUPERVOOC_TM flash charge, which doubles the lifespan of smartphone batteries, and 240W SUPERVOOC_TM, which can fully charge a 4,500mAh battery in 9 minutes, as well as OPPO’s latest generation of 5G smart connective hubs, the OPPO 5G CPE T2. Also making an appearance at MWC 2022 was OPPO’s latest flagship smartphone series, the Find X5 Series, Find N, and OnePlus 10 Pro, in addition to breakthrough technologies such as the MariSilicon X dedicated imaging NPU, OPPO Air Glass, and OPPO Retractable Camera.

On the back of continued investment in R&D and new breakthroughs in product innovation, OPPO recorded a growth of 22% in global smartphone shipments in 2022. With a total share of 11% in the global smartphone market, OPPO also became the world’s fourth-largest smartphone company. OPPO’s diverse portfolio of 5G smartphones has helped it become the second-largest Android 5G smartphone company for two consecutive years. Facing greater integration between virtual and real worlds and the arrival of an all-encompassing 5G Internet of Experience, OPPO continues to strive to create a better, smarter connected future for more people through enhanced technology and user experience.

Further information about winners and nominees of the GLOMO Awards 2022 can be found here https://www.mwcbarcelona.com/mobile-awards.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator (part of VEON Group NASDAQ: VEON, Euronext Amsterdam: VEON), announces the appointment of Atyab Tahir as the CEO of JazzCash effective May 1 2022.

Atyab, currently serving as Country Manager MasterCard Pakistan & Afghanistan, has over two decades of international experience in banking and consulting. Atyab has also held senior positions at Fidelity Investments, HBL, Telenor Bank and easypaisa. He holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Babson College.

Commenting on Atyab’s appointment Aamir Ibrahim, CEO, Jazz  said: “While mobile phones and payment solutions have accelerated financial inclusion in the country, a significant portion of Pakistan’s adult population remain unbanked. I am confident that under Atyab’s dynamic leadership JazzCash will help boost financial inclusion across the board through innovative and customer-centric products.”

“JazzCash is at the forefront of Pakistan’s digital revolution processing more than 5 million transactions every day and accounting for almost 7% of Pakistan’s GDP. Our aim is to build a world-class fintech serving every single Pakistani, from youth, SMEs, freelancers, with a very strong focus on the unbanked and the underbanked. I look forward to joining the Jazz family and collaborating with our partners in the telecommunications and financial services sector to unlock the true potential of Digital Pakistan.” said Atyab.

A division of Jazz, JazzCash has grown rapidly to become a leader in the country’s marketplace for digital financial services. As shown in VEON Group’s FY21 results that were released on 28 February 2022, JazzCash has 15.2 million monthly active users (+24.9% YoY) and 130,800 monthly active merchants (up by 2.3 times YoY).