Category: Business

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) The Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum was held on Thursday at Parliament House. Presided over by Senator Abdul Qadir; the meeting was attended by Senator Saadia Abbasi, Senator Fida Muhammad, Senator Prince Ahmed Omer Ahmedzai, Senator Afnan Ullah Khan, Senator Shamim Afridi, Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah, Senator Muhammad Qasim and senior officers from the Petroleum Division and OGRA along with all concerned.

The meeting commenced with a detailed briefing by the Petroleum Division and SNGPL on non-availability of gas in District Kohat. The Committee took serious notice of the issue and stressed the need for all out efforts to ensure that the residents of Kohat and other remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are provided with gas. Members asserted that it was extremely unfair that the local community of an area that supplied gas to the rest of Pakistan remains deprived of it.

The Committee was assured that SNGPL will leave no stone unturned to ensure the availability of gas to the local populace. It was revealed that PKR 441 million has been allocated to rectify gas pressure in this territory. The need for a concrete national policy to resolve energy issues in Pakistan; especially in view of severe gas reserve depletion was stressed. The Chairman stressed the need to modernize DGPC so that they can negotiate to bring international oil and gas exploration and production companies back in the country. The committee discussed that some exploration and production companies had gone into litigation on account of prices, because of which local production process has compromised.

The chairman urged to devise a strategy to reset the prices internally in a bid to increase local production. Considering the Point of Public Importance raised by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi regarding non-provision of jobs in TAL Block, the Committee was informed that the amount of local human resource from these areas amounted to 599 workers. It was observed that 85 percent of Human Resource came from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A sub-Committee was formed to probe the matter in more detail; announcement of the members will be made at a later date. Taking an update of gas schemes for various cities in Balochistan, the Committee showed concern regarding 16 non-gassified districts. It was asserted that all out efforts must be made to ensure that these areas are given access to gas.

The need for setting LPG plants in all such areas was stressed and a commercial model must be formulated and submitted to the Committee at the earliest. Chairman OGRA, assured the Committee of complete support and said that the current 1.5 percent of LPG penetration must be taken to 5 percent to deal with the prevalent shortage in these areas. National strategy for this is imperative, he added. It was recommended that an in-camera meeting with the FIA must be conducted for more details on the issues of cross-border smuggling and infiltration. Regarding gas shortage in various localities of Ghazi, Haripur; the Committee was informed that the matter has been resolved and a compliance report will be submitted to the Committee in the next meeting.

Taking up the issue of progress on the establishment of LNG terminal at Gwadar Port, the Committee was informed that work on LNG virtual pipeline was in progress. However, challenges abound. The Committee while reviewing the matter in detail stressed the need for facilitation of private companies involved and directed that NOCs must be granted at the earliest so that business efforts remain unhampered. Formulation of a taskforce in this regard was recommended.

The stylish accessory has all the tools you need to track and improve your health and exercise performance

realme is known for sitting on the cutting edge of the tech world, constantly introducing high-end premium features in highly economical price segments for its line of smartphones. This commitment to being a tech democratizer trickles through to realme’s portfolio of smart AIoT products as well, including the realme Band 2. This handy smart accessory sits on the intersection of style and fitness due to its sleek design and variety of features to help you live a healthier, happier life.

The realme Band 2 is suited to athletes of all kinds, coming with 90 different sports modes that include yoga, outdoor running, and basketball among others. This allows users to track the calories that they have burned and the active duration of their workout along with other summary statistics through the help of the realme Band 2 which adjusts and accounts for the different types of physical workouts that you might want to do.

Water sports are also still on the table when it comes to the realme Band 2 as it is water resistant in up to 50m of water. This means whether you are taking a dive into a swimming pool or taking a jog through the street on a rainy night, you can do so without the worry of causing realme Band 2 any water damage. The band also comes equipped with a durable 204mAh battery having a life of 12 days so your workout will never go uninterrupted.

Aside from collecting data during your workouts, the realme Band 2 also collects diagnostic information about your body which can be put to good use on the road to a healthier life. One example of this would be the band’s sleep quality analysis feature which tracks various different metrics while you sleep to give you an overall sleep score for the night as well as details of the duration and frequency of the different phases of your sleep. This allows users to get a better understanding of their sleep cycles and can act as an aid in recalibrating their natural clock.

The smart band also comes equipped with its own blood oximeter which can be used to measure the oxygen saturation of your blood and is a tool that can be crucial to the health of those individuals who are struggling with diseases of the heart and lungs such as asthma.

The realme Band 2 comes with a large 1.4” color touchscreen display that can be customized to match your mood with over 50 different, trendy, and vibrant dial faces. The look of the band is completed with its stylish wrist straps that come in a variety of colorful designs that you can also purchase from realme and swap out to match your outfit or your mood. Whether you are an aspiring athlete or a fierce fashionista, the realme Band 2 has something for you and continues to embody the daring and pioneering spirit of realme. Get yours for PKR 6,999/-.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistan’s largest digital bank, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) has become the first microfinance institution to secure membership of the Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP), an apex body of employers in Pakistan that spearheads the private sector in matters of employment,
industrial relations, social and economic policy. EFP is also a member of
the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and with its virtue an
important constituent of the International Labour Organization (ILO), United
Nations from Pakistan.

The EFP membership was awarded to MMBL in recognition of its efforts to
promote financial inclusion for all especially enabling individual
entrepreneurs as well as small and medium industries in the country,
particularly the ones led by women. The EFP, while notifying about the
membership, applauded Mobilink Microfinance Bank’s tireless efforts in
scripting Pakistan’s financial growth and recognized its role in
revolutionizing the traditional banking system. It said the bank has led the
way in empowering all segments of society, particularly women.

Commenting on the achievement, Ghazanfar Azzam, President & CEO, MMBL said:
“We are ecstatic to be the first microfinance bank in the country to become
a member of EFP. The achievement comes as a validation of the bank’s
extraordinary growth and innovation to lead the country’s microfinance
industry while digitalizing its core processes, hence creating an
environment conducive to economic growth. MMBL, with its diverse portfolio,
is not only committed to serving the financial needs of individuals and
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) but is also focused on empowering women entrepreneurs through its flagship initiative, Women Inspirational
Network (WIN). By becoming a member of EFP, we intend to continue with our
leading role in the digital banking landscape and foster economic
empowerment for all.”

Also commenting on the development, Samiha Ali Zahid, Chief Human Resources
Officer (CHRO) MMBL, said: “MMBL is a market leader for women in finance and
it is continuously striving to make Pakistan more inclusive, both digitally
and financially. We take great pride in being one of the primary pillars of
Pakistan’s digital banking ecosystem, where we play a vigorous role in women
empowerment; be it through initiatives on financial management or training
the female borrowers. This membership is a testament to our passion for
promoting women empowerment at all fronts.”

Remarking on the occasion, the President of Employers’ Federation of
Pakistan, Ismail Suttar said: “Employers’ Federation of Pakistan welcomes
MMBL as our valued member as it upholds such integrity and values which are
a major contributor in enhancing the image of Pakistan globally. To
continuously work towards creating an environment that is progressive for
women and encourage initiatives that not only benefit the economy but
inspire the youth to have aspirations, MMBL has played a large role in
facilitating aspects such as these. Therefore, EFP takes a great sense of
duty in showcasing the Government of Pakistan and the international
stakeholders the relevance of such associations. In the times to come, we
greatly look upon such entities to further promote the soft image of
Pakistan, which our Federation also duly aims to acquire.”

In the same context, and to highlight the success stories on women
empowerment in Pakistan, EFP will be hosting an event at Pakistan Pavilion,
Dubai Expo 2020 on 11th February 2022 with the theme “Women of Pakistan;
Leading a Change”.

For many years, MMBL has been facilitating SMEs and women by providing them
micro-loans to engage in self-empowering projects, which enables them to
generate income and substantiate their earnings. The EFP membership will
further enhance MMBL’s role in bringing broad-based socio-economic
enablement to individuals and communities nationwide. The bank will be
completing 10 years of operations in Pakistan this year.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Master Changan Motors Limited, Pakistan’s leading disruptive automotive brand has announced it is commencing the volume production of its latest offering, the all-new Changan Oshan X7. The announcement was made at a ceremony at its state of the art plant in Karachi. The company has surprised the auto industry by becoming #1 among all new entrants in production and sales for 6 consecutive months in the recent past. Master Changan was recently awarded the coveted “Panda Award”, Best in Service Award and a Special Contribution award to recognize the company’s rapid growth by Changan Automobile in its Global Partner Conference earlier this year.

Changan’s multi-prong disruptive strategy has been appreciated by the Pakistani customer. After winning the hearts of Van, Pickup and Sedan customers, the company is ready to introduce its unique disruption strategy to SUV users in Pakistan.

Master Changan is now all set to become the first automobile company ever to do a RHD global launch in Pakistan. Previously, the Pakistani customers had to wait for long periods of time after global launch for a car to be available in the country. Changan Oshan X7 measures 4,730mm x 1,870mm x 1,720mm and is powered by the latest generation World Record Holder 1.5L Turbo engine. The vehicle can produce an output of 185hp (138kW) and torque of 300 Nm. The all-new Changan Oshan X7 boasts an impressive 0.05 sec throttle response and accelerates from 0 – 100km/hr in just 8.23 sec. We have to wait until the formal launch to find out what other exciting features this SUV will offer the Pakistani consumer.

Speaking at the ceremony, CEO Master Changan Motors, Danial Malik said, “Since we launched, Master Changan’s key goal has been to disrupt Pakistan’s auto industry. Our first sedan entry, the Alsvin, has captured the hearts of most Pakistanis; now, we’re looking to shake things up in the SUV segment addressing the unmet needs of the segment!” Danial Malik claims that the Changan Oshan X7 is the most technologically advanced and future-proof SUV in the industry. “It is a historic moment for Pakistan to be chosen to debut this SUV for the world”. Danial Malik commented on the occasion of the start of CKD volume production.

The Changan Oshan X7 will be the first Euro 6 vehicle made in Pakistan and demonstrates the company’s resolve for a cleaner Pakistan. The company offers the lowest emission vehicles in Pakistan in all categories, including Euro 5 Alsvin and Euro 4 Karvaan MPV. The Master Chhagan plant is the most environmentally friendly plant in the auto industry with 30% supported by solar power which is set to increase this to over 60% in the mid of this year.

Master Changan Motors Limited has not disclosed the price and booking details of the all-new Changan Oshan X7 yet. Unlike other players who started the booking before even showing the vehicle, Changan has decided to announce more details at a formal debut later this month.

Keeping the cricket spirit alive, TECNO brought a fun Predict & Win for fans to get free tickets for PSL season 7 matches. The activities started last month and winners were given tickets to go see the matches in Karachi and now it is time for Lahore.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a professional T20 Cricket League contested between six teams representing six major cities of Pakistan. PSL is one of the most popular events in the country and a great opportunity for corporate partners to make an impression. TECNO is playing its role in hyping up this passion of its Pakistani consumers by an online Predict & Win on its official Facebook page.

The rules for Lahore are the same as for Karachi matches. Four winners will be selected for each match where they will be given free tickets for the next match. Five matches from Karachi are already done, so now fans can win tickets for the upcoming six matches from Lahore including the semi-finals and final. The interesting news is that for the semi-final and final matches, six tickets will be given out for each match which means six winners for each match.

Moreover, your favorite YouTubers and influencers including Ukhano, Ali Zar, and Shahveer Jafry will be there capturing all the fun moments from these matches with their Camon 18 Premier devices. If you want to join your favorite content creator in the stadium, then hurry up and become a part of this fun Predict & Win activity.

All fans need to do is, go to TECNO’s Official Facebook Page and comment their prediction on every post related to PSL that will be shared. Choosing the winner will simply be based on the right answer and a lucky draw will be held to choose winners. The winners will be announced on Facebook Stories and the TECNO team shall contact them for the delivery of tickets.

Kelvin Zeng, CEO of TECNO Mobile Pakistan, said,

“Cricket seems to be Pakistan’s biggest passion and we respect this love for sports. PSL is a great initiative for promoting Pakistani cricket globally. With multiple cricket campaigns, funs sessions, and online activities, this PSL Predict & Win will be an encouraging step for the TECNO fans to be able to participate and watch the match live from the stadium with their favorite content creators.”

Moreover, the fans predicting the final match will receive a new smartphone as a winner’s gift apart from all the goodies from TECNO. So don’t forget to follow TECNO’s Official Facebook page and keep predicting!

OICCI announces ‘Pakistan Climate Conference 2022’ to support positive climate actions in Pakistan

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), the collective voice of top foreign investors in Pakistan, revealed its plan to organize the ‘Pakistan Climate Conference 2022’ on 16 March 2022 in Karachi.

While announcing the date and unveiling the logo of the Conference, Mr. Ghias Khan, President OICCI, mentioned “The Pakistan Climate Conference will build on learnings from COP 26 to identify and implement efforts needed to promote positive climate actions and reduce climate change impact in Pakistan. The event will bring together global climate experts, policy makers and corporate decision-makers to share learnings and best practices to help Pakistan develop necessary policy and climate interventions.”

The Pakistan Climate Conference aims to start dialog on several critical areas to support Pakistan’s achievement of the Nationally Determined Commitments (NDC) made at COP26. This commitment aims to cut 50% of projected emissions and achieve 60% renewable energy by 2030. In addition, Pakistan has set the vision to work on clean transport, with 30% electric vehicles by 2030 and trusting and investing in nature.

Pakistan has a long way to go to demonstrate progress against its ambitious Nationally Determined Commitments (NDCs). The Pakistan Climate Conference aims to start dialogue on several critical areas that can help with policy direction and provide the best practices needed for the country to speed up its climate positive journey.

Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser to PM on Commerce and Investment stated, “Climate change has an economic impact as well. I am confident that the Pakistan Climate Conference will lay the foundation for an action plan that will help Pakistan meet its global climate commitments and ensure the sustainability of its economy.”

Mr. Amir Paracha, Vice President, OICCI, highlighted, “The Pakistan Climate Conference is being organized in a hybrid format, with speakers and participants joining physically and virtually. The Conference will provide best practices and a roadmap on areas such as reducing emissions and renewable energy, reducing waste, ensuring fair usage of water and better monitoring of positive climate actions.”

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Samrah Enterprises, the leading distribution company representing many international brands in Pakistan, has lived up to its name and has brought top American brands to Pakistan, in facilitation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). A simple yet impressive ceremony, held at Greenvalley Diplomatic Enclave Islamabad, was graced by Mr. Christopher Rittgers, USDA Agricultural Counselor, US Embassy Islamabad, Mr. John Coronado, Commercial Counselor U.S. Mission to Pakistan, Mr. Rashid Yaqoob Raja, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, U.S. Embassy Islamabad, along with Mrs Samrah Munsub, Founder Samrah Enterprises, and Munsub Abrar, Director Naheed Supermarket.

The new brands introduced at the ceremony, including the famous food brands Midamar Halal meat, Freshly, and Mission Foods, in The addition to Andalou Naturals in the Health & Beauty segment.

Expressing her joy, Samrah Munsub, the Founder and Director Samrah Enterprises, said “House of Samrah is known for introducing quality products, from all over the world, and today we are here to introduce top brands from the United States of America, which also includes our entry to the beauty segment, in addition to the Food products” Referring to the Andalou Naturals a wide range of organic beauty products. “We are thankful to the USDA for facilitating the whole process and making this launch possible”.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Rashid Yaqoob Raja, representing USDA, U.S. Embassy Islamabad said, “We came together with Samrah Enterprises to bring the top American brands to Pakistan. It will be available through E-commerce, as well as in selected stores throughout the country”.

The America Pakistan Business Development Forum, led by Syed Nasser Wajahat Co-Founder Global Secretary General AMPAK BDF, and Muhammad Aman Pir, President Diplomatic and political affairs AMPAK BDF, also attended the ceremony to extend their support to the launch of American products.

The attendees were presented with mouthwatering Wraps by Mission Foods, quality meat products of Midamar Halal Foods, and Freshly products, loved and praised by all.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) as part of its climate focus and building upon its ambition to create a greener and more sustainable environment, Telenor Pakistan celebrated the World Wetlands Day 2022 by conducting a clean-up drive at the Islamabad Kinara Park. The symbolic activity was organized in collaboration with the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and the World Wild Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan), to create awareness on the protection of wetlands. The event was attended by volunteers and senior leadership from Telenor Pakistan.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year inFebruary to raise awareness about wetlands and their conservation. This is the first year that World Wetlands Day was observed as a United Nations International Day, following its adoption by the General Assembly last year, in a resolution co-sponsored by 75 member states. Almost 90% of the wetlands on our planet have been severely damaged and are degrading three times faster than forests. Wetlands remain a fundamentally important part of natural ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability and world economies. To achieve net-zero emissions these ecosystems need to be protected and restoration efforts scaled up. Telenor Pakistan believes that raising awareness about wetlands is an important element of environment sustainability and needs awareness and action towards conservation and restoration.

Present on the occasion, Telenor Pakistan’s Chief Executive Officer Irfan Wahab Khan commented, “As part of Telenor’s 2030 climate agenda, we’re committed to not only minimising our impact on the environment, but also inspiring others, individuals and organisations alike, to join the cause. The phenomena of global warming is not new to any of us, but taking action requires all of us to step in and play our part. Healthy wetlands ecosystems provide livelihoods for one billion people globally and by proactively working towards the protection and restoration of wetlands, we can safeguard societies relying on the services and livelihood that these waterways provide. The Decade for Ecosystem Restoration calls for a united front on reducing global warming by 1.5 degrees, and I hope observation of days dedicated to environment restoration and conservation may prove to be the catalyst we all need to better manage, conserve and restore natural ecosystems.”

Also present at the clean-up drive,Rab Nawaz, Senior Director Biodiversity and Conservation, WWF-Pakistancommented, “Through conservation and restoration, we can not only improve the livelihoods of the people that rely on wetlands, but also preserve wetland ecosystem services, which include nature-based solutions to climate change mitigation. Serving as rich carbon sinks, coastal and inland wetlands have the potential to reduce the annual increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.”

The International Trade Administration estimates that close to 50 million tons of solid waste are generated every year in Pakistan, making urban waste management a major challenge. It is also common practice throughout the country to burn and dump harmful waste openly, which ends up in natural water bodies and threatens local biodiversity.