Category: Business

Lahore (Nut Desk)

Progressive Group in the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) has suggested the government devise an export plan for increasing and formalizing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan which at present is around US $5 billion. This plan can be made by taking on board the official quarters of these countries, the business community and customs authorities of both sides to run the bilateral trade in a formal and legal way. Lahore Chamber’s EC member and a central leader of the Progressive Group Muhammad Ejaz Tanveer in a statement issued here on Tuesday said that at present a big issue was coming up which is the flight of dollars from Pakistan to Afghanistan while the smuggling under various garbs was also a big hit to Pakistan’s economy. Enacting a legal framework and plan by Pakistan and Afghanistan will help both economies to overcome these issues. He said that having an export plan can be beneficial for both Pakistan and Afghanistan as it can help these countries to identify their key export products and services that have a competitive advantage in international markets. This can help these countries to focus on developing these products and services and to allocate resources to their production and marketing. Ejaz further said an export plan can help Pakistan and Afghanistan to develop market strategies for their key export products and services. This can include identifying potential export markets, conducting market research to understand the demand for their products, and developing marketing campaigns to promote their products and services. Likewise, an export plan can help Pakistan and Afghanistan to enhance their competitiveness in international markets by identifying areas where they need to improve, such as product quality, cost-effectiveness, or branding. An export plan can help Pakistan and Afghanistan to access financing and other resources to support their export activities. This can include access to export credit, export insurance, or technical assistance to improve product quality or compliance with international standards. Such a plan can help Pakistan and Afghanistan to increase their exports and foreign exchange earnings, which can have significant economic benefits, including job creation, increased economic growth, and improved balance of payments. Overall, an export plan can be a useful tool for Pakistan and Afghanistan to develop their export capacity and to take advantage of the opportunities presented by international trade, Ejaz Tanveer concluded.

• OPPO MR Glass is one of the world’s first MR devices to support Snapdragon Spaces™ XR Developers Platform.
• OPPO MR Glass will be available as a Snapdragon Spaces developer kit in China, distributed in the second half of 2023.

OPPO Empowers Collaborative XR Innovation with the Launch of OPPO MR Glass Developer Edition for Snapdragon Spaces™ XR Developers Platform at AWE 2023.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) At the Augmented World Expo (AWE) 2023, OPPO released its latest advancement in the XR field — OPPO MR Glass Developer Edition. This state-of-the-art mixed reality (MR) device is equipped with the latest technology inside and out, offering an ideal environment for advanced developers to create and showcase exciting MR experiences.

OPPO anticipates a surge in XR technology adoption in the near future, with MR as one of the most viable modalities. To drive innovation in MR applications, the OPPO MR Glass will be made available as an official Snapdragon Spaces developer kit in China to help attract more developers to the field and push the boundaries of XR technology.

“Innovation over the years has revealed the immense potential of XR technologies, revolutionizing interaction, and information accessibility. Among them, MR stands out for its ability to seamlessly integrate the virtual and real world, unlocking boundless imagination in various contexts. OPPO MR Glass represents our latest breakthrough in this exploration, equipped with the advanced capabilities of Snapdragon Spaces to empower developers,” remarked Yi Xu, Director of XR Technology at OPPO, during the keynote speech.

“OPPO and Qualcomm Technologies’ long-standing relationship and shared vision have driven our collaboration in the field of XR. Our mutual goal is to establish an open ecosystem that empowers developers, unlocking boundless possibilities for XR innovation.”

Yi Xu, Director of XR Technology at OPPO, delivered a speech at AWE 2023

Said Bakadir, Senior Director, XR Product Management, at Qualc omm Technologies, Inc. said, “We recognize OPPO’s long-standing efforts in exploring technologies, products, content, and services for XR, which make OPPO an ideal partner in this field. Through potential solutions improving productivity, creativity, and gaming experiences on OPPO MR Glass, we are glad to see growing vitality among developer groups and hope to find more MR content to enliven the platform, which is significant for creating innovative experience and bringing breakthroughs for the industry. In the future, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with OPPO to stimulate more innovations in the MR ecosystem.”

OPPO MR Glass

To provide the best platform for developers to create and test the latest MR experiences, OPPO MR Glass is built with the latest technologies and unique innovations.

Powered by the Snapdragon® XR2+ platform, OPPO MR Glass is equipped with OPPO’s proprietary SUPERVOOC_TM fast charging and heart rate detection function that open doors to a variety of new applications.

Built with skin-friendly material, OPPO MR Glass is equipped with Binocular VPT (Video Pass Trough) technologies, dual front RGB cameras, pancake lenses, as well as 120Hz high refresh rate.

For the past few years, OPPO has been working on the implementation of advanced XR technology-related concept products that empower developers to innovate together. Since the release of OPPO’s first AR concept product, OPPO AR Glass, in 2019, OPPO has brought three smart glasses to the public, including OPPO AR Glass 2021, OPPO Air Glass, and OPPO Air Glass 2, exploring more possibilities in the areas of algorithms, optical solutions, interactions, and ecosystem. In 2023, OPPO Air Glass won silver in the AR category of the Edison Product Awards, adding to international recognition for OPPO’s strength in XR. OPPO’s XR exploration also includes the AR application CybeReal, and other innovations to better connect the physical and digital world in a seamless way.

OPPO MR Glass will be available as a Snapdragon Spaces developer kit in China, distributed through EnlightXR in the second half of 2023. This will provide developers with best-in-class hardware and help to expand the Snapdragon Spaces content ecosystem in China.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Significant investments to expand and improve the efficiency of domestic PVC production have created an opportunity for Pakistan to earn USD 300 million through the export of surplus volumes and products.

Currently, Pakistan’s per capita PVC consumption stands at 1.2 kg versus a global average of 6.1 kg. Growth in our per capita consumption will be  driven by rising per capita income, increasing urbanization, and robust domestic manufacturing in the coming years. Through various customer engagement and market development initiatives, such as a retail outlet – thinkPVC, Engro Polymer & Chemicals Limited (EPCL) is actively promoting various standardized, high-quality PVC products.

At a media briefing, Mahmood Siddiqui, Vice President Manufacturing of the Company, highlighted that, “Since 2015, the Company has invested over USD 188 million in Plant expansion and other upgrade projects for higher efficiency, reliability, and diversification of operations . In 2021, EPCL enhanced its PVC capacity to 295,000 tons per annum, which is sufficient to fully cater to the local demand and achieve exports as well.”

Muhammad Idrees, Chief Commercial Officer at EPCL, said that “the Company is collaborating with TDAP to explore global markets for export of value-added PVC downstream products. In the last two years, the Company exported surplus products worth USD 48 million   to Turkiye and Middle Eastern markets, while import substitution of around USD 300 million contributed significantly toward solving Pakistan’s balance of payments situation. The downstream PVC industry can fully utilize its excess capacity and help in earning USD 300 million in valuable foreign exchange by standardizing and improving the quality of finished products.”

The Company’s 2030 vision is to become a globally-competitive PVC producer, prioritizing exports, and increasing the domestic per capita PVC consumption to international levels. As part of its business strategy, the Company is also looking to position PVC as the “Material of Choice” with a primary emphasis on value added products.

Alas, for the Company to enact its plans and maximize the potential of PVC exports while also meeting increasing local demand, it is equally imperative for the Government to ensure a conducive business environment with availability of right policies and necessary utilities.

 

Ericsson and MediaTek have set a new 5G upload speed record of 440 Mbps in low-band and mid-band spectrum using Uplink Carrier Aggregation. The zippy uplink speed brings better, smoother experiences for the likes of video conference users, streamers, and their audience with more frames per second and higher image resolution.

Pakistan (Nut Desk) The record uplink speed was achieved in an interoperability development test at an Ericsson lab. The test was performed with RAN Compute Baseband 6648 and a mobile device using MediaTek Dimensity 9200 flagship 5G smartphone chipset. The Uplink Carrier Aggregation combination involved a frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) channel, in a frequency range widely deployed in today’s 5G networks.

More precisely, the combination used was 50MHz FDD n1 and 100MHz TDD n77. By aggregating these two bands, communications service providers can considerably increase their uplink speeds, resulting in better network performance and user experience.

Sibel Tombaz, Head of Product Line 5G RAN, Ericsson, says: ”Super-fast uplink speeds make a big difference in the user experience. From lag-free live streaming, video conferencing and AR/VR apps, to more immersive gaming and extended reality (XR) technologies.”

“The 440 Mbps upload speed achieved by Ericsson and MediaTek will help make that difference,” she adds. “We are also continuously designing innovative solutions for optimizing 5G networks so our customers can make the best use of their spectrum assets.”

Service providers are seeking innovative ways of boosting capacity while using existing spectrum efficiently to meet growing demands for wireless data and applications. This is where carrier aggregation comes in, optimizing the service provider’s spectrum assets to bring to users better coverage, increased capacity, and higher data speeds.

HC Hwang, General Manager of Wireless Communication System and Partnership at MediaTek, says: “The successful result of combining Ericsson’s state-of-the-art 5G Baseband and MediaTek’s flagship smartphone chip has achieved another 5G industry milestone, and paves the way for superior mobile experiences to benefit users every day.”

Uplink speed is becoming more crucial with the expected uptake of gaming, XR, and video-based apps. For example, as AR devices gain popularity with larger augmentation objects, rendering becomes more demanding. This increases the demand on networks to deliver higher throughput and lower latency.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Supporting the cause of empowering young women by providing them with employment opportunities in technical trades, NAVTTC, the German-funded and GIZ-implemented Global Project Education (Build4Skills) in partnership with SIEMENS Pakistan presented their joint initiative “Shana Bashana” to the national and international TVET experts, decision-makers and private sector representatives in an event in Karachi.

As many as 44 young women received Competency Based Training & Assessment (CBT&A) certificates of Logistics & Supply Chain and AutoCAD on successful completion of their 6 months of institute-based training at the Hunar Foundation, followed by 6 weeks of Work-place Based Training (WBT) at SIEMENS Pakistan in Karachi. They also received experience certificates from Siemens at the event.

150 people participated in the Shana Bashana certificate distribution ceremony for the 3rd batch of young women from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The trainees were also given acknowledgement certificates from the National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) which will enhance their chances to enter the labour market with their newly gained skills.

While giving the opening remarks, Mr Andreas Wegner, Consul / Deputy Head of Mission German Consulate General Karachi emphasized that “only by setting promising examples we de-construct stereotypes or false assumptions about gender and someone’s abilities”.

Mr. Muhammad Daniyal, Managing Director of Siemens Pakistan appreciated the efforts by all the stakeholders for making this initiative possible and encouraged the female participants to strive for their dreams and stand side by side with men in all trades and sectors.”

Ms. Romina Kochius, Coordinator Sustainable Economic Development, Training, and Employment, GIZ and also looking after the Global Project Education (Buils4Skills) in Pakistan, while addressing the young women stated, “you are the enablers, who challenge systemic limitations and institutionalized discrimination – so that alleged choices become actual choices”.

Ms Momina Dar, CEO, BTIL Academy and an experienced professional from the humanitarian and development sector was the keynote speaker at the event where she addressed the topic of women’s participation in unconventional trades. Her speech led to a fruitful panel discussion on empowering young girls while promoting work-place based training.

Germany stays committed to empowering women seeking job prospects in male-dominated sectors, as even in 2023, the access barriers for young women to technical trades are still comparatively high. The Shana Bashana initiative has started changing the narrative that women can excel in technical trades in the infrastructure and construction sectors. Partners agree that systemic limitations need to be addressed while the potential of a female workforce is highlighted.

GIZ’s Global Project Education (Buils4Skills) is a globally operating project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Under this project, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and GIZ have formed a strategic partnership united in the belief that infrastructure measures hold an untapped potential for work-place based training (WBT). The project is operating small-scale interventions in Pakistan, Kenya, South Africa, Senegal and Mongolia.

Zong 4G partners with Roshan Packages to provide customized and enhanced digital business solution.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Zong 4G, Pakistan’s leading digital company, has partnered with Roshan Packages Limited, one of the country’s largest packaging manufacturers, to provide bespoke connectivity for its business. This partnership will enable Roshan Packages Limited to employ Zong 4G’s business solutions to optimize the efficacy and reliability of its daily operations across the board.

As part of this partnership, Zong 4G will provide Roshan Packages Limited with customized connectivity solutions tailored to meet their specific business needs. By leveraging Zong’s sophisticated services, Roshan Packages Ltd. aims to achieve increased operational efficiency and reliability in their day-to-day activities.

The contract signing ceremony, held in Lahore, was attended by representatives from both Zong 4G and Roshan Packages Ltd. The ceremony showcased the shared commitment of both companies to drive innovation and transform business operations through cutting-edge digital technologies.

The official spokesperson of Zong 4G said, “We are delighted to join hands with Roshan Packages Limited in enhancing their daily operations. Zong 4G is committed to digitizing Pakistan’s corporate landscape by providing next-generation business solutions that are crucial for sustainable business growth. We look forward to unlocking this potential with Roshan Packages Limited through this alliance.”

Tayyab Aijaz, CEO of Roshan Packages, talked about the importance of integrating digital solutions in businesses. Highlighting the benefits of technology in upscaling business operations, he commended Zong 4G’s robust connectivity and diverse business solutions in helping to make this possible for various corporate sectors including the packaging industry.

Zong 4G remains committed to driving digital innovation in Pakistan, and this partnership with Roshan Packages Limited is a concerted step in that direction. Cultivating the digital transformation of the local corporate sector is a top priority at Zong 4G, and this collaboration is another breakthrough in its journey of leading the digital revolution in Pakistan. As one of the leading telecommunication companies in the country, Zong 4G aims to provide its customers with the latest and most innovative solutions while ensuring seamless network connectivity.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

TPL Insurance Limited, a leading non-life insurance provider in Pakistan, today announced its Board of Directors’ approval of a draft Scheme of Arrangement under Section 279 to Section 282 and Section 285 of the Companies Act, 2017. The scheme outlines the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the Pakistani Branch of New Hampshire Insurance Company (“NHIC”). Upon approval by the High Court of Pakistan, the Scheme of Arrangement will facilitate the seamless transfer of NHIC’s assets and liabilities to TPL Insurance. The successful completion of the transaction is subject to obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals, including the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (“SECP”) endorsement. TPL Insurance Limited is a renowned non-life insurance company in Pakistan, renowned for its track record of growth and profitability. With a diverse portfolio of insurance products, including motor, fire, marine, travel, and health insurance, TPL Insurance has firmly established itself as a trusted partner in the insurance and insurtech industry. The completion of the NHIC acquisition is anticipated to take place by December 31, 2023. About TPL Insurance TPL Insurance Limited is the first company in Pakistan to sell General Insurance and Takaful products directly to consumers. Since its launch in 2005, the company has grown from strength to strength and is now the leading Insurtech player in Pakistan. TPL Insurance Limited specializes in tech-driven innovative solutions and digitally integrated systems to provide hassle-free customer experiences and round-the-clock services to 300K+ customers. As an AA rated insurer, TPL Insurance Limited is committed to developing Commercial and Personal line portfolios by exploring new channels, expanding existing relationships, and maintaining higher-risk retentions.

ZAHID CHUGHTAI (MULTAN)

GUARD Agriculture Research & Services (Pvt) Limited added another feather to its cap as its scientists in collaboration with their Chinese counterparts successfully completed the pilot project of sowing hybrid chillies in the Pakistani climate this year. ‘We have sown over 750 acres of land with the Chinese varieties this year across Pakistan including 500 acres in Sindh and 250 acres of land in various districts of Punjab and intend to take this number to 30,000 acres of land during the next season 2023-24,’ said Guard’s Research & Development Wing’s head Dr Abdul Rasheed while talking to newsmen at an event. The project is being carried out under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and an agreement between GUARD and Chinese Company LTEC was signed in the year 2022. By virtue of this, the area under Chinese varieties of chillies would be taken to 200,000 acres of land in the next five to 10 years. Both companies successfully organized a farmer meeting centred around Chillies Contract Farming near Multan the other day. The event, attended by more than 400 progressive farmers from south Punjab, aimed to familiarize them with the advantages of participating in the project and showcase model farms featuring various chilli varieties. It was attended by Dr Irfan Ahmed (Executive Manager Commercial) LTEC and GUARD’s Dr Abdul Rasheed (Chief R&D), representatives of different departments related to agriculture and a team of agronomists. While talking to reporters, Dr. Abdur Rasheed claimed that chillies worth US $75 million would be exported under this project in the next five years. The area under hybrid chillies cultivation will increase to 200,000 acres in the next five to 10 years. He added that around 90 percent of the production would be bought by the Chinese. Next year, Dr. Abdur Rasheed said 5000-6000 acres of land will be sown in Punjab and the rest will be brought under cultivation in Sindh. The project introduced wide chilli varieties, such as Red Sky, along with 16 different trial varieties from LTEC. These varieties were selected to showcase their adaptability to the local climate and their potential for high yields and quality. These varieties offer higher yields, i.e., 75 maund per acre, compared to 25-30 maunds given by the traditional types and exhibit excellent tolerance and resistance to diseases, insects, and environmental factors. Regarding profitability, chilli crops have a higher profit ratio than conventional crops. Babar Khan (Grower) appreciated the informative sessions, hands-on demonstrations, and the opportunity to network with industry professionals. Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad, Director of the Plant Protection Department at Nawaz Sharif University, appreciated that the hybrid varieties had double production with resistance against diseases. Rana Abbas Assistant Director of Horticulture (Multan) said technology transfer under this project would help alleviate poverty in this area. However, he stressed the need to focus on managing this crop, promoting the latest drying techniques to improve the quality of the chillies. Dr Abubakar from Nawaz Sharif University Multan said that their organization was also developing hybrid seeds for different crops. Representative of the Vegetable Institute Multan, Muneer speaking on this occasion, disclosed that two varieties of chillies were introduced in Pakistan in 1965 and later, no work was done in this regard. He said he was working to develop hybrid chilli seeds for the last 11 years and focusing on such varieties which could have acceptance in the local market.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Fly Jinnah, Pakistan’s new low-cost carrier (LCC), today announced an increase in flight frequency between Karachi & Islamabad effective from June 1, 2023. The airline will now operate three daily flights per week, providing travelers with greater convenience and flexibility.

As the summer season approaches, the demand for affordable and reliable air travel options between the two major cities continues to grow. Fly Jinnah aims to enhance connectivity and meet the needs of both business and leisure travelers, ensuring a seamless travel experience.

Fly Jinnah remains committed to providing reliable and comfortable travel at competitive prices while prioritizing passenger experience by offering quality service, efficient operations, and more connectivity. At present, Fly Jinnah connects five major cities of Pakistan including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta.

The carrier currently operates a fleet of three modern Airbus A320 aircraft. Adding extra comfort to our passengers, providing the most generous seat-pitch of any economy cabin. The aircraft is also equipped with “SkyTime”, a free in-flight streaming service that allows passengers to stream a wide selection of entertainment directly to their devices. On top of that, passengers can enjoy a wide varieties of delicacies between snacks, sandwiches and meals from the on-board “SkyCafe” menu at affordable prices.

Customers can now book their flights by visiting Fly Jinnah’s website (www.flyjinnah.com), by calling the call centre (021-3565096) or through travel agencies.

Now schedule of 3^rd flight to Islamabad, effective June 1, 2023 (all times local):

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

2nd International Solar Energy Meet (ISEM) & IEEEP IREM Expo (Pakistan’s Premium Electronics and Electrical Exhibition) will start from Friday (June 02) here at Expo Center Lahore which will be attended by the local and international energy & power sector experts, primarily working in renewable power with focus on solar power generation.

According to the details, the expo will be held June 02-04 from the platform of White Paper Summits.    

Besides the expo, WPS (White Paper Summits) in a strategic partnership with IEEEP (The Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Pakistan) will also organize a conference with 11 expert speakers as one of the main events of the three days in which these speakers will share their Case Studies, Technical Presentation and Latest Insights on the problems and solutions addressing the Power and Renewable Energy Sector of Pakistan.

The sessions will be attended by the IEEEP members and Technical Delegates. The conference will include active Q&A sessions, networking programs and B2B networking to facilitate much needed access to a wealth of industry leading knowledge, information exchange and actionable takeaways. 

More than 150 stalls are booked including over 30 by the international exhibitors after the government of Pakistan’s favoring policies towards solar power generation which attracts the foreign investors to come to Pakistan. Besides, over 120 local exhibitors will also be displaying their products during the three days Solar show.

The organizers are expecting over 8000 attendees during the three days event and including the top international and local exhibitors, acclaimed technical expert speakers. The event will provide unlimited business networking opportunities, besides B2B deals.

The organizers believed that the ISEM is the ideal meeting place for global and local stakeholders, C-level executives, leading industry experts, manufacturers and suppliers, decision makers, policy makers and government officials who are shaping the future of the solar energy sector in Pakistan. ISEM will focus on Off-Grid and On-Grid Solar PV Applications, Solar Financing, Solar Investments, PV Modules & Hybrid Systems, Battery and Storage Technologies, Inverters and Solar Structural Systems.

IEEEP IREM Expo will focus on Power Transformers, Power Technology, Capacitors, Batteries, Heavy Duty Cables, Power Distribution Equipment, Wind Energy, Hydropower, Bioenergy, Bio Gas, BioFuel, Hydrogen, GeoThermal Energy, Solar Energy and more.

The Premium events are organized by White Paper Summits, one of the leading business Event Organizers (Summits, Exhibitions and Trainings) in the Middle East region with its headquarters based in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. The regional office of White Paper Summits is established in Karachi, Pakistan.