Unilever Pakistan and SEED Ventures Launch the Accelerating Plastic Reduction Program: An Innovative Initiative on Plastic Waste Management

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) Unilever Pakistan and SEED Ventures have teamed up to launch an innovative program, ‘Accelerating Plastic Reduction’, aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices in Pakistan. This program offers a unique opportunity for startups, students, micro-small-medium enterprises, and individuals to propose solutions that will have a positive impact on the environment.

Scheduled to launch in May 2023, the program will focus on two critical areas: conducting research to understand the challenges of the informal recycling and repurposing economy and an acceleration program to develop and scale enterprises in the plastic recycling and collection business. Selected teams will benefit from mentoring, capacity-building, and networking opportunities.

Amir Paracha, CEO Unilever Pakistan, said, “We are excited to partner with SEED Ventures in this journey of creating a circular economy. At Unilever Pakistan, we believe that our business can only thrive if the communities and ecosystems in which we operate are also thriving. By investing in innovative practices, we are not only contributing to the well-being of Pakistanis, but also to the long-term health of our planet.”

Shaista Ayesha, CEO SEED Ventures, stated, “We are proud to partner with Unilever in this initiative to reduce plastic waste and create a more sustainable future. Through this collaboration, we aim to provide access to mentorship, capacity-building, and financial assistance, to accelerate the growth of enterprises in the plastic collection and recycling business while identifying sustainable interventions.”

The call for applications for ‘Accelerating Plastic Reduction’ will be made available on Unilever Pakistan’s and SEED Ventures’ official websites and social media platforms in the coming weeks. This program represents an open invitation to accelerate the growth of organizations in the plastic collection and recycling business, and identify sustainable interventions.

Unilever Pakistan’s ‘Accelerating Plastic Reduction’ program is part of its commitment to reducing plastic waste, which includes halving its use of virgin plastic and helping to collect and process more plastic packaging than it sells by 2025.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistan premier and pioneer Islamic financial conglomerate, Pak -Qatar Group has announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022, for its companies Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL) and Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited (PQGTL).

The Board meetings, presided over by Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah bin Thani al-Thani, the Chairman of Pak-Qatar Takaful Group, discussed the financial results of the companies for the financial year 2022 and their future plans for the year 2023. It was attended by the Directors, including – Mr. Abdul Basit Ahmad al-Shaibei, Mr. Ali Ibrahim al Abdul Ghani, Mr. Said Gul, Mr. Muhammad Owais Ansari, Mr. Zahid Hussain Awan, Mr. Farrukh V. Junaidy and Mr. Muhammad Kamran Saleem.

Overview of Financial Performance:

During the year 2022, Pak-Qatar Takaful Group (the Group) achieved a consolidated aggregate turnover of PKR 11.44 Billion*. The Group’s Shareholders’ Fund posted a net consolidated profit after tax of PKR 207 Million; while, Participants’ Takaful Fund (Waqf Fund) generated the net consolidated surplus of PKR 151 Million for the year 2022. Despite severe economic and political turmoil, the Group had an *average consolidated growth of 9.6%*.

Pak-Qatar Family Takaful (PQFTL) posted a profit before tax of PKR 184 Million, with an EPS of PKR 1.14 despite all challenges.

The aggregated turnover was PKR 10.2 Billion with total assets under management were at PKR 33 Billion. 

Pak-Qatar General Takaful (PQGTL) posted a profit before tax of PKR 80 Million with an EPS of PKR 1.14. The aggregated turnover was PKR 1.2 Billion with total assets’ base of PKR 2.4 Billion .

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Sastaticket.pk, Pakistan’s leading e-ticketing platform, is pleased to offer advance bus ticket booking for Eid festivities. With the company’s new partnership with FMBT Express and Silkline, customers can purchase Silkline tickets and avail themselves at Faisal Movers.

As Eid approaches, many people plan to travel to their hometowns to celebrate with their loved ones. With Sastaticket.pk, customers can now book their bus tickets in advance, avoiding the hassle of last-minute ticket hunting. Sastaticket.pk aims to simplify travel planning, and this new feature allows customers to plan their travel itinerary in advance, ensuring a stress-free journey.

“We are excited to offer advance bus ticket booking to our customers and to partner with FMBT Express and Silkline to provide a seamless travel experience,” said Shazil Mehkri, CEO of Sastaticket.pk. “Our goal is to simplify travel planning for our customers and make their journeys as convenient and comfortable as possible.”

Through the partnership with FMBT Express and Silkline, Sastaticket.pk customers can purchase Silkline tickets and avail themselves at Faisal Movers. The collaboration provides customers with a wider range of transportation options and travel routes, making their journey more convenient and comfortable.

Sastaticket.pk is Pakistan’s leading e-ticketing platform, providing customers with a range of travel services, including flight booking, hotel reservations, and transportation bookings. The company’s goal is to make travel planning as effortless as possible, and the new partnership with FMBT Express and Silkline further enhances its commitment to customer satisfaction.

To book your advance bus tickets for Eid, visit Sastaticket.pk and enjoy a stress-free travel experience with Sastaticket.pk and its partners.

 

 

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

This Eid-ul-Fitr, ZONG 4G customers can easily connect with their loved ones living in Saudi Arabia and share the joy and happiness of the holiday with them through ZONG 4G’s affordable IDD bundles. With the most competitive rates and unparalleled voice quality, ZONG 4G is committed to making international calls convenient and more affordable during the festive season.

The IDD Mobily Bundleoffers multiple choices from15 to 200 minutes for only Rs. 100 to Rs. 1000 plus tax, with weekly & monthlybundlesfor prepaid connections and monthly bundles for postpaid connections. This bundle offer is applicable for Mobily numbersin Saudi Arabia and can be easily subscribed by dialing *6911# from a ZONG 4G number, through the ZONG 4GApp, website, or online shop.

“Eid-ul-Fitr is a special occasion for Muslims all over the world, and ZONG 4G is dedicated in ensuring that families stay together, no matter the distance. At ZONG 4G, we are committed to provide the best telecom services to our customers, and we understand the importance of staying connected, especially during festive occasions like Eid-ul-Fitr,” commented the official spokesperson for ZONG 4G.

With ZONG 4G’s affordable IDD bundles, customers can stay connected with their loved ones during this special holiday season without having to worry about the cost.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Infinix; Pakistan’s highest selling smartphone brand introduces biggest #EidLoot nationwide to kickstart Eid celebrations in advance. Filled with eye-glaring discounts, on the spot giveaways, lucky draw and a series of fun filled activities, Infinix #EidLoot will kick off in 12 markets across the nation starting till Eid.

Fans can visit any of the nearest market, buy Infinix smartphones and participate in lucky drawer in order to win exciting gifts around Eid. Each market will also become a play arena to win instant gifts worth Rs 3000 by participating in fun dart games. Not only this, but each market will also have a series of fun filled activities to win instant gifts. Participants should also stay updated onto Infinix Facebook page as the winner of Lucky Draw will be announced through a live session on April 21st.

On the occasion of #EidLoot, CEO of Infinix Mr. Joe Hu expressed his views saying, “The occasion of Eid holds primary importance while it’s necessary that each person gets a chance to celebrate the festivity.’ Infinix #EidLoot reflects our efforts to ensure cherish able Eid for our fans while we also aim to bring more of such activities in the future as well’’
As a part of #EidLoot celebrations, Infinix latest smartphones are also available for discounted prices on Infinix Experience store located in Packages Mall, Lahore. This also means that fans can not only take part in a round of amazing activities and giveaways but can also buy Infinix smartphones on discounted prices to kickstart their Eid celebrations.
So, it’s better to hurry up and take part in #EidLoot festivities taking place nationwide before it’s too late!

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)

The Board of Directors of Meezan Bank Limited in its meeting, held at Karachi on April 18, 2023, approved the financial statements of the Bank for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The meeting was presided by Mr. Riyadh S.A. A. Edrees – Chairman of the Board; Mr. Faisal A. A. A. Al – Nassar – Vice Chairman of the Board was also present.

The Bank’s profit after tax increased to Rs 15.4 billion from Rs 9.2 billion in the corresponding period last year, a growth of 68%. The Basic Earnings per Share increased to Rs 8.62 per share from Rs 5.14 per share in March 2022. The Board approved 30% (Rs 3 per share) interim cash dividend for the first quarter of 2023. The Bank remains a well-capitalized institution with a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 18.15% – significantly above the minimum regulatory requirement of 12.00%. Meezan is the most valuable bank in Pakistan, in terms of market capitalization, among all the listed banks.

Meezan Bank is one of the largest banks in Pakistan in terms of deposits, which closed at Rs 1.79 trillion. Current account contributed to 51% of its total deposits, amounting to Rs 918 billion while the current and savings account (CASA) deposits represent 88% of total deposits, amounting to Rs 1.6 trillion. The Bank maintained its leadership position in Roshan Digital Account (RDA) with a market share of 25% in terms of the total RDA inflows in the banking industry of Pakistan. Meezan Bank has a network of more than 970 branches in 324 cities and more than 1000 ATMs across the country. The Bank’s Mobile Banking App has been consistently ranked as No.1 Mobile Banking App in Pakistan by both Apple Store and Google Play Store.

With an extensive product portfolio, the Bank is well-positioned to cater to all financing needs of its customers within the bounds of Shariah. The Bank has a well-diversified assets portfolio comprising Corporate and SME customers and is among the market leaders in the consumer financing sector. Meezan Bank has been recognized as the Best Consumer Bank in Pakistan for 2022 and the Best Bank in Pakistan for 2018 & 2020 at the Pakistan Banking Awards – the most prestigious recognition in Pakistan’s banking sector. The Bank has also been recognized as the Best Islamic Retail Bank globally by Islamic Finance News of Redmoney Group, Malaysia. All these prestigious awards highlight the Bank’s position of excellence in the Banking industry.

METRO DONATES PKR 1 MILLION TO THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION (TCF) FOR SPONSORING CHILD EDUCATION.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) METRO Pakistan the leading international wholesale company, donates Rs. 1 Million to The Citizens Foundation as part of its Care & Share Program. This initiative was led by METRO’s Employee Well-Being CFT with the aim of supporting quality low-cost education in the country.

Sharing his thoughts, Ms ZAHRA HUSSAIN, DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCE METRO said. “Pakistan has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world and that is primarily due to lack of availability of low-cost quality education. METRO, being a socially responsible organization, is diligently supporting the cause of child education. For this we have partnered with TCF, which has built schools in the heart of rural population, providing quality education through their 30,000-strong all-female teaching staff.”

TCF is a non-profit organization and one of Pakistan’s largest privately owned networks of low-cost formal schools. The foundation operates a network of 1,833 school units, educating 280,000 students.

METRO and TCF also agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for launching further initiatives through mutual collaboration to support child education and development.

CBD Punjab: Revolutionizing Pakistan’s Economic Landscape with Sustainable Development Lahore: Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Caretaker Provincial Minister for Housing Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Punjab, Barrister Syed Azfar Ali Nasir visited the Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), in Lahore to witness the ongoing sustainable development projects. Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), is tasked to establish Pakistan’s first business district and register the country on the global economic map. CEO CBD Punjab, Imran Amin, COO CBD Punjab, Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua, Chairman CBD Punjab, Mr. Fazeel Asif Jah, Executive Director Commercial, Mohammed Omer, Executive Director Legal CBD Punjab, Barrister Bilal Afzal Khokhar, Director Marketing CBD Punjab, Wasim Siddiq and other officials of CBD Punjab were present during the briefing session During the visit, the minister was briefed by the Executive Director Commercial CBD Punjab, Mohammed Omer, about the revenue generation strategies of CBD Punjab. The district funds, builds, and sustains itself without relying on government funding or tax money. The revenue is generated through open auctions, investor networking, public/private partnerships, joint ventures, and government-to-government initiatives. CBD Punjab is a premium authority with the concept of one-window operation, favorable bylaws, fast approvals, unmatched speed-to-market, investor-friendly ease of doing business and is a center of revenue-generating for the government of Punjab. The authority offers centralized and vertical infrastructure with increased building height limits of up to 750 ft. CBD Punjab’s CEO, Imran Amin, said, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to brief Caretaker Provincial Minister Housing Urban Development and Public Health Engineering, Barrister Syed Azfar Ali Nasir, on our ongoing initiatives to establish Pakistan’s first business district. At CBD Punjab, we are committed to sustainable development, and we believe that our initiatives will help register Pakistan on the global economic map.” While briefing about the revenue generation activities the Caretaker Provincial Minister was informed that CBD Punjab, did its first auction in September 2021 where the authority sold five mixed-use commercial plots for an area marked as Lahore Prime and the second auction for Lahore’s first planned central Downtown was conducted in September 2022, authority sold seven mixed-use commercial plots. CBD Punjab has over 100 plus plots situated in the heart of Lahore with an estimated potential of PKR 500+ billion. CBD Punjab is currently undertaking several ongoing projects, including the remodeling of the main boulevard from Liberty to Kalma Chowk CBD Punjab Boulevard, planning of Lahore Grand Souk (1122 Site), Infrastructure development of phase I, Car Parking Plaza, and remodeling of Walton Road. The remodeling of the Kalma Chowk underpass project is almost complete with no PC1 revision and soon will be fully functional for traffic Caretaker Provincial Minister Housing Urban Development and Public Health Engineering, Barrister Syed Azfar Ali Nasir, was impressed with the progress of CBD Punjab and the ongoing initiatives that will transform Lahore’s economic landscape. He expressed his appreciation for CBD Punjab’s commitment to sustainable development and revenue generation for the government, stating that the project would pave the way for Pakistan’s economic growth. CBD Punjab is also constructing the CBD Quaid district flyover, connecting the main boulevard to Walton Road and Bab-e-Pakistan. Other ongoing projects are Sirius Tallest Skyscraper of Punjab, Regalia Branded Residencies, Node Digital District, Runway Retail District, and Sano Medical District. CBD Punjab is determined to establish Pakistan’s first business district and put the country on the global economic map. The ongoing sustainable development projects of CBD Punjab are a testament to the authority’s commitment to this goal.

• Visa Everywhere Initiative tasks startups with solving today’s most pressing payments and commerce challenges, with monetary prizes, global exposure, and validation from one of the world’s most trusted brands.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)  Applications are now open in Pakistan for the 2023 edition of the Visa Everywhere Initiative (VEI), a global open innovation competition that sees startups pitch their innovative solutions to solve tomorrow’s payment and commerce challenges. In addition to monetary prizes, VEI winners gain access and exposure to Visa’s vast networks of partners in the banking, merchant, VC, and government sectors. The winners also benefit from receiving recognition from one of the world’s most trusted and valuable brands. The Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) finals will be livestreamed on July 27 on TechCrunch – a leading online publisher focused on the tech industry and the startup ecosystem. The startup that wins at the CEMEA Regionals will participate in the global finale, which will be held on September 19 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco. This year, Visa’s VEI CEMEA is set to introduce for the first time an award in the Risk and Security domain – Fintechs Innovating in Risk Excellence, or ‘FIIRE’, Award. Through this Special Edition, Visa in partnership with Emirates NBD are scouting for global Fintech players across fraud management, cybersecurity, and credit risk, among others. Following a joint review by Visa and Emirates NBD representatives, the winning Fintech will receive a $25,000 prize and an opportunity to work with Emirates NBD, a leading bank Group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Turkey) region. “The Visa Everywhere Initiative is a platform that empowers fintechs and entrepreneurs to showcase the most ground-breaking, impactful solutions in the world of payments and commerce,” said Umar Khan, Visa’s Country Manager for Pakistan. “Through their technology-driven, innovative solutions, fintechs have the potential to offer broad social benefits to the markets they operate in – particularly when it comes to providing financial services to those who have traditionally been underserved. At Visa, we believe access to the digital economy drives equitable, inclusive growth, and VEI is an important means of supporting the innovators playing a leading role in this space.” Since its launch in 2015, VEI has helped startups representing more than 100 countries collectively raise more than $16 billion USD in funding, with a network that includes nearly 12,000 startups from across the globe. Last year, VEI awarded more than $530,000 USD in prize money over the course of the competition, which saw over 4,000 startups participate from five regions. VEI 2022 saw Nigeria’s ThriveAgric take home the VEI Global grand prize of $100,000 USD. ThriveAgric also won the $20,000 USD Visa Direct prize. VEI is seeking innovative and ambitious entrepreneurs who are uplifting communities by solving payment and commerce challenges faced by businesses of all sizes and sectors, including: What we are looking for Enablers of digital services and digital issuers • Blockchain and cryptocurrency • Crowdfunding • Banking-as-a-Service • BIN sponsors • Issuer/processors • Program managers Digital issuance • Blockchain and cryptocurrency • Alternative lending • Personal financial management • Money transfer and remittance • Digital banking (aka neo banks) • Digital wallets, peer-to-peer (P2P) and transfers • Employee benefits • Payables • Corporate cards (aka expense management) Value-add for merchants and/or consumers in the finance space • Data and analytics • ID, authentication and security • InsurTech • Loyalty • Merchant services and tools • Process and payment infrastructure • Retail technology • Other Small- and medium-sized business recovery • Money movement (disbursements, Intra-account, P2P vendor and payments) • Acceptance (e-commerce and mobile acceptance) • Risk management (chargebacks, etc.) • Brand management (Community building, etc.) • Other New categories for 2023: • Sustainable fintechs • Risk • Urban mobility This year’s prizes for VEI CEMEA Regional Finales (July 27): • 1st place: $20,000 USD • Audience Favorites: $10,000 USD • Risk Winner: $25,000 USD The application deadline for VEI is May 14th. For more information about VEI, please visit our website.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)

Bank Alfalah, one of the largest commercial banks in Pakistan, has collaborated with SendSpend, headquartered in London, United Kingdom(UK), to launch a state-of-the-art, international remittance service. The cloud-based service allows immediate and effortless money transfers from the UK to Pakistan through mobile phones, allowing individuals and businesses to send and receive money internationally more conveniently than ever.

SendSpend is an international remittance service that uses ground-breaking cloud-based technology to make money transfers seamless and convenient with just a few taps. Through its partnership with SendSpend, Bank Alfalah is equipping the users of 17 different mobile wallets in Pakistan to not just receive funds internationally but also the possibility to use  Bank’s over 900 ATMs nationwide to cash out. Users will also be able to have the funds transferred directly into the bank account of their choice in any bank.

Atif Bajwa, President and CEO of Bank Alfalah, commented on the partnership, ‘We are pleased to partner with SendSpend to offer customised solutions for non-resident Pakistanis in the UK to send hassle-free remittances to their loved ones in Pakistan. This innovative service empowers customers by placing financial control directly in their hands. The partnership marks a significant step towards building an ecosystem of progressive banking, with Bank Alfalah leading the way in providing tailored solutions for its customers’ unique needs.’

Tracy Andersson, joint CEO from SendSpend commented on the partnership with Bank Alfalah, “We are extremely pleased to be joining hands with Bank Alfalah on this mission towards greater financial inclusion and empowerment across the country. It’s a shared goal of both organisations to remove financial barriers and enable more people to carve a better future. We look forward to improving countless lives together with Bank Alfalah and leaving no stone unturned when it comes to creating unlimited convenience.”

“We make sending and spending money stress-free for both sender and receiver,” says Graham Davies, SendSpend’s Joint CEO. “By providing a money remittance service from the palm of their hand, our customers are in control all the way. What’s more, SendSpend customers in the UK can top up their mobile wallet at over 28,000 cash pay-in points, so whether they’re remitting from their bank account or using cash, the process is always quick and simple”.  

SendSpend has designed a new and convenient solution to capture a large segment of society that still uses physical money exchanges to meet their remittance needs. With Bank Alfalah’s expertise in the market and SendSpend’s technological innovation in place, the service is destined to change how people send and receive money.

Pakistan is home to one of the largest populations in the world, with a total population of over 220 million people. Many of its citizens live and work outside of the country, often sending money back to their families to support them. The United Kingdom is one of the top three countries contributing to Pakistan’s economy through remittances. This means that a significant portion of the money flowing into Pakistan comes from the UK. Given this situation, it is imperative for financial institutions such as Banks and Fintechs offer tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of non-resident Pakistanis living in the UK who need to manage their finances.