Interview with: Rashid Khan, global campaign manager for ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)

Congratulations on your recent appointment as ACCA’s global campaign manager. It’s great to see Pakistani professionals being recognised by global brands like ACCA.

Thanks so much. I hundred percent agree that there’s a growing recognition of our talent around the world and more and more Pakistanis can now be seen making an impact around the world. ACCA has always been a champion of embracing Diversity and Inclusion, as well as creating opportunity for people with talent, ability and ambition, without looking at the colour of your skin or passport. And I feel D&I are vital to a healthy workplace, especially when you’re serving on a global scale. So yes, we’re a proudly diverse bunch coming from different backgrounds. In our brand and marketing team alone, we’ve colleagues from 10 different nationalities that makes it really exciting to work for ACCA.

ACCA has been at the forefront of accountancy profession since 1904. So what’s the secret behind this success that ACCA continues to lead the way even after 118 years?

Not just that we’re old with a rich history, more importantly, we’re the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body. Throughout our history, we’ve done things differently. We’ve created an international network including members, employers, academics and opinion formers. We tap into their insight and experience to identify and explore global trends and issues for business, economics, society and the profession as a whole. This allows us to create the accountant that our fast-changing world needs, and gives us insight that we share outside of our organisation. We put our values into practice so we’re regularly the first in the profession to introduce new products and services, and showcase new research and policies. From being the first accountancy body to admit women to membership in 1909 to be always among the frontrunners when it comes to embracing latest technology and innovating thinking, we’re proud to be pioneers. The short answer to your question is we think ahead and that’s why we lead the profession.

How is ACCA supporting with talent mobility and allowing Pakistani youth to build international careers?

We’ve presence in 178 countries and our qualifications are the gold standard in accountancy with wide recognition around the world. Joining ACCA opens doors to respected, hugely rewarding career opportunities around the world. It’s like you’ve a global passport to work in any sector, anywhere in the world. Almost half of the members who qualified with ACCA in Pakistan are currently serving abroad enjoying fulfilling careers. Not just that, with trends such as offshoring, nearshoring and remote working, there’s even greater demand for Pakistani ACCA professionals in the global marketplace and our people can build careers with leading foreign employers who offer generous salaries and opportunities to progress quickly, that too without leaving the country. So when our people (regardless of age, gender or background) choose to study with ACCA, they choose a future full of possibilities.

There’s a growing debate whether our education system is capable of producing work-ready professionals. So much so that some influencers are heard discouraging people from pursuing degree programmes and encourage youngsters to only focus on skills. What’s your take on this topic?

 

ACCA is a professional qualification which is a combination of 3 Es, namely Exams, Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM), and Experience. In addition to proving knowledge in exams, our students are required to undergo a mandatory 3 years’ practical experience requirement, as well as to complete EPSM which covers a full range of advanced ethical and professional skills. That’s why our members are able to add value to their employers from day 01 and join workplace with the right blend of knowledge, experience and skills. People often complain about the disconnect in Pakistan between academia and industry. But ACCA has always been working very closely with employers all over the world in making sure our qualifications are the most current on the market and continue to focus on growing skills in specialist areas that businesses are looking for and need – now and in the future. Therefore employers trust our future-focused, work-ready ACCA professionals who they know can add immediate value to their organisations.

How professional accountants can champion sustainability and responsible business practices?

Every accountant has a vital role to play in creating a better world. They’re in a unique position to make real, impactful change and be at the centre of sustainable development. Guided by ethics, integrity and transparency, professional accountants have a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience of the inner workings and strategies of organisations – insight that crosses borders and industries. It’s this perspective that ensures the decisions leaders make in all sectors, are anchored in an organisation’s core purpose, have a positive impact on stakeholders and ultimately shape a path towards a sustainable and equitable future for all.

 

NUT

Vlogs are the content of the moment. The buzzword that has taken over the Social Media, you name it and the content creators are making it; criticism, comedy, fashion, food, lifestyle and travelling. But how productive that is? What value is it adding to our daily life? If we compare our Influencer marketing with the content produced in Europe, USA or India, it can be seen that we are lagging behind. Targeting a particular niche, no one produces content for a broader audience, helping them excel in their daily life.

Tapping into this gap in the market, a new name has emerged in the Industry within the last 6 months; The Daily Dose (TDD) by Syed. Who believes in “Think Local, Act Global”. How is his content different from others? What makes his channel stand out? Phoneworld got the opportunity to interview him. Lets’ see what he had to say! 

Q1. Talk about your journey into becoming a Social Media Influencer. How and why did this idea of TDD by Syed come into being?

As the COO – Global Sales of Riversong, I was travelling a lot to China, Middle East, Europe and Africa and hardly spent 10-12 days in Pakistan. During COVID-19, when everything in this part of the world was put on hold, I got the chance to spend time with my family and kids. I identified this gap in the knowledge imparted while upbringing the new generation. Religion was being treated like history and not something to live by. So, the idea sparked and I started bridging this gap with “Islam and modern science” series on Youtube. A friend of mine suggested that I should diversify my portfolio and share my travel and food experiences as well. Even though I started posting different content covering almost all the “trending” domains, something still felt missing, incomplete and purposeless. 

Hence, I came up with the idea of mind boggling “30 seconds” reels/youtube shorts which are “informative, precise and to the point” on Instagram & youtube, later shared as YouTube shorts. I made sure the message I want to deliver gets conveyed within these 30 seconds.

Q2. As “A Disruptive Influencer”, do you think people are hearing you out? Or, would you change your approach and choose another area for vlogs e.g. comedy?

When I started my professional journey as a sales director, my Chinese Chairman Mr. Chunming Liu (Wayne) taught me to have belief in what I am doing and to remain steadfast. And this is a thing that I have brought on my Vlogs as well. I don’t have a huge audience on YouTube yet, 8K subscribers in 10 months while Instagram is a hit with a fan following of more than 400K within 9 months. I believe my target audience is on Instagram but let’s hope for the best. 

Like I mentioned before, I make all kinds of content including comedy as well. But my main focus is on creating content for the betterment of people and society as a whole.

Q3. We really liked the concept of simple videos to tell a very important lesson and useful hacks. We watched multiple videos of your channels, two young boys are also a part of your videos, can you tell us more about them?

Thank you. I have two sons, Ahsan and Ayan (Alhamduillah). When I floated the idea of these videos, my elder son aged 13 got super excited and wanted to be a part of it. My younger son, who is 10 years old, is already a gaming vlogger since he was 06 years old and also wanted to take part but he is more on editing part , he is little camera shy. They both know the importance of spreading positivity. The topic that we discuss in the vlogs broadens their horizons and expands their knowledge at this small age and that’s what I want and wish for other kids watching my reels/shorts.

Q4. What is the scope of social media YouTube, Instagram, TikTok etc for creating and disseminating content? Which of these mediums according to you should be focused in Future? Or what kind of content should be focussed upon in future?

As a viewer, I understood the dynamics of these mediums first for a couple of years, skimming and vetting through content. We have big names dominating these platforms in Pakistan but their content is mostly on travelling, dining out, Daily Vlogs, parodies and comedy. Add in a motivational speaker here and there, and that is it. Something that I saw missing or the missing or the missing piece of the puzzle as I like to put it in Pakistani context was this; all these vlogs are not inspiring others to mend their ways or pushing to do better in life. These vlogs are informative but they are not inspiring, instead they are creating inferiority complexes or even depression.

Let me explain this with an example, someone who lives on the outskirts of big cities or rural areas of Pakistan, living almost on the poverty line or trying hard to make ends meet, such videos might add to their knowledge but won’t do them any good on a personal level. This “glitter” will make them “wish” but not “work”. So what value are you adding? What new are you telling? What is the mark you are leaving behind? Isn’t it better to teach them something that will help them in their professional life like how he must behave for interview , what kind of people around him , how to find jealous people around you etc and all of this is within 30-40 seconds reel/shorts.

To educate them on topics that truly matter, to inspire them into becoming better human beings, to impart knowledge, to help them develop or polish soft as well as hard skills, to help them with attitude and aptitude. My videos are fulfilling this purpose, bridging this gap, motivating them to become a better version of themself.  And even if a single person learns from it, my purpose is fulfilled. This is exactly what kind of content that should be focused upon in future.

 

“You should Strive to Inspire” – Syed Ali

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) realme is an emerging mobile phone brand which is committed to offering mobile phones with powerful performance, stylish design and sincere services. In a short span of time, the brand has made its own specific place in international market due to its quality products and great features and it has also achieved major milestone of selling 100 million smartphones globally. Although the success of realme is a team effort but a major credit goes to its young Dynamic director Marketing Sherry Dong.

Sherry Dong is the marketing director of realme Southeast Asia, South Aisa & Latin America, and oversees branding and marketing of realme across the region. Prior to joining realme Southeast Asia, South Aisa & Latin America department, Sherry was the marketing leader of realme China, responsible for establishing brand awareness and launching realme as a new smartphone brand in China along with several hero products in 2019.

Before joining realme, Sherry was the team leader of media planning for OPPO across MENA region. And prior to that she was in charge of global branding partnership at OPPO HQ, enhancing international reputation for OPPO by partnering with Hollywood blockbusters, FC Barcelona, and participating in MWC.

Sherry received a master’s degree in Global Media Communication from The University of Melbourne in 2013, and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Media Communication from Nankai University in 2011.

News Update Times have talked with Sherry about realme upcoming initiatives, products and mobile world spectrum. Here is the complete interview.

Q1. This is your first time in Pakistan and now that you have had the chance to connect with the people firsthand, can you tell us how does realme connects with Pakistanis?

1. Being in Pakistan and connecting with the people has re-enforced the notion that realme is on the right track. realme is a brand for youngsters, and wants to create a niche amongst Gen-Zers in Pakistan. The young consumers here want to get affordable, high-performance, stylish devices to meet their lifestyle and budget needs. realme recognizes this and aims to bring what the youth desires. We have a very youthful and creative marketing approach with which our target audience in Pakistan can relate to.

Q2. You have said that realme is a brand for youngsters, how do you define the average realme consumer in your view?

2. Our consumers are young and energetic, they dare to be themselves and pursue what they desire. realme leveraged on a niche but captive youth market that was over-promised but under-served. It gained brand recognition by being where the youth and young professionals were, and developed quality cutting-edge smartphones and AIoT technology at very attractive prices, such as the sub-$100 5G smartphone.

Our target consumer wouldn’t settle for less and that essence is embodied in our slogan Dare to Leap. Just as the young ones leap forward, realme leapfrogs in technology to bring them the best smart devices wrapped in a trendsetting design and real value-for-money.

realme’s Dare to Leap philosophy extends to its internal corporate culture. With a young workforce of its own, realme employees have a strong belief in the company and a real understanding of the market they are serving. This belief is rewarded with a company culture and flat leadership structure that empowers employees to take risks and make their own decisions, and places employee development at the forefront of business development.

Q3. What’s realme’s next step? Where do you see realme in 3 years?

We have just touched a major milestone of selling 100 million smartphones globally. There were many challenges in these past two years, yet we became the fastest global smartphone brand to reach this milestone in less than three years, according to Strategy Analytics, a market research consultancy.

So, it is a very promising journey for realme ahead. Our expansion strategy is targeting 300 million handsets by 2023, while for the coming three years we aim to achieve a double-100 million handsets by shipping another 100 million handsets by the end of 2022 and completing the same milestone within the 2023 calendar year.

At the same time, realme will embark on two product development strategies. The first is to target the mid-high end market with its flagship product, the GT Series to enable us to compete in mature markets. The second is to develop our lifestyle products through the ‘1+5+T Strategy’. Under this strategy, smartphones (represented by the ‘1’) sit at the center of 5 core AIoT products (TWS headphones, smart wearables, smart TVs, tablets and laptops) and are integrated with TechLife (the ‘T’), realme’s AIoT ecosystem and also a smart home brand. This product diversification strategy will be supported by realme’s continued short channel and light asset model and a user engagement strategy centered on product co-creation.

Q4. Does realme have options that would cater to the needs of consumers who want great technology but have budget constraints?

1. realme is a democratizer of technology – which means that we bring top notch flagship technology for the masses. And how do we reach the masses? By making that groundbreaking technology affordable. We constantly recognize the needs of our consumers and strategize accordingly. realme C21 was released in March 2021 at a price of PKR 24,999/-. Now, its price has been dropped to PKR 19,999/- to cater to the needs of our consumers. The realme C21 has exceptional quality being the first-ever TUV Rheinland Reliability Certified smartphone, a stylish body design, and is a great value for money.

Q5. What more should realme fans in Pakistan expect to be in store for them?

1. Well, realme fans in Pakistan are in for a treat because the second half of the year is packed with all sorts of things. We have an amazing line-up of all our smartphone ranges coupled with AIoT accessories. But what takes the cake will be realme’s first-ever laptop realme Book and realme’s affordable 5G flagship killer, the realme GT Series.

To top that off, we will commemorate the entire month of August as realme Fan Fest as it also marks our third anniversary coinciding perfectly at the same time as selling 100 million handsets globally, while we shall be connecting with our realme fanbase in Pakistan for making us the fastest brand to sell a million devices here.

 Q6. The world is moving towards the adoption of 5G technology very fast, how does realme plan to keep up?

1. The world shall witness a large-scale adoption of 5G from this year onward, as the full-scale adoption of this technological marvel was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic in turn drove consumers toward online activities that grew the need for high-speed internet connections thereby accelerating the 5G boom. The rapid development of 5G will drive down the price of 5G smartphones and will also give rise to essential applications in the 5G era; these factors will, in turn, drive the popularity and the full-blown adaptability of 5G.

realme is known to be the ‘popularizer of 5G’ and it continues to build a diverse portfolio of 5G products, from no-compromise affordable smartphones to premium flagship products. We aim to sell 100 million 5G phones by 2024. Over the past three years, we have stayed true to this mission and the recently launched realme GT shows the latest example of how the company is jumping to the forefront of innovation, design and product value for our users. It is not available yet in Pakistan but this flagship product is just the beginning of a new journey for us as we gear up to grow our global presence and 5G offerings.

Q7. Pakistan is very behind when it comes to new launches and product offering as compared to the rest of the world. Is realme planning to bring a change for the Pakistani consumers?

1. We know that some of the regions are slower to get their hands on new products and see delayed product launches. We understand the issue and are actually working on a plan to enable quicker launches and releases in Pakistan. We have something in the works to make it possible and it would be disclosed when everything is aligned.

Q8. Where does realme stand when it comes to E-commerce in Pakistan?

1. E-commerce is crucial for realme. We were able to expand internationally rapidly because of our light asset and short channel model. We focus on online distribution rather than building large-scale physical outlets, while also shortening the number of steps it takes for products to get to consumers.

In Pakistan, we work closely with leading e-commerce partners such as Daraz.pk and Saamaan.pk. Recently, realme inked an MoU with Daraz for developing its online channel and sales in the country. Our association with Daraz has resulted in a strong momentum in sales performance like the Daraz 11.11 super sale event last year, where realme ranked Top 01 in Mobiles, Tablets, Audio and Wearable categories in Daraz South Asia. This year in Pakistan, the entire stock of realme Narzo 30A sold out over Daraz within a few minutes while the realme 7 Pro raked in 592% more sales than realme 6 Pro in the first day sales volume.

During Daraz Mobile Week 2021, realme dominated the Mobiles, Tablets, Audio and Wearable category with humungous sales of its smartphones and AIoT accessories. Moreover, during the Super Brand Day, the entire stock of realme C21 was sold out.

Over at Saamaan.pk, the top-selling AIoT brand is realme with our audio accessories being a hit amongst consumers. The realme C12 sold 2,000 units within nine minutes while the realme Buds Air 2 Neo are the top-selling noise cancellation earphones on Saamaan.pk. We believe that youngsters are more prone to online buying, therefore we want to capture that market segment by offering convenience to our end-consumers.

From Student Leader to Internationally acclaimed Playwright.

Shahid Mehmood Nadeem is a unique and powerful playwright in the world of theatre, penning impactful, socially relevant plays on the socio-political situation of the country. A former student activist, Mr Nadeem has a great contribution towards parallel theatre in the form of Ajoka, which he conceived and was brought to life by his late wife Madeeha Gauhar.

In this interview, we have tried to cover various aspects of his journey as a writer and activist equally popular across the border.

Question: Tell us about your initial life. Where u spent your childhood?

Answer: I was born in December 1947 in Sopore, India-held Kashmir – the hotbed of the freedom movement. My father, one of the first medical doctors of the valley, backed a merger with Pakistan and had to leave because of threats by pro-India Muslim Conference. “I became a refugee at the age of 1.”

After migrating to Lahore, i received primary education from Batapur Colony School. Soon my father left for Muscat, Oman, so i moved to Lahore city with my mother and siblings where most of his maternal relatives lived. Following my Matriculation from the Muslim Model High School in 1963, i got admission to the Government College.

In college, i got actively involved in extracurricular activities and students politics, dabbling in debating, the college literary society and later edited the Government College Gazette.

Question: How do you join the student politics?

Answer: “When I joined the Punjab University for masters in 1968, students world over were protesting for progressive causes. The PU Students Union was banned by Ayub Khan and vice chancellor Hameed Ahmad Khan, a learned man, was an authoritarian administrator. I initiated a movement for the restoration of the union, joined hands with other student organisations in the city and became spokesman for the intercollegiate union.

I was arrested for the first time in 1968, but released after the high court’s intervention. After Ayub Khan’s era, the university union was revived and I became a candidate for its president. However, I decided to withdraw in favour of Jahangir Badr for the sake of a left-liberal alliance against the Islami Jamiat Talba,” explained Nadeem.

Question: What were your major hobbies in the youth?

Answer: Besides activism, i was interested in writing and became secretary of the literary organisation, Halqa-i-Arbab-i-Zauq, where i presented my first short stories and received applause from leading writers. “My friend Sheharyar Rashid (the son of poet Noon Meem Rashid) suggested I adopt one of my stories into a play for the Kinnaird College theatre festival. That’s how my first play, Marya Hoya Kutta, was written and presented. In the audience at the festival was Madeeha Gauhar, who later became my wife.”

Question: How do you got associated with Ajoka theatre?

Answer: Talking about his association with Ajoka and Madeeha, Nadeem said in the early 1970s, a group of progressive cultural activists formed a theatre group and he suggested Ajoka (meaning contemporary in Punjabi) as its name. However, the group didn’t take off due to the post-1971 upheaval. “During Gen Zia’s rule, I was forced into exile. It was in the mid-80s that I read in a newspaper about a performance by a new group, called Ajoka, set up by Madeeha. She had heard of the unsuccessful venture and decided to make it a reality.

Shortly after, I met Madeeha in London and she asked me to write for the forthcoming International Women’s Day. That’s when I wrote my first play for Ajoka, Bari, which was performed in Lahore on March 8, 1987. There was no stopping after that. I started writing for Ajoka regularly during which my romance with the theatre group and Madeeha blossomed. I left my job at Amnesty International and returned to Pakistan and got married. I sometimes say in jest: I conceived Ajoka and Madeeha delivered it.”

Question: How do you see the journey of Ajoka theatre in promotion of meaningful theatre in Pakistan?

Answer: Established in 1984, Ajoka became a platform for defiance at a time when Gen Zia’s military rule was at its peak and all avenues of expression of dissent had been closed, galvanising political activists, progressive intellectuals and the rebellious youth. Madeeha Gauhar was an activist as well as a committed theatre practitioner and ensured that Ajoka did not become a propaganda tool for the opposition and presented socially meaningful, but quality theatre.

“It has been a tightrope ever since. All our plays gave a political or social context, but they are entertaining and enriching at the same time. We have focused on original plays in indigenous languages and always taken a pro-people position. Our stand on Indo-Pak peace, gender-based violence, intolerance and religious extremism has sometimes landed us in trouble with the authorities and extremist groups, but it has given us credibility among the masses,” he remembers.

The theatre group has toured India widely with its plays for decades and received acclaim every time. Talking about their association with the next-door neighbour, the writer said their theatre-based relations with India dated back to the beginning of the group; one of their first plays, Jaloos, was an adaptation of Bengali playwright Badal Sircar’s story.

“We were the first group to tour India after the Partition and have performed from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Amritsar to Kolkata and always received warm response from the audience and the theatre community. My plays are regularly performed by Indian Punjabi theatre groups and at school/college festivals. A collection of my plays was recently published in Gurmukhi and are part of university syllabus. We have organised hugely popular Indo-Pak theatre festivals in both countries and played a significant role in promoting peace and people-to-people friendship.”

Question: During Corona Pandemic Ajoka is quite busy in online activities. What are upcoming projects?

Answer: I am currently working on some history-based plays, including the story of Raja Porus, Lawrence of Arabia’s years in Lahore and a play around the key players of the Partition as well as some short films for the web. Newsupdates times wished best of luck to Shahid Nadeem for his future endeavors.

NUT got a golden opportunity to have answer-question session with Bagallery, the biggest Fashion and Beauty e-commerce shopping centre in Pakistan. A few lines on Bagallery’s goals, commitments and future vision are appended below:

NUT:    How can we introduce Bagallery and what are its target audience?

Being the biggest Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle e-commerce shopping destination, we started as a destination for women shoppers to buy imported beauty and fashion brands and Bagallery has been transformed into a preferred destination for women and men alike for their beauty and fashion shopping needs.

NUT:    What are Bagallery expected sales this year?

While we can’t disclose actual sales however, we are projected to reach 30 million people, cross 50,000 SKUs with 2000+ brands.

NUT:    What is your response to unsatisfied customers and how have you improved your services?

We have seen our customer service get impacted recently, however, it is important to understand why the issues happened. COVID-19 hit which disrupted our entire supply chain and demand for online shopping quadrupled. This put immense strain on our operations and customer service. However, we have significantly improved our customer service by delivering over 90% of the orders within promised time. We have also launched an omni-channel CRM helpdesk which enables customers to reach us on call, live chat and emails which will give customers the confidence and ease of getting their problems resolved urgently.

NUT:    How can we distinguish Bagallery from the rest of the e-commerce businesses?

Bagallery has the biggest authentic portfolio of the categories that we operate in i.e. makeup, skincare, haircare, beauty tools, watches, fragrances, fashion accessories, shoes & bags, home décor etc. We also have one of the most distinct marketing strategy, with 50% of our sales coming from influencers and social commerce.

NUT:    Your future vision, challenges in the Pakistan market?

We have recently launched our Vision 2030 that states: “Be the #1 online shopping destination for Costumers, Fashion, Beauty and Home Decor products in Pakistan. delivering authentic and quality products with best-in-class customer service.

With this vision, we aim to acheive PKR 33 Billion PKR ($200 Million) sales by 2030 creating 2500+ jobs in Pakistan, equally for men and women.

NUT:    What is your Product Procurement process?

It is important to understand that step 1 for us is to ensure 100% authenticity of all the products that are listed on the website. Our imported products are either sourced directly from brand websites, official distributors or resellers. Our local products are sourced from local distributors and brands. We have a strict quality control team who checks for any lapses in product quality and frequently furnish proof of purchases and payments if the customer’s request it.

NUT:    What about your warehouses, expansion plans and management?

We currently have one warehouse which we recently expanded in Karachi. The facility is spread across 10,000 sq ft. with an option for further expansion. Under project Punjab, we are also building a warehouse facility in Lahore. This will not only enable a closer proximity to consumers and sellers in Punjab but will help us reduce lead times and costs for the business.

NUT:    What would you says about your business/customer support for the local industry?

There are 2 major initiatives that we have taken in the past 1 year to support the local industry, specifically women entrepreneurs. The women entrepreneur program at Bagallery allows women owned brands to have a dedicated section with additional visibility and marketing extended to them. Secondly, we have also pivoted with over 50% of the brands on the website now sourced from Pakistani entrepreneurs.

NUT:    What do you expect from government for e-commerce in Pakistan?

We think there is a serious need to reinforce the e-commerce policy. The problem there is two-fold:

1. E-Commerce business are not aware about the policies specifically pertaining to taxation
2. The country lacks government sponsored incubators for entrepreneurs who want to work in an environment where they’ll get talent, investment and tech resources.

NUT:    Are local investors helping Bagallery’s startup?

I think while the local VC culture is still in its nascent stage, it is fast growing. Lakson Investments have been of huge help to us with their initial belief in the startup helping us raise $900,000 in our pre-series A round of funding. For any startup in hyper growth, working capital is extremely important to sustain the high levels of growth. LIVC have also helped us in developing partnerships with experts across the industry.

NUT:    Can Pakistan develop such e-commerce platforms for worldwide services?

The biggest problem in expanding internationally is the lack of a regulated payment infrastructure. A robust and transparent payment gateway will remove the ambiguity and inconvenience of the current system. Secondly, while there are a lot of brilliant businesses who are able to export their services and products, the government needs to be more involved in giving them access to foreign markets and buyers.

NUT:    Advice for new entrepreneurs.

First of all patience. For any young entrepreneur it is important to understand that success is never achieved in a day. It is a marathon and not a sprint. Teams will deliver, not individuals. A good team is ultimately what will separate a successful startup from a startup that fails.

BRADFORD artist Simone Malik has called for ‘compassion towards the Royal Family’ after completing a ballpoint portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales, prior to famous interview of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, with Oprah Winfrey.

While talking with News Update Times (NUT) Ms Simone Malik said she had created the portrait over the past weeks using six colored ballpoint pens, a medium she was testing her skills with for the first time, and had chosen her subject after Prince Harry had raised issues of mental health and his continuing struggle to come to terms with his mother’s death.

She has now decided to auction the artwork in aid of the Halo Trust, a charity which the late princess was close to. She was famously photographed walking through a minefield in Angola in 1997, just months before her death. Miss Malik launched the auction last week and said she hopes announcing the work now will draw people back to the importance of family.

“I did it (the portrait) as I saw how a young Prince Harry struggled with his mental health surrounding the tragic loss of his mother and he would openly advocate mental health needs. It’s rare to see a young man of his stature do that. As an artist, I saw the love he had for his mother and I was inspired. Princess Diana was an amazing soul. She had a rare and huge global appeal.

“In light of the Oprah Winfrey interview I call for compassion from the public towards all members of the Royal Family. Avoiding any judgments. After all, they are just a family – like the rest of us, with their own issues and problems.

Ms Malik, who comes from a family of talented artists, including her relative, singer Zayn Malik, said she had recently sent a message to Dr Hasnat Khan, an Instagram connection of hers, who had been a close friend of the late princess and had spoken out in her defence earlier this year.

Ms Malik added: “He spoke up to say he felt the princess had been exploited by the media. I thought it was a heroic thing to do so I sent a congratulatory message to the heart surgeon. The notoriously private gentlemen responded with a ‘thank you very much’.

 “I would like to auction this work and donate every penny to the Halo Trust as a way to keep alive and re-awaken a passion held close to the princess’ heart when she was alive.”

To bid in the auction go to: https://www.32auctions.com/PrincessDiana.

 

(NUT Interview) Mr. Najam Mazari expressed his views that  Diseases that were never heard of are proving to be deadly and today man is being treated with the same drugs that are proving to be poisonous unfortunate  we are drifting away from nature and its blessings, as a result human diseases are flaring up day by day..

If I mention only honey, it is said clearly in Qur’an that Allah Almighty has left such an effect in honey that its use can cure all your diseases. We are running around with the disease, but we do not use honey, which contains power of curing all diseases.

Distancing ourselves from the blessings of God Almighty and being a weak believer, we have stopped using herbal medicines which contain all the natural remedies.

during discussion he also claimed  that all the diseases that are flourishing inside a person’s body are only because artificial foods are being eaten nowadays which is the root cause of our ill health. Even after this, soon we will be able to bring herbal medicines, powders and natural supplements that are made without chemicals. Experiments with medicine made from natural herbs have shown that they have a very cool effect to eliminate the diseases.

Young Najam Mazari belongs to Balochistan. He could have led life in another direction, but he absorbed the spirit of human service and devoted his services for the suffering humanity. Today he is stepping above, not only in Pakistan but also in the international world.

This institution came into being under the name of Chiltan eight years ago and in a very short period of time it is rising with its great identity. This amazing platform not only produced medicines from natural herbs but also hair loss oil, natural supplements with eight types of honey, especially in powder form are now available in dry fruit for the first time.

Chiltan manufactures has a variety of Aloe Vera products without chemical in the presence of hardworking and experienced staff in modern laboratories.

We asked Najam Mazari if he has claimed to cure any disease with real herbs as compared to the modern medical age where there is a cure for every disease, tell us about when Chiltan was established and how successful it is in eight years?

Let me answer your point in this way that, the medical science of the world is very modern and its state of modernity is such that only one disease which Covid-19, killed uncountable people while millions of people were descending into the valley of death every day. Where was the medical science at that time? Covid-19 killed modern medicine on its own. When the world was dying, not a single medicine could save humanity from a ruthless death, so let’s admit that the cure in natural herbs cannot be found in any other science.

As far as your question is concerned, eight years ago today, in the name of “Chiltan”, I started to serve the suffering humanity. Raised the fleet and today, thank God, we are sending our herbal medicines not only in Pakistan but all over the world.

How many medicines have you prepared?

Till now we have prepared 200 other items along with honey. To make our work unique, we also started mixing chocolate in jaggery so that people could find something new. Most of these things cannot be found in the city but in the pure environment of the countryside. All of Chiltan’s products are chemical free and most of them are indigenous and pure. It is preferred by those people who need pure things and have an idea about incredible benefits of organic products.

How do you prepare oil?

The quality of the oil extracted according to the indigenous method is often weakened and it does more harm than good. Najam Mazari says, that according to our method of extracting oil the quality and quantity of oil is maintained. We have our own labs and pharmacists in which they do research and work hard to provide quality products.

Najam Mazari further said that in my opinion, when the product of any company reach to quality standard, then the business can be promote by running a little advertising campaign. Our principle is that we focus on quality more than marketing and that is why our sales are higher.

Our customers like to stay in touch with us on Instagram more than on Facebook.

Where do you get these herbs from?

We used to take goods from farmers through a third party but now we got in touch with orchard owners directly and we get our required material directly which is turned out to be great advantage because the prices of our products have come down and the customers benefited greatly.

Apart from these, northern areas like Skardu, Gilgit and Chitral are the best areas for organic herbs. There are some areas in Balochistan where saffron is more abundant and different herbs are also found there.

There are strict rules in the world of corporate business. Whatever a person of persons, especial women as a CEOs of the corporate sector, they have to prove this skills and performance practically with determination. Such is the practical lady named MISS TARA UZRA DAWOOD whose performance in the business world is worth watching for success. NUT conducted interview of Miss Uzra Dawood for its readers and every other person relating to Corporate Culture:

NUT: Your professional profile

A:MTUZ: I am CEO and founder of 786 Investments Ltd., one of the Pakistan’s pioneer asset management companies. It is publically listed on the Pakistani Stock Exchange. Aslo served on the Board of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO).

A:MTUZ: Current positions

Currently possess a slot on the Boards of Pakistan Stock Exchange where, as a Head, I chair Human Resource/Audit  and IT innovation committees. Pakistan Refinery Ltd., Dawood Family Takaful Ltd and Mutual Funds Association of Pakistan. I am also discharging duties on the Energy Sub-Committee of Advisory Committee of the Planning Commission under Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives (PD&SL).

Q.NUT: Achievements

A: MTUZ: I am  certified in Corporate Governance by both Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance and Harvard Business School and hold a Doctorate in Judicial Science from Harvard Law School – where specialized in Shariah Law and Finance, as well as mergers and acquisitions – and Bachelor of Arts Honors from Cornell University and Oxford University. Worked for law firms in New York, Toronto, Amsterdam, Brussels and California before launching 786 Investments Ltd and also served on the Faculty at Danube University Krems (Austria) as recommended by The International Investment Funds Association and EBAMA.

Q.NUT: Extraordinary services

A: MTUZ: I speak globally at numerous international mutual fund and banking fora as an authority and on shariah-compliant finance as well as finance for women, and most recently represented Pakistan at ALFI Rentree 2020, the annual Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, where previously there gas been a speaker on Islamic finance in both 2013 and 2014. I was invited to France to assist the Association Française de la Gestion Financière on the launching of their Shariah Mutual Funds Industry.

Impressive HR services

Well known for her philanthropic work for women and children, particularly Educate a girl, in partnership with Facebook’s internet.org foundation and with the support of the World Bank, as well as distribution of emergency supplies during the SWAT earthquake and most recently, food rations during COVID-19/Sindh floods. Her LADIESFUND project annually holds the national awards for women, presented by the Sindh Governor, as well as has trained over 12,000 women and youth in entrepreneurship. Most recently, it launched The Buraq Center by LADIESFUND, Pakistan’s first all female incubation center and co-working space for women, in partnership with the German Consulate and LUMS Lahore NIC.

Q.NUT: Last not the least: Future plan, message and mission

A: MTUZ: Want to serve with determination that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN THE WORLD IF ONE STARTS MISSION WITH FIRM BELIEF that “GOD IS THE ONLY BENEFICIAL” and PERFECT PROTECTOR.

 

NUT was obliged to Miss Uzra Dawood for rendering her precious time and giving a chance.

Versatile actor, model and social figure a towering personality indeed.

Muhammad Yasir (NUT)

Mian Sohail Ismael is a charismatic versatile personality, Audience have seen his talent in numerous popular plays, prominent TV commercials and hit video songs as well. Besides the acting he is well known modeling face and also famous in organizing the tribute programs and ceremonies to honor the meritorious services of legend Pakistani Artists and personalities under his organization Pakistan Award Academy. He has set a bench mark and never compromised on the merit. Leading figures and stars including Abdul Sattar Edhi, Melody Queen Madam Noor Jahan, Ghazal emperor Mehndi Hasan and King of Qawwali Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan proud recipients of awards/ medals of Pakistan Award Academy.

Mian Sohail Ismael’s latest play “Maahi” is hitting the screen on 19^th March. The play will go on air on LTN Family which is a household name for quality family productions. Newsudatetimes (NUT) have exclusively talked with Mian Sohail for his recent projects. Excerpts from the talk are as below.

NUT: “ Maahi” sounds very catchy title. Tell us a little more about this play?

Mian Sohail. As you can trace my career graph, be it a commercial campaign or Television play, I have never compromised on quality of the production or project for which I am rendering my service. Same is the scene with “Maahi”. It’s a beautiful family story in which audience will find exciting plot with some brilliant performances. All the team has put on lot of hard work and effort to make it a memorable play and I hope “Maahi” will prove real entertainer during upcoming summer season for audiences.

NUT: Your personality is very diverse, be an actor, Modeling or social figure, in every field you appear to be a towering personality. How do you manage everything?

Mian Sohail. I must say, it’s just the Blessings of Allah Pak. I am incomplete without HIS special mercy. I have always tried to maintain the standard of my work and even surpassing it towards next level of improvement. I never hesitate from experimenting, that’s why I have not restricted myself for just plays or videos. I love to appear in TV commercials because they make a artist household name. You have seen my regular appearances in commercials linke Bundu khan sweets, Bank AL Habib TVC, Daraz Online sale and housing project commercial. I love to work with young passionate team because they tried to present new ideas convincingly and authentically.

NUT: What kind of offers are getting mostly these days?

Mian Sohail. I have featured in around 100 commercials and different projects in my professional career. You can estimate my business by it, I get all kind of offers like acting assignments, commercial of famous brands and now web series also. I will surprise you with new roles in exciting web series also. I have never compromised on quality of work and sustain this policy in future also.

NUT: Tell us a little more about Pakistan Award Academy?

Mian Sohail. Pakistan Award Academy is my passion. I love to encourage and honor the respected figures of society which are role model for others. On occasions of National and international repute we arrange tribute programs for living legends. Most recently we have arranged birthday program of Showman of Pakistan film Industry and living legend Syed Noor. We have facilitated all major actors, actress and other important personalities of our society and we will continue this work with more passion in future. We are doing all the programs without support of Govt. or any department because we think it is our responsibility to honor the Good Work.

Interview with Faisal Abbasi, CEO, TPL Life

1. Tell us about yourself and your journey to being the CEO of TPL Life?

I set out to become an electrical engineer, but along the way got drawn to the Actuarial profession, due to my love for numbers. That was the turning point for me joining the life insurance industry in 1997. 

My 24 year career, so far, has been a package of diversified experiences including Actuarial Consultancy, Banking and Life Insurance.  My multifaceted experience in all critical areas of business including Distribution, Underwriting, Product Development, Marketing, Operations and Training helped me a lot in shaping up TPL Life as a trendsetting company in its domain.

The journey with TPL Life started in May 2016 as its first employee.  It has been exciting and full of action to say the least.  Being the first true Insurtech in the country comes with its own challenges.  Both consumers and service providers were used to certain type of services and practices.  Coming up with new concepts, processes and creating acceptability while disrupting the market was not an easy task.

By the grace of Almighty TPL Life is now set to become a path breaking entity which offers unique and never-experienced-before propositions for public at large.  We are here to ensure insurance protection reaches everyone and should not only be limited to a certain consumer segment.

2. TPL Life is a relatively new Company in the Life Insurance market. What sets the Company and Services apart from the rest?

At TPL Life, we continuously strive to introduce groundbreaking customer-centric ideas and products.  This is evident from our list of ‘firsts’: an example being our Covid Protection Plan, which was the first in this market, later replicated by the competition.

Pakistan’s insurance landscape is ripe for digital solutions and diversification in retail product offerings.  TPL Life is poised to address these gaps in our market, as we love to challenge ourselves and the status quo!

3. We’d like to know more about the premise behind TPL Life being, and I quote – ‘the easiest company to deal with’?

During the early days, we did a fair amount of consumer and market research with respect to the insurance industry.  The overwhelming response was that people wanted easier protocols and processes from their insurance companies. 

So we built TPL Life around a central ethos of being the easiest company to talk to and deal with.  We want this mindset to be an integral part of all our processes and customer dealings, breaking a general negative perception about dealing with insurance companies. 

Furthermore, technology is bridging the gap between consumers and providers.  Insurance industry also has to be up there when it comes to fulfilling expectations and have a satisfactory customer experience. 

To that end, we are continuously tweaking our digital assets with new service features giving our customers complete control over their choices.  Our in-app usage based insurance offering allows customer to turn on their insurance and switch it off as per their choice and get charged for only the time their insurance was on.

4. With several options for insurance coverage in the market, why should one have TPL Life cover in hand?

As a consumer, if you are looking for customized life and health insurance solutions, smart operations and 24/7 availability then you should consider TPL Life as your primary service provider.

Insurance is no more a legacy product. It is getting smarter with the consumer. With instant gratification being the new norm, this generation is shifting from long term assets to short term commitments, and there’s nothing better than a short term insurance product covering those liabilities or risks. 

5. About 52% of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 25. Why should they spend on your products and services? What advice would you give to this generation in terms of choosing insurance as a risk hedging tool.     

With passing times, unfortunately, the health profile of our population is deteriorating.  Cardiac issues, diabetes and cancer is reported to be setting in earlier than they used to be.  I have personally seen people in their 30s diagnosed with diabetic conditions leading to heart related complications.   These alarming health complications demand our youth to be vary of complications such situations bring.

So you have to have life and health insurance, starting from your late 20s or early 30s.  Timely arrangements of health and life insurance not only saves hassle later on, but also enables you to get coverage at a cheaper price.  The younger you are, the cheaper your current and future rates would be. 

6. You recently shared that TPL Life crossed its 1 billion premium mark. What made you and the team achieve this in a short span of time, that too during a Pandemic?

With well-coordinated teamwork and dedication from our employees, we clocked our first billion in gross premium in 2020.  Ground situation was tough, retail market was literally at halt during the pandemic, but our frontend teams showed complete resolve and determination.

Being digital helped us a lot in our operations and acquisition processes. We did not stop for a second, our call center services were continuously up and operations were functioning remotely without compromising on pace. Being out there for our customers was our prime focus during the lockdown.

7. Covid19 has changed the way people and businesses function, tell us the impact, negative and positive the pandemic brought about at your Company?

I always say that all situations are a learning opportunity, so I don’t dwell on the negatives.

But the pandemic did bring some positives. We learnt to operate remotely while maintaining the same efficiency and customer service levels. 

Developing an eye for unforeseeable events (and dealing with them quickly) was one skill which we, as leaders, were forced to develop if we wanted to survive in a pandemic hit economy. 

With enhanced coordination, we were adept at coping with all the challenges that were thrown our way.  Kudos to our team who also rose to the challenge and adapted their working style as per the requirements of time.

8. Where do you see TPL Life in the next 5 and 10 years?

I clearly see ourselves as a frontrunner in Insurtech with a sizeable customer base, becoming a company known for its innovation, smart solutions and customer centric approach.

9. What would you say to people who choose to stay away from insurance products?

No matter how hard you ignore or downplay insurance, at least once in your life you (or your loved ones) will feel “if we had insurance, the situation would be different’.  Trust me, that’s not a good zone to be in.  Avoid it, get insurance cover for yourself and for your loved ones. Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

10. What in your opinion, is TPL Life’s biggest achievement to date?

Our biggest achievement is our portfolio of more than 700k covered lives, who are now availing our services. This includes more than 150k customers belonging to segments which are traditionally overlooked, and are a focus of private and public financial inclusion programmes.

We have helped thousands of families with their medical emergencies and financial assistance when their loved ones have passed away.Nothing is more gratifying than seeing children continuing their education and a household running as usual after they are hit by a tragedy or medical situation.  We want to remain their bridge to prosperity forever.