Category: Pakistan

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir)  AAA Associates, Pakistan Leading group of Companies, has been arranging Iftari from 1st of Ramazan till 30th Ramazan at Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rawalpindi. The Iftari arrangement is meant to serve that section of society which has been deprived of food in this holy month of Ramazan.

AAA Associate, under its corporate social responsibility, carried out this drive to feed poor in most respectable manner by inviting 500 people daily in RCCI to serve with Iftar. 

Pakistan is a third world country where millions of people, every day, go to bed without having a meal. The World Food Programmed states that 43 percent of the country’s population remains food insecure, and out of that, 18 percent of people are facing an alarming dearth of food. It further explains that six people out of ten in Pakistan are food insecure.

The food insecurity is the major reason of increasing hunger in Pakistan, whereas food production is sufficient to feed all the population in the state. In spite of being productive in the farming sector, there is a food insecurity. There are children dying in the laps of their mothers because of starvation.

AAA Associate Managing Director Lt. Col Shahzad Ali Kiani (Retd) stated that “We believe in serving Humanity in best possible manner by fulfilling their basic need of Food and shelter.

Being an Organization, we are collaborating on many projects with Local NGOs and Government to end food insecurity in the country. Feeding deprived section of society in the holy month of Ramzan is just one of the initiatives of AAA associate to uplift the community”.

AAA Chairman Mr. Shiekh Fawad Bashir share his views “Our aim is to transform the industry and our employee lifestyle who not only work as professional but contribute towards their community development. Under our CSR ambit, we are determinant to contribute toward the society which helped us to grow and become leading business group of companies of Pakistan. We can only achieve excellence by elevating the most deprived community of our society through these small steps which ultimately serve a big purpose of hungry free Pakistan”.

AAA Associates – an amalgamation of a group of companies, aiming at a different niche, envisioned to implement innovative business practices. The organization has been exceeding the expectations in Real Estate, Construction, Aircraft Maintenance, IT Solutions and Marketing plans.

To honour the selfless efforts and sacrifices made by doctors, nurses, paramedics and frontline health workers during the ongoing pandemic, Ferozsons Laboratories Limited, a leading pharmaceutical company, launched a nation-wide initiative to turn three iconic monuments – Faisal Mosque, the Lahore Fort, and Frere Hall –  into beacons of blue light on 4^th and 5^th May. The activity took place with the collaboration and generous support of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), as well as the Ministry of Interior. The initiative aimed to pay tribute to the healthcare community, the unsung heroes of the pandemic.

Representing all those who bravely battled the pandemic and lost their lives in service of their patients, Management of Ferozsons Laboratories, Government Officials and Family Members of Doctors initiated the illumination of the monuments by lighting candles in memory of their loved ones.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO of Ferozsons Laboratories Limited, Mr. Osman Khalid Waheed, said “We are all indebted to doctors and frontline health workers everywhere, who risk their own lives every day to put patients first. This initiative aims to show these true heroes the nation’s gratitude and support.”

Mr. Kamran Lashari, the Director General of the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), paid tribute to the medical community and commented, “The healthcare workers who have worked tirelessly against COVID-19 are the real heroes. I am extremely glad to see the efforts of Ferozsons to commemorate the efforts of these frontline workers. I’m very happy that my department, walled city and metropolitan were a part of this initiative. Health workers, we salute you.”

In Karachi, Mr. Laeeq Ahmad, Administrator of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), on the lighting of Frere Hall, said “We must never forget the workers at the frontline. Every day is a struggle for them and by lighting up Frere Hall, we want to tell them that we see them, and we stand with them.”

Mr. Amer Ali Ahmed, Chairman CDA, with whose generous support the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad was illuminated blue, commented, “These unsung heroes deserve our highest appreciation and support. In the Holy Month of Ramazan, we remember their sacrifices and stand by them, just like they have stood by us.”

This event was a poignant reminder of the tremendous sacrifices made by doctors and healthcare workers across the country. Their daily acts of heroism, which often go unnoticed, deserve our highest gratitude, encouragement and support.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Dar-ul-Sukun, one of the country’s most prestigious organizations dedicated to care of the specially-abled, and PayPro, a fast-growing digital payments solution provider, have joined hands to make it more convenient for privileged individuals and organizations from Pakistan and across the world to make their donations to the former. Philanthropy runs deep within this nation and digital avenues for customers to send money to their trusted sources in a secure manner has become imperative over the years.

Dar-ul-Sukun is amongst the oldest and most noteworthy institutions in Pakistan which carries out extensive support and rehabilitation efforts for disabled children. The organization receives donations from not just a host of generous individuals but a variety of leading companies as well. Naturally, the volume of funds received is significant and given the transformation of conventional systems that has been initiated in the last few years, digitization of these payments has now become essential. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has made many people skeptical about visiting bank branches and handling cash which is why a digital payments platform has become the need of the hour.

Commenting on the development, Ms. Anna Danial, Manager, Dar-ul-Sukun stated; “Dar-ul-Sukun has been housing and caring for abandoned as well as disabled children for almost 5 decades. We’ve established ourselves with a vision to form a society where all people with disabilities get preferential status in access to basic necessities of life. With an expanding range of centers throughout the country, we are taking every step that we can in order create effective opportunities for these special children in the society. It is the generous donations of our benefactors that enable us to continue our efforts in this regard. This is why keeping their safety, health and convenience in mind, we’ve partnered with PayPro to offer a simple and secure solution for donations.”

Mr. Taimur Ahmed, COO, PayPro also added; “The world is quickly embracing digital payments as a new norm. At PayPro, we have an objective to facilitate this transformation in Pakistan through partnerships that encompass various merchants and organizations. An institution like Dar-ul-Sukun stands among the greatest contributors to society and it is a pleasure for us to facilitate their mission to the best of our abilities.”

PayPro is a leading fintech company that offers an extensive range of solutions to organizations looking to digitize their payment collection and ledger management. At the same time, Dar-ul-Sukun is amongst one of the most transparent charity organizations in Pakistan making this partnership mutually beneficial.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  The Sindh High Court dismissed petitions of Elahi Group in a case pertaining to defaults of significant amounts of payments that were due to a local bank.

The Honorable High Court dismissed Constitutional Petitions number D-732 and D-733 of 2020 against the Federation of Pakistan, SBP and BankIslami.

The respective petitions were filed by Danish Elahi and ShaziaArif who are sole proprietors of the Elahi Group of Companies and Zafar Agencies. According to arguments from the petitioners it was stated that reporting was malafide and illegal constituting an act of coercion to obtain payments from the parties that were not due and that the State Bank of Pakistan acted in dereliction of its statutory duty while its functionaries failed to apply their minds to the requests made by the petitioners.

The Sindh High Court dismissed both petitions and allowed the Electronic Credit Information Bureau (eCIB) to continue reflecting the overdue payments, which stand at PKR 1.392 billion according to the plaints, against the accounts of the petitioners, the Court order stated.SHC dismisses petitions of Elahi Group in loan default case

The Sindh High Court dismissed petitions of Elahi Group in a case pertaining to defaults of significant amounts of payments that were due to a local bank.

The Honorable High Court dismissed Constitutional Petitions number D-732 and D-733 of 2020 against the Federation of Pakistan, SBP and BankIslami.

The respective petitions were filed by Danish Elahi and ShaziaArif who are sole proprietors of the Elahi Group of Companies and Zafar Agencies. According to arguments from the petitioners it was stated that reporting was malafide and illegal constituting an act of coercion to obtain payments from the parties that were not due and that the State Bank of Pakistan acted in dereliction of its statutory duty while its functionaries failed to apply their minds to the requests made by the petitioners.

Dr. Talat Shabbir’s landmark book “Creating Shared Futures Pakistan-China: A Journey of Trust and Friendship” launched. Scholars, Diplomats and Public Policy Experts Lauds the Research Book and Terms it as Important Academic Contribution to Understand the Pakistan China Relationship.   

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The relationship between China and Pakistan has been researched and documented by Dr. Talat Shabbir in the context of futures possibilities and options in the book “Creating Shared Futures, Pakistan China: A Journey of Trust and Friendship”. The book was launched today at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad.

The launch event was organized jointly by Eurasian Century Institute and Mishal Pakistan, the launch was attended by a small group of intellectuals and research enthusiasts to listen to the leading scholars in Pakistan. Due to Covid SOPs the event was also participated by a large number through Zoom. The event was also streamed live on YouTube and Facebook for international participation.

In his forward, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan has said, “Dr. Talat Shabbir’s book is a brilliant and timely discourse on the multifaceted partnership and what it means for both the countries going forward. He has traced the history of this relationship since its inception and where we stand today.  He has brought forth the various facets of these ties ranging from diplomatic, political, economic, to strategic.

The Foreign Minister further said that, “the book will be a valuable record and useful reading for all students of history and contemporary international relations and will help them to delve deeper into what is easily one of the most fascinating, consequential and forward-looking partnerships of our times.”

Speaking on the occasion, Director General ISSI said, “Dr. Talat has demonstrated his commitment to furthering the Pakistan-China relationship. His book argues one element stands out i.e., trust, a very rare state of mutual trust that any two neighbors enjoy”. Meanwhile, he highlighted that in recent years, people of both countries have tried to cross the barrier of language and culture, as today “Chinese universities are attracting most Pakistani students”, and as a nation “we can learn from Chinese wisdom”.

Former Minister for Defense, Lt. General Naeem Khalid Lodhi, remarked that, “Dr. Shabbir’s book shows that whatever happened in the world, the bond between Pakistan and China kept deepening and strengthened. And this is a unique feature of the bilateral relationship”. Former Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid said, “Dr. Talat has aptly captured the essence of bilateral relationship. This relationship has withstood the test of time and both sides have continued to support each other during their respective testing times. It is indeed a unique model in inter-state relationships.”

Professor Song Zhihui of the Pakistan Study Center, Sichuan University, while expressing his thoughts, said, “It is a scholarly work backed by evidence-based research. He noted that in current times, CPEC is very significant for Pakistan and China, and both sides will continue to work on this in the second phase hoping to focus on industrial development in Pakistan”.

Pakistan’s leading futures research scientist, Puruesh Chaudhary, President AGAHI said, “‘This book to a great degree captures the relationship between Pakistan and China, Dr. Talat quite uniquely enables a reader to imagine how many possibilities are there to emerge as an outcome. Pakistan and China in years to come would have greater responsibility towards ensuring social justice’  

Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors, ISSI said, “Dr. Shabbir has given an objective account of Pakistan-China relationship. His book is timed with 70^th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan-China relations and 100^th anniversary of founding of Communist Party of China. It is a unique friendship as we do not share culture, language, economic systems and have different ideological mooring. Yet despite that relationship has only deepened.” 

The book, Creating Shared Futures, Pakistan China: A Journey of Trust and Friendship, is authored by Dr. Talat Shabbir, a well-known scholar on Pakistan-China relations, Dr. Shabbir holds a PhD in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.  Dr. Shabbir is Director China-Pakistan Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, overseeing research and advocacy on all facets of Pakistan-China relations. His areas of interest include Pakistan, South Asia, Belt and Road Initiative, and China Pakistan Economic Corridor. The book is an observation and an analysis of the relationship of the two nations from 1947 to today. It also talks about the possible futures that can be created if the policy makers make certain choices in a definite time frame. The book also contains an epilogue on the post COVID-19 global scenario, where the friendship of the two countries has been tested on social, economic, and political grounds due to international pressures and demands. 

Dr. Talat has been a visiting scholar at Sigur Centre for Asian Studies, George Washington University, USA. He has been on the faculty of Institute of Strategic Studies Research and Analysis (ISSRA), National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, where he was part of the team conducting national security workshop and national media workshop. Besides editing a quarterly magazine for China-Pakistan Study Centre, he regularly contributes to newspapers on domestic, regional, and global issues and participates in panel discussions on various TV channels to address regional and global issues. Dr. Shabbir has also published a book of Urdu short stories and a collection of Urdu poetry.   

Sukkur/Karachi (NUT)  On receiving credible information that non-duty/taxes paid & counterfeit cigarettes are stocked at a warehouse at bypass sukkur, the Inland Revenue Enforcement Network squad of FBR Sukkur headed by Deputy commissioner Mr. Yaqoob Rajper, visited  the warehouse located at the above premises  and seized huge quantity of counterfeit and duty/ taxes unpaid stock of cigarettes ( approximately 1,300,000 sticks). The operation was supervised by Mr Hyder Ali Dharejo Chief Commissioner RTO Sukkur and coordinated by Dr. Aslam Marri Commissioner and Regional Coordinator Sindh-Balochistan Hub.

The detained stock involves a huge amount of Federal Excise Duty and Sales Tax. Further investigation is in process.

This action is part of a move initiated under the directions of Honorable PM of Pakistan against tax evasions, fraud and counterfeiting; a task assigned to the Inland Revenue operations wing of FBR under the banner of Inland Revenue Enforcement Network.

• Carrefour distributed toys, clothes and consumer goods to kids at SOS Children’s Villages in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Carrefour Pakistan, owned and operated by UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim, has brought happiness to 400 young orphans and underprivileged children of various SOS Children’s Villages through a distribution initiative. A group of Carrefour colleagues from Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad visited the children at the villages, where they shared gifts, toys and clothes, and participated in fun-filled activities.

Carrefour is dedicated to operating in an inclusive, sustainable, and socially responsible manner while supporting underserved communities in the country through its various social support programmes. To honour this commitment and in the spirit of Ramadan, the gifts were delivered to children at these villages with the aim of making their upcoming Eid extra special.

Jean Marc Dumont, Country Manager of Carrefour Pakistan at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, commented: “We are committed to giving back to our communities and especially children in need. Supporting SOS Children’s Villages’ cause aligns with our mission of engaging directly with our community to provide support and bring joy to those who are less fortunate. In doing so, we believe that great moments can be created for everyone and together we can make a difference.”

SOS Children’s Villages is the world’s largest not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting children without parental care by providing developmental assistance through quality higher education and job-training to children.