Infinix Brings 5G to Life with Innovative ZERO 5G The Infinix and CCS Insight 5G Development Report for emerging markets

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Infinix worked together with CCS Insight, who deliver top-rated industry-level analysis and research have created a report for emerging markets: Assessing the Market for Low-Cost 5G Phones, which looks at the current state of the global mobile phone market; examines the forecast for the adoption of 5G smartphones in emerging markets during 2022, and analyzes growth opportunities and advantages that Smartphone brands represented by Infinix.

The rapid development of 5G The main global smartphone manufacturers have stepped into the 5G field, 5G technology has been all the rage for the past two years and all of the devices that take advantage of it have been well outside of the price range for the average consumer in emerging markets around the world. With the rapid growth of 5G infrastructure set to continue at an accelerating pace over the next several years, Infinix plans to fill the gap with attainably priced technology that can take full advantage of these 5G networks.

Worldwide 5G smartphone shipments CCS Insight forecasts in 2022, three years after the launch of the first commercially available 5G smartphone, almost 1 billion 5G smartphones will be sold around the world. In emerging markets in the Asia–Pacific region, 32 million 5G smartphone shipments in went out in 2022, representing a staggering annual growth of 233%. The scale of the opportunity has reached a level where 5G smartphones can be palatably priced for consumers in both developed and developing economies, and the purchases of 5G smartphones in emerging markets is set to increase as prices fall and 5G becomes a baseline feature.

Infinix has a deep insight into the rapid development of 5G trends and consumers’ needs in emerging markets and has launched its first 5G smartphone named the ZERO 5G, which delivers 5G technology & value packed components and features to global and emerging markets at an attainable price point, targeting young users who want to take amazing photos, use demanding applications, enjoy smartphone gaming and fully utilize the growing 5G networks in their region.

Meet the Infinix ZERO 5G Infinix designed the ZERO 5G smartphone to work seamlessly with 5G networks and provide a fantastic smartphone experience for users. ZERO 5G’s dual 5G SIM works with Clever 5G Mode, which can significantly improve download and gaming speed and reduce power consumption.

The smartphone is integrated with MediaTek’s Dimensity 900 master gaming processor for high-performance gaming and heavy usage. A uni-curve design has been implemented for a sleek look and feel and a 48MP camera with 30x ultra-zoom provides a fantastic smartphone photography experience.

A 6.78” FHD+ ultra-smooth display enables immediate finger touch responses and a 5000mAh with 33W quick charge technology allows users to power through their entire day effortlessly. 5G is available for everyone With 5G capabilities initially appearing only in high-end chipsets, placing a premium on the technology at its launch – 5G was restricted to flagship smartphones. As production of 5G silicon has grown and chipmakers have made clever design choices, the added cost of 5G has fallen.

Infinix has taken full advantage of this making 5G available to everyone with attainably priced smart devices. On ZERO 5G,Infinix not only democratizes this technology and makes it attainable for everybody, but also makes it stylish, hardwearing and ultra-functional. Infinix is a brand that is close to both the local market and local consumers, especially the young generation. It always approaches its product development with an element of “glocalization” — combining designs that have a global appeal with innovation aimed at local communities, optimizing the local mobile Internet experience and on physical product design, resulting in cost-effective product development that meets real-world needs.

Infinix believes that everyone should be able to use 5G to speed up their day and empower their digital lifestyles. Infinix is making every effort to make it attainable for consumers in emerging markets.

foodpanda women choosing to #BreakTheBias

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) foodpanda, the leading e-commerce platform, on account of Women’s Day, handed over e-bikes to its female riders. The company celebrated its female employees, vendor partners, riders, and homechefs in an event in which Justice (R) Nasira Iqbal was invited as the Chief Guest. She handed over the bikes to female riders along with Muntaqa Peracha, interim CEO foodpanda, and Hassan Arshad, Principal Policy and Communication foodpanda.
The event celebrated women in foodpanda who are breaking the bias by opting for diverse income opportunities and becoming self-sufficient. The event showcased inspiring talks by not just the Chief Guest, but female employees, riders, and homechefs as well.
 
Caly Zehra Ispahani who is heading the B2B Solutions at foodpanda shared her story of how throughout her professional life she broke numerous biases to progress in her career. She has been revered and known for her powerful commercial and project management experience where she helped generate value through meaningful business opportunities. Besides breaking the glass ceiling throughout her career, she is a mother of two girls and has managed to strike the fine balance between a thriving career and a happy home life.
Ilsa Aleem, the Operations Cluster Lead – North for pandamart, is another role model who opted for an operational role and excelled in it as well. Breaking the bias, Ilsa joined pandamart in March 2021 as the First Female Warehouse Manager and was one of the pioneers in Islamabad Launch. She was also a part of the Lahore launch and has contributed to streamlining and digitizing on-ground operations. In her current role, she is leading pandamart operations in the Twin Cities and is keen to continue adding value and be an inspiration for other young females in the organization.
Justice (R) Nasira Iqbal also shared her inspiring story and reflected how it has always been difficult for women to choose a different course of action when it comes to professional and personal life. She said that in every era there have been numerous biases that stop women from progressing, but women have always stood firm and faced the challenges head-on. She urged women to never give up as it is never too late to pursue their dreams. She commended foodpanda employees, vendors, riders and homechef for taking control of their life and supporting other women to do the same.
 
The event entailed panel discussions where female riders, homechefs and vendors also shared their stories. Parents of some female employees were also invited to stage who shared their experience on how they have always supported their daughters and would encourage other parents to do the same.

Microsoft Organized “Microsoft EDU Day 2022”with Top Education institutions of Pakistan

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) Microsoft Pakistan organized Edu Day 2022, a global initiative that is taken to attain its goal of seamless knowledge transfer through digitalizing the education system and transforming learning practices of institutions across Pakistan. The event was held virtually and attended by thousands of Educationists, school leaders, teachers, and Government officials in both the Public and Private landscape. It’s worth mentioning here that Microsoft has already entered into Education Transformation Agreements (ETA) with various academic institutions and Education departments across Pakistan including colleges and universities under the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The collaboration will prove to be beneficial for Government officials in the Education Department, school leaders, and teachers striving to balance their short-term decisions with long-term investments in students’ future through technology.

The core objective of this particular digital event was to showcase the country’s top educational institutions that are diligently learning and implementing Microsoft technologies. Also, how Microsoft is supporting the institutions in leveraging Microsoft’s customized products and services to digitize their core functions. In particular, Microsoft classroom features such as “Microsoft teams” that can help students, teachers, and staff to collaborate digitally for conversation, content sharing, and creating a robust environment of learning. The benefits of other useful tools such as OneNote, Minecraft for Education were also brought under discussion. The event successfully also brought under discussion ways to engage students in a hybrid model environment, access to appropriate devices and learning platforms, technology integration and student well-being, and the impact of continuous professional learning on educators.

The event was attended by a number of renowned Educationists and leaders of education across Pakistan including Education Minister Punjab Dr. Murad Raas, Microsoft Country Education Lead Mr. Jibran Jamshad, DG QAED Mr. Muhammad Ali Ammer, CIO HEC Mr. Nazeer Hussain and CEO Roots Millennium education Mr. Faisal Mushtaq.

Dr. Murad Raas, Education Minister Punjab graced the event by joining as a Chief Guest.  While expressing his thoughts he said that “Bringing the Teachers training in Punjab through QAED on Microsoft 365 enabled us to train over 300,000 plus of our teachers at a time when due to Covid things were at a halt. We are continuing the same platform even now which has not only bridged gaps for people in distant areas to benefit from the digital platform but also saved us considerable costs that are incurred hosting on-location training”

Ms. Shahpara Rizvi, Director Training, Sindh Education Foundation, Ms. Ayesha Karim, Chief, Research Innovation and IT, QAED, Ms. Sonia Saleem, CEO, Socio Engineering Technologies and Mr . Muzzamil Hussain, DevOps/IOT/R&D Lead, Punjab Group of Colleges joined  the event as panelists and shared their valued opinion on how Microsoft has positively transformed their digital journey in their respective organizations

Senior Regional Team of Microsoft including Mr. Ibrahim Youssry Regional General Manager – MEA MCC, Mr. Majed Akl, Director K12 Education, Microsoft MEA, Ms. Jaye Richards, Director Learning, Microsoft MEA, and Country Manager Pakistan; Mr Shahzad Khan also shared the latest perspective and trends in Microsoft to empower teachers and students across the globe.

Mr. Jibran Jamshad, Country Education Lead for Microsoft in Pakistan said that ““The last couple of years made us realize the massive impact of technology on our lives and the Education industry is no exception. The use of technology is equally needed for the public and private institutions and at the federal and provincial level. By driving customers through a cloud-first journey and modernizing their data centers/operations, gearing up students for future-ready skills through Microsoft certifications, modernizing classroom practices via hybrid learning, automating the back office through ERP and campus management system, we are trying not only to transform the system according to the need of the hour but also increasing efficiency and productivity”.

Master Motor, Foton & Master MoltyFoam donates 1st Ever Foton Mobile Health Care Unit to Shahid Afridi Foundation

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Master Group of Industries, a leading business entity consisting of Master Motor, Foton, and Master MoltyFoam has announced to donate its first-ever completely fabricated Foton M-280 Truck with a Mother and Child care facility unit to Shahid Afridi Foundation. The kind act is intended to extend the support, accessibility, and to provide healthcare services to mothers, unborn children, infants, and women of the Chakwal-Balkasar region.

The donation ceremony was held at Master Capital Motors, a dealership of Master Motor in Turnol, Islamabad, Pakistan. The event was attended by notable guests including Shahid Afridi, CEO of Master Motor Mr. Samir Malik, COO of Master Motor Mr. Raza Ansari, Regional Head of Foton China Mr. David Lee, Chairman of REDO Foundation Mr. Hasan Sultan, and CEO of Ahmed Medix Mr. Sohail Ahmad among others.

Speaking at the occasion, CEO of Master Motor, Mr. Samir Malik said, ‘the vision of Master Group of Industries is to promote progress and prosperity across Pakistan to build a better future.’

He praised Shahid Afridi and his team for their commitment to helping Pakistan by improving the conditions of the underprivileged communities in terms of Education, Healthcare, Access to Water, Sports Rehabilitation, and Emergency Relief Response. He further talked about the high infant mortality rate of 42 to 62 deaths per 1000 births in the region and how this unit will serve the purpose of reducing this number.

Adding on, Shahid Afridi talked about how he wanted to target his relief efforts in those regions which are difficult to access due to transportation and logistics constraints. He further added that it was his dream to have such a healthcare unit in operation that could provide quality health services to inaccessible areas. Today this dream was fulfilled through the generous support of Master Motor, Foton, and Master MoltyFoam.

This Foton Master Mother and Child Care Unit is fabricated on Foton M-280 Truck and will serve within the 50KM radius from Chakwal to Balkasar, covering approximately 300 villages – free of cost. The health truck is well-equipped with an analyzer (for blood, urine & chemistry sampling) and an Ultrasound machine along with other facilities. It helps provide a comprehensive clinic solution to the mothers and infants in these remote areas where traveling options for women and children are severely limited and quality healthcare is not available.

The Foton Health Care Unit will allow doctors to test for diseases, identify and diagnose problems instantly and help save lives by providing early diagnosis and treatment.

realme Reveals Sajal Aly as the Face of realme 9 Series

With many accolades up her sleeve, Sajal Aly’s popularity goes aptly with realme being a trendy, cutting edge and one-of-a-kind brand.

Pulling out all stops, realme has just announced a collaboration with a heavy hitter of Pakistani film and television, Sajal Aly, as the brand ambassador for its new realme 9 Series. This is an exciting development as this marks the first time in Sajal’s illustrious career that she has ever partnered with a smartphone brand and realme is a brand that is passionate about collaborating with the movers and shakers of tomorrow much like Sajal herself.

The revelation of realme’s association with Sajal came at the helm of realme Design Studio’s collaboration with HELIOT EMIL – a Danish fashion brand that has designed a trendy leather satchel for realme 9 Pro+ which debuted at the Paris Fashion Week. Sporting the bag, Sajal is captured in a never-before-seen avatar that has her fans and the social media at-large go gaga on her look.

realme has become a force to be reckoned with since its entry into the market in 2018. The astounding line of products that the smartphone brand has in its arsenal has earned it the reputation of being a tech-trailblazer and tech-democratizer. With each successive iteration of the realme Number Series, consumers are given access to increasingly innovative technology but at an economical price. The commitment to performance that is so integral to realme is shared by Sajal as evidenced by her impressive body of work in the entertainment industry.

Sajal Aly made her acting debut in the 2009 sit-com Nadaaniyan after which she has gone on to be a part of a plethora of  popular television projects such as Mere Qatil Mere Dildar and O Rangreza. In 2012, she expanded her repertoire to include telefilms when she appeared in O Meri Billi. Sajal is a perfectionist when it comes to acting as she fully immerses herself into each of her characters in order to give the best performance she can. She is also an incredibly versatile actress as her body of work consists of a variety of serious, thought-provoking roles mixed in with more conventionally entertaining or humorous roles.

It was only a matter of time before she found her way onto the silver screen with 2016’s Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai. Her talent started making waves overseas and in 2017 she made her Bollywood debut in the social drama Mom. She is now set to step into the glitzy Hollywood lights with her upcoming release titled What’s Love Got to Do With It? Sajal has received many accolades in her career for her captivating performances. She was even recognized on the international stage in 2020 with the International Icon Award at The Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards (DIAFA) for her outstanding contribution to Pakistani film and television.

Sajal Aly is a perfect fit as the brand ambassador for the realme 9 Series. Much like realme, Sajal is an unstoppable tour-de-force in her industry. She shares realme’s passion for activism and frequently calls out injustice and demands for the rights of women. Her perfectionism is mirrored by realme’s commitment to providing perfection to the consumer with every smartphone they release.

Sajal embodies realme’s key philosophy of Dare to Leap as both realme and Sajal have made bold, substantial contributions to their industries. As a skilled actress, Sajal is not afraid to take on challenging or unconventional roles. She takes the necessary leap to inspire her contemporaries to step outside their comfort zone. Sajal is also considered a local

fashion icon who can effortlessly turn looks in any category. A fashionable diva like her is a perfect reflection of the realme 9 Pro+’s signature trendy Light Shift Design, which changes color from Blue to Red when exposed to light.

realme has been working long and hard since its entry into the Pakistani market to expand its footprint in the country. Having a huge, devoted fan base across the country, Sajal Aly can really help magnify realme’s voice in the Pakistani market. The smartphone brand wants to be an agent of change in terms of the technological landscape of Pakistan. realme aims to spread the gift of technology in order to empower the lives of the average consumer which is why it targets a more economical price segment without compromising on the quality of technology. So, keep your eyes open for more exciting reveals coming from realme regarding its ever popular 9 Series of smartphones and watch out for more collaborations between realme and Sajal Aly.

Retail Sector Contributes to 18% of Pakistan’s GDP: Razzak Dawood

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Terrabiz Conferences and Chainstores Association of Pakistan (CAP) jointly hosted the 1st Future of Retail Business Summit (FOR2022) in Karachi on March 8, 2022. A central objective was to bring Pakistan’s diverse retail sector onto one cohesive platform.

The sessions were chaired by august speakers such as Steve Dennis (Amazon Bestselling Author); Nadeem Hussain (PFN), Amir Paracha (Unilever); Saira Awan Malik (TCS); Faisal Riaz (Dolmen Mall); Seema Aziz (Sefam;); Shamoon Sultan (Khaadi), Ehsan Saya (Daraz), Ibad Ahmed (PandaMart), Guest of Honor M. Azfar Ahsan (Board of Investment) among the many industry leaders from retail, brands, e-commerce, fintech and taxation.

In a special video address at the summit, Commerce Adviser Razzak Dawood expressed his appreciation for the conference and how the event would play a critical role in shaping the future of retail in Pakistan. Minister Dawood explained, “The retail sector contributes 18% of the GDP, employ 16% of the workforce.” He added that the retail sector was critical to fueling supporting sectors such as construction and transportation. He further stated that the growth of the retail sector was a strong indicator of development and progress in the country. Industry stalwarts used the platform of cross-sector key stakeholders to identify areas where collaboration could be made and improvements could benefit growth.

The aggregate representation of business and technology allowed participants to envision how they could create the future of their retail brands and be part of this accelerating ecosystem. Retail legends such as Seema Irfan, founder of Bareeze and Founder of Al Fatah stores, Irfan Shaikh shared insights into the challenges they faced in building brands and serving customers in Pakistan. An underlying theme that was highlighted in addition to the future of retail, is how resilient brands survived the challenges of the pandemic and became more customer-centric upon their reopening.

The conference was supported by Pakistan Fintech Association, P@SHA and A.F. Fergusson & Co. As Knowledge Partners.

LCBDDA successfully auctioned Pakistan’s First Planned Downtown

LCBDDA successfully auctioned Pakistan’s First Planned Downtown. 7 mixed used commercial plots for Lahore Downtown auctioned for Rs 34.89 billion.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  Lahore Central Business Development Authority LCBDDA also known as Central business District Punjab CBD achieved another milestone by auctioning Pakistan’s first planned downtown The Downtown Lahore.

LCBDDA is committed towards modern urbanization, economic stability and growth of the country. CBD Punjab organized the grand auction ceremony in which international and domestic investors participated. Potential bidders showed keen interest in Lahore Downtown. Lahore Downtown comprises 7 mixed used commercial plots ranging between 12 and 14 kanals, providing very favorable bylaws and five years installment plan for the developers. Downtown has already has its own significance due to its ideal location in the heart of Lahore, Gulberg, Main Boulevard.

The auction committee to judge the grand auction of Lahore Downtown comprises of CEO LCBDDA Mr.Iman Amin, COO, LCCBDA Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua, Secretary Colonies Jamil Ahmed representing SMBR Government of Punjab from the Board Member LCBDDA Punjab Mrs. Sumair Abid, Mr. Ali Kamran Mr. Ali Rehman were a part of the auction jury . ASC Hasnat, Samama Khan Randhawa, Nova Group, Pothar Builders, HN developers, Kingdom Valley, Grand Arc Builders and Jalal Khan Bilal Khan Builders were the renowned builders and developers who participated in the auction. CBD Punjab insured openness and transparency of the whole bidding process. Talking on this occasion CEO, LCBDDA, Mr. Imran Amin said: “We have witnessed and overwhelming and far better response then Lahore Prime for Lahore Downtown, which is a bright sign that CBD Punjab is delivering what we have promised.

Lahore Downtown will be a sign of inspiration and a class of new beginning in the field of construction and real estate. Favorable bylaws, height 500+ft and FAR of 1:15 are the significance and uniqueness of this project. Team CBD is striving to put every effort for the success of this project and hoped that it will benefit the brighter future of all the stakeholders This is not only a land auction, we are setting up history.

Lahore Downtown is a stepping stone for our future generations to witness economical stable welfare state. Lahore Downtown is a pledge of CBD Punjab to work immensely for the betterment of the country. CBD Punjab has become a pivot of attention of world economic giants. Lahore Downtown will change the canvas of Lahore.

Soon we will see a better and broader change in the skyline of Lahore.” Lahore Downtown One was sold to Pothar Developers for Rs 6.5 billion, Downtown Two was sold to Nova Group for Rs 5.1 billion, Downtown three was sold to Onyx Developers for 4.08 billion, Downtown four was sold to Kingdom Valley for 3.6 billion, Downtown 5 was also sold to Kingdom Valley for Rs 4.2 billion, Downtown 6 was sold to Grand Arc Builders for Rs 5.28 billion and Downtown 7 was sold ASC Constructors for 6.14 b to .

The grand auction has vigorously contributed to the economic growth of Pakistan billion. The grand auction of Lahore Downtown secured a staggering investment of 34.89 billion rupees.

 

foodpanda organizes road safety training session by Sindh Traffic Police for its riders

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Keeping up with its commitment of prioritising safety and well-being, foodpanda organised a road safety awareness session for its riders, which was conducted by Sindh Traffic Police. The session was conducted by DSP Saeed Arain, and was followed by a talk by the DIG Traffic Police, Mr. Ahmed Yar Chohan. The training given to the delivery riders aims at ensuring that all riders strictly follow the traffic rules, and drive with great responsibility and care, for their own safety and for the safety of all drivers and even pedestrians who walk along the roads or cross the roads at any point.      

Speaking at the occasion, Muntaqa Peracha, Interim CEO – foodpanda Pakistan, stated that delivery riders can spend a lot of time on the roads and at all hours, making it essential that they are adequately coached on safe driving practices. He went on to say that foodpanda believes that roads accidents are entirely preventable, and this and similar other sessions are being organized as the company is cognizant of its responsibility in mentoring its delivery riders.

According to a report issued by Karachi Traffic Police (KTP) in 2021, the number of road accidents has drastically increased. The report stated several reasons behind the increased rate including the chaotic traffic, the large number of inexperienced drivers, especially teenagers, and heavy traffic plying on the roads during the daytime. The comparative report shows that the death toll from road accidents increased by 43% year on year, while the rate of serious injuries increased by 109%. Moreover, the report revealed that more motorcyclists were killed in the accidents compared to people driving cars.

As such the initiative taken by foodpanda earlier in Lahore and now in Karachi to provide safe driving training to its delivery riders is the need of the hour, and something that other organizations too need to follow.

At the end of the training session, helmets were also distributed among the riders present.

Logistics sector may play pivotal role in inclusive growth: President Alvi

Pakistan’s first Multimodal Logistics Conference concludes

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) By making economic dividends accessible to large segment of nation, a vibrant presence of logistics sector may play a pivotal role in inclusive national growth, said by President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi while inaugurating Pakistan’s first Multimodal Logistics Conference here at a local hotel today (Thursday). Aiming to initiate a public policy debate on Logistics & freight system, the one-day Conference “Trade Growth of Pakistan through Multimodal Logistics” was organized by Manzil Pakistan, a Karachi based think tank in collaboration with All Pakistan Shipping Association (APSA) while U.S.

Agency for International Development (USAID), Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT), JS Bank and Faysal Bank Ltd contributed as partner in conference. The conference featured various interactive sessions and insightful contributions of industry leaders & experts on a diverse range of topics focusing different sectors of national logistics and freight network.

President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi inaugurated the conference and lauded the organizers for taking this initiative to highlight the importance of logistics sector in national trade and economic growth. A modern and technology based logistics and freight system is one of the basic ingredients to achieve desired economic growth by leveraging accessibility, President said. Pakistan’s regional connectivity is poised with tremendous potential due to its geo-strategic location, he added.

While addressing the inaugural session, Mr. Asim A. Siddiqui, Vice Chairman of Manzil Pakistan expressed his gratitude to the President. Asim Siddiqui shared the theme and concept of the conference with the audience. He highlighted that Pakistan eagerly needs a thematic change and complete remodeling to integrate the multimodal logistics scenario in its stepping forward economy.

He further emphasized that despite having a National Freight and Logistics Policy (NFLP) in place, the sector is still fragmented and policies in relation to its integration requires considerable deliberation by public authorities, therefore, Manzil Pakistan has taken the lead to organize this conference to bring all stakeholders both from the private sector and public authorities to initiate a public policy debate to benefit the country.

The conference featured panel discussions and specialized sessions, on different sectors of the trade transport industry. A panel discussion “Public-Private Sector Institutional Harmony for Integrated Multimodal logistics in Pakistan” was chaired by Dr. Ishrat Hussain Former Advisor to the Prime Minister on institutional Reforms & Austerity and Ex-Governor State Bank of Pakistan. This is followed by an exclusive session “Optimizing Blue Economy: Issues and Challenges” presented an overview of Pakistan’s Maritime and shipping industry. To discuss the importance of Highways in logistics industry, participants shared their viewpoints in a session “Connecting Highways with Smart Hinterland Transport Network”.

A special session chaired by Secretary Railways on Railway Freight services and their valuable part in national logistics network was discussed in a specified session “Business Enabling Environment: Empowering Private Sector in Rail-Freight Business”.

Keeping in view the importance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and regional connectivity for the future of domestic commerce and foreign investments in Pakistan was discussed in an exclusive session “CPEC, Regional Connectivity for Trade & Domestic Commerce”.

The conference was concluded by Ameena Saiyid OBE, Member, Board of Trustees, Manzil Pakistan and Mr. Asim A. Siddiqui along with other dignitaries. The conference was attended by senior government officials, representatives of renowned logistics organizations along with stakeholders and members of business community. Representatives of the institutions will be shared their opinions on different aspects of Pakistan’s national logistics and freight system along with the institutional role in different relevant sectors.

NBP signs with Pakistan Mortgage Refinance Company for TFC

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistan Mortgage Refinance Company (PMRC) one of the premier and fastest growing DFI in Pakistan issued its largest syndicated 5 Year TFC of PKR 5 billion, in line with the objective to develop fixed rate capital market.

The proceeds of the TFC will be utilized by PMRC to finance the housing mortgage portfolios of eligible financial institutions. Investors to the TFC included National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Allied Bank Limited (ABL) and Bank of Khyber (Bok). Pak Oman Investment Company (POIC) was appointed as the investment agent while Mohsin Tayyab Ali & Co. (MTC) acted as the transaction legal counsel.

Pakistan which is home to over 200 million people, is estimated to have a shortage of 12 million residential units in the country; most of it in low- and middle-income group. The Housing & Construction industry is strongly considered as one of the engines of long-term economic growth with the objective of promoting the mortgage financing industry, PMRC provides long-term funding at attractive rates. Its thrust remains to increase availability of fixed rate mortgages thereby making housing finance more affordable for end consumer. Debt instruments issued by PMRC therefore act as catalyst to drive the vision of making housing finance affordable and accessible.

A ceremony in this regard was held at PMRC office in Karachi. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Arif Usmani, President & CEO (NBP), Mr. Mudassir H. Khan, MD/CEO (PMRC), Mr. Muhammad Ali Gulfaraz, MD/CEO (BoK) and Mr. Rehmat Ali Hasnie, Chairman (PMRC) & SEVP & Group Chief, CIBG (NBP) and Mr. Owais Shahid, Chief CIBG (ABL)

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Mudassir H. Khan said “PMRC is breaking barriers in the capital market space by regularly issuing debt instruments. These instruments are pivotal to ensure PMRC’s objective of promoting mortgage financing in the country. We look forward to introduce more innovative debt instruments in the near future”

Other key executives who attended the meeting included Mr. Farrukh Zaheer, Head of Treasury &FI (PMRC), Mr. Naved Nasim, GH Corporate Banking (ABL), Mr. Mohammad Faisal, EVP Treasury & Investment Banking Group (BoK) and Mr. Hasan Jamal, SVP & Advisor Investment Banking (NBP).