Shell Pakistan sponsors the Multan Sultans Team for PSL-7 Cricket

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Shell Pakistan is one of the leading sponsors of ‘Multan Sultans’ – the defending Champions and best performing team in HBL – Pakistan Super League (HBL PSL) over the last couple of seasons. Season 7 of the HBL PSL shall commence on the 27th of January with the final scheduled to be held on 27th February, 2022.

Multan Sultans won the PSL Championship in 2021, under the excellent captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan – an iconic wicketkeeper and batter, who has also been nominated as ‘Cricketer of the Year’ by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Rizwan has been in great form recently, as he played some exceptional, high-score innings during the ICC T-20 World Cup 2021, held in the United Arab Emirates.

The Country Chair of Shell Pakistan, Waqar Siddiqui, expressed his excitement to be a part of Pakistan’s biggest cricketing extravaganza, in collaboration with the defending Champions of the tournament. He stated that, “We have great confidence in the competitiveness and passion of the Multan Sultans, to continue their winning streak in many more tournaments. Shell Pakistan encourages healthy social activities. Sponsorship of this contest is aimed at engaging consumers in some exhilarating entertainment. Pakistan is a nation that thoroughly enjoys and loves cricket, and the world-class sportsmen playing for Multan Sultans making it a formidable competitor in the HBL PSL-7”.

On this successful collaboration between Multan Sultans and Shell Pakistan – the Captain of the franchise, Mohammad Rizwan, stated, “We are excited with this partnership which will fuel us even more in our preparations as we aim to become the first team in the HBL PSL to win back to back titles. This sponsorship will add value to the Multan Sultans brand, as we engage millions of cricket enthusiasts”.

Syed Haider Azhar, the COO of Multan Sultans reiterated the captain’s views. “We are delighted to once again partner with Shell, the leading brand in its industry. We look forward to building on this energy and excitement with the aim of securing another title for Multan Sultans.”

Over the years, PSL has emerged as the most successful brand of cricket in Pakistan, while Multan Sultans are one the biggest franchise teams today, attracting the most successful corporate partners.

This sponsorship will also provide customers the opportunity to avail exciting offers on the purchase of Shell V-Power. Shell V-Power is a premium, hi-octane fuel that provides ‘Unbeatable Keep-Clean Performance and Protection’ to car and bike engines.

BankIslami Signs A Platinum Sponsorship with Karachi Kings for PSL 2022

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Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) BankIslami, Pakistan’s leading Islamic finance institution, and Karachi Kings, the 2020 PSL Champions signed a Platinum sponsorship agreement for the upcoming 2022 season of the tournament. The ceremony was held at BankIslami’s Regional Office, Business and Finance Center, Karachi. It was attended by Syed Amir Ali, President & CEO BankIslami, Salman Iqbal, CEO ARY TV, Muhammad Amir, Sharjeel Khan and Umaid Asif from Karachi Kings as well as other members of the senior management from both parties. PSL 7 is set to begin on January 27th in Karachi.

The Pakistan Super League is the most celebrated annual cricketing event that features international players from around the world. Karachi Kings is the home team for the biggest city in Pakistan and were the champions of PSL 2020. The team represents the city of Karachi that is a bustling metropolitan hub housing a diverse array of cultures and races in a collaborative environment. BankIslami is the first scheduled Islamic bank in the country and rose to become one of the most technologically advanced organizations providing a diverse portfolio through a modern approach of Sharia-compliant banking solutions to customers. As the official sponsor for Karachi King’s franchise, BankIslami aims to promote not just the sport of cricket but also the ambition of younger players in the country to rise and achieve their true potential.

Commenting on the development, President and CEO, BankIslami, Syed Amir Ali, stated; “PSL is a high-profile national tournament and Karachi Kings is our home team. BankIslami has always been at the forefront of facilitating endeavors that the nation is always excited about. This partnership with Karachi Kings is another step towards showcasing our efforts in not just facilitating Pakistan’s sporting culture but also local initiatives of every kind. Our objective that is highlighted in the ‘Jeetay Ga Pakistan’ tagline explains the true spirit of this partnership that no matter which team wins, at the end of day, Pakistan emerges victorious.”

Karachi Kings is one of the strongest teams in PSL 7 with star players like Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Muhammad Amir and many more making them favorites to take the crown home this year.

EFG Hermes PakistanNamed Best International Brokerage Firm in the 2021 Asiamoney Brokers Poll

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Lahore (NUT DESK)

EFG Hermes Pakistan, a subsidiary of EFG Hermes Holding, announced today that it has been named Best International Brokerage Firm in Pakistan for the first time in the 32nd annual Asiamoney Brokers Poll, Asia’s chief equity research poll held today on Tuesday. The Firmalso ranked third in the Best Brokerages for Research, Best Brokerages for Sales, Best Brokerages for Corporate Access, and Best Brokerages for Execution categories.

The Asiamoney Brokers Poll is a voxpopuli poll that identifies the leading brokerage firms for equities research, sales, and trading in Asia. The Voters are institutional investors who represent fund management firms, wealth managers, hedge funds, pension funds, and insurance companies that trade in Asia. A total of 5,734 valid individual responses from 2,876 different institutions, including 462 hedge funds were received.

“The recognition that the team in Pakistan has garnered in the Asiamoney Brokers Poll is a true testament to the kind of foothold that EFG Hermes has been able to attain outside of our core MENA marketsand highlightsthe Firm’s unrivaled frontier market offering,” said Ali Khalpey, CEO of EFG Hermes Frontier. “It is an honor to be distinguished for our hard work by our clients in Asia, and we are excited to continue exceeding their expectations with our service offering, as we work to be a positive partner for economic development in Pakistan and build further upon our presence in the region.”

In 2021, EFG Hermes maintained its first-place ranking in the Kenyan marketand increased its market share in Pakistan to 3.3%, due to higher foreign institutional executions. In December, the Firm’s Investment Banking division successfully concluded advisory to TPG’s Evercare Group on the sale of its 50% stake in Islamabad Diagnostic Centre to Integrated Diagnostics Holding for a total consideration of USD 72.35 million, marking EFG Hermes’ first M&A transaction in Pakistan. In the upcoming years, the Firm is pursuing expansion in additional core Asia markets, in a path guided by the current clients’ needs and market developments.

“We are extremely proud of our team for being awarded these prestigious recognitions as a result of their rigorous commitment to offering world-class services and meeting our clients’ ever-evolving needs,”commentedSaad Iqbal,Head of Brokerage and Acting Chief Executive Officer of EFG HermesPakistan.

“We are thrilled to have been voted for as the Best International Brokerage Firm – amongother recognitions – by our institutional clients, attesting to our position as the broker of choice in the Pakistani market.”

COKE STUDIO RELEASES THE SECOND SONG FROM SEASON 14, KANA YAARI

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

After the overwhelming response of Tu Jhoom, Coke Studio releases the second song from Season 14, KANA YAARI featuring icons Eva B, Kaifi Khalil and Abdul Wahab Bugti.

Betrayal: tough on friendship, great for art. That’s what singer-songwriter Kaifi Khalil proves in beautifully crafted Kana Yaari; a song about relationships that just didn’t last. This is the Coke Studio tune we knew was coming, with futuristic sounds with cultural integrity. Kana Yaari features Kaifi, folk singer Abdul Wahab Bugti who adds Balochi spirit and the magnetic Eva B who always understands the assignment; anchoring Kaifi’s style.

The mix of characters in Kana Yaari makes an interesting point about Coke Studio: it’s a meeting place of opposites. Creating a world for them becomes a team effort. Video Director Jamal Rahman shifts the song’s moody message – honoring it with a hopeful outcome by the last chord. In his video, the artists wander through an interior space, dismantling brightly-coloured walls as if dropping their own invisible boundaries. The song speaks of betrayal, but visually we feel joy.

And it works because the audience can relate. All three performers have incredible personal style (helped by Samiya Ansari), that is unmistakably, un-self-consciously Pakistani. Local spirit shines through Production Designer Hashim Ali’s color and textural references that feel true to Dera Muraad Jamal and Lyari, the artists’ homes.

Kana Yaari pushes regional representation, but Xulfi and Associate Music Producers and Arrangers Abdullah Siddiqui, Arsalan Hasan and Sherry Khattak don’t stop there. The global, rearview-rattling beats hijack the song; turning Kana Yaari into a Balochi-dancehall blend that can pulse out any car window on a sunny day, from Seaview to South Beach.

Kana Yaari can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQDAi8tI-cU and streamed on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/genre/0JQ5DAqbMKFQ0zHsfXlNmV

Keep yourself logged on to https://www.instagram.com/coke_studio to follow the Coke Studio journey.

 

11th ArtBeat–National Child Art Competition and Exhibition

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Pakistan’s biggest Child Art contest entitled “ArtBeat–National Child Art Competition” is in its 11th edition now and is ready to get exhibited. The annual competition was initiated in 2012 by The LITTLE ART with a vision to promote visual culture, understanding of issues among children and youth from their own perspective, celebrate children as artists and present children’s views as a point of discourse for adults and the community.

Mastermind of the contest and director of The LITTLE ART Shoaib Iqbal briefed that, in the past 10 years, nearly 100,000 children have participated as artists in ArtBeat and despite the covid outbreak, response of the students was amazing this year too. In total we have received nearly 3500 artworks, digital designs, photos and stories online from more than 185 schools from across the country and 24 community organizations participated this year in the competition.

Shoaib Iqbal added that The LITTLE ART has decided to showcase the art works produced by children in National exhibitions. The first exhibition will be held at Gallery 11, Pakistan National Council for the Arts, Islamabad on Friday, January 21, 2022. Mr. Bryce Hutchesson, Charge d’Affaires, Australian High Commission, Islamabad will inaugurate the exhibition. After the Islamabad, The Little Art will bring the children art works exhibition in Alhamra Art Council Lahore and in Karachi during February, he concluded.

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Supernet and Avara Announce the Award of PKR 250 million

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Supernet and Avara Announce the Award of PKR 250 million worth Project Within a Multi-Million Dollar Long-Term Program to Supply Multiplexers and Associated Services in Pakistan

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Supernet Limited (“Supernet”) announced today that they, in conjunction with their Australian technology partner Avara Technologies Pty Ltd (“Avara”) have been awarded a new project worth approximately PKR 250 million within a long-term program that they were awarded in 2021 by a major Pakistani customer.

The new project valued at approximately PKR 250 million constitutes Phase 3 of the program for the supply of multiservice multiplexers and associated operations, maintenance, warranty and support services. The program includes establishment of a repair facility in Pakistan and transfer of knowledge through an expansive training program enabling in-country engineers and technicians to rectify faults throughout the equipment’s lifecycle.

Avara’s DynaFlex product family is a flexible, fully featured, access multiplexer with powerful cross-connect and protection capabilities. With the ability to handle a wide range of interfaces like POTS, SCADA, Ethernet, Serial Data and Tele-Protection, the DynaFlex platform is an ideal choice for transporting mission critical TDM services over PDH, SDH, Ethernet or MPLS-TP packet-based interfaces. DynaFlex offers a broad range of hot pluggable channel cards to complement a range of physical interfaces in a modular manner.

In 2021 Supernet and Avara successfully delivered in time the first batch of DynaFlex multiplexers under Phase 1 of the program despite supply chain and logistics challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The delivery for Phase 2 is under implementation with the newly awarded Phase 3 expected to reach completion towards the tail end of 2022.

Ali Akhtar. Supernet’s Head of BU, Telecoms & Defense and Lasha Aponso, CEO, Avara jointly stated, “This is a major triumph for us right at the start of 2022 and we are thrilled to have been awarded this new project. It reaffirms the trust and satisfaction of the customers in our products and services. On the back of this victory, we’re charging full steam ahead with our plans to expand business in Pakistan.”

Taro secures US$3.5M in Pre-Seed Funding to Launch BNPL in Pakistan

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  • Lahore-based Taro Technologies secures US $3.5M in pre-seed funding
  • National retailers can soon quickly and easily offer Taro’s installment payment options to Pakistan’s consumers, both in-store and online
  • Taro is the only Sharia-friendly BNPL Company in Pakistan, designed to support consumer lifestyle needs with an aim to increase purchasing power and liquidity. 
  • Partnership with Cashew Payments will enhance Taro’s position as Pakistan’s leading provider of installment payments for e-commerce purchases
  • Highlights the capabilities of Pakistan’s fintech companies and Lahore as a growing tech hub

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Taro Technologies, an emerging fintech startup in Pakistan, has secured US$3.5 Million in pre-seed funding through a combination of strategic partnerships and angel investors to launch a Buy-Now, Pay-Later (BNPL) venture in Pakistan. As part of their pre-seed round, Taro has partnered with Dubai-based Cashew Payments – a BNPL leader in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – to accelerate its 2022 Q1 launch and growth.

Mustafa Khan, CEO of Taro and former Silicon Valley Apple engineer, has stressed that this partnership will enable Taro to be an established player straight out of the gate, stating: “Our collaboration with Cashew provides critical insights into risk, merchant acquisition, operations, and customer retention. Those insights paired with support from their experienced and accomplished leadership team position us for a strong launch and to quickly dominate the market.”

The partnership with Cashew Payments puts the local Lahore fintech company on the global tech map for online instant financing solutions.

Ammar Afif, CEO of cashew, said: “We are delighted to partner with Taro, in providing ‘Buy now, Pay later’ solutions for merchants and consumers in Pakistan,” Afif continued. “As we’ve grown our business in the GCC, we recognized the need for retailers in Pakistan to have a seamless way of offering flexible payment options to consumers in multiple industries. Through our partnership with Taro, all retailers in Pakistan can soon rapidly activate Taro’s installment payments for consumers across all channels online and offline.”

While the GCC has close ties with Pakistan, learnings from the GCC will still need to be tailored for Pakistan before they can be successfully applied locally. As such, Taro CEO Mustafa Khan, now based in Lahore, has been busy expanding his local network.

“To prime our Q1 launch, we’ve also been busy on the ground in Lahore hiring a talented core team with significant fintech expertise. Along with our core team, we’ve arranged partnerships with local financial and technical firms that will ensure a strong and successful launch.” – Mustafa Khan

The BNPL venture intends to help provide new forms of credit to all Pakistanis, especially the underbanked, with Mustafa’s enthusiasm captured in the quote below:

“I am thrilled to be launching BNPL in Pakistan through Taro. I’ve noticed Pakistanis are eager for access to new technology that puts them in control. By offering lending services to a wider range of people, we can help provide the control and flexibility they desire”

Pakistan’s e-commerce sector has seen a lot of growth in the past fiscal year of 2021, with a spend of around US$7.2 Billion. Taro seeks to provide easy access to credit for all Pakistanis, allowing increased access to e-commerce outlets. The company is looking to expand their operations across the country and eventually beyond.

Taro Technologies is a rising BNPL star and plans to provide flexible payment options and access to new forms of credit to Pakistani customers, while also enabling merchants (who are looking for more payment options) to grow sales and increase their market reach.

TPL Trakker Partners with Jiye Technologies to Supercharge Key Logistics for Pakistan’s Agriculture Sector

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Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) TPL Trakker, Pakistan’s leading digital mapping, tracking and IoT services provider has partnered with Pakistan’s fastest growing Agri-tech platform Jiye Technologies to provide location-based services. The collaboration between two revolutionary solution providers in their respective categories is designed to enhance Jiye Tech’s ability to support farmers and other businesses associated with Pakistan’s agriculture sector in bolstering a digital transformation of the existing ecosystem. 

Agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to Pakistan’s economy employing 42.3% of the work force in the country and offers 18.9% share in the GDP. Jiye Technologies is a rapidly growing Agri-tech platform that connects farmers and businesses through a lean supply chain model. This collaboration by TPL Trakker is the first step in providing a robust infrastructure for growth to Jiye’s platform for creating a modern as well as sustainable landscape for progress in the agri-tech sector. This segment has for long operated through traditional methods but with transformation of global ecosystems, digitization has become imperative for sowing the seeds for brighter prospects in the industry and TPL Trakker is honored to provide appropriate foundations for it. 

Commenting on the partnership, Sarwar Ali Khan, CEO, TPL Trakker stated; “TPL Trakker is always at the forefront for partnering with established as well as emerging organizations that share the same values as our organization. As a forward thinking organization we firmly believe in progressive facilitation of evolving digital ecosystems. Our collaboration with Jiye Technologies is a personification of our objectives to support startups especially in the Agri-tech sector where they can make a lasting impact for all stakeholders.”

Sharing his thoughts on the partnership, Ali Amin, Co-Founder, Jiye Technologies commented, “At Jiye Technologies, we’re always looking for the most optimal solutions while keeping our customers’ best interests at heart.  We’re very happy to have partnered with TPL Trakker, an organization that also believes in the possibilities that digital transformation can create for the agriculture sector in Pakistan; and with their help, we move another step forward in building a lean supply chain system that is the most efficient with accurate and on time deliveries.”

TPL Trakker is the provider of mapping and telematics solutions to some of Pakistan’s leading organizations working in food delivery, power generation, ride hailing among numerous others.  

Babar Azam declared ICC T20I Team of the Year captain

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed on Wednesday the names of the XI players who constitute the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year, with Pakistan skipper Babar Azam as the captain of the squad.

Pakistan’s star players, wicket keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and bowling sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi, also made it to the team.

In a statement issued for the announcement of Men’s T20I Team of the Year, the ICC said that it is to recognise 11 outstanding individuals who have impressed one and all, “be it with the bat, the ball or their all-round exploits in a calendar year.”

Here is a look at the players who made the cut from Pakistan.

Babar Azam

The Pakistan skipper was at his classy best in the shortest format in 2021, leaving his best at the T20 World Cup where he ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer. 

Overall, Babar played 29 matches and aggregated 939 runs at an average of 37.56 with one century and nine half-centuries. His captaincy was also praised as he led his team to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman.

Mohammad Rizwan

The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter ruled the roost in 2021 when it came to the shortest format of the game. Aggregating a staggering 1,326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan struck at an average of 73.66 and a strike-rate of 134.89. 

Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was as solid as ever behind the stumps, playing a key role in Pakistan’s run to the semis during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, where he ended up as the third-highest run-scorer.

Shaheen Afridi

It was a year to remember for Shaheen Afridi, especially in the shortest form of the game. Extracting brilliant movement with the new ball and reversing it with the old, Afridi picked up 23 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 26.04 and an economy of 7.86. 

Still only 21, Shaheen will likely lead the Pakistan pace bowling unit for years to come and with already rapid improvements in his bowling, he will undoubtedly prove to be a fearsome prospect.

The others include Jos Buttler of England, Aiden Markram of South Africa, Mitchell Marsh of Australia, David Miller of South Africa, Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka, Tabraiz Shamsi of South Africa, Josh Hazlewood of Australia, and Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh.

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NCOC finally gives its verdict on schools’ closure, places bans in cities with high COVID-19 rates

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

After a brief delay, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) finally issued Wednesday revised coronavirus guidelines and SOPs for the education, restaurant, entertainment, and other sectors as Pakistan continues its battle against a fifth wave of the pandemic and struggles to contain the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

In cities and districts with positivity higher than 10%, the classes for children under 12 years will continue on “staggered” days, while classes will be conducted daily for fully-vaccinated students above 12 years of age.

In the cities and districts which have a positivity ratio of up to 10%, classes will continue as usual, but with stringent COVID-19 protocols intact, as per NCOC’s guidelines.

With effect from February 1, at least one dose for students above 12 years will be mandatory and no exemption other than medical reasons will be entertained, the NCOC guidelines stated.

“Aggressive sentinel testing in educational institutions will be carried out for targeted closures in high disease prevalence education institutes,” the NCOC said.

Federating units in consultations with health authorities will set a number of cases or infection rate as the benchmark for closure of education institutes, the forum stated.

The decisions were taken during an NCOC session held today in Islamabad with Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar in the chair, a statement from the forum said.

The forum took a “detailed review” of the current trend of the pandemic in the country and after a “deliberate and consultative process”, it has agreed upon the following non-pharmaceutical interventions:

For cities/ districts with positivity above 10%:

Gatherings/Weddings:

  • Indoor gatherings of all types, including weddings, will be banned from January 24. 
  • Outdoor gatherings, including weddings, will be allowed with a cap of fully vaccinated 300 guests — applicable from Jan 24.

Dinning

  • There will be a complete ban on indoor dining. However, outdoor dining for fully vaccinated citizens and takeaway service will be allowed.

Gyms

  • Indoor Gyms at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed.

Cinemas

  • Cinemas will be allowed to open at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only.

Shrines

  • Shrines are allowed to open at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only.

Amusement Parks

  • Allowed to open at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated people only.

Sports

  • There would be a complete ban on contact sports like karate, boxing, martial arts, water polo, kabaddi and wrestling.

Education sector

  • Schools will be allowed to open with 50% attendance (staggered days) for students below the age of 12 years. For students (fully vaccinated) over 12 years, the NCOC has recommended 100% attendance.

 

Cities with less than 10%

Gatherings/weddings

  • Indoor gatherings are allowed with a maximum limit of 300 guests (fully vaccinated), while outdoor events can be held with a maximum limit of 500 guests.

Dining

  • Indoor and outdoor dining is permitted for fully vaccinated individuals only, while takeaways are allowed 24/7.

Gyms

  • Indoor gyms are open for fully vaccinated individuals only.

Shrines

  • Open for fully vaccinated individuals only.

Parks

  • Open for fully vaccinated individuals only.

Sports

  • All types of sports are allowed for vaccinated individuals.

Education

  • Children will continue to attend schools with strict SOPs, while those above 12-years of age must have to be fully vaccinated.

Restrictions imposed across Pakistan

Business timings

  • Businesses will continue without time restrictions

Public transport

  • Public buses will be allowed to operate with 70% of their seating capacity. Wearing masks will be mandatory throughout the journey, with a complete ban on serving meals/snacks. Restrictions will come into force from January 20.

Railways

  • Railways will operate with 80% occupancy level from January 24.

Office Routine

  • Offices will be allowed to operate at 100% capacity with normal working hours. However, work from home is encouraged.

Domestic Air travel /meals

  • There will be a complete ban on meal/beverages serving during the in-flight journey for domestic travel.

Education sector

  • With effect from February 2022 vaccination for students above 12 years will be mandatory (at least one dose). No exemption other than medical reasons will be entertained.
  • Aggressive sentinel testing in educational institutions will be carried out for targeted closures in high disease prevalence education institutes.
  • Federating units in consultations with health authorities will set a number/percentage for closure of education institutes.

Mask wearing

  • Compliance to compulsory mask wearing while incorporating innovative measures for enforcement. Strict adherence to SOPs in mosques and other places of worship be ensured by all federating units.

Extended lockdowns

  • Targeted lockdown with stringent enforcement protocols based on risk assessment will continue.
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