Pakistan’s first ever dairy book launched

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Lahore –  Nestlé Pakistan, in collaboration with Swiss Embassy and Board of Investment, Wednesday hosted the launch of a book narrating the story of milk in the country, “Drops of the Divine: A Story of Milk in Pakistan.”

Developed by Markings Publishing, it is a beautifully photographed book that shines the spotlight on the history and journey of the packaged milk sector in the country. Pakistan is the fourth largest milk producing country in the world, with dairy and livestock’s contribution to the national GDP at a staggering 11%.

During the early 80s, the government introduced favorable policies to fuel growth of the dairy and packaged milk industry. Following this, in 1988, Nestlé partnered with MILKPAK Limited to revolutionise the dairy industry in liquid and powder milk as we know it today. Nestlé Pakistan currently stands as the leading food and beverage company with an extensive dairy product portfolio of liquid and powder milk that has continued to enhance the lives of Pakistanis for over 30 years.

Vivo reveals smartphone

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Lahore –  Vivo is unveiling its new APEX™ FullView™ concept smartphone which sets new benchmarks for future smartphone design and features the world’s highest screen-to-body ratio and Vivo’s groundbreaking Half-Screen In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology.

In pushing the boundaries of mobile experience, Vivo has taken its FullView™ technology to a whole new level by introducing new engineering breakthroughs in camera, speaker and sensor elements as well as rethinking the design structure of conventional smartphones.

Vivo’s pioneering approach in fingerprint scanning technology has resulted in the world’s first Half Screen Fingerprint Scanning Technology on APEX™, building on the success of industry’s first mass-produced In-Display Fingerprint Scanning smartphone the Vivo X20 Plus UD.

“APEX™ is an iteration of our constant pursuit of setting new industry standards and to deliver the ultimate mobile experience,” said Alex Feng, senior vice president of Vivo. “From breakthroughs in audio, photography to In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, Vivo has remained committed to realizing our vision for future smartphones. What we showcase in this concept phone is only a fraction of our innovation pipeline. We will continue to explore all possibilities to bring the best possible experiences to our consumers,” he added.

Huawei joins hands with Inovi Technologies

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Lahore –  Honor, the leading smartphone e-brand under the Huawei Group, has kicked off Pakistan operations with the local distributor Inovi Technologies.Chris Sun, vice president of Honor in the Middle East and Africa, said: “The good thing about Pakistani market is that 70% of the population is under 30 years of age and a true representation of Honor. We are bringing the best product line to match the needs and enrich their lifestyle.” The agreement was signed in a ceremony in Karachi.

LG Unveils More Advanced K10 and K8 Series Smartphones at MWC

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New Devices Close Gap Between LG’s Price-Friendly Mass-Tier Devices and Flagships

Lahore — LG Electronics (LG) unveiled the 2018 edition of its popular K8 and K10 mass-tier smartphones at MWC 2018, enhanced with even more premium features rivaling those of premium flagships. Both models will roll out globally in key regions such as Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.With a host of advanced camera features such as high speed auto focus and noise reduction for better low-light photography, the K Series continues to deliver exceptional products to customers at exceptional prices. Both the K8 and K10 carry over the handsome glossy pebble identity that has been a key element of the K Series’ identity, complemented by its 2.5D Arc Glass design for a modern, seamless look that ages well with time. Both phones will be available in three new, striking colors for 2018: Astro Black, Moroccan Blue, and Terra Gold.The classy metallic design of the LG K10 with its metal U-frame not only looks sleek, but it is also packed with premium features not normally found in its price range. The K10 is equipped with the advanced 13MP rear camera technology found in the flagship LG G6 and a high resolution 8MP front camera that supports Bokeh when shooting selfies. With the K10, shutterbugs won’t miss any great photo opportunities with Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) which is 23 percent faster than traditional auto focus. And the new Smart Rear Key not only unlocks the phone with a fingerprint, it also triggers Quick Shutter for faster photos and Quick Capture for easy screen shots.The updated LG K8 delivers more advanced camera UX features for 2018 and low-light photography has been improved from the previous generation K8 with even brighter, clearer images. Favorite features such as Auto Shot, Gesture Shot, Flash for Selfie and Quick Share are carried over to the new K8 by popular demand.Clearer photographs in dim environments is made possible in both the K8 and K10 with the new Low Light Noise Reduction feature. Combined with High Dynamic Range (HDR), photos come out sharper with more luminosity and contrast levels.Taking group photos with friends or family is easier than ever thanks to the new Timer Helper feature. No longer is it necessary to guess how many seconds until the timer triggers the shutter. With Timer Helper, the K8 and K10 will help keep count using the flash as a visual aid so friends and family can be in the exact position at the right time.Another new feature of the K Series camera is Flash Jump Cut, which snaps a photo every three seconds (up to 20 photos) and stitches the images together into a fun GIF for easy sharing. Flash Jump Cut is available on both the K8 and K10 and can be used with either the front or rear cameras.“LG’s 2018 K Series range of smartphones is focused on delivering even more value to consumers looking for the right device that fits their lifestyle and needs,” said Ha Jeung-uk, senior vice president and business unit leader for LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “We’re confident we can capture the hearts and minds of consumers in the fast-moving market with our smartphone camera technology and other convenient features.”

 K10 Key Specifications:*

  • Chipset: 1.5 GHz Octa-Core
  • Display: 5.3-inch HD In-cell Touch (1280 x 720 / 277ppi)
  • Memory:
    • K10+ : 3GB RAM / 32GB ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)
    • K10: 2GB RAM / 16GB ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)
    • K10α : 2GB RAM / 16GB ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)
  • Camera:
    • K10+ : Rear 13MP / Front 8MP or 5MP (Wide)
    • K10: Rear 13MP / Front 8MP or 5MP (Wide)
    • K10α : Rear 8MP / Front 5MP
  • Battery: 3,000mAh (embedded)
  • Operating System: Android 7.1.2 Nougat
  • Size: 148.7 x 75.3 x 8.68mm
  • Weight: 162g
  • Network: LTE / 3G / 2G
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.2 / USB 2.0 Type B / NFC
  • Colors:
    • K10+: Moroccan Blue / Terra Gold
    • K10 : Astro Black / Moroccan Blue / Terra Gold
    • K10α: Astro Black / Terra Gold
  • Other: Fingerprint Scanner / FM Radio / Flash Jump Shot / Music Flash /

Time Helper / Quick Capture / Quick Shutter

K8 Key Specifications:*

  • Chipset: 1.3 GHz Quad-Core
  • Display: 5.0-inch HD On-cell Touch (1280 x 720 / 294ppi)
  • Memory: 2GB RAM / 16GB ROM / microSD (up to 32GB)
  • Camera: Rear 8MP / Front 5MP
  • Battery: 2,500mAh (removable)
  • Operating System: Android 7.1.2 Nougat
  • Size: 146.3 x 73.2 x 8.2mm
  • Weight: 152g
  • Network: LTE / 3G / 2G
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b, g, n) / Bluetooth 4.2 / USB 2.0 Type B
  • Colors: Astro Black / Moroccan Blue / Terra Gold
  • Other: FM Radio / Flash Jump Shot / Music Flash / Time Helper / Quick Capture / Quick Shutter

Facebook Introduces New Feature in Pakistan to Help Increase Blood Donations

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Lahore  – Today, Facebook is launching a blood donations feature in Pakistan to make it easier for people to sign up to be blood donors, and to help connect donors with people and organizations in need. Pakistan, like many countries, has a shortage of safe blood. In some cases, this shortage means patients and their families are responsible for finding donors to replace the blood they receive from blood banks or hospitals. This can cause high-stress situations as people try to find blood donors on their own. Many people are reaching out to their networks on Facebook. There are thousands of posts each month in Pakistan seeking blood donors on Facebook, and over 100,000 people in blood donation groups.

This is where Facebook can help, by finding ways to more efficiently bring blood donors, people and organizations together. We have worked together with non-profit organizations, health industry experts, potential donors and people who have used Facebook to find blood donors to ensure that this feature was designed to be useful to people. We recently launched a similar tool in India and Bangladesh, where nearly 7 million people have signed up to be blood donors on Facebook.

Making It Easier to Become a Blood Donor
Starting today, people using Facebook in Pakistan will be able to sign up to be blood donors either on their profiles or by visiting facebook.com/donateblood. All information will remain private and set to Only Me by default, but people can choose to share their donor status more widely. This feature will be available on Android, iOS and desktop.

Connecting People and Organizations with Blood Donors
We’re also make it easier for people and organizations, such as blood banks and hospitals, to connect with blood donors on Facebook.

  • When people are seeking donations, they will be able to create special posts to spread the word or go to facebook.com/findblooddonors. Facebook will automatically notify blood donors who may be nearby to help. Donors can then review the request and, if they wish to respond, contact the requester directly through a phone call. The requester won’t be able to see any information about the donor, unless the donor explicitly provides it when he or she replies.
  • When organizations are hosting a blood camp event in Pakistan, they will be able to create an event on Facebook and nearby blood donors will be automatically notified. Donors can review the event and indicate if they’re going or interested.

HemaBudaraju, Head of Product, Health at Facebook: “We hope that by increasing awareness and providing tools for people and organizations in need to connect with those who are willing to help, we can make it easier for people to donate blood.”

Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer, National Coordinator, Safe Blood Transfusion Programme, Ministry of National Health Services, Government of Pakistan: “Safe Blood Transfusion Programme is proud to work with Facebook. We believe Facebook’s Blood Donation feature will help us address a key programmatic challenge for us, that is reaching a younger population of potential donors. We are confident that now this gap will soon become history.”

Dr Saeed Elahi, Chairman, Pakistan Red Crescent Society: “Safe blood saves lives and improves health. For 70 years, the Pakistan Red Crescent has worked to prevent and alleviate human suffering. We believe Facebook’s Blood Donation feature will make it easier for people in need to find donors and increase blood donations overall. Thousands of people seek blood donations every month in Pakistan and today the Facebook Blood Donation tool will help raise awareness of and the importance of reliable access to safe blood in Pakistan.”
People in Pakistan can go to facebook.com/donateblood to learn more and sign up to be a blood donor. For organizations interested in using the blood donations feature, contact us here.

*****

 

Pakistan’s E-Commerce Market Size Exceeded $600 Million in 2017: SBP Reprts By Adam Dawood (Head of Yayvo.com)

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The State Bank of Pakistan has released their official numbers showing the actual size of the e-commerce market. Before delving into its analysis, let us first take a look at the numbers in full.

Data Sources

The two primary sources of the data are:

  1. Annual Performance Review (APR) 2016 – 2017 – Payment Systems – link
  2. First Quarterly Report (FQR) 2017-2018, Special Section 2 – Online Payments Platform – link
Metric Number Date Range Report
Number of Online Transactions (Prepayment) 1.2 M FY17 APR
Value of Prepayment Transactions (Locally) Rs. 9.8 B[1] FY17 FQR
Value of Prepayment Transactions (Internationally) Rs. 20.7 B FY17 FQR
Ecommerce Merchants (Locally) 571 FY17 APR
USD : PKR 105 30/06/17 Business Recorder

Quick Analysis

Based on the report, we can deduce that, on average, every prepayment order in Pakistan had a basket size greater than Rs. 8,000 and each of the 571 merchants processed about Rs. 17M in prepayment orders on average.

Metric PKR USD
E-commerce Market Size in Pakistan (Prepayment) Rs. 9.8 B $ 93 M
Average Order Size (Prepayment) Rs. 8,167 $ 77.8
Average Revenue per Merchant (Prepayment) Rs. 17.2 M $ 163.5 K

Judging the “Cash on Delivery” Market Size

Not all e-commerce transactions are done through pre-payment. For instance, in the large marketplaces and brand stores, most of the payments are made via cash on delivery terms. To accurately gauge the e-commerce market size, we have to make an assumption on the volume of transactions processed via Cash on Delivery (COD).

Most of the other industry professionals claim that payments made through Cash on Delivery account for about 90% of all e-commerce transactions. However, that figure represents the number of transactions rather than the volume of transactions.

In my analysis, I have found that customers are more likely to pay for higher value orders via prepayment rather than COD. Yayvo, for example, had 76% of its orders below Rs. 1500 paid via COD, while 60% of its orders above Rs. 5000 were paid via prepayment.

 

Yayvo.com Revenue Breakdown according to Payment Method (2017)
Order Value (PKR) COD Prepayment
0-2500 75.86% 24.14%
2500-5000 57.97% 42.03%
>5000 39.99% 60.01%

 

I still believe that during the Fiscal Year 2017, the market was still very nascent to the idea of prepayment. I would estimate that COD was at minimum 85% of the total market for payments. This means that the e-commerce market size in Pakistan is ~Rs. 65 Billion or ~$620 Million.

 

Assumption of COD Market Size COD Market Size (PKR) Total Market Size (PKR) Total Market Size (USD)
95% 186.2 B 196.0 B 1.90 B
90% 88.2 B  98.0 B 933 M
85% 55.5 B 65.3 B 622 M
80% 39.2 B 49 B 467 M
70% 22.9 B 32.7 B 311 M

Other Assumptions

Not all e-commerce sites process their online payments in Pakistan. Within the fiscal year ending in 2017 (July 2016 – June 2017), large e-commerce players such as Careem, Uber, and FoodPanda processed their payments via international gateways. Their prepayment revenue is unlikely to be counted within the local e-commerce market size but is counted in the international volume of transactions instead.

I am assuming that there was no duplication of the online acquirers when the State Bank was collecting this data. For example, JazzCash and EasyPay both used the MCB e-Gateway to power their platforms during this period. I am assuming that the State Bank did not count these numbers twice when collecting the figures submitted by EasyPay/JazzCash and MCB respectively. This is especially important given that EasyPay had over 350 merchants and JazzCash over 150 merchants by June 2017, which possibly makes them the largest online acquirer’s in Pakistan.

E-commerce Merchants

According to the State Bank, there are 571 e-commerce merchants in Pakistan. Typically, the e-commerce merchants that come to mind are players such as Daraz.pk and Yayvo.com. We have to dismiss players like FoodPanda, Careem, and Uber because their payments are not processed in Pakistan.

Other large merchants include ticketing platforms such as Pakistan Railway and PIA, amongst others. Pakistan Railway, in its first two months, reported a revenue of Rs. 100M from online sales. In addition, an article in November 2017 stated that UBL had made more than Rs. 1 Billion from online sales through Pakistan railway alone.

Conclusion

The overall e-commerce market size is much bigger than what many industry insiders estimate. After reviewing and examining the numbers, my conclusion is that the e-commerce market size transcended $600M in the 12-months period between July 2016 and June 2017.

I believe the number will be much higher in the current financial year (June 2017 to July 2018). A case in point is Yayvo, which is on course to grow their revenue by at least 3x this year. Therefore, the overall market, even with 2x growth, would rise to approximately $1.2 Billion. This means we will be crossing the $ 1 Billion e-commerce revenue mark two years before the 2020 deadline we had set.

Source URL: http://yayvo.com/blog/pakistans-ecommerce-market-in-2017/

[1] There is a difference in the volume of transactions indicated in the two reports. I will be taking into account the numbers given in the FQR because those stated in the APR are provisional. However, the FQR does not show the number of transactions (my assumption is that they would have risen). Therefore, since the FQR does not give full information, I will use the APR numbers.

 

BASF shows significant growth in 2018

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Lahore – Following a successful 2017 business year, BASF has had a good start to the year 2018. “Last year, we achieved significant growth and were able to further increase our profitability. Moreover, we laid important groundwork for the future development of our company – in terms of both people and strategy,” said Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, at the presentation of the 2017 Annual Report in Ludwigshafen.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, BASF Group posted sales of €16.1 billion, which represents growth of 8% compared with the same quarter of 2016. Prices rose by 9%. BASF’s sales volumes increased by 4%; this was driven by all segments with the exception of Oil & Gas. By contrast, negative currency effects were significantly higher and reduced sales by 5%. Income from operations (EBIT) before special items in the fourth quarter was €1.9 billion, up by 58% from the same period of the prior year. The significantly higher earnings in the Chemicals, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas segments as well as in Other compensated for lower earnings in the Functional Materials & Solutions and Performance Products segments.

Economic activity picked up in many countries worldwide in 2017. “We took advantage of this upturn and markedly increased our full-year 2017 sales and earnings compared with the previous year,” said Bock. Thanks to good demand, BASF sold greater volumes in all divisions and considerably increased its profitability. Higher prices, especially in the Chemicals segment, also contributed to this. Overall, BASF’s sales grew by 12% to €64.5 billion. One contributing factor was the Chemetall business acquired at the end of 2016, which offers tailor-made solutions for metals surface treatment.

BASF’s earnings rose even more sharply, by around one-third. The company achieved EBIT before special items of €8.3 billion, with a significant contribution coming from the Chemicals segment. Higher margins and volumes in the basic chemicals and intermediates businesses more than offset the lower margins in some of BASF’s specialties businesses. Earnings in the chemicals business – which comprises the Chemicals, Performance Products and Functional Materials & Solutions segments – were significantly higher than in the previous year. EBIT before special items in this business was €7.3 billion, up by 26% versus the
prior-year figure.

Earnings per share increased from €4.42 to €6.62, equivalent to a rise of 50%. Adjusted for special items and amortization of intangible assets, earnings per share amounted to €6.44, compared with €4.83 in the previous year. With regard to the development in the regions, Bock said: “We were particularly pleased with our strong growth in Asia, where our investments in recent years have paid off. Thanks to higher margins and increased volumes, we were able to double our earnings in Asia to €2.2 billion, making it the most profitable region for BASF.”

For 2018, BASF expects the global economy and chemical production to grow at roughly the same pace as in 2017. Further growth is expected in all regions and BASF anticipates a continuation of the recovery already underway in Brazil and Russia. In addition to these generally positive baseline conditions, however, BASF also sees increased market volatility. Furthermore, the U.S. dollar is having a negative impact on sales and earnings.

For its outlook, BASF assumes the following economic conditions for 2018 (prior-year figures in parentheses): Global economic growth of +3.0% (+3.1%);     Growth in global chemical production of +3.4% (+3.5%); An average euro/dollar exchange rate of $1.20 per euro ($1.13 per euro); An average oil price (Brent) of $65 per barrel ($54 per barrel). “In this environment, we want to continue to grow profitably and achieve a slight increase in BASF Group’s sales and EBIT before special items in 2018,” said Bock.

Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ introduced

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LAHORE –  Samsung Electronics has introduced the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, the smartphones that reimagine the way people communicate, share and experience the world. Made for an age in which consumers increasingly communicate and express themselves more with images, videos and emojis, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ drive innovation with Samsung’s advanced camera. Redesigned with a new Dual Aperture lens that powers an innovative low light camera, Super Slow-mo video capabilities and personalized AR Emoji, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ ensure users do not miss a moment and make their everyday epic.
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ deliver an enhanced entertainment experience with powerful stereo speakers tuned by AKG, immersive audio with Dolby Atmos® and a refined edge-to-edge Infinity Display1– a key staple in Samsung’s design heritage. In addition, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ will come with the new SmartThings app, which unites Samsung’s existing IoT services into one single, smart experience.
“The way we use our smartphones has changed as communication and self-expression has evolved,” said DJ Koh, president and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy S9 and S9+, we have reimagined the smartphone camera. Not only do the Galaxy S9 and S9+ enable consumers to shoot great photos and videos anywhere, it’s a smartphone that’s designed to help them connect to others and express themselves in a way that’s unique and personal to them.”

Zong 4G Relieves Customers from Forced Network Shutdown

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Lahore – Zong 4G was victorious at the Islamabad High Court on the issue of suspension of services/network closures as a result of directives issued by PTA from time to time. The decision by Islamabad High Court also held that the Federal Government and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority are not vested with power and jurisdiction to suspend or cause the suspension of mobile cellular services or operations on the ground of national security except as provided under section 54(3) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996.

Moreover, the court accepted the plea of Zong 4G  and held that actions, orders and directives issued by the Federal Government or the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority are inconsistent with the provisions of section 54(3) of Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996 and are declared as illegal, ultra vires and without lawful authority and jurisdiction.

The suspension of mobile services is a cause of distress for the customers, especially in time of a civil unrest. It is a time when they need the services the most to reach out to their loved ones. Owning to this need, Zong 4G has reaffirmed its position of putting its customers before all priorities. Through the unrelenting focus on customers’ needs , Zong 4G is leaving no stone unturned to ensure best , reliable and most affordable service delivery for its customers.

Zong 4G continues to build its network and services around the unique requirements of new-age data customers, balancing affordability with seamless connectivity.