Allied Bank donates Rs60 million to combat COVID-19

Allied Bank donates Rs60 million to combat COVID-19

LAHORE - In the wake of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Allied Bank has provided financial support to various NGOs and hospitals in the country by way of donating PKR 60 Million which also includes a contribution to the Prime Minister’s COVID Relief Fund 2020.

Allied Bank has proactively supported the government and society to address the impact of this pandemic through the provision of immediate relief to deserving people. The Bank has conducted food distribution drives in Sind, Punjab, Baluchistan, KPK, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir in collaboration with multiple NGOs including Edhi Foundation, Akhuwat, Robin Hood Army, Orange Tree Foundation, Alamgir Welfare Trust, Deaf Reach and Progressive Education Network (PEN), etc.

Additionally, Allied Bank has also provided direct financial assistance to the country’s leading hospitals and medical centers including Shaukat Khanum, Dow University, Indus Hospital and the Institute of Public Health, Punjab for arranging diagnostic kits, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Bio-medical machines/research and allied health care facilities. 

Over the years, Allied Bank has remained a valuable contributor to the country’s social welfare and development horizon especially in the areas of health and education. The Bank will remain dedicated to further play its part and extend continued support to help the society and communities to steer through these trying times. At the same time, Allied Bank is committed to providing seamless banking services across the country, especially through its digital channels during the lockdown to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country. 

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EMPG and OLX Group announce merger of MENA and South Asia businesses

EMPG and OLX Group announce merger of MENA and South Asia businesses

• Deal includes OLX Group's businesses in Pakistan, Egypt, the UAE and Lebanon

• The agreement brings a US $150 million cash injection led by OLX Group with participation from existing EMPG shareholders

• EMPG valued at US $1 billion post transaction

Lahore, 29 April, 2020: Emerging Markets Property Group (EMPG), a leading property portal group in emerging markets, and OLX Group, Prosus’s global classifieds business, have announced their merger in Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon and the UAE. The agreement includes a US $150 million investment round, led by OLX Group along with existing EMPG shareholders, which values EMPG at US $1 billion after the transaction. As part of the deal, OLX Group will contribute its operations in the four countries into EMPG and will become EMPG's largest single shareholder, owning 39% of the company. 

EMPG will use the new capital to develop a range of new services, creating a more seamless user experience, enhancing data transparency, and deepening market intelligence for both consumers and business users. In Egypt and Lebanon, EMPG will operate the existing OLX platforms, rolling out new services for the real estate community, as well as offering consumers a superior experience across all categories. In Pakistan and the UAE, both groups’ platforms will be operated by EMPG and will continue to operate through their well-known local brands. 

The aggregated value of properties sold in these markets is estimated at US $90 billion, providing a commission pool for real estate agencies of over US $2 billion per annum. This presents a great opportunity for EMPG to enhance their real estate services in these markets. 

“EMPG has grown at a tremendous pace since its inception,” said CEO Imran Ali Khan. “Our unique ability to scale using our proprietary tech has aided and enabled this expansion. This deal puts us one step further in our journey towards providing solutions in multiple markets to over a billion consumers around the world, expanding our classifieds offering significantly." 

Martin Scheepbouwer, CEO of OLX Group, says "I'm proud of what we have built in these four markets. Our brands are household names, and currently help tens of millions of people to exchange goods and services every month. The next phase is an exciting one, with EMPG’s real estate industry expertise helping deepen the customer experience. As EMPG’s largest shareholder, we'll have a front seat to explore how we can scale their services model further - taking our ambition to shape the future of classifieds into its next stage."

EMPG is currently present in the GCC region with Bayut, Pakistan with Zameen, Bangladesh with Bproperty, Morocco and Tunisia with Mubawab, and Thailand with Kaidee. After this deal, besides expanding to Egypt and Lebanon, EMPG will also operate OLX's platforms in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, and the dubizzle platform in the UAE. 

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EMPG Acquires Thailand’s Largest Online Marketplace Kaidee

EMPG Acquires Thailand’s Largest Online Marketplace Kaidee

Parent company of Pakistan property portal Zameen.com expands operations with acquisition of Kaidee

EMPG, the parent company of Pakistani property portal zameen.com, this week announced that it had acquired Thailand’s largest online marketplace, Kaidee, expanding its footprint in the South Asia region. 

According to a press release issued by EPMG, the transaction was closed in February 2020 for an undisclosed sum. Following the acquisition, Kaidee joins Zameen (Pakistan); Bayut (Gulf Cooperation Council); Bproperty (Bangladesh); and Mubawab (Morocco and Tunisia).

Headquartered in Bangkok, Kaidee was founded in 2011 and quickly rose to become the leading online marketplace in Thailand, a Southeast Asian nation of nearly 70 million people. The portal boasts a strong brand and sizeable traffic figures, and features more than 30 different categories of goods and services.

“Thailand is one of the most exciting, dynamic markets in Southeast Asia, and its real estate and auto verticals are some of the largest in the region,” EMPG CEO Imran Ali Khan said of the deal, adding that the Group’s approach to online marketplaces was consumer-driven and localized. “Kaidee has a rich history in Thailand and has built a very strong brand on the back of extraordinary focus on technology and connecting consumers, and we look forward to investing significant resources to take the business to the next level,” he added.

EMPG co-founder and zameen.com CEO Zeeshan Ali Khan also welcomed Kaidee into the group. “EMPG is a quickly growing family, and we are happy to see Thailand’s top marketplace join its ranks,” he said. “This acquisition comes with a number of opportunities to learn and grow for both parties, and capitalizing on them is going to be very important. We look forward to stepping into the broader marketplace dynamic, and in turn hope to impart significant experience on the real estate vertical side,” he added.

Kaidee CEO Tiwa York was equally effusive in his praise for the acquisition and his organization’s new parent company. “EMPG is at the forefront of the global online marketplace industry and has grown to prominence given its focus on providing localized solutions to each market in which it operates,” he said. “This acquisition will allow Kaidee to accelerate its plans to provide market-leading solutions to Thailand across all of our verticals,” he added.

With the conclusion of the deal, Imran Ali Khan and EPMG senior executive Mark Nosworthy have joined the Kaidee Board of Directors.

EMPG owns and operates property verticals and online marketplaces in emerging markets. It invests heavily in tech and R&D, with dedicated tech centers in Romania, Spain, and Pakistan. EMPG is present in over 50 cities across these geographies, with 4,500+ employees.

Kaidee offers 31 main product categories and boasts 7 million unique visitors and 600 million pageviews/month. It was founded in 2015.

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JS Bank, Mahvash & Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation and Partners Donate Rs. 10 Million to Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan to Fight COVID-19

 JS Bank, Mahvash & Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation and Partners Donate Rs. 10 Million to Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan to Fight COVID-19

In its effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and build capacity in the national healthcare system, JS Bank and its partners today donated Rs. 10 Million to the Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan. In addition, the Bank donated another Rs. 7.35 Million to Indus Hospital for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The donation was made under the Rs 110 Million fund the Bank has deployed with its partners to counter the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pakistan. Addressing immediate and long-term challenges, the fund’s three-tiered strategy revolves around immediate relief through provision of rations, provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to medical and other frontline institutions, and medical and technological Research and Development.

The support package will go towards virus testing, medical services to affected individuals and procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits.

‘As a responsible national company, JS Bank is committed to supporting the leaders in the fight against COVID-19.’ said Basir Shamsie, President & CEO, JS Bank Limited upon extending the contribution. ‘Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan has been at the forefront of this effort across Pakistan and we thank the entire medical fraternity for their efforts and sacrifices on behalf of the people of Pakistan.’

Abdul Karim Ajanee, Chairman, Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan acknowledged the support: “Fighting COVID-19 requires a collective and sustained effort. AKHS is partnering with corporates, government, and civil society institutions to provide access to quality health care particularly in vulnerable and remote communities. The support extended by JS Bank and its partners will help our efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.”

Committed towards its role as a catalyst towards the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, JS Bank hopes to continue this journey of impact and will support Pakistan’s endeavor to respond to this pandemic during these trying times.

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Customers can donate to Prime Minister’s COVID Fund with convenience through UPaisa

Customers can donate to Prime Minister’s COVID Fund with convenience through UPaisa

Islamabad, April 29, 2020: UPaisa customers can now donate to Prime Minister’s Corona Relief Fund and Shaukat Khanum with convenience through UPaisa’s funds transfer facility. Donations can be sent to multiple organizations which are working for the relief of daily wage workers and other deserving households by simply dialing *786#. Customers can select “donation” option after which they can punch the desired amount. 

Cash can be transferred to various funds and organizations including PM’s COVID Relief Fund, Akhuwat Foundation, Jabir Bin Hayyan Trust, Shaukat Khanam Memorial Trust, Shifa Foundation, Shifa Eye Trust and Vision Forty Seven Foundation. 

The initiative allows swift digital collection of relief funds while ensuring social distancing. Being a people centric brand, UPaisa has always focused towards customer enablement and providing convenience while staying at home is a testament of its commitment to support Pakistanis during these difficult times. The provision of smart solutions such as these will allow people to respect the lockdown and at the same time help the ones who are finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet. 

As a socially responsible organization Ufone advises all its customers to adopt preventive measures against Coronavirus. These include washing hands thoroughly and often, with soap, for 20 seconds, avoid shaking hands, especially with those who appear to be ill, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible, disinfect shared surfaces, such as doorknobs, bathroom taps, or table tops, stay home when sick and maintain distance of at least 1 meter from any individual. By adoption of basic protective measures we can keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

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#Hadees - Musalman tou woh hai... .. #Urduquotes #Islamicquotes #Quoteoftheday Quote of the day

#Hadees - Musalman tou woh hai...   ..  #Urduquotes #Islamicquotes #Quoteoftheday  Quote of the day 

#quoteoftheday #quotes #urduquote #urdushayari #urduquotes #quoteoftheday #quotes #urduquote #urdushayari #urduquotes

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Zameen's parent group EMPG and #OLX Group Announce Merger of MENA and South Asia Businesses

Zameen's parent group EMPG and OLX Group Announce Merger of MENA and South Asia Businesses

Emerging Markets Property Group (EMPG), a leading property portal group in emerging markets, and OLX Group, Prosus’s global classifieds business, have announced their merger in Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon and the UAE. The agreement includes a US $150 million investment round, led by OLX Group along with existing EMPG shareholders, which values EMPG at US $1 billion after the transaction. As part of the deal, OLX Group will contribute its operations in the four countries into EMPG and will become EMPG's largest single shareholder, owning 39% of the company.

EMPG will use the new capital to develop a range of new services, creating a more seamless user experience, enhancing data transparency, and deepening market intelligence for both consumers and business users. In Egypt and Lebanon, EMPG will operate the existing OLX platforms, rolling out new services for the real estate community, as well as offering consumers a superior experience across all categories. In Pakistan and the UAE, both groups’ platforms will be operated by EMPG and will continue to operate through their well-known local brands.

The aggregated value of properties sold in these markets is estimated at US $90 billion, providing a commission pool for real estate agencies of over US $2 billion per annum. This presents a great opportunity for EMPG to enhance their real estate services in these markets.

“EMPG has grown at a tremendous pace since its inception,” said CEO Imran Ali Khan. “Our unique ability to scale using our proprietary tech has aided and enabled this expansion. This deal puts us one step further in our journey towards providing solutions in multiple markets to over a billion consumers around the world, expanding our classifieds offering significantly."

Martin Scheepbouwer, CEO of OLX Group, says "I'm proud of what we have built in these four markets. Our brands are household names, and currently help tens of millions of people to exchange goods and services every month. The next phase is an exciting one, with EMPG’s real estate industry expertise helping deepen the customer experience. As EMPG’s largest shareholder, we'll have a front seat to explore how we can scale their services model further - taking our ambition to shape the future of classifieds into its next stage."

EMPG is currently present in the GCC region with Bayut, Pakistan with Zameen, Bangladesh with Bproperty, Morocco and Tunisia with Mubawab, and Thailand with Kaidee. After this deal, besides expanding to Egypt and Lebanon, EMPG will also operate OLX's platforms in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, and the dubizzle platform in the UAE.

“EMPG has grown by leaps and bounds since its founding and Zameen has been a pivotal part of this journey” said EMPG Co-Founder and Zameen.com CEO Zeeshan Ali Khan. “Reaching unicorn status is another great milestone, and it is a testament to the treasure trove of opportunities that the Pakistani tech ecosystem and the country’s real estate industry have to offer. I am happy to see the increasing global interest in Pakistan, and with the wealth of talent here, I am sure many more success stories await. I would like to welcome OLX Pakistan and Dubizzle to the EMPG family. Digital infrastructure has become a necessity of life and now is the time for this industry to truly claim its place in the economy, and I hope to see that happening in Pakistan's online sector more than ever before.”

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Bank Alfalah records profit after tax of Rs. 2.821 billion

Bank Alfalah records profit after tax of Rs. 2.821 billion

Karachi, April 28, 2020: The Board of Directors of Bank Alfalah Limited in its meeting held on April 26, 2020, approved the Bank’s unaudited condensed interim financial statements for the quarter ended Mar 31, 2020.

The Bank’s pre-tax profit and post-tax profit stood at Rs. 4.757 billion and Rs. 2.821 billion respectively, translating into an EPS of Rs. 1.59 per share (Mar 2019: Rs. 1.76). The profit for the first quarter of 2020 depicted a decline of 9.6% versus the same period last year. This is mainly due to prudent approach adopted towards provisioning against both the credit portfolio and investment impairment. On credit front, certain loans have been subjectively downgraded, while full impairment charge has been taken on equity book instead of availing the relaxation allowed by SBP of deferring charge over the year.

On the revenue front, net markup income and non-markup income showed combined growth of 7.7% with strong contribution from FX income of Rs. 1.056 billion. Last year net Markup income included recovery of suspended markup on a non-performing loan. Non Markup income was impacted by bearish stock market sentiments amid corona virus fear. 

Non-markup expenses were higher by 19.4% compared to same period last year largely driven by higher investment in IT and digital channels, regulatory compliances, full period impact of 49 new branches opened last year along with overall impact of inflation and rupee devaluation. 

Total deposits reported at Rs. 755.135 billion, lower than December 2019 level, which is a customary decline in the first quarter. The Bank’s gross advances were reported at Rs. 520.436 billion. At the quarter end, our gross advances to deposits ratio stands at 68.9% while CASA ratio at 80.6% and remains amongst the highest in the industry. The Bank non-performing advances stood at Rs. 23.502 billion and NPL ratio at 4.5%, being one of the lowest infection ratios in the industry. 

Bank’s Investment book has accumulated hefty unrealized revaluation gains on government securities which can increase the bank’s profitability in the following quarters.    

The shareholders’ equity of the Bank improved marginally despite payment of dividend approved by the shareholders in the AGM held in March 2020.  At the close of first quarter, the Bank remains adequately capitalized with CAR at 17.25%. 

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S-Paisa Partners With Bank Alfalah for PM’s Ehsaas Kafalat Program in AJ&K and GB

S-Paisa Partners With Bank Alfalah for PM’s Ehsaas Kafalat Program in AJ&K and GB

Special Communications Organization (SCO), has joined hands with Bank Alfalah as a payment solution provider under Prime Minister’s Ehsaas Kafalat Program in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

With this contractual partnership, beneficiaries under the program will be able to collect cash via biometric verification through SCO’s mobile financial service “S Paisa”.

The disbursement of cash assistance to the deserving families under PM Ehsaas Kafalat Program is underway across the country including AJ&K and GB.

Under the program, through biometric verification, a sum of twelve thousand rupees each will be disbursed among poor families affected by the ongoing lockdown in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic.

Distribution of relief package through S-Paisa retail channels is already in full swing across AJ&K and GB since 9 April 2020 with more than 30,000 deserving, poor and needy families having received the payment.

For the smooth distribution of payment under PM Ehsaas Kafalat Program to each family, the government has developed over 70 campsites in AJ&K and around 90 Campsites in GB where payment of relief package is being managed.

Special precautionary measures are also taken by SCO to protect the people from the Coronavirus at the campsites and the dedicated staff is transparently distributing cash by performing standard preventive sanitization activities. No complaints of mismanagement were received from any location and the public was happy with the overall arrangements.

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UNICEF and Microsoft launch global learning platform to help address COVID-19 education crisis

UNICEF and Microsoft launch global learning platform to help address COVID-19 education crisis

NEW YORK: UNICEF and Microsoft Corp. today announced the expansion of a global learning platform to help children and youth affected by COVID-19 continue their education at home.

The Learning Passport started off as a partnership between UNICEF, Microsoft and the  University of Cambridge, and its departments Cambridge University Press and Cambridge Assessment, designed to provide education for displaced and refugee children through a digital remote learning platform. It has now undergone rapid expansion to facilitate country-level curriculum for children and youth whose schools have been forced to close due to COVID-19. The platform will also provide key resources to teachers and educators.

“From school closures, to isolation, to a persistent sense of fear and anxiety, the effects of this pandemic are impacting childhoods worldwide,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “We need to come together and explore every avenue to keep children learning and help them through this difficult time. With long-term partners like Microsoft, we are able to swiftly deploy innovative, scalable solutions for children and youth. The adaptations made to the Learning Passport are a powerful reminder of what we can achieve together for children as the crisis deepens globally.”

According to the latest available data from UNESCO, 1.57 billion students have been affected by school closures in more than 190 countries worldwide.[1]

The Learning Passport, which has been in development for the past 18 months, was due to start as a pilot program this year. When the global pandemic hit and schools were closed worldwide, the program underwent rapid expansion of its reach. Now all countries with a curriculum capable of being taught online will be able to facilitate online learning for children and youth with devices at home.

Kosovo, Timor-Leste and Ukraine – which have closed their school gates in the past weeks to help halt transmission of the virus – are the first to roll out their online curriculum through the Learning Passport. The content available to schoolchildren includes online books, videos and additional support for parents of children with learning disabilities.

“Just as COVID-19’s impact has no borders, its solutions must not have borders, as it requires the collaboration across public and private sectors to ensure every student stays engaged and continues learning,” said Brad Smith, president of Microsoft. “UNICEF’s Learning Passport is uniquely positioned as a scalable learning solution to bridge the digital learning gap for millions of students to bring their classroom into their home during the pandemic.”

Children and young people continuing their education online can do so through a country-specific platform, accessed via their country’s learningpassport.unicef.org page. The platform for each country provides a digitized curriculum with textbooks and a selection of supplemental content, in national languages, that is jointly curated at country-level to best serve learners’ and educators’ specific needs. The Learning Passport captures a record of the curriculum subjects each student learns and guides learners with little additional support needed.

The Learning Passport is an example of how UNICEF partners with business – based on a shared-value approach, where producing social value and addressing its challenges also makes perfect business sense.

The Learning Passport is part of the Generation Unlimited Global Breakthrough on Remote Learning and Work that aims to use technology to address challenges faced by learners, facilitators and education providers, particularly in conflict-affected and humanitarian contexts. Generation Unlimited is a global multi-sector partnership to meet the urgent need for expanded education, training and employment opportunities for young people.

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Depilex Group gives Guidelines For Salons to Ensure Social Distancing

Depilex Group gives Guidelines For Salons to Ensure Social Distancing

As the coronavirus pandemic shut down cities and cloistered people indoors around the world, reports of the number of coronavirus cases are rising, so are fears for workers in the beauty industry. The beauty sector is a significant and emerging industry that enables thousands of young boys and girls within the trade to benefit and earn their livelihood. Fear of the coronavirus has led people to stockpile hand sanitizer and skip handshakes, but people still want to look their best, and the beauty industry can't work from home. 

On the one hand, when Quarantine has cut people off from their daily life in ways that are both immediately obvious and imminently catastrophic.In this regard, the Depilex beauty group has come forward to play their part in fighting this situation by supporting the government as well as the people in these difficult times. They have introduced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) according to the international standards of WHO that not only ensure the safety of customers and salon but also ensure a safe workplace for the service providers i.e., the salon staff. The director of the group, Redah Misbah appeared in an interview to discuss what can be done to fight this pandemic. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGbjtT3OK6c&feature=youtu.be 

There are three in-depth documents ensuring health safety and hygiene. The main features include safe service to the esteemed clients by booking appointments to avoid the rush. Filling up questionnaires to know about the clients' one-month history, their routine (traveling or if they had a cough or a fever, symptoms of pneumonia caused by the virus).Taking high standards for keeping the business clean, i.e., sterilization of tools, equipment, brushes, scissors, etc.The cleaning would be done on an hourly basis that includes disinfecting doorknobs, bathrooms, and all surfaces that customers touch. 

These procedures are carefully developed by a team of their top professionals who have vast and cumulative expertise of providing the best in the business while keeping in mind standards of health and safety precautions. The beauty business is a way for women all across Pakistan to sustain and support their families; therefore, Depilex beauty salon is opting to keep it alive as the country faces economic struggles. 

Depilex Beauty Clinic isn't protesting to lift the lockdown, but they are appealing to the government to review, consider, and circulate their SOPs among the masses. They want the entire industry to be prepared as a whole to fight the pandemic; therefore, they have shared these documents openly at the government level and hope that salons shall be allowed to operate if they strictly take the necessary precautions.

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation & Engro Foundation collaborate with new funding to support poverty alleviation, health & nutrition initiatives in Pakistan

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation & Engro Foundation collaborate with new funding to support poverty alleviation, health & nutrition initiatives in Pakistan

Karachi: Engro Foundation, the social investment arm of Engro Corporation, has signed a three-year Memorandum of Cooperation with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to promote the well-being of vulnerable and marginalized segments of the society in Pakistan.

Under the cooperation agreement, the organizations will also explore opportunities to support the Government of Pakistan’s poverty alleviation program for deserving families, whose incomes have been adversely affected by the coronavirus lockdowns.

Engro Foundation will be representing the philanthropic endeavors and mission of The Dawood Foundation and its affiliates as well. Both organizations will also evaluate other areas of mutual interest, such as nutrition, agriculture development, financial inclusion, women empowerment, and health of mothers and children. In addition to program specific cooperation, the organizations will benefit from shared experience and learnings related to grant making, including strategy development, grant implementation and operational support.

The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by Ghias Khan - President & CEO of Engro Corporation and Trustee of Engro Foundation, and Dr Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

According to Hussain Dawood, Chairman of Engro Corporation, “It gives me great pleasure to announce the collaboration between Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Engro Foundation. Our partnership is based on shared values of human dignity, respect and integrity. I would like to express my profound appreciation to Bill & Melinda Gates for their generosity towards Pakistan."

Ghias Khan, President & CEO of Engro Corporation and Trustee of Engro Foundation, added that, “To help Pakistan achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, there is a need to forge new partnerships and engage resources across all sectors. Together with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we are excited about investing in long-term solutions that address the country’s socio-economic challenges and create sustainable impact in our communities”.

This new collaboration continues the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s more than decade-long work in Pakistan and builds on the support already committed to Ehsaas in 2019. Other foundation programs have covered a range of shared development priorities, including polio eradication, financial inclusion, routine immunization, typhoid control, and maternal, neonatal and child health. Polio eradication remains a top priority for the foundation and the Government of Pakistan. Pakistan is one of only two countries still affected by wild poliovirus.

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Hafeez Aziz resigns from Chairman KCCI Law & Order Sub-Committee & Chief PCLC

Hafeez Aziz resigns from Chairman KCCI Law & Order Sub-Committee & Chief PCLC

KARACHI: Chairman, Law and Order Sub-Committee, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) and Chief Police Chamber Liaison Committee (PCLC) Hafeez Aziz, has resigned from both his posts.

In his resignation to the Secretary KCCI, Hafeez Aziz said that in connection with the progress in the case of businessman Hammad Poonawala, who was arrested a few days ago on the charge of violating lockdown, he shared an audio with responsible and senior member of KCCI Majeed Memon, who is also chairman of the KCCI’s Special Committee on Small Traders.

Hafeez Aziz mentioned in his resignation that the audio contained an important goodwill conversation between him, Additional IG Karachi and SSP City, which was aimed solely at informing the progress of the case.

He instructed Majeed Memon repeatedly not to share the audio as it was just for his ears & consumption only and for his advice. Yet not understanding the grave implications, Majeed Memon made the audio viral amongst the business community and on social media.

Hafeez Aziz said that due to above it has strained and effected his relations with the law enforcement agencies specially the Police Department as they also came to know about the leak of the audio through the social media. 

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Dawlance launches the latest e-Commerce website for unmatched convenience

Dawlance launches the latest e-Commerce website for unmatched convenience

Lahore: At a time, where the whole of humanity is making unified efforts to fight against a pandemic, by ensuring social-distancing, a lockdown has also been enforced by the Pakistan government to protect its people. However, there is an opportunity in every challenge and the current situation has also unleashed the tremendous potential of digital connectivity. It is enabling the world to communicate and work cohesively, sharing real-time information and moving rapidly towards e-Commerce, on a much larger scale.

Dawlance – the leading producer of home-appliances in Pakistan, is a highly innovative and progressive enterprise, which has taken an exemplary initiative at this most suitable time. In order to provide the people with high quality electronic products, at their doorstep, with unmatched convenience, Dawlance has launched its highly advanced e-Commerce facility by creating a user-friendly website. The consumers can simply place orders for their favourite appliances, round-the-clock, from the comfort of their homes, or even on-the-go. The products are delivered right at their doorstep, while the buyer doesn’t need to leave their home.

 With modern and aesthetically designed layout, the website is made while keeping consumer journey in mind. Interestingly the website is carrying along the www.dawlance.com.pk legacy URL which everyone is already accustomed to. Overall website is divided into corporate and product section which fulfils the purpose of specific website visitors. Additionally, the home page has direct category tabs, access to media, new arrivals and most importantly a live chat widget which will be active 24/7 where queries will be looked after by community management team. Most importantly, considering that 74 million people in Pakistan have 3G or 4G connection and Dawlance has 80% mobile visitors the website is mobile responsive.

One of the most important sections incorporated in the new website is the SHOP NOW section, which is the utmost need of the hour for consumers. Dawlance consumers can now buy their favourite DAWLANCE appliance from the comfort of their living rooms either on COD or debit/credit card without any hassle. This is a much-needed feature that will greatly help Dawlance serve its customers at all times.

‘Life at Dawlance’ is another exciting page, highlighting info-tainment activities, awareness events held by Dawlance, to reflect the fun-side of the brand. It also tells the world about the personal achievements and passions of the Dawlance personnel. While the “About us” section provides a deeper understanding of the vision, objectives, corporate philosophy, investments, research and social-contributions of Dawlance and its leadership. Therefore, this website provides insights and inspiration to our domestic-consumers, corporate customers, export-clients, employees and all other stakeholders of the industry, about Dawlance as a responsible and sustainable enterprise, with great contributions towards the socio-economic development of Pakistan, for over 40 years now.

Arçelik – the largest enterprise in Turkey & 3rd largest manufacturer in Europe, took over Dawlance in 2016, with an initial investment of more than 36 Million Euros, followed by well over 16 million Euros of investments, by the year 2019. It has already enabled rapid expansions and competitive advantage, in production-machinery, technology-research, product-development and brand-building capacity. This global collaboration promises tremendous enrichments in Dawlance’s access to investments, resources and R&D expertise backed with multi-national experience. It inspires more robust performance and a broader vision, with strict compliance to global standards of quality, safety and energy-conservation.

Last year, Dawlance had also pioneered an ‘Internet-of-Things’ (IoT) platform, through a powerful mobile-app named – SYNC, to bring revolutionary convenience in Pakistan. This enables all forms of electronic hardware in appliances and devices to communicate and interact with each other, over the Internet. So, the consumers can remotely monitor and control all their electronic products, on-the-go.

For more details, log on to www.dawlance.com.pk.

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The Coca-Cola Company announces strategic partnership with Microsoft to transform global engagement and experiences

The Coca-Cola Company announces strategic partnership with Microsoft to transform global engagement and experiences

ATLANTA, April 27, 2020 — The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: “KO”) on Monday announced a five-year agreement with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: “MSFT”) to standardize its business operations on Microsoft’s cloud and deliver rich new digital experiences that will provide innovative solutions to modernize how the company engages with employees and customers.

With this agreement, the companies will utilize the capabilities of Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365 and Microsoft 365. These solutions will help The Coca-Cola Company gain new insights from data across the enterprise, enabling a 360-degree view of the business, and providing enhanced customer and employee experiences.

“At The Coca-Cola Company, innovation and growth are key pillars of our business,” said Barry Simpson, senior vice president and chief information and integrated services officer of The Coca-Cola Company. “This partnership with Microsoft allows us to really step change our employee experience through replacing previously disparate and fragmented systems. These platforms allow us to deliver relevant, personalized experiences as we network our organization.”

“Coca-Cola is a pioneer and forward-thinking leader in its industry,” 

said Judson Althoff, executive vice president, Worldwide Commercial Business, Microsoft. 

“Today, the company is taking its digital innovation a step further, leveraging Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365 and Azure to better connect people and opportunities through breakthrough productivity and powerful information management that will drive continued business success over the next decade.”

Building on the goal of empowering employees with a networked way to access information and support, the company has expanded beyond a chat interface and designed a compelling and comprehensive app-based experience available on employee mobile devices. The Coca-Cola Company is also deploying Dynamics 365 Customer Service, the Power Platform and Microsoft Teams to all its employees, updating productivity with the enhanced security that runs across Azure and Microsoft 365 cloud services.

Once deployed, new Dynamics 365 AI-driven insights and real-time dashboards will allow call center managers to monitor performance metrics for overall employee satisfaction scores and benefit from real-time insights into which call topics are driving scores. These investments will also enable The Coca-Cola Company to access the latest innovations in the Dynamics 365 portfolio of applications and expanding capabilities that offer a true 360-degree customer and business view, unifying processes and providing forward-looking intelligence, enabling employees to proactively drive decisions and action.

The Coca-Cola Company is also rolling out Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams worldwide, equipping employees with a single hub to connect and collaborate across chat, calling, meetings and documents. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Coca-Cola Company is leveraging Microsoft’s collaboration technologies to support the increased demand of a largely remote workforce. These technologies are enabling The Coca-Cola Company to host many internal meetings on a global, regional and local scale, and with the global shelter-in-place mandates, on April 21, 2020, the company held a virtual quarterly earnings townhall meeting for employees using Microsoft 365 Live Events, which enables “broadcast-style” video presentations for large-scale audiences, both live and on demand.

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PTCL Group Contributes Rs. 100 Million to PM’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund-2020

PTCL Group Contributes Rs. 100 Million to PM’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund-2020

Being one of the largest telecom group and backbone of connectivity in the country, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has contributed Rs. 100 Million to the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund-2020 to support the government’s efforts and serve the nation during these trying times.

Rashid Khan, President and CEO, PTCL & Ufone, presented the cheque to Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan. Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Secretary, Ministry of IT & Telecom (MoITT) and Chairman Board of Directors, PTCL, was also present on the occasion.

Rashid Khan lauded the efforts of the government to curb the spread of Coronavirus and promised support in future also to all their relief efforts. He also informed the Prime Minister that PTCL’s subsidiary Ufone is facilitating its users to contribute to the PM’s Corona Relief Fund by sending an SMS at 6677.

During this crisis, PTCL Group stands with the people of Pakistan and is committed to support individuals, their families and communities countrywide.

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Emirates reaffirms customer commitment with ramp up of refunds capability

Emirates reaffirms customer commitment with ramp up of refunds capability

Dubai, UAE, 26 April 2020 – Emirates has ramped up its capability to process refunds, reaffirming its commitment to customers and travel trade partners impacted by travel disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With nearly half a million refund requests pending to manage, the airline has taken proactive steps to restructure its backend procedures and boost resourcing to accelerate the processing of refunds. Pre-pandemic, Emirates processed an average of 35,000 refund requests in a month. Now it is gearing up to handle 150,000 per month, and aims to clear its current backlog by early August. 

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: "It is a difficult time for us, as it is for all airlines. We are dipping into our cash reserves by being proactive in processing refunds, but it is our duty and responsibility. We would like to assure our customers and trade partners that we will honour refunds, and that we are doing our best to speed things up. 

"The situation was dynamic in the early weeks of the pandemic, but we have since re-written our COVID-19 waiver policy into a simple, globally-applied approach that puts customers first. We've also proactively contacted those of our customers who had submitted earlier requests for refunds or booking changes, to let them know of the new options available to them.

"We sincerely hope that our customers and trade partners will choose to book and fly with Emirates again at a later time. For those who have opted to hold their tickets or exchange it for travel vouchers, we look forward to welcoming you on our flights again soon. Announcements will be made whenever we are able to resume services." 

Customers who wish to request travel vouchers or refunds can easily do so via an online form on Emirates' website, or contact their travel booking agent for assistance.

Emirates offers three options to its customers affected by flight cancellations and travel restrictions:

• Simply keep their existing ticket for up to 24 months, and call to reschedule their flight when they are ready to fly. Emirates has extended this option to apply to any ticket booked on or before 30 June 2020, for travel on or before 30 November 2020.
• Exchange the unused portion of their tickets for a travel voucher equivalent to the amount paid for their original booking. The travel voucher can be utilised for any Emirates product or service, with no change fees, providing customers more flexibility to reschedule when they are ready to travel again.
• Refunds. Customers who have opted to keep their ticket or opted for a travel voucher can still apply for a refund, if they are unable to travel. There will be no refund penalties.

Customers who have booked through travel agents should contact their agent for assistance. The same options will apply.

More information on Emirates' waiver policy, and our latest flight and business information relating to COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/help/covid-19/

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Instagram Launches New Tools to Support [Small/Local] Businesses

Instagram Launches New Tools to Support [Small/Local] Businesses

Instagram has launched new tools to support small businesses. Given the challenges many SMBs are facing during COVID-19, we want to empower people to support their favorite businesses. For many businesses right now, every sale helps.

Starting 25 April 2020, businesses in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka can now share food orders in Instagram Stories and as a button on their profiles. 

"For many small businesses right now, we know that every sale helps. We want to do our part in helping them stay open, keep in touch with customers, and stay informed on how to navigate this crisis. This new tool makes it easier for people to make delivery food orders from small businesses on Instagram” - Kaylie Smith, Head of Market Operations, Instagram APAC.

More tools to roll out in the coming weeks to support the businesses that people love in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. 

Here’s more information on how people in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka can order Delivery & Take-Away Food through Instagram:

• Business accounts can activate a “Order Food” button on their Instagram profile by adding their delivery partner link in Settings, under Action Buttons. Businesses can also add a “Order Food” sticker to their Instagram Stories, which is now available in their Stories tray.
• People can tap on the Stories sticker or profile button, and will be taken to the food order platform to complete their purchase. People can also re-share the Stories stickers in their own Stories to encourage their followers to support a small business.

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Carrefour Pakistan installs disinfectant gates at all stores to protect its shoppers and staff amid the growing Coronavirus threat

Carrefour Pakistan installs disinfectant gates at all stores to protect its shoppers and staff amid the growing Coronavirus threat

Karachi, April 27, 2020: Carrefour, operated in Pakistan by Majid Al Futtaim has implemented strict hygiene and safety protocols across all its stores in the country to protect its shoppers and staff from this global pandemic. In addition to the earlier implemented safety and hygiene measures which included ongoing cleaning of floors in areas with fresh foods, twice daily cleaning of all walls and work surfaces and daily cleaning of all equipment, Carrefour Pakistan has recently installed disinfectant gates at the entrance of all its stores in Pakistan, being another important safety and hygiene measure to help control the spread of coronavirus in Pakistan.

Additionally, employees have been asked to sanitise their hands every hour, and as an extra precaution in customer contact areas, hand sanitiser dispensers have been stationed for shoppers at the entrance, fresh food sections and at cash counters. Masks and gloves have also been provided to all employees stationed at fresh food sections, including the bakery, while designated members have been deputed to specific tasks of disinfecting trolley handles after each use once they’re returned to the parking bays. For all online orders, it is being ensured that the delivery drivers and food packers abide by strict hygiene standards by wearing gloves and masks for customer safety. All these measures are inline with guidelines issued by public health authorities to protect the shoppers.

Carrefour continues to ensure that both its physical and digital stores remain operational and fully stocked to provide customers with what they need when they need it during this challenging crisis. Despite an uptick in demand of cleaning and sanitisation products, supply chain is being rigorously equipped to deliver essential products to the customers. All efforts are being made to maintain the prices while valued customers are also being encouraged to shop responsibly based on their needs, as there is enough supply for everyone. Carrefour Pakistan remains committed to supporting its suppliers and providing its customers with the best and freshest food options possible, despite the ongoing challenges.

Jean Marc Dumont, Country Manager of Carrefour Pakistan at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, commented: “In these challenging times, we are trying our best to safely facilitate the daily needs of our customers by keeping our stores operational and  maintaining highest standards of hygiene and precaution. We request all our customers to remain calm during this crisis and continue with their routine activities while taking precaution as advised by public health authorities.”

Carrefour is conscientiously monitoring the situation to respond to any evolving needs of its customers in a timely manner while the situation further intensifies in Pakistan.

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