Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Launches HOPE Consortium’s World Immunisation & Logistics Summit with global leaders in healthcare and philanthropy

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Launches HOPE Consortium’s World Immunisation & Logistics Summit with global leaders in healthcare and philanthropy 

• H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed calls for the world to come together in order to accelerate the pace of vaccination globally and achieve full recovery
• Together, with partners, the HOPE Consortium is developing the capacity to safely deliver 18 billion vaccine doses anywhere in the world by the end of 2021

Abu Dhabi, 30  March, 2021 – The HOPE Consortium’s World Immunisation & Logistics Summit, was opened by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation with a call to enhance collaboration in the world’s approach to tackle COVID-19 and ensure a healthier future for all. 

The two-day virtual Summit, hosted in by Abu Dhabi, kicked off today under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with the participation of acclaimed global healthcare and philanthropic leaders, decision makers, experts and senior government officials, to explore a unified global approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In his inaugural address, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah said, “Our destiny as nations is linked, as global health security depends on the well-being of all societies.”

Describing the Hope Consortium as a historic announcement that has added to the UAE’s efforts to combat the pandemic globally, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah said that the UAE, being a leading global logistics hub, has played a major role in supplying many countries with the resources they need to overcome the pandemic. 

“We are moving quickly, utilising our infrastructure and logistics capabilities and the geographic proximity with Africa, Asia and Europe, to offer medical and food aid to many countries. Our HOPE Consortium has gathered its expertise to secure more vaccines for the world. The faster we can vaccinate populations, while ensuring equitable and fair access to vaccines in a cost effective manner, the faster we can overcome the virus and begin to recover globally. The UAE will continue to work with partners and play a leading role to accelerate the pace of recovery from this crisis.”

The opening session also featured keynote addresses by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), on ‘Coordinating a global response to mitigate the public health and economic impact of the pandemic’; by Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF on ‘Ensuring equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccines’; and an address by Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation titled ‘No one is safe until everyone is safe: Uniting to vaccinate the world.’  

Speaking about the importance of the Summit, Dr. Tedros said: “Vaccines are giving us hope of bringing the pandemic under control. But we can only do that if we use vaccines strategically to suppress transmission everywhere at the same time. The gap between the number of vaccines administered in rich countries, and the number of vaccines administered through Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (Covax) is growing every single day. WHO applauds the efforts of the Hope Consortium initiative led by the Government of the UAE. We look forward to working with you to frame a partnership in support of the Covax facility.”

The first panel discussion titled ‘Cooperation and Collaboration: The collective human effort to save lives and support global economic recovery’ brought together a cross-section of industry thought-leaders, that included: H.E. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, H.E. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), Prof. José Manuel Barroso, Board Chair at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). They each shared their perspectives on how the world has come together to respond to the key challenges of the pandemic through global partnerships, and shed light on their corresponding actions and learnings.

H.E. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi said: “In the midst of a pandemic and as countries mobilise to cope with new waves, Abu Dhabi Ports and HOPE Consortium are ready to shoulder the support for the region, and the entire world. Together with our partners, we are developing the capacity to safely deliver 18 billion vaccine doses anywhere in the world. Along the way, we welcome new partners to join our efforts and our global goal, to turn the tide and stop the spread.”  

‘COVID-19 Vaccines Pharma and Manufacturers’ panel focused on the global pharmaceutical research community’s historic achievement in developing vaccines in record time to save and protect lives. The audience heard from notable speakers including Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHO Chief Scientist, and Stanley C. Erck, President and CEO of Novavax.

In the panel discussion on Abu Dhabi’s collaborative role in the fight against Covid-19, H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary, Abu Dhabi Department of Health, underlined Abu Dhabi’s commitment to the global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. He said: “The world is facing a global health crisis unlike anything our generation has ever seen before. Abu Dhabi is now at the forefront in distributing the world’s vaccines through its partnerships and logistic solutions.”

Additional panelists in this session included Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Chairman of the HOPE Consortium Executive Committee and Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports; Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare; Tony Douglas, Group CEO of Etihad Aviation Group, and Abdulla Al Shamsi, Director of New Initiatives, UAE Clusters Unit, UAE Investments, at Mubadala Investment Company.

Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said: “The infrastructure, technology, and capabilities of Abu Dhabi Ports and our partners are key to making our collective mission a success. Since the start of the pandemic, Abu Dhabi Ports has risen quickly to the challenge and has built its logistics capabilities in a short time to the world class level it is at today – from our cold and ultra-cold storage centres to our specialised fleet of logistics vehicles enabling us to distribute large volumes of vaccines safely, transparently and effectively.”  

A session themed ‘On the Road: From Production to those in need began with a panel discussion on ‘Ensuring Supply Chain Integrity’, that looked at the fundamental role of technology in maintaining vaccine integrity through all stages of the supply chain. 

The session also highlighted the next phase of the global pandemic response, which includes delivering vaccines globally and how this challenge can be addressed through effective transportation and technology, including data-enabled supply chains and blockchain solutions.

Panelists leading the discussion included Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri, CEO of Maqta Gateway; Richard Ettl, co-founder and CEO of SkyCell; Jack Muhs, Regional President, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa at FedEx Express; and Robert Sutton, Head of Logistics Cluster at Abu Dhabi Ports.

The first day of the summit concluded with a panel session on ‘Mobilising global supply chains through integrated logistics solutions’. This session brought together a range of global experts including Robert Coyle, SVP, Pharma and Healthcare Vertical at Kuehne + Nagel; Martin Drew, SVP Sales and Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group; Thomas Kipp, COO of Aramex; Jean-Cedric Meeus, Chief of Transport at UNICEF; Tarek Sultan, CEO and Vice Chair of Agility; and Wesley P. Wheeler, President of UPS Healthcare, to discuss pressing challenges such as overcoming cold chain challenges, ensuring vaccine integrity during transport and overcoming network shortages.

A fully interactive, virtual 3D exhibition and networking zone took place alongside the Summit offering attendees the opportunity to meet and network with key local and international stakeholders. The recently released agenda provides a preview on the topics and delegates, and can be viewed here. To register and secure your slot at the virtual Summit, please click here.

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School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS) at the IBA Karachi Holds Conference on “Economics and Sustainable Development”

Global Experts to grace 1st International Conference on “Economics and Sustainable Development”at IBA Karachi

Growth and economic stability, coupled with urban resilience and its impact on utility services are some of the few pressing issues that the Pakistani economy must deal with in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. To address these social development issues, the School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS) at the IBA Karachi, in collaboration with the Centre of Business and Economic Research, will be hosting the 1st International Conference on “Economics and Sustainable Development”. The 3-day conference is scheduled to be held from April 2-4, 2021 at the IBA City Campus.

The goal of the conference is to bring creative local and global ideas, best practices, and evidence-based solutions for the challenges faced by Pakistan and the world. The conference has attracted eminent speakers from around the world and aims to act as a bridge between the industry experts and the academia.

Celebrated economist and an accomplished author, Dr. Lant Pritchett from the University of Oxford will deliver the keynote address while Mr. Yasuyuki Sawada, Chief Economist, Asian Development Bank, Dr. Hafeez Pasha, Former Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Social Protection, Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, SAPM on Revenue, and many renowned personalities will add value to the ensuing discussions.

The research themes for the conference include Public Finance and Fiscal Policy, Growth, Development and Population Policy, Environment and Climate Change, Macroeconomics and Forecasting among other essential topics of concern. The conference will entail panel discussions with field experts, paper presentations from international researchers, technical sessions with eminent academics, poster sessions and a doctoral symposium.

Speaking about the significance of this conference, Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director IBA, said, “This inaugural conference will touch upon current macroeconomic issues, having a policy as well as an academic context. For those who are interested in contemporary issues, the panels discussions with industry experts will be helpful.” 

Dr. Asma Hyder, Dean SESS, invited participants to engage in discussions revolving around sustainable development. “We hope to build a dialogue around human development and equality and make a concerted effort to rebuild our future.”

The audience of the conference would include participation from federal and provincial government departments, academic and research institutions, corporate sector, and local and international NGOs. The Asian Development Bank, Engro Corporation, and K-Electric have partnered with the IBA in organizing this conference.

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Meezan Bank to streamline Outfitters’ Transaction Banking Collection Services

Meezan Bank and Outfitters join hands for Transaction Banking Collection Services

Karachi, March 31, 2021: Meezan Bank, the Best Bank in Pakistan recently joined hands with Outfitters, a fashion retail brand to streamline their Transaction Banking Collection Services. Under this agreement, Meezan Bank, through the provision of its state-of-the-art online banking solution, named eBiz+, will enable Outfitters to fully automate its outlet collections. The partnership will further create value for Outfitters by serving as an end-to-end transaction banking solution delivering efficiency, controls and operational excellence while ensuring world class cyber security standards.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Muhammad Abdullah Ahmed – Group Head, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Meezan Bank & Mr. Faisal Farooq – Group CFO, Outfitters.  Also present were Mr. M. Saqib Ashraf – Head of Transaction Banking, Meezan Bank and Mr. Kamran Khursheed – CEO & Founder, Outfitters.

Mr. Muhammad Abdullah Ahmed, while speaking at the occasion said, “We are pleased that this strategic partnership between the two organizations will enable Meezan Bank to provide innovative and secure transaction banking solutions to meet Outfitters’ growing business needs.”

Mr. Kamran Khursheed also commended the Bank for providing Transaction Banking services and bringing forth operational integrity and efficiency in Outfitter’s collections. Outfitters has a longstanding relationship with Meezan Bank and is committed to strengthening this further.

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Hashoo Group to Open another Hotel One in the City Of Bahawalpur

Hashoo Group to Open another Hotel One in the City Of Bahawalpur 

ISLAMABAD: The new hotel will attract both leisure and business travellers to explore the historical city of Bahawalpur Islamabad, Tuesday, 30th March 2021 – For Immediate Release  To recreate the charm of travelling to a contemporary city with a royal past, the new Hotel One will be opening its doors soon to travellers in Bahawalpur, the City of Nawabs.In this connection, a ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Mr. Haseeb Gardezi, Chief Operating Officer – Hashoo Group Hospitality Division, Mr. Waqar Qureshi, Director Development – Hotel One, and Mr. Makhdoom Murtala Muhammad, the franchisee of Hotel One in Bahawalpur. 

Hashoo Group is the leading and largest chain of hotels in Pakistan who own and operate the five-star Pearl-Continental, Marriott and the select-service Hotel One brands in Pakistan.Located on Ahmedpur Road, this will be the second Hotel One in the City of Nawabs and will feature 50 elegant rooms, offer all-day dining at an in-house restaurant and cater to banquet and conference facilities at multi-purpose halls. Moreover, the upcoming hotel will be located in the business district of Bahawalpur.

Upon construction, the hotel will reflect the historic architectural heritage that the iconic city of Bahawalpur is famous for.Bahawalpur was once a princely state of Pakistan located in Punjab, famous for its timeless grandeur and was the city of residence for the royal families. Bahawalpur is now known for its monuments dating back from that glorious era. The city lies at the edge of the Cholistan Desert and serves as the gateway to the nearby Lal Suhanra National Park and to various desert motor sports events such as the famous Cholistan Rally.

History buffs, adventure enthusiasts, and travellers can explore the city for its rich heritage, comprising royal palaces such as Noor Mahal and Darbar Mahal, Derawar Fort, Tomb of Bibi Jawindi, and Abbasi Jamia Masjid Qila Derawar, and much more. The launch of this hotel will not only contribute to domestic employment but will also provide tourists’ quality lodging facilities within their reach.

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Learning Resource Network (LRN) signs agreement with Extreme Commerce Magna Carta College (ECMCC)

Premier UK education qualifications made available in Pakistan

Learning Resource Network (LRN), signed an agreement with Extreme Commerce Magna Carta College (ECMCC) for UK qualifications on to UK universities to pursue UK’s quality higher education from Pakistan. The agreement was signed by Muhammad Zohaib Tariq, CEO of LRN, and Mr. Hameer Ali, General Manager – ECMCC.

The agreement was signed in the presence of His Excellency, Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner, Karachi and UK Trade Director Pakistan.

Earlier this month, ECMCC was inaugurated by Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner, Karachi and UK Trade Director Pakistan along with Mr. Saeed Ghani, Provincial Minister of Sindh for Labour, Education and Literacy and Human Resources, Sindh.

The CEO of LRN, Muhammad Zohaib Tariq, said: “I am extremely proud and honoured that, Learning Resource Network is firmly established in Pakistan. Our partnership with ECMCC will enable Pakistani students to gain UK qualifications and progress on to UK universities thus opening up splendid opportunities to pursue a much treasured higher education.” He further said, “I would like to express my very special thanks to British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Mike Nithavrianakis, who very kindly attended the LRN and ECMCC launch ceremony.”

The British Deputy High Commissioner Karachi Mike Nithavrianakis and UK Trade Director Pakistan appreciated ECMCC’s mission of providing top-notch education and impeccable entrepreneurial skills that will enable the youth of today to become the leaders of the future.

Sunny Ali, Founder Extreme Commerce on the launch of the institution said, “We are extremely pleased to partner with the Magna Carta College and together, we will help build human capital at par with the international standards in Pakistan. Through the ECMCC partnership, we aim to provide quality educational resources to everyone in Pakistan and help enhance their career progression chances”.

In his message to the participants, Professor David Faulkner, Dean, ECMCC said, “With this partnership, we aim to help deliver quality education in Pakistan. This will enable Pakistani knowledge seekers to pursue their dream for a state-of-the-art UK education in Pakistan”. Sharing his vision for ECMCC, Mr. Ejaz Chowdary, CEO – Magna Carta College Oxford, shared, “ECMCC will provide a unique platform for Pakistani youth to develop themselves as future business leaders with an entrepreneurial acumen combined with the recognised British qualifications.”

Launched in 2011, LRN is recognised as an awarding organisation by Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). In producing its qualifications, LRN uses the skills of a variety of UK and International experts. This allows LRN to draw on the knowledge of a varied project team in utilising the experience and expertise of academics, professionals working in the pertinent industries. LRN relies on the wealth of industry practice and knowledge of validation, verification, delivery and assessment.

In April 2020, LRN received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. LRN is one of 220 organisations in Britain to be recognised with this prestigious accolade. This was recognition of the expansion which LRN has brought to the overseas qualification market.

LRN has been awarded international accreditation as part of its quality controls, policies, systems and overall approach to its management systems. These awards are externally validated by the British Assessment Bureau. LRN has achieved accreditation in the form of l ISO 9001: Business Management Systems, ISO 14001: Environment Management Systems and ISO 27001: Information Security Management Systems.

LRN has achieved the prestigious award of Customer Service Excellence by the Cabinet Office. This is in recognition of its customer service practices, approach to managing and dealing with UK and Overseas customer needs, including the diverse needs of its centres.

LRN was the first UK Awarding Organisation to be awarded Customer Service Excellence.

Following reaccreditation in 2019, LRN was awarded further in receiving Customer Service Excellence: Compliance Plus. This demonstrates how LRN went further in the delivery of its customer service principles.

Formed by the partnership between Extreme Commerce, Pakistan, and Magna Carta College, UK, ECMCC aims to serve as a modern scholastic and incubation hub in Karachi, Pakistan, where experienced national and international faculty and independent industry practitioners can teach the best of modern British management qualifications and skill-based learning against the background of digital technology-enabled change.

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Alesso, Lost Frequencies and R3hab Release New Tracks at Pubg Mobile Third Anniversary Performance This Sunday

Alesso, Lost Frequencies And R3hab Release New Tracks At Pubg Mobile Third Anniversary Performance This Sunday

Superstar DJs team with world’s most popular mobile game for three-year anniversary in-game event on Sunday, March 21, also revealing upcoming Karakin map

Karachi– March 31, 2021 – PUBG MOBILE celebrates its third anniversary this weekend with a momentous celebration campaign. World-renowned musicians Alesso, Lost Frequencies and R3HAB will perform a live set including three brand-new singles in an unprecedented livestream party both in-game and on YouTube for battle royale fans and dance music listeners alike. Alesso’s “Going Dumb”, Lost Frequencies’ “Rise”, R3HAB’s “Stars Align” will all debut as new singles on the virtual stage in PUBG MOBILE beginning March 21. The festivities begin at 11 a.m. UTC in-game and 1 p.m. UTC on the official PUBG MOBILE YouTube channel on Sunday, March 21.

Earlier this month, PUBG MOBILE received the Version 1.3 update, delivering a “HUNDRED RHYTHMS” music-themed wave of new content. Today, official PUBG MOBILE social media accounts confirm the presence of three world-famous DJs for an in-game performance, fitting for three years of action-packed mobile gaming fun. Stockholm-based dance music producer Alesso, Belgian musician Lost Frequencies and Dutch-Moroccan DJ R3HAB will each present a new song live performance during the party. All three will also participate in a special celebrity showmatch, alongside famous gaming influencers from regions around the world. 

As part of the music festival, players can now land in the electronic music square in Erangel, Spawn Island and Cheer Park to enjoy sample clips from the three DJs at the virtual DJ stage. On and after March 21, Alesso’s new single “Going Dumb”, Lost Frequencies’ new single “Rise”, R3HAB’s new single “Stars Align” and iconic Kpop group BLACKPINK’s remix version of “DDU-DU DDU-DU” hit single will be released for the first time ever for music fans in the PUBG MOBILE world. 

In addition to the livestream party, Version 1.3 game modes rage on, along with fresh rewards in Royale Pass Season 18. On the day of PUBG MOBILE’s three-year anniversary, mobile players can have a glimpse of the rugged Karakin map for the first time ever in advance before Karakin is released later in April. Set in a desolate desert wasteland with countless caves and tunnels, Karakin’s two-by-two kilometer battleground further intensifies PUBG MOBILE battle royale action. 

Stay tuned for more details about the three-year anniversary celebration via official PUBG MOBILE accounts on Facebook, Instagramand YouTube. 

PUBG MOBILE is available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play.  

ABOUT Alesso

Hailing from Stockholm, Alesso is one of Dance music's most treasured producers. Alesso is a global maverick in the industry having garnered nearly 2 billion streams. His list of collaborations is filled with a mix of eclectic artists ranging from OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, Calvin Harris, Tove Lo, Liam Payne, Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso, Hailee Steinfeld, Florida Georgia Line, Anitta, and more. In 2020, he released “Midnight” featuring superstar, Liam Payne. The record received praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Harper’s Bazaar, MTV, and graced national television on The Late Late Show With James Corden and Good Morning America. When he’s not releasing music, he’s touring the world, headlining festivals and selling out clubs and venues alike. 

ABOUT Lost Frequencies

Felix De Laet, better known by his moniker Lost Frequencies, has soared to success in the international music industry over the past half-decade. Releasing his global smash hit ‘Are You With Me’ back in 2014 with the track rapidly ascended by hitting multi-platinum status, taking the #1 spot in 18 countries and becoming the first Belgian artist to hit #1 in the UK. In 2018 Lost Frequencies amassed over 1 billion streams, that as of 2020, has eclipsed over 3.5 billion. From show-stopping live appearances, to career-making studio hits, Lost Frequencies continues to soar to a meteoric rise at his own accord.

ABOUT R3HAB

Dutch/Moroccan DJ and producer Fadil El Ghoul, better known as R3HAB, has been trailblazing his way through dance music for the better part of the last decade. From his breakthrough hit remix of Afrojack, Pitbull and Ne-Yo's "Give Me Everything" to his dance anthems, "All Around The World (La La La)" and "Lullaby," which have collectively amassed +600M streams, to his collaborations with ZAYN, Sofia Carson and more, R3HAB has proven himself as one of most talented artists in the game. In 2016 he founded label CYB3RPVNK, which passed one billion streams on its catalog within its first two years.

About BLACKPINK 

BLACKPINK is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment. The quartet consists of JISOO, JENNIE, ROSÉ, and LISA. BLACKPINK had captured the hearts of audiences from the moment they released their debut single [SQUARE ONE] in August 2016. Since then, they have turned every single they release, such as “DDU-DU DDU-DU” and “Kill This Love”, into hit songs, making their foray into global superstardom. Spurred by this success, BLACKPINK became the first female K-pop band invited to perform at Coachella in 2019, the largest music festival in the U.S.  In 2019, they successfully finished a world tour spanning 23 cities, 4 continents, 32 shows, and 4 Japanese dome tours. In October 2020, BLACKPINK had released the first full album “THE ALBUM”, topped prominent music charts, and recognized by numerous prestigious awards. 

The band's global influence keeps growing, and it is shown with their recent collaborations with international pop artists such as Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez and Cardi B. 

BLACKPINK had completed their first live stream concert, “THE SHOW” on YouTube on Jan 31, 2021 with success. Now Various projects such as solo projects for each member are under way.

ABOUT PUBG MOBILE

PUBG MOBILE is based on PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS, the phenomenon that took the world of interactive entertainment by storm in 2017. Up to 100 players parachute onto a remote island to battle in a winner-takes-all showdown. Players must locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles and supplies, and defeat every player in a visually and tactically rich battleground that forces players into a shrinking play zone. 

For more information, please visit the official PUBG MOBILE accounts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Visa announces to allow the use of the cryptocurrency USD Coin to settle transactions on its payment network

Visa Becomes First Major Payments Network to Settle Transactions in USD Coin

Visa has announced that it will allow the use of the cryptocurrency USD Coin to settle transactions on its payment network.

Visa has spent the last year establishing a pathway for digital currency settlement within Visa’s existing treasury infrastructure, a platform that moves billions of dollars each day across thousands of institutions in more than 200 markets and 160 currencies. Working with Anchorage, Visa has launched a pilot that allows Crypto.com to send USDC to Visa to settle a portion of its obligations for the Crypto.com Visa card program.

Visa’s standard settlement process requires partners to settle in a traditional fiat currency, which can add cost and complexity for businesses built with digital currencies. The ability to settle in USDC can ultimately help Crypto.com and other crypto native companies evaluate fundamentally new business models without the need for traditional fiat in their treasury and settlement workflows. Visa’s treasury upgrades and integration with Anchorage also strengthen Visa’s ability to directly support new central bank digital currency (CBDC) as they emerge in the future.

Jack Forestell, executive vice president and chief product officer, Visa, said:

“Crypto-native fintechs want partners who understand their business and the complexities of digital currency form factors. The announcement today marks a major milestone in our ability to address the needs of fintechs managing their business in a stablecoin or cryptocurrency, and it’s really an extension of what we do every day, securely facilitating payments in all different currencies all across the world.”

Kris Marszalek, Co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com said:

“We’ve seen record-breaking growth in our business and the broader crypto ecosystem over the last year. To continue accelerating the world’s transition to cryptocurrency, we need partners who understand the opportunity and the tools that will help us get to market faster and more efficiently. Having been a Visa partner for several years, we’re excited to deepen that relationship through our global agreement and to pioneer an exciting world-first in stablecoin payments.”

Diogo Mónica, Co-Founder and President of Anchorage, commented:

“Anchorage’s platform has been purposefully built for institutions like Visa to build new products in crypto. We’ve been with Visa every step of the way since 2019 and are extremely pleased to see these first stablecoin payment rails come to life through Anchorage APIs.”

David Puth, CEO of Centre, which oversees the licensing of USDC, said:

“Visa is leading the market with its innovative approach to payments in many forms. We are very impressed with their efforts. Having USDC on the Visa network is an outstanding next step in our mission to connect the world using stablecoins built on Centre standards, starting with USDC.”

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Emirates to operate special flight marking UAE vaccination milestone

Keep trust in air travel: Emirates to operate special flight marking UAE vaccination milestone

Dubai, 29 March 2020 – Emirates is showcasing the UAE’s remarkable progress in its vaccination programme with a special flight that will carry only fully vaccinated crew and passengers onboard.

On 10 April 2021, special flight EK2021 will depart Dubai International Airport at 12:00hrs local time, to cruise over various areas across the UAE. The flight will return to Dubai at 14:30hrs local time.

The one-off flight EK2021 is a unique event that not only celebrates the success of the UAE’s vaccination programme to date, but also highlights Emirates’ progress in vaccinating its staff and in particular its pilots and cabin crew. Aviation has been and continues to be an irreplaceable force for good, connecting people and cities, facilitating important trade flows and passenger journeys that bring economic prosperity and joy to millions of people.

Passengers will have the opportunity to experience Emirates’ newest A380 aircraft which features the airline’s brand-new Premium Economy seats, and refreshed cabin interiors across all cabin classes.

The Emirates A380 remains a customer favourite for its unmatched comfort and spaciousness. From the award-winning ice inflight entertainment experience, to the iconic A380 Onboard Lounge service for Business and First Class passengers, from a full-course gourmet meal in all classes to the friendly Emirates cabin crew, flyers can expect the full Emirates experience onboard this special flight.

Passengers travelling on EK2021 will be able to experience all of Dubai International Airport’s services and amenities on the ground before boarding.

In addition, customers can also try out first-hand, all the latest measures to help travellers enjoy a safe and smooth journey, including the new biometric and contactless technology which Emirates has recently implemented at the check-in areas and boarding gates at Dubai airport.

This month, Airbus has launched a travel companion app called “Tripset”. The application aggregates and provides flight and travel information to ease and restore passenger’s trust in their end-to-end journey when traveling by air during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tripset allows for passengers to be informed with the latest and most relevant travel conditions, restrictions and health requirements in place, without having to consult a variety of sources.

The UAE is one of world’s leading countries in administered vaccinations for citizens and residents, and has made four COVID-19 vaccines available for free to everyone. To date, over 8 million vaccine shots have been administered in the UAE, protecting over half of the UAE’s population.

The Emirates Group has supported the national vaccination programme by making COVID-19 vaccines readily available to its UAE-based workforce at multiple locations within the company’s premises. To date, over 35,000 Emirates employees have received their COVID-19 vaccine shot from one of the company’s vaccination centres, with over 85% of the airline’s pilots and cabin crew already receiving two doses of the vaccine.

Special flight details

Tickets for flight EK2021 will be available to UAE citizens and residents who have completed the two week period after their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Tickets can be purchased from the Emirates contact centre, Emirates sales offices in the UAE, as well as local travel agents. Tickets are priced at AED 1,000 per person in Economy, and AED 2,000 in Business Class. Customers can visit https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/about-us/get-on-board-ek2021/ for more information about the flight and to check the special terms and conditions.

All fares collected for this special flight EK2021 will be donated to the Emirates Airline Foundation, the airline’s non-profit charity organisation which supports projects around the world aimed at improving quality of life for disadvantaged children.

As with any regular flight, customers for special flight EK2021 will be expected to arrive at check-in with their flight ticket, from 3 hours before flight departure. They will be required to bring their UAE ID or passports, as well as vaccination certificate. All customers travelling on EK2021 will be provided pre-departure rapid Covid-19 testing, free of charge. In accordance with precautionary measures, customers must observe physical distancing protocols and wear their masks throughout the journey.

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FM Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi meets Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of 9th Ministerial Conference

FM Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi meets Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of 9th Ministerial Conference

ISLAMABAD (March 29, 2021) – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of the Asia – Istanbul Process in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, today.

During the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers discussed myriad dimensions of bilateral relations — including political and diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation, defence ties, and collaboration in education and cultural fields. Views were also exchanged on the regional situation.

Recalling Turkish Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan in January 2021, Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, based on shared history and commonality of views. He underlined that the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) had transformed bilateral relations into strategic partnership.

Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterated appreciation for Turkey’s principled and steadfast support on the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, which has been a source of strength for the Kashmiri people.

During the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers evaluated the latest developments in the Afghan peace process. Foreign Minister Qureshi briefed his counterpart on Pakistan’s consistent support for and positive contributions to the Afghan peace process. Underlining that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict, the Foreign Minister stressed that an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement was the only way forward.

The Foreign Minister added that the progress achieved since the beginning of the U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement and the commencement of the Intra-Afghan Negotiations in Doha should be preserved and further built upon to lead the process to its logical conclusion. The Foreign Minister also cautioned against the role of “spoilers”, both within and outside Afghanistan, who did not wish to see return of peace and stability in the region.

Expressing concern on the high level of violence, Foreign Minister Qureshi stressed the imperative for the Afghan parties to work for reduction in violence, leading to ceasefire.

The two Foreign Ministers also exchanged views on the proposed meeting on Afghanistan in Turkey.

Highlighting that Turkey was instrumental in establishing Heart of Asia–Istanbul Process (HoA–IP), Foreign Minister Qureshi stated that Pakistan valued this process to advance the shared goals of peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region.

The two Foreign Ministers agreed to remain in close contact and maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries.

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Jobs in Kuwait - Urgently Required Medical Doctors for Moh, Kuwait (Post 12) - Apply Latest by 20 April 2021

Jobs in Kuwait - Urgently Required Medical Doctors for Moh, Kuwait (Post 12) - Apply Latest by 20 April 2021

#Vacancies_Jobs #Jobs_in_Pakistan #Search_Job #Job_Alerts #Newspaper_Jobs #Jobs_in_Dubai, #Hospital_Jobs #University_Job #Karachi_Jobs #School_Jobs #Pakistan_Army_Jobs 

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Careem Helps GoP in Efforts of ‘COVID19 Vaccination’ Transport Service upon Its Super App

Careem joins government efforts, introduces a ‘COVID19 Vaccination’ transport service on its Super App

Careem has recently released a new feature in its Super App which enables users to book a ride to any Covid19 vaccination centre in Pakistan with just two taps.

The new “Get vaccinated” tool includes detailed information from official government sources on the vaccines being offered in the country, its eligibility, and the timings and locations of all centers across the country. Through the tool, customers can simply call the nearest vaccination center through the app and book a hassle-free ride, avoiding all traffic and parking issues.

“We are grateful to the local and federal government that has put in tremendous efforts to provide easy accessibility for citizens to get vaccinated. We wanted to play our role to encourage people of Pakistan who want to get vaccinated by making that process easier” said Zeeshan Baig, CEO and Country General Manager, Careem Pakistan.

Customers in all 10 cities where Careem operates, can access the new tool directly on the home screen of the app, underneath thumbnails of other rides, food, and delivery services. The app allows users to locate and book an appointment at the nearest vaccination centre as well.

The company said it observed a surge in the number of customers booking rides to vaccination centres as soon as the vaccination process started by the government earlier this month. Thus far, more than 10,000 customers have booked a Careem ride to be vaccinated. More than 350,000 vaccines have been administered across Pakistan according to data by Reuters COVID-19 Tracker.

To improve the customer experience and support the national vaccination efforts, Careem quickly created a special dedicated squad including product managers, designers and engineers to build the world’s first vaccination transport feature in an app. Due to most of the vaccination sites being newly established and not yet appearing on maps, Careem set out to pinpoint the location, phone number and operating hours of each site and built that information into the new tool.

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Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP) Aims to Facilitating Corporate Sector by Reducing Regulatory Burden

Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP) Aims to Facilitating Corporate Sector by Reducing Regulatory Burden

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Chairman, Aamir Khan, reiterated SECP’s commitment to outcome-based regulation by reducing regulatory burden, simplification of laws, and optimal use of technology.

He was addressing a virtual interactive session with the representatives of Pakistan Business Council (PBC) led by its CEO Ehsan Malik.

The SECP Chairman briefed the participants about key reforms undertaken by the SECP to promote ease of doing business, enhance access to finance, development of the capital market, and improve transparency in the Commission’s regulatory functions and its regulated sectors.

To facilitate the corporate sector and ensure the desired efficiency in processes, several reforms have been undertaken, including digital certificate of incorporation, creation of a special portal for banks to facilitate account opening, digitization of account opening process for residents and non-residents for investment in the capital market, etc.

He also highlighted several targeted measures implemented for reducing the cost of doing business and supporting companies in the wake of COVID-19.

He said that simplification of Buy Back Regulations, amendments in Further Issue of Shares Regulations, revamping of Private Funds Regulation, and the NBFC Regulations would facilitate business growth.

While apprising the participants about SECP’s roadmap, he said that the introduction of electronically signed Certified True Copies, replacing e-Services with a modern registry, simplification, and consolidation legal framework of statutory returns, and growth of the capital market, were key focus areas for the current financial year.

The SECP Chair assured the PBC members of a consultative approach while finalizing any regulatory changes.

On behalf of the Pakistan Business Council, the CEO appreciated the SECP’s efforts for ease of doing business (EOBI) and shared his thoughts as to how to further improve the business climate.

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SBP and CGA sign MoU for digitizing government payments through Raast

SBP and CGA sign MoU for digitizing government payments through Raast

ISLAMABAD, (APP Mar 29، 2021 ): State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Controller General of Accounts Pakistan (CGAP) Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for digitizing federal government payments through RAAST- Pakistan’s First Instant Payment System, launched in January 2021 by SBP.

Raast is a flagship initiative of SBP, which provides simple, fast, low-cost, interoperable and secure electronic payment platform for instant processing of high volume retail payments, said a press release issued here.

Raast also has the ability to make payments to multiple beneficiaries at a time in order to cater high volume government payments like salaries, pension and social security payments.

In the pilot phase, the salaries and pensions of a group of Federal Government employees will be paid through Raast.

The payroll and pension-roll data will be shared from CGA system to SBP’s Raast through a highly secured interface, and payments to the beneficiaries’ accounts will be made instantly after validating the beneficiaries’ detail. To ensure that payments are only credited in the intended beneficiary’s account, Raast verifies the beneficiaries’ details with their banks on real time basis before crediting the payment in beneficiary’s account.

After the pilot run, the facility will be rolled out to cover all the salaries, pension as well as supplier payments of the federal and provincial governments. SBP is also working to use the powerful capacities of Raast to include payments of social security nets such as the Ehsas Program, BISP and other government entities.

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Globally Acclaimed Leaders in Healthcare and Philanthropy join Lineup of Speakers at The World Immunisation & Logistics Summit

Globally Acclaimed Leaders in Healthcare and Philanthropy join Lineup of Speakers at The World Immunisation & Logistics Summit

Senior decision-makers including Director-General of WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Novavax among speakers. 

Abu Dhabi, 28 March, 2021 – Acclaimed global healthcare and philanthropic professionals, decision makers, experts and senior world government officials are joining the upcoming World Immunisation & Logistics Summit, a two-day event hosted by Abu Dhabi’s HOPE Consortium, to discuss a unified global approach to overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, outlining how success can only be achieved through solidarity and international collaboration.

Global speakers include Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO, Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF, Prof. José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Mark Suzman, CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanley C. Erck, President and CEO, Novavax, Nadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment, UK, Dr. E. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister of Health, Nigeria, Prof. Nachman Ash, COVID-19 National Coordinator, Israel, and Wesley P. Wheeler, President, UPS Healthcare. 

They will join H.E. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman, Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, H.E. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Ports, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and Honorary Chairman of Hope Consortium in discussing topics such as ensuring vaccine access for developing countries, addressing challenges relating to logistics and supply chain integrity, and feature focus panels on the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. 

The Summit is set to welcome over 1,000 senior decision makers, government officials, industry stakeholders, NGOs, and leading academics on March 29th – 30th, 2021. It will provide an open forum for global players to discuss the logistical challenges associated with vaccine transport and distribution with the aim of finding solutions to achieve mass and equitable worldwide vaccine access. 

H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and Honorary Chairman of Hope Consortium, said: “The HOPE Consortium reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to support regional and international efforts to combat the pandemic, in a manner that strengthens its strategic relationships with the consortium partners and leverages Abu Dhabi’s strategic positioning and outstanding logistics capability.”

He also stressed that “the Summit will come up with significant results through constructive discussions, which will in turn speed up the joint international efforts for hope and return of normal life to the rest of the world.

H.E. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), said: “The Summit is a testament to our ongoing commitment and dedication in cementing Abu Dhabi’s leading position as a trade and logistics hub to best serve humanity, with Abu Dhabi Ports playing a key role in making this possible through its advanced logistic capabilities. We will work with partners around the world to establish Abu Dhabi Ports as the central point for the distribution of vaccines and other pharmaceutical products and supplies, through our world-class cold storage and ultra-cold facility. This is not only for the COVID-19 pandemic, but also for the future of the world’s healthcare.

The Summit will play a significant role in generating new global partnerships needed for the next phase in overcoming the pandemic, which is perhaps one of the greatest logistical challenges in recent history. We strongly emphasise the importance of global and multi-lateral collaboration and look forward, with the support of our wise leadership, to contribute to this endeavor in any way possible.”

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said: “The summit is an opportunity to reaffirm that strong and enduring private-public partnerships are critical to the fight against COVID-19. Only by working together can we help every country get back to normal faster, and restore hope that children can return to school, that communities can rebuild and that economies can recover.” 

Prof. José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, stressed: “Global and local supply chains have been critical to the success of deliveries and rollout of tens of millions of vaccine doses through COVAX.” Barroso added: “HOPE Consortium and the World Immunisation & Logistics Summit are excellent initiatives that clearly demonstrate the leadership of the United Arab Emirates in building innovative public private partnerships and bringing the world together to address the vital challenge of delivering COVAX to the last mile – their work will help us meet our goal of ending the acute phase of the pandemic.”

Nadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment, UK, added: “As the UK’s Vaccines Minister, I am enormously proud to play my part in this national success story – it’s a huge team effort. More than 25 million of our adults have now received their first dose, cementing the status of our vaccination rollout as the fastest across Europe.

“The UK is a proud multicultural nation, home to people of myriad ethnicities and religious beliefs. We are working closely with faith leaders and grassroots organisations to give people in diverse communities across the country the best advice and information about the universal benefits of vaccination.

“We have been clear from the beginning that vaccines are the way out of this pandemic. They will protect people from this dreadful virus and save thousands of lives. We are backing worldwide vaccination efforts through our leading role in COVAX, and I am delighted to be joining figures at the heart of the global fightback against Covid-19 at this Summit.”

Ashish Koshy, CEO, G42 Healthcare, added: "The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nations and people across the globe and through it all, a critical element has stood out, and that is the value of collaboration and partnerships when facing a crisis of this scale. At G42 Healthcare, we are proud of the role we continue to play bringing together our technological capabilities along with the expertise and knowledge of various partners and government entities to advance healthcare solutions and ultimately achieve a COVID-19 free world. We look forward to our participation in The World Immunisation and Logistics Summit to share learnings and learn anew, explore opportunities, and work together to future proof the health of our nations."

A fully interactive, virtual 3D exhibition and networking zone will take place alongside the Summit offering attendees the opportunity to meet and network with key local and international stakeholders. The recently released agenda provides a preview on the topics and delegates, and can be viewed here. To register and secure your slot at the virtual Summit, please click here.

The HOPE Consortium is a public-private partnership which has developed into a leading international effort, broadening its global transport and delivery capabilities by attracting new partners, including Agility, Aramex, Bolloré Logistics, CEVA Logistics, DB Schenker, DHL, FedEx Express, Hellmann, Kuehne + Nagel, MICCO Logistics, RSA Global, and UPS.

Comprising leading Abu Dhabi entities, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Ports, Etihad Cargo, Rafed, SkyCell, and Maqta Gateway, as well as a wide body of global logistics players, the HOPE Consortium is developing capacity to transport, store, and distribute 18 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses by the end of 2021.

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National Assembly Standing Committee recommends curbing of illegal SIMs

National Assembly Standing Committee recommends curbing of illegal SIMs

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, Friday, recommended that curbing the issue of unauthorized and illegal SIMs need collaborative effort on the part of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the NADRA.

The parliamentary panel met with Ali Khan Jadoon in the chair, here on Friday. On the unanimous recommendation of the committee members, the details of agreement between government of Pakistan and Etisalat would be discussed in the next in-camera meeting of the committee.

The committee chairman recommended to the PTA to work for the provision of internet to unserved and underserved areas especially in Balochistan on a priority basis. The issue of SIMs of deceased persons was also deliberated upon in detail and the PTA briefed the committee about the mechanism of transfer of SIMs to the successors. The committee unanimously suggested having an automatic procedure of the blockage of the SIMs of deceased persons. The committee recommended the PTA and the NADRA to collaborate and come up with workable mechanism within a week for this committee.

The committee suggested that there should be a mechanism where the PTA can detect automatically about the deceased ID card no, so that the SIMs can be blocked issued against the deceased persons.

The PTA representative also informed the committee that total five voice SIMs and two data SIMs can be issued against one ID card number. The PTA also briefed the committee about the matter of verifying the SIMs across the country.

The committee also took serious notice about the issue of method of sale of SIMs across the country and instructed the PTA to evolve some mechanism to regulate the sale of SIMs by telecom provider. The committee also sought the detail of agreement between Etisalat and the government of Pakistan in the next in-camera meeting. It also raised reservation about not attending the committee meeting by senior officers from the PTCL.

The committee unanimously recommended the PTA for provision of internet services to far-flung areas especially in Balochistan and Sindh provinces. The agenda item related with tax revenue by telecom industry and the agenda item II related with Sub-Committee was deferred.

The Standing Committee meeting was attended by MNAs Aysha Rajaz Ali, Romana Khurshid Alam, Syed Mahmood Shah, Naz Baloch, Ali Gohar Khan, and senior officers from the PTA, the USF, the NADRA, and the PTCL.

Business Recorder

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Hasan Nisar Quote about the Pak Politicians - read and share

Hasan Nisar Quote about the Pak Politicians - read and share

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

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SBP develops draft of regulatory framework for feedback on ‘Digital Bank’

‘Digital Bank’: SBP develops draft of regulatory framework for feedback

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has developed draft of digital bank regulatory framework for public consultation. The proposed framework has been shared with the industry and placed on the SBP’s website for feedback.

It is the outcome of an extensive study of international regulatory and industry best practices across several key themes in over 15 countries where digital banks or similar institutions operate in some form. A digital bank serves customers primarily through digital/electronic channels without having brick and mortar branches like traditional banks. SBP’s goal is to provide an appropriate framework for the operation of Digital Banks in Pakistan. This initiative is part of the SBP’s comprehensive efforts to promote digital financial services in Pakistan including, Roshan Digital Accounts, Raast faster payment system, EMI licenses and operation and other initiatives.

The proposed framework entails guidelines for licensing, and supplementary regulations for digital banks. It sets out different types of digital bank licenses, constitution models, minimum eligibility criteria and competencies for sponsors; directors; and CEOs. This indigenous regulatory framework is designed to enable the industry exploit market demand and opportunities without compromising the safety and soundness of the financial system. Moreover, it also provides for investor-friendly, first-of-its-kind flexible requirements in Pakistan.

It merits mentioning here that Digital financial services in Pakistan are undergoing a progressive transformation journey, propelled by deep-rooted reforms and other enabling adjustments, instituted by SBP. Recent initiatives in this regard entail introduction of Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs), National Payment System Strategy (NPSS), instant payment system (RAAST), and Roshan Digital Account (RDA) etc. SBP initiated working on introduction of a separate framework for digital banks along the lines of regional regulatory trends with the key objectives to explore further avenues for financial inclusion, credit access to unserved and underserved, better customer experience, innovation in banking, and an inclusive digital eco-system.

Key features of the proposed Framework include two types of digital banks: (i) Digital Retail Bank (DRB), a uniquely designed category for retail customer segments, and (ii) Digital Full Bank (DFB); minimum three years transition period for DRB, from commercial launch with certain business conditions and a minimum two years progression for DFBs from the grant of DFB license.

For DRB, initial Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) is Rs. 1.5 billion for the pilot stage and Rs. 2.0 billion at commercial launch whereas total MCR is Rs. 4.0 billion with remaining Rs. 2.0 billion to be met gradually over the transition period. The proposed Framework encourages sponsors to pursue collaborative investment model to promote complementing set of non-bank innovative players. The proposed Framework also provides option for an EMI to transform into a DRB. For customers, access points are primarily digital and electronic channels. However, Digital Bank may use sales and service centers, branchless banking agents, other banks’ branches for branding, customer complaints and cash transactions etc.

It may be mentioned here that a survey of SBP regulated entities was conducted to seek institutional views broadly around digital bank models, scope of activities, ownership structures, capital implications, eco-system collaborations, technologies and governance considerations. Three purpose-driven industry working groups were also constituted, which have been instrumental in sharing industry perspectives and providing feedback on various elements of this framework. SBP now invites feedback on this Exposure Draft within 30 days (i.e. by April 25).

 Business Recorder, 27 March 2021

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➨ #Jobs -at Shaheed Benaize Bhutton University Benazirabad - Apply Latest by 14 April 2021

➨ #Jobs -at Shaheed Benaize Bhutton University Benazirabad - Apply Latest by 14 April 2021

#Vacancies_Jobs #Jobs_in_Pakistan #Search_Job #Job_Alerts #Newspaper_Jobs #Jobs_in_Dubai, #Hospital_Jobs #University_Job #Karachi_Jobs #School_Jobs #Pakistan_Army_Jobs #NAVY_Jobs #Government_Jobs #Govt_Job #Bank_Jobs #Jobs_in_Bank #Government Jobs

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Karandaaz Providing Grants to Engage Design Experts for Digital Financial Service Providers

Karandaaz Providing Grants to Engage Design Experts for Digital Financial Service Providers

Islamabad, 26th March 2021: Karandaaz Design Thinking as a Service Program has been subsidizing design thinking services since last year for digital financial service providers that offer products through mobile and web-based platforms. This year Karandaaz is again offering an opportunity for entities that have an existing mobile or web-based platform of their product or service or intend to develop one, to apply for matching grants from Karandaaz for contracting design thinking services. For this, Karandaaz has formed a panel of top-of-the-line design thinking service providers and is subsidizing their services for the applicants through matching grants.

Financial products can be complex and may appear more daunting for a majority of the population when presented digitally. Hence a majority of the population, especially in an economy with low literacy levels and even more inadequate financial literacy, are unable to benefit from them. This limitation results in lower understanding, lack of trust, lesser adoption, and the potential of such products to impact financial inclusion remains untapped. This year Karandaaz has further fine-tuned the program and increased the matching grant amount to up to PKR. 1 Million. The design agencies that Karandaaz has included in the panel are Ideate Innovation, Designist, and Systems Limited, all with a proven track record of solving design problems for renowned organizations through the use of best international practices of human-centered design. For each applicant, the most appropriate design thinking service provider from the panel will be selected on cost and quality-based criteria. The last date to apply under this program is April 18, 2021. Interested entities can apply online at bit.ly/design_Karandaaz

Ali Sarfraz, CEO Karandaaz while talking about the significance of Design Thinking as a Service Program said, “Incorporating human centered design in digital financial products can lower the complexity, break barriers, and improve customer understanding, trust, and adoption of such offerings. Many upcoming digital financial service providers are unable to engage expert design thinkers while developing solutions due to the paucity of resources and resultantly miss out on critical insights, skills, and knowledge of international best practices. Lower adoption of such products means segments of the population that can be brought in to the folds of formal financial systems through digital technology, miss out on this opportunity. We are confident that the subsidy offered by Karandaaz will bridge this gap and improve the efficacy of homegrown solutions.”

Rehan Akhtar, Chief Digital Officer, Karandaaz said, “Interested entities that are operating in the financial services space or are leveraging financial services e.g. payments for their products or services and are passionate about making it easier for their customers to understand and better engage with digital payments may also apply under this Design Thinking as a Service Program. We are hopeful that more players from the digital financial industry will take this opportunity to get expert design thinkers to help them develop intuitive and human-centered designs that may attract more customers that previously only relied on conventional financial systems or remained financially excluded.”  

Ali Farid Khwaja, Chairman KASB, one of the companies to have availed this opportunity last year, said, “The grant from Karandaaz has been extremely helpful in getting us new insights into the customer preferences and behaviors through a human-centered approach to design. It led us to completely restrategize and change our approach to our product KFunds, a savings and investment platform. The focused design recommended by the design agency that was on Karandaaz panel of expert firms was refreshing and helped us in identifying the customers’ pain points and defining an experience journey based on intuitive design."

According to the World Bank Global Findex Survey 2017, Pakistan is one of the few countries where the digital gender gap has increased. Under Design Thinking as a Service Program, Karandaaz has kept an exclusive category for women-centric ideas and encourages the digital financial service providers to implement product and service designs that particularly improve the adoption and retention of women customers.

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