realme 9 Pro+ - Offering the Best-in-Segment Photography with its Sony IMX766 OIS Sensor

The 50MP AI Triple Camera on realme 9 Pro+ has all the best tools to elevate your photography to new heights

To be successful in mastering any skill it is paramount to have the right tools to do so. Photography is no exception to this rule as your aesthetic sense can only take you so far if the equipment you have is lacking the proper capabilities. The issue that commonly acts as a barrier for those with a passion for photography is that advanced cameras and the right support equipment are a very expensive investment. realme prides itself on being a brand for the people and works hard to ensure that advanced technology is more easily accessible to those who want to use it by bringing cutting edge technology to lower price segments. The realme 9 Pro+ is realme’s solution for all budding photographers that are on a budget. By purchasing the realme 9 Pro+ you can get drastically better camera performance as well as a high-performing smartphone wrapped in an aesthetically pleasing package.

The realme 9 Pro+ is jam-packed with tech leaps that can greatly benefit a photographer such as realme’s very own ProLight Technology, the brand new Street Photography 2.0 mode, and the elevated processing capabilities of its MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G chipset. In order to demonstrate these exceptional capabilities of the realme 9 Pro+’s camera module realme partnered with four local photographers to make use of the new smartphone for their own photography. As part of the #CaptureRamadanSpark campaign, the local photographers were assigned a region within Pakistan to travel to so that they can capture the culture, Ramadan traditions, and the kinds of people that are specific to that area. The four photographers chosen to rise to this challenge included Kamran on Bike, Adeel on Wheels, Hamza Ibrahim, and Ilyaas Buksh.

Kamran on Bike – South Punjab (@kamranonbike)

Kamran Ali, better known as Kamran on Bike, is a cyclist and photographer from the city of Layyah in South Punjab. He was born and raised in Pakistan but has settled in Nuremburg, Germany after pursuing a PhD in Computer Science. Kamran has had a long-standing passion for bicycle touring since he was a child, setting off on his first bicycle tour at the age of 13. Over the course of his career, Kamran has covered over 50,000km through 43 countries across four continents. He also holds the unique achievement of being the only Pakistani to have traversed the entire length of North and South America using a bicycle. For the purpose of the #CaptureRamadanSpark campaign, Kamran was challenged to explore the rich historical South Punjab. The region of South Punjab is most known for its culture and history with places such as Hakra-Indus Civilizations and the Harappan sites to be seen and a rich collection of literature, music, and dance that originates from the region.

Adeel on Wheels – Gilgit Baltistan (@adeelamer)

Adeel Amer, better known as Adeel on Wheels, is a Lahore based real estate consultant, adventurer, and photographer. He spends his time traversing around the country, visiting and discovering hidden gems that others wouldn’t be daring enough to get to. For the purpose of the #CaptureRamadanSpark campaign, Adeel was challenged to explore the beautiful landscapes and diverse perspectives found in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan. Situated at the northern tip of Pakistan, the region of Gilgit-Baltitstan is most famous for its towering mountain ranges including three of the world’s highest: the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas, and the Karakoram. You can also experience a wealth of other natural wonders such as massive glaciers or beautiful valleys in the region.

Hamza Ibrahim – Sindh (@hamzaibrahimmm)

Karachi-based Hamza Ibrahim is a rising photographer, musician, and model in Pakistan. His photography has an edgy, young vibe as he mainly specializes in street photography. For the purpose of the #CaptureRamadanSpark campaign, Hamza was challenged to traverse the vast region of Sindh. The province of Sindh is situated in a very interesting geographical position as it is bordered by the Thar Desert on the east side, the Kirthar mountains to the west side, and the Arabian sea to the south. This makes the landscape of Sindh incredibly diverse.  

Ilyaas Buksh (@ilyaasallahbuksh)

From the city of Pasni in Balochistan, Ilyaas Buksh is a talented photographer who is particularly active in the region. He is known for expertly capturing the human experience and its associated emotions through his lens. In the past, he has participated in various photo walks in Balochistan, including the Gwadar photo walk and the Meeri Turbat photo walk.  For the purpose of the #CaptureRamadanSpark campaign, Ilyaas was challenged to journey through the landscape of Balochistan and capture its unique, historic essence on camera. The region of Balochistan features the incredible Makran Coast along with many other incredible natural wonders that would be attractive for photographers and artists.

The thought process behind developing the camera module of the realme 9 Pro+ was to provide a smartphone camera that is able to capture photos just as well in low-light settings as it would in highly-lit environments. realme’s ProLight technology refers to a combination of hardware and software that works together to give you an enhanced final product. This includes the primary camera’s 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor, AI Noise Reduction Engine 3.0, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS). These three camera-related optimizations were usually to be expected in premium-priced handsets until realme decided to shake up the status quo as it prides itself on doing. Each of these optimizations has its own purpose. The Sony IMX766 sensor has significantly large sensor dimensions, which are 1/1.56 inches. The larger sensor dimensions directly correspond to an increase in the amount of light the sensor is able to capture. When compared to previous generations of Sony sensors, the Sony IMX766 has a 63.8% greater light intake and has a 45% greater light intake when compared to the iPhone 13. The Sony IMX766 sensor is able to capture a greater amount of detail in the final image as the large 50MP sensor is capable of storing more information without increasing the file size drastically. The powerful ISP of the realme 9 Pro+’s MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G processor also allows you to capture up to 35% more detail than its previous generations.

The realme 9 Pro+ is the perfect package for photography enthusiasts. Not only does it have next level photography capabilities for its price segment, it also has an abundance of other exciting features such as a 90Hz Super AMOLED display, 60W SuperDart Charge, 4500mAh battery, and an iconic Light-Shift design. The upcoming handset is truly an exciting bargain for those who have a passion for technology. Uncork your creativity with the wide array of tools that the realme 9 Pro+ puts at your disposal. The realme 9 Pro+ is available for pre-order from Monday, April 18 to Sunday, April 24, 2022 for the attractive price of PKR 69,999/-. If you pre-order now you can receive a pre-booking gift of the realme Power Bank 2i. 

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EASYPAISA BECOMES INTO ‘EIDIPAISA’ TO COMMEMORATE EID-UL-FITR

Pakistan’s leading digital payments platform, Easypaisa, has once again become Eidipaisa to provide its users with an in-app Eidi feature to commemorate Eid-ul-Fitr this year. Millions of customers of the App will be able to send personalized Eidi to their loved ones across the country in a convenient and secure manner. 

As the festive season of Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, people run to banks and wait in long queues both inside and outside to withdraw fresh currency notes. Most ATMs are either out of cash or the link is down because of excessive load which can be quite frustrating amidst last days of fasting and Eid preparation. With Easypaisa’s Eidi feature, customers will now be able to stay in the comfort of their homes and send Eidi to anyone, anywhere in Pakistan, digitally. The Easypaisa App’s logo on all mobile platforms has also gotten an exciting update to announce the commencement of the festive season. 

Digital methods of communications and financial transactions provide users with unprecedented convenience for people to perform a host of activities, including transferring money to anyone in the country with just a few taps. Easypaisa, the country’s most used payments App, understands the need for users to connect with each other and share their festivities on an occasion like Eid. In line with its objective of providing best-in-class payment solutions for all users, this feature will not only promote digital financial transactions but also allow users to send love across to their friends and family.

To announce the Eidi feature, Easypaisa has come with an exciting TVC. To watch the video:

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/easypaisa/status/1519332079439421447

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Easypaisa/videos/318227167093314/

YouTube:

https://youtu.be/239BCJPF_LM

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc2_Rz-JrPu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Easypaisa, the country’s most used payments App, understands the need for users to connect with each other and share their festivities on an occasion like Eid. In line with its objective of providing best-in-class payment solutions for all users, this feature will not only promote digital financial transactions but also allow users to send love across to their friends and family.

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realme 9 Pro+ Strikes the Right Balance of Power, Efficiency and Fluidity with its MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G Chipset

The newest 5G popularizer from realme knocks it out of the park in terms of performance

Smartphones are the ideal tools available to us in order to navigate life in the modern era. With rampant digitization it is paramount to have a dependable smartphone to steer you through the waves of daily tasks and communication. The integral component contributing to a smartphone’s dependability is the chipset that lies at its core. For this reason, the new realme 9 Pro+ features an incredibly advanced MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G chipset to ensure your smartphone delivers the power-packed performance that you need. realme’s strong commitment to the spirit of tech democratization has largely contributed to the inclusion of such an advanced chipset in this price range. As technology moves further into the future, realme will always strive to make it more accessible to the masses and take everyone into the future together. The realme 9 Pro+ is an all-in-one solution for people with a diverse range of interests such as gaming, photography, or even for task management.

The realme 9 Pro+’s MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G enabled chipset includes multiple features that make the gameplay experience as smooth as butter. The next level chipset sports an Arm Cortex-A78 CPU which can clock processing speeds of up to 2.5Ghz. This incredible processing speed has an overall effect of making apps respond faster, making games have an overall higher FPS and improving connectivity to the internet so that you can game online without worrying about getting booted for connectivity issues. Furthermore, the chipset comes with an incredible Arm Mali-G68 GPU which gives you all the features you would expect in the bigger Mali-G78 but with a design that is focused on improving power efficiency and stretching battery life. The MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G processor offers up to a 9% increase in the speed of gaming when compared to the previous MediaTek Dimensity 900. The advanced MediaTek Dimensity 920 comes equipped with an intelligent refresh rate which adjusts the refresh rate of the display according to what activity is being performed at the time. Thanks to this, the refresh rate is lowered whenever it is not in heavy use in order to improve power efficiency. The Dimensity 920 chipset also comes with High Speed Rail (HSR) mode in which the smartphone will search and connect to the lowest latency available cell tower to minimize online ping. This is a great advantage during high-speed travel as the relative distance to each cell tower changes rapidly.

When it comes to photography, the realme 9 Pro+ leaves other smartphone’s in the segment in its dust. The Dimensity 920 has the capability to support camera modules of 108MP which means they can capture an increased amount of detail. Thanks to the powerful ISP of the MediaTek Dimensity 920, users can photograph 35% more details when compared to previous generations of the chipset. The Dimensity 920 incorporates a unique hardware-accelerated 4K HDR video recording engine. Using a combination of flagship-level noise reduction techniques the chipset is able to capture exceptional 4K HDR video no matter what lighting conditions you are in. The AI capabilities of the realme 9 Pro+ are also improved as the Dimensity 920 chipset comes built with an AI processing unit that has ultra-efficient INT8, INT16 and accurate FP16 capabilities which enable better AI-camera experiences.

The MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset also provides the realme 9 Pro+ with many quality of life improvements for daily usage. The advanced chipset provides support for Dual 5G SIMs and has faster 5G carrier aggregation which enables higher average speeds and a seamless handover between two 5G connection areas across a coverage layer. The Dimensity 920 chipset also allows for 5G Call & Data Concurrency 3.0. This allows users to use one 5G SIM in order to keep a data connection open while the other SIM is simultaneously being used to make a call. Thanks to the chipset’s HyperEngine 3.0, it can seamlessly offer 5G tethering to other devices while having no effect on gaming performance. Because the 5G modem and Wi-Fi are integrated into a singular chip they can work together for improved power efficiency. This results in up to 33% power savings when compared to alternative platforms.

The realme 9 Pro+ is the phone of the future. As an all-around solution with next-level premium features in this price range, the realme 9 Pro+ brings a lot of bite with its bark. The inclusion of the MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G enabled chipset in this price range is crucial in setting the realme 9 Pro+ a cut above the rest of its contemporaries. The realme 9 Pro+ is available for purchase now at your nearest mobile store or through Daraz for the reasonable price of PKR 69,999/-.

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Carrefour Pakistan Invests PKR 1 Billion Towards Two New Stores

Lahore, Pakistan, April 26, 2022: Carrefour, fully owned and operated by UAE based Majid Al Futtaim in Pakistan, signed a Joint Venture Agreement with the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Lahore on 26th April 2022, to establish two standalone stores. 

The agreement was signed by Umer Lodhi Country Manager, Carrefour Pakistan at Majid Al Futtaim Retail and Administrator DHA Lahore in the presence of Thierry Louis Joulin Chief Operating Officer Majid Al Futtaim Retail at DHA Head Office, Lahore. The stores will not only expand the local footprint of the retail leader in the country but also provide economic support to at least 500 households through creation of direct and indirect jobs.  

Carrefour’s PKR 1 billion investment for the establishment of these two new stores brings the total investment to PKR 11 billion the retailer has already made towards the retail industry in Pakistan. Notably, these ventures underscore Carrefour’s dedication to becoming a trusted local partner that creates value for the industry and Pakistani economy. As a testament to this, Carrefour works with more than 700 suppliers and partners across Pakistan, sourcing 99 per cent of its products locally.  This most recent investment will bring customers greater access to affordable, high-quality products while also supporting the nation’s supply chain. 

Speaking at the occasion, Umer Lodhi Country Manager Carrefour Pakistan, said: “As the economy begins to return to its pre-pandemic course and both Carrefour stores prepare to serve a wider customer, we are also working together to provide economic support to hundreds of households. This reflects our commitment in action for the local economy’s revival as we provide business and employment opportunities for greater and more inclusive economic prosperity.”

Administrator DHA Lahore said “This Joint Venture with Carrefour is our testament on building on our commitment of creating a world class sustainable and congenial community living experience for our worthy residents.”

In addition to the convenience of in-store shopping for quality products at its ten stores in Pakistan, Carrefour also offers its delivery service through Carrefour Pakistan app to better serve its customers. The app can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

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‘UPaisa Ramzan Offer’ – Exciting rewards for donors supporting Pakistani welfare organizations

Islamabad – April 26, 2022: This Ramzan, UPaisa is offering exciting rewards to Ufone 4G prepaid customers for extending financial aid to donation companies and public welfare organizations in Pakistan.

In order to express gratitude to donors, UPaisa will offer rewards on donations done through UPaisa application. Ufone 4G prepaid customers donating Rs. 50 or higher will receive 1000MBs, 1000 on-net minutes, and 1000 SMS with 24-hours validity. 

 

Making donations through the UPaisa app is extremely convenient and hassle-free due to the user-friendly interface. For consumer ease, the app lists all the leading donation companies for contributions as per the donor’s choosing. Each of these donor organizations and public welfare projects listed on the UPaisa app solely depend on our generosity and altruism to make a difference for millions of deserving people. 

Edhi Foundation, Akhuwat, Jabir Bin Hayyan, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, Shifa Foundation, Shifa Eye Trust, Health and Nutrition Development Society, Rashid Khan Trust, The SCP and PM of Pak Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams Fund, Saylani Welfare International Trust, Pink Ribbon, Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, Vision Forty Seven Foundation, PM COVID 19 Pandemic Relief Fund, Bait us Salam Welfare Trust, Sundas Foundation, Rizq Trust, Idara Tul Mustafa Trust, and Dawat e Islami Trust await our support via UPaisa app.  

 

A large number of Pakistanis use the UPaisa app to make contributions in accordance with the true spirit of the Holy month of Ramazan and it is necessary to provide a transparent and safer donation experience, ensuring all donations go to the deserving people. In light of this, UPaisa lists donation companies duly verified by the Ministry of Interior (Pakistan). UPaisa Ramazan offer is valid till the end of Ramzan 2022. 

 

The donation companies list is available on Android App and can also be accessed by dialing USSD *786*8#. All rewards will be pushed on to the next day of the transaction. Let us extend our generous support to these organizations, so that they can help out the deserving. Ends

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realme 9 Pro+ Now Available Across Pakistan

The latest entrant in the realme 9 series wraps up a successful pre-order phase and is now available across the country

After a bustling week of pre-orders, the realme 9 Pro+ is finally available for purchase starting today, Monday, April 25, 2022. Wrapping up a successful week, the realme 9 Pro+ has seen a 80% sell-through in the time period. Being a true 5G popularizer, realme continues to help people prepare for the arrival of 5G in the country by providing 5G enabled products at economical prices. This is no different when it comes to the realme 9 Pro+. Not only does it have advanced 5G capabilities, the realme 9 Pro+ houses innovations of all kinds for users to enjoy. Starting from the surface, the Sunrise Blue variant of the realme 9 Pro+ comes with an iconic glittering Light-Shift Design which discolors the rear panel from blue to red when exposed to sunlight or UV light thanks to its photochromic panels. With each new release, realme’s reputation as a brand that delivers good value for money grows exponentially. Let’s take a closer look at the spectacular specs hidden inside the realme 9 Pro+ in order to investigate the true value it provides.

Upgraded Camera Capabilities

The realme 9 Pro+’s camera module is incredibly high-end. The rear camera features a triple AI camera setup including a 50MP primary Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS + EIS, an 8MP super-wide lens for shots taken from a large angle and a 2MP macro lens for close-up photography. The realme 9 Pro+ introduces the Sony IMX766 sensor to this price segment for the first time. When compared to previous generations of Sony sensors, the Sony IMX766 is able to capture 63.8% more light. With a pixel size of 1 μm and a matrix size of 8.19 mm x 6.14 mm with a 45.51-inch diagonal, the Sony IMX766 sensor allows the realme 9 Pro+ to have vastly improved nighttime and low-light performance. Thanks to the large 50MP sensor you can record more details about the scene you are trying to capture without a huge increase in the final file size. realme’s ProLight Technology uses a combination of the Sony IMX766 sensor, OIS + EIS, and the AI Noise Reduction Engine 3.0 to enhance your final product and make your images brighter. OIS + EIS are two forms of image stabilization and work to counteract any slight movements the hand or phone during the process of capturing images. The AI Noise Reduction Engine 3.0 is an AI based software development that reduces digital noise in your final product by 30%.

Power-Packed Processor

The realme 9 Pro+ comes fitted with a cutting-edge MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G chipset which includes multiple features that make the gameplay experience smoother and more enjoyable. Its Arm Cortex-A78 CPU can clock processing speeds of up to 2.5Ghz. The effect of this breakneck speed is seen in faster response times of apps, overall higher FPS when gaming and improved network connectivity. The chipset also comes with a powerful Arm Mali-G68 GPU which functions as a more power efficient version of the Mali-G78. The Dimensity 920 chipset also acts as the backbone supporting the realme 9 Pro+’s 5G capabilities. Lending support for dual 5G SIMs, faster 5G carrier aggregation, 5G call and data concurrency 3.0, and super-hotspot power saving mode, the powerful chipset is responsible for carrying realme into the future. The advanced MediaTek Dimensity 920 also comes equipped with an intelligent refresh rate which adjusts the refresh rate of the display according to what activity is being performed at the time. Thanks to this, the refresh rate is lowered whenever it is not in heavy use in order to improve power efficiency

The realme 9 Pro+ contains a host of other amazing features. The handset features a stunning Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate for an improved viewing experience. The combination of a colossal 4500mAh battery and lightning fast 60W SuperDart charge ensures your usage isn’t interrupted. The realme 9 Pro+ also features Hi-res certified Dolby Atmos Dual Stereo Speakers and is built with realme UI 3.0 which is based on the latest Android 12. You can get all of this and more by purchasing the realme 9 Pro+ at your nearest smartphone store or through Daraz for just PKR 69,999/- so hurry and grab yours today!

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JS Bank partnered with NdcTech to modernize its Core Banking and drive Business Agility

Karachi: JS Bank, a leading Commercial Bank of Pakistan has modernized its Core Banking platform with renowned IT company NdcTech as the implementation partner.  This deployment is a central part of the Bank’s strategy to rebuild its technology and support its future growth objectives.

Enhancing the customer experience has always been a top priority for JS Bank and Temenos open platform for composable banking enables the Bank to offer a rich integrated experience for its customers. The Bank collaborated with NdcTech to help modernize its banking operations & upgrade the technology stack to achieve scale. The Bank is now able to use an integrated architecture to support its retail, corporate, and treasury needs and create a more flexible environment to sustain forthcoming expansions.

NdcTech has the capability of conducting large transformations using industry best practices, skilled expertise on Temenos products, and in-depth knowledge of accelerated methodologies and tools. This was a complex project to execute, with a change at all layers of the Core Banking technology stack which required extensive cycles of testing and dress rehearsals prior to a successful cutover for Go Live.

Mr. Tauseef Ahmed, Director Project Delivery & Customer Care, NdcTech said: “JS Bank chose NdcTech for this transformation based on our ability to comprehend and adapt to the local market and environment and our rich expertise in transforming banks.  A common value that JS Bank and NdcTech share is our focus on customer-centricity, and always going beyond capabilities to deliver a premium customer experience. We are pleased to announce the successful Go-live of JS Bank, enabling them to deliver on the full promise of digital transformation”

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Earth Day: Jazz to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050

Jazz has signed a commitment with GSMA to support climate action by reducing carbon emission to net zero by 2050

 

 

Islamabad – 22 April 2022: Today, as we celebrate World Earth Day it is essential for us to understand that responding to climate change is not an option anymore, in fact, there is a climate emergency which needs to be addressed. Jazz, Pakistan’s leading telecom, has committed to be a Net Zero Emitter of Carbon by 2050.

 

Commenting on the Earth Day commitment, Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz said, “Mobile technology has a powerful ability to support climate action. Significant impact already being made across various sectors, including transport, agriculture, and smart cities. Jazz is uniquely positioned to support climate action within telecom and wider industries as well through digitisation. The company is pursuing several initiatives focusing on energy conservation, and our pledge with GSMA is reflection of our commitment to combat climate change for a healthier planet.”

 

Addressing the climate emergency, Jazz has already transitioned to a paperless company, reduced air travel, launched carpool programs, and increased the number of solar power sites. Furthermore, Jazz will be working on Circular Economy and e-waste initiatives to ensure a sustainable long-term impactful plan allowing Pakistan to contribute towards reducing carbon emission.

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Fatima Fertilizer elevates Rabel Sadozai as the first female Marketing Director within the agriculture sector

Lahore, April 22, 2022: Fatima Fertilizer is pleased to announce that Rabel Sadozai, a seasoned marketing professional, has been recently promoted to lead the Sales and Marketing function within the organization. Rabel has become the first-ever female within Pakistan’s agriculture and fertilizer sector to have claimed such a high ranking position. This comes as a bright futuristic prospect since Rabel is a true representation of 22 million empowered women, directly or indirectly associated with the Agriculture sector of Pakistan. 

In line with the new role, Rabel will utilize her 22 years of earned experience to set even higher standards within her work domain. Having been associated with Fatima Fertilizer for over 9 years, she was able to effectively lead the functions related to marketing communications. Her most significant achievement is related to steering the effort of introducing Pakistan’s first-ever Kissan Day on December 18, 2019, which was duly recognized by the Federal Government and has been adopted as an annual event ever since by all Government and industry stakeholders. In addition, she has also been instrumental in promoting farmer-focused communication across traditional and digital media to highlight their ongoing challenges and promote solutions to uplift their economic and social status. 

Chairman of Fatima Group, Mr. Fawad Ahmed Mukhtar has also time and again stressed on the need for innovative and insight based marketing to reach out to the farmers of Pakistan and help them increase their yield and productivity. Sarsabz Fertilizer's disruptive marketing strategy based on the brand promise of 10% greater yield has been a game changer not just for the company but farmers livelihood and Pakistan's prosperity at large. He also added that he and his team are working hard to promote equal opportunity within the company and believe in promoting a culture where women feel valued and empowered.

Pakistan has a lot of potential for growth but undeniably, one of the biggest untapped potential is its enormous women population that still awaits inclusion in the national economy. Women participation in Pakistan’s labour force currently stands at 25 percent as against a staggering 82 percent of men. Within this paltry number of working women, 90 percent take up extremely low-paid unskilled jobs in the traditional agriculture and informal sectors.  The situation is equally grim in the civil sector where women mostly occupy low to middle-ranking positions, while the corporate sector only accounts for 5 percent of women holding senior managerial positions. Fortunately, there is growing realization with regards to the underrepresentation of women in the formal economy and it has led to encouraging policy reforms and on-ground action to foster inclusion of women across all fields of life.

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Zong Sustainability Report 2021 Highlights Transformation of Over 10 Million Lives

Islamabad- April 21st,  2022- Zong, Pakistan’s cellular and digital services frontrunner, has launched its Sustainability Report 2021, highlighting the powerful impact that the company made last year on over 10 million lives across 9 cities of Pakistan through diversified social initiatives.

Staying true to the sustainability commitment, the environmental friendly report was printed on recyclable paper. More in more, through an industry-first initiative, the company also shared seed papers to take forward its pledge toward a clean and green Pakistan.

According to Zong, the year 2021 was yet another successful year where it maintained its position as the digital and sustainability leader, with values of accountability and integrity inculcated in its culture and the company making strides to create an impactful change in Pakistan.

The thematic focus of Zong’s social endeavours in 2021 was on critical areas including e-health, e-education, environmental stewardship, civic responsibility, and gender & social inclusion. A special focus on gender inclusion with equality at work has also been highlighted as a key priority for Zong.

Impact On E-Health

Zong made a massive impact on e-health reaching 125,500 beneficiaries (114,740 females and 10,760 males). Some of the initiatives on this front included yoga and fitness session for special children, a partnership with Sehat Kahani to provide free e-consultations during the Covid-19 pandemic, digital anti-tobacco and Covid awareness sessions by SKMC, a breast cancer awareness drive, and more.

Impact On E-Education 

Through its e-education initiatives, Zong reached over 22,250 beneficiaries (15,400 females, 6,850 males). Some of the major steps Zong took included setting up digital labs at Pak-China Friendship School (Gwadar), Maulvi Abdul Haq School (Karachi), The Star School (Okara), and more. Zong volunteers also extended their support to SOS Village (Sialkot), among other measures.

Zong’s Environmental Stewardship

Zong’s efforts on the environment front reached a total of 10,000 beneficiaries (8,000 males, 2,000 females). Some key steps here included a tree plantation drive in Karachi in collaboration with HANDS, a ration distribution drive in Karachi, support for law enforcement agencies in the fight for covid-19, and continuation of the employee volunteer program ‘A New Hope’, among others.

 “People are at the heart of everything we do. We have given utmost importance to customers’ needs, together with providing them with a seamless digital experience,” shares Wang Hua, Chairman & CEO, Zong, in the report.

“In line with our ambition of being the digital partner of each and every Pakistani, we created innovative services and solutions to provide for our customers’ digital lifestyles. While capitalizing on our strength as the widest network of the country, we have remained committed to our values and adhere to the growing needs of society,” he adds.

The Way Forward

Stepping in 2022, Zong aims to continue to work with its vision to ‘Lead the Digital Innovation’ in the country while making strides through sustainable endeavours. The company says its major focus in 2022 will remain on gender and social inclusivity.

Through its connectivity penetration and goal to reach a greater number of people, Zong promises to expand the scope of its operations and social responsibility to make bigger impacts and help the dream of #LetsGetDigital materialize into Digital Pakistan.

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Meta introduces special designed Earth Day stickers and features across their platforms to create awareness on climate change

Karachi – 22 April 2022 – This Earth Day, global social media company Meta is announcing simple, yet impactful ways that people can learn more about climate change and take action. The company is also rolling out a suite of specially designed Earth Day stickers and features across their platforms where people can express their commitment to the environment.

Climate change awareness on the rise

According to Global Climate Risk Index (GCRI) 2021, Pakistan is the 8th most vulnerable country to the negative impacts of climate change. That is why, interest in climate change is on the rise and people are finding more ways to show up for the environment. More than 1M people in Pakistan are part of at least one Facebook groups dedicated to the discovery, protection and appreciation of the earth and our environment, and there are now more than 2500 eco-friendly businesses on Instagram.

“Every day, thousands across our platforms rally together to connect and take action on climate change, whether it is engaging in a Facebook Group, starting or purchasing from an eco-friendly business on Instagram, or practising sustainable tips from a creator. I’m heartened to see that this is no exception in Pakistan, and hope to see more conversations happen with our new stickers, features and initiatives. Earth Day is a vital reminder that all actions, both big and small, can make a difference in protecting our planet,” said Meta spokesperson. 

New Earth Day sticker pack and effects on Messenger and Instagram

With rising interest, people can look forward to more ways to connect on climate issues. Meta has partnered with renowned illustrators to release custom stickers on Messenger and Instagram starting this week. An Earth-friendly version of Ellen DeGeneres’ mobile game, Heads Up!, will come to video calling on Messenger and Instagram. Users can also create their own word effects and 3D Avatar stickers to show off their support for climate action. 

Meta’s commitment to the environment

Meta’s global operations are now 100% supported by renewable energy, and has set an ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions across its value chain and be water positive by 2030.

 

The company is furthering its commitment to the environment through several new initiatives. It is continuing its work in tackling climate misinformation through its $1 million Climate Misinformation grant program, as well as expanding their annual Climate Change Opinion Survey – conducted in partnership with the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication – to share information about public views on climate change across more than 180 countries. 

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Fertilizer industry to enable over USD 5.3 billion import substitution

Fertilizer industry passing on PKR 900 billion benefit to farmers

The local fertilizer Industry is providing urea at around 84% discount, equivalent to PKR 9,823 per bag, and is expected to enable import substitution of USD 5.3 billion in 2022.

Discussing the latest business results and future outlook in first quarter analyst briefing, Imran Ahmed – Chief Financial Officer of Engro Fertilizers shared that the fertilizer sector is passing on a benefit of PKR 900 billion per annum to farmers through the provision of urea at significant discount to current global prices. Over the last 10 years, the industry is passed on benefit of over PKR 1.4 trillion to the farmers through lower urea prices. This amount is four times higher the benefit that industry has received through gas pricing under the Fertilizer Policy 2001.

At the same time, the industry has been playing a significant role towards reducing the country’s trade and fiscal deficit as the country is self-sufficient in urea production. 

In the last annual general meeting of the Company, shareholders expressed concerns over the sharp disparity between international and local urea prices. Shareholders further added that the company has been losing shareholders’ value by pricing urea at a significant discount to import parity. Imran Ahmed emphasized that urea demand has increased by 17% in Q1 2022 compared to the same period last year. The Company’s research indicates that, as per crop mix and cultivated area for the first quarter, there has been an estimated increase of 2% in agronomic demand. He added that this situation may in part be due to advance buying by the farmers, but also indicates a strong probability of product movement across border emanating from significant disparity among local and international urea prices.

Imran also highlighted the challenges faced by fertilizer industry, including recoveries of outstanding subsidy and sales tax receivables from the Government, disallowances made under Income & Sales Tax for sales to unregistered dealers, and FBR clarification on Concessionary custom duty withdrawing the concession / relief given earlier.

He also stated that continued Government support will be required to resolve these pressing matters, which will allow Engro Fertilizers to continue to play its role in transforming the agricultural landscape of Pakistan and to ensure long-term food security of Pakistan.

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Infinix Celebrates Ramadan Expressing Generosity with World-Wide Consumer Base

LAHORE 20th 04, 2022 - Infinix announced its celebration of the holy month of Ramadan with consumers all around the world. There are over 2 billion people celebrating the start of Ramadan today worldwide, many of which are current and future Infinix users. 

Infinix, being a global brand, takes a key role in the celebration with multiple activities planned in various markets throughout the month. The theme of the celebration is Express Your Generosity, which notes to the core mission of Ramadan that promotes sharing, giving and compassion. Infinix is on a mission to empower the youth of today with powerful devices available at attainable price points. Consumers from any background or culture can grasp victory together using an Infinix device to enhance their daily life, victory is meant to be cel-ebrated together and this core Infinix value perfectly aligns with the passion shared by con-sumers around the world celebrating Ramadan this month. 

 

“The global pandemic has taken a huge toll on both Infinix users and the company since it began and we want to look towards the future. With the celebration of Ramadan and our common shared values, we want to express our generosity with our consumer base through various means of media including our very own X Fans community in the Infinix XClub”.

Infinix XClub Activities

The key topic during the month of Ramadan on Infinix XClub is "Express Your Generosity" where users are invited to post and pray for blessings with the opportunities to get red en-velopes and Infinix smartphones as gifts throughout the event. Infinix aims to increase brand & cultural awareness amongst X Fans during Ramadan.

 

Break Your Fast with Infinix

The Infinix Indonesian Office will invite 30 members of the press of KOLs to join a breakfast-ing session in a top-class restaurant where a presentation of current products will take place alongside fun & games to entertain the media. Infinix will use this opportunity to spread the message of its core values which align with the mission of Ramadan. The event will be show-cased on both Infinix and attending guests’ social media. The Infinix ZERO 5G will also be launching in Indonesia during Ramadan and will be showcased to the press during the event.

Corporate Social Responsibility Programs

Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, Infinix will partner with social organization to cre-ate a corporate social responsibility movement that aligns with the overarching theme. In Pakistan, this will include collaborating with an NGO to donate laptops to their most out-standing young students alongside having some digital/tech-based training as well. In Iraq, the main activity of Ramadan is sharing food, and Infinix will be donating food baskets to IDPS (Internally displaced people who were forced to leave their homes because of the war) to share their appreciation of the holy month’s culture and tradition. Instagram KOLs will join the campaign alongside with infinix team to do the distribution for people in need.

Infinix’s brand has always been focused on young users in emerging markets around the world, developing attainably priced top-quality technology that empowers their daily lives. Infinix has gained a sizable loyal fanbase in these markets by connecting with people, learn-ing about what they most want and need within a certain price point and then delivering that technology. Throughout Ramadan, Infinix has expressed its generosity through these activities and looks forward to more future opportunities to build a deep & meaningful con-nection with users.

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realme 9 Pro+ Opens for Pre-orders with a Rapturous Photo Exhibition

Pre-order realme 9 Pro+ starting from Monday, April 18, 2022 and avail an exclusive pre-booking gift

The realme number series has long been known as the embodiment of realme’s spirit of tech democratization. Constantly raising the bar with each release, realme has started to cement itself in the minds of consumers as a brand that provides good value for money. After much anticipation, the realme 9 Pro+ has finally become available for pre-order with an incredible photo exhibition being held to kick off the pre-order phase. The launch event took place at the historic Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore and was attended by prominent media, technology reviewers, influencers, realme Community, and industry members alike. The exhibition set up by realme exclusively featured displays of photos that were captured using the iconic camera module of the realme 9 Pro+. The content was curated with a mix of local and global talent. 

realme put the spotlight on four rising local photographers by challenging them to travel to different parts of the country with a realme 9 Pro+ in their pocket in order to capture the culture, traditions, and different kinds of people that are hidden across the diverse land of Pakistan through the lens of the new smartphone. Adeel on Wheels, Kamran on Bike, Hamza Ibrahim, and Ilyas Baksh were chosen for this challenge and sent to Gilgit-Baltistan, South Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan respectively. The photographers were given the additional challenge of incorporating the ideology of #CapturetheLight into their work as it is central to the design philosophy of the realme 9 Pro+ and its Light-Shift Design. Based on the shifting of the colors of the sky during sunrise and sunset, the rear panel of the Sunrise Blue variant of the realme 9 Pro+ changes color from blue to red when exposed to sunlight or UV light only to revert back once removed from the light source. This glittering design gives the realme 9 Pro+ a very trendy, artsy, aesthetic.

The realme 9 Pro+ is packed with exciting features for people of varying interests. For photography enthusiasts, the primary camera module of the realme 9 Pro+ houses a first-in-segment 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS and EIS which drastically improves the smartphone’s camera performance in low light settings and minimizes the effect of movement during photography. The 16MP Selfie camera also shows impressive performance thanks to its clear fusion algorithm which makes the final image appear brighter and more natural. For gaming enthusiasts, the realme 9 Pro+ comes equipped with an advanced MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G chipset which drastically reduces lagging, loading time, and power consumption. Additionally, the inclusion of rapid 60W SuperDart charging and a massive 4500mAh battery ensures that long hours of gaming don’t go interrupted. 

The list of realme 9 Pro+’s unbelievable features doesn’t end there. The new smartphone features realme UI 3.0 which is based on the latest Android 12. It also introduces Street Photography Mode 2.0 which includes a collection of tools that you can use to get creative with your photography as well as the 90’s pop filter which was created in collaboration with realme fans. The front panel features an incredible 90Hz Super AMOLED Display which is expertly calibrated to give excellent color accuracy, smooth to use and has good visual quality. For the first time, the realme 9 Pro+ includes an in-display fingerprint scanner that doubles as a heart rate monitor. Now you can unlock your phone and check your heart rate at the same time.

The realme 9 Pro+ is available for pre-order from Monday, April 18, 2022 to Sunday, April 24, 2022 for the incredible price of PKR 69,999/-. If you pre-order within the specified window you will also receive an incredible pre-booking gift of the realme Power Bank 2i. So go ahead and place your pre-orders online or at a smartphone store near you soon or you might miss out on this exciting offer.

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Ufone 4G Offers Free 15GB data with Latest Samsung Handsets available at its Service Centers

Pakistani telecom company, Ufone 4G has taken on board premier South Korean technology conglomerate, Samsung to offer the full range of Samsung handsets for sale at Ufone Service centres nationwide. Mobile users can now purchase brand new Samsung phones from their nearest service centres; however, Ufone 4G users will get an exclusive proposition far more exciting. Ufone 4G offers 15GB free Internet for 3 months to its customers on purchase of each handset from its service centres.

It merits a mention that the arrangement is an extension of Ufone 4G’s long-term commitment to provide users with a top-notch internet experience at all times. Samsung’s innovative and reliable handsets, coupled with Ufone 4G’s lightning-fast internet will enhance customers’ user experience manyfold. The company is further sweetening the pie for its customers by providing free 15 GB Internet for 3 months on the purchase of any Samsung handsets. Ufone 4G customers can now enjoy seamless internet connectivity along with various interesting features offered by Samsung Handsets.

The handsets are initially being offered only at Ufone Service Center Jinnah Super, Islamabad, however, they will soon be available at Ufone Service Centres across the country. 

Pakistani telecom company, Ufone 4G is always on the lookout for opportunities to fulfil the evolving digital needs of its customers. From high-end initiatives like the transformation of its network onto 4G to individual based facilitation such as the provision of the latest and most innovative handsets, Ufone 4G is ceaselessly striving to usher in a wholesome telecom experience for its users, which it promises to continue steadily into the future.

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Syed Mashood Hassan Talks about realme's Tech Leap

realme’s new country director outlines the tech democratizer’s vision for the Pakistani market and teases exciting things to come

realme as a brand has truly been dedicated to developing the technological sphere since its inception in 2018. Its brand philosophy of Dare to Leap emphasizes the scope of realme’s ambition, daring to dream of advancements that seem impossible or of the dissemination of high-end tech into lower price brackets than it may seem practical to do. Over the years realme has pioneered many tech leaps in their price segment, especially with the number series, such as the introduction of 90Hz display in the realme 6 series and the introduction of 108MP infinity camera in the realme 8 series. realme has made waves in the Pakistani market since its arrival, establishing itself as a rising force in the telecommunications industry. 

The Pakistani market has proven to be very price sensitive with customers that give great importance to getting high value for money from their smartphones. Recently, realme has appointed Syed Mashood Hassan as the brand’s new country director. Syed Mashood came to the role with a wealth of experience working in the telecommunications sector, previously having been part of the Samsung and Huawei teams in the country. We sat down with Syed Mashood recently and discussed realme’s activities over the past few months as well as the vision realme has for the Pakistani market in the coming year. 

Over the past few months, realme has been on the rise. The tech democratizer’s month on month growth totals up to a staggering 45%, which shows that realme’s sustained efforts in the market over the past few months have proven to be very fruitful. The realme assembly plant inaugurated earlier this year also has a big hand in the impressive growth of realme. The benefit of starting assembly within the country rather than relying exclusively on imports is that the manufacturing related costs for realme products have gone down significantly. The benefit of this is passed down to the customers as the prices of realme products continue to get slashed. This makes them even more attractive to the value-conscious market. One of the most popular product lines released by realme in the country is the realme C series as it is a high value for money product line and accounts for a major portion of the brand’s sales. With the assistance of its three suppliers: Airlink Communications for the North region, M&P for the Central region, and United Mobile for the south, realme has increased stock coverage across the country up to an impressive 3000+ stores. 

When it comes to the future, realme has massive plans. For the purpose of creating customer touch points, realme is planning to open up 40 brand stores all across the country which would provide customers assistance for realme’s more premium products such as the realme GT series or the realme 9 series. Brand stores are just the tip of the iceberg as realme also plans to 10 exclusive realme stores which will offer the complete realme experience. Customers can come to realme brand stores to purchase any of realme’s products including its AIoT line as well to get assistance regarding any previously purchased product. realme’s target for the year is to amass an overall 12% share of the total market and with the exciting support features and products coming in the pipeline it looks like they could achieve their goal.

One of the exciting new products in the pipeline which will be releasing very soon is the realme 9 Pro+. The realme 9 Pro+ is the latest in the number series of phones which means it is essential that the phone’s key features feature some kind of tech leap. The first tech leap that the realme 9 Pro+ comes with is the first-in-segment Light Shift Design which transforms the rear panel from a cool sunrise blue to a warm red when exposed to sunlight or UV rays. This aesthetic design is a reflection of the changing color of the sky during sunrise or sunset and really speaks to realme’s commitment towards experimenting with new and iconic designs. The second major tech leap that the realme 9 Pro+ has to offer is the inclusion of a 50MP Sony IMX766 OIS sensor as part of the triple rear camera setup. This cutting edge sensor is able to capture 63.8% more light than its previous generations. This vastly increases the realme 9 Pro+’s performance in low-light and nighttime settings. The large 50MP sensor is able to store more information about the scene you are trying to capture leading to a more detailed, impressive, final photo. The upcoming smartphone has a plethora of other exciting features such as 60W SuperDart charging, a 4500mAh battery, and 90Hz Super AMOLED display among others.

After looking at realme’s journey in Pakistan so far, it is clear that the smartphone brand has a lot of potential for growth in this market. With an experienced leader like Syed Mashood joining their ranks it will be exciting to see what heights realme is able to reach in the coming year. The spirit of innovation is highly important in realme’s new releases and we can expect lots of unique and exciting features to continue to pop up in their new releases. For now, you can look forward to the realme 9 Pro+ which will be available for pre-order starting Monday, April 18, 2022. You can join realme on the day for the official launch event which will be streamed live at 07:00PM PST on YouTube and the official realme Pakistan Facebook page.

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iF DESIGN AWARD 2022; TECNO Phantom X and CAMON 19 Pro Win awards for outstanding product design

Lahore – Friday, April 15, 2022: The world-renowned iF Design Award recently announced its winners for 2022 where TECNO won in the Product and the Telecommunication categories for the outstanding product design of its Phantom X and CAMON 19 Pro. This marks TECNO’s debut award in the international design competition, reaffirming the brand’s commitment to technological innovation and continual breakthroughs. 

Known as the “Oscar of product design”, the most influential industrial design award in the world – iF DESIGN AWARD is famous for its “independent, rigorous, and reliable” screening standards. Winning such an impactful and prestigious award means a lot for any brand. 

With 11,000 entries from 57 countries submitted at iF DESIGN AWARD, TECNO Phantom X and CAMON 19 Pro outperformed other entries, winning over the 132-member jury of independent design experts worldwide, the largest jury ever assembled. This marks a huge milestone for TECNO and endorses the efforts put in to make each phone stand out in the market. 

Phantom X is TECNO's flagship imaging series which uses state-of-the-art technology and design. With a 6.7-inch 70° curved-edged display screen with a patterned glass back, the exquisite craftsmanship allows PHANTOM X to present a unique texture and elegant taste in the interlaced light and shadow. 

 Whereas, CAMON 19 Pro is TECNO’s high-performance, high-value smartphone designed for young fashionistas. The phone will be launched in the second quarter of 2022 in Pakistan and globally. This series adopts an ultra-narrow frame design and an ingenious dual-ring triple-camera layout. The phone was praised by the jury of the iF DESIGN AWARD saying its borderless design and the powerful camera design gives it an aesthetic look like no other. 

 

Stephan Ha, TECNO General Manager shared his views on this achievement,

“We are extremely honored to be awarded this prestigious international award for our Phantom X and CAMON 19 Pro. Our dream has always been to revolutionize the landscape of smartphone photography for our users around the world, closing the gap between the professional camera and smartphone photography, while constantly pushing the evolution of design language to bring users up-to-date exterior ID design. In the future, we will remain committed to driving further changes in mobile imaging and the design language evolution.”

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Zong Launches ‘Apna Shehr Gujrat’ Offer

Islamabad, April 15th, 2022- Zong 4G, Pakistan's leading cellular and digital services provider, has brought an unmatched call and data deal for Gujrat, as part of its aim to digitally empower Pakistanis across the country. 

This new bundle, dubbed the 'Apna Shehr Gujrat' offer, will enable Gujrat, Jalal Pur Jattan, and Lala Musa users the freedom to fulfil all of their communications needs for the entire week in a completely hassle-free way. 

For only Rs 90, the subscribers will receive 40 off-net minutes, 1,000 on-net minutes, 1,000 SMSs, and 5GB of data with a week's validity. Zong’s prepaid customers can subscribe to the Apna Shehr Gujrat offer by dialling *4466#.  The promotion can also be availed through the My Zong App. 

Subscribers of other networks can change their numbers to Zong by calling the helpline at 0314-3334455 or visiting the online store or Zong franchise near them. 

"The new Apna Shehr offer for Gujrat, Jalal Pur Jattan, and Lala Musa is part of our special 'Apna Shehr' packages meant to help Zong subscribers in various cities across Pakistan effectively meet their connectivity needs," stated a Zong official spokesperson. 

"We're making our best-in-class connectivity services available across Pakistan to bring the benefits of digitization to the public while also accelerating Pakistan's transition to the 5G era," the spokesperson continued. 

Zong has continued to introduce personalised deals for clients across the country, based on their usage and requirements, as a customer-centric corporation. To connect every Pakistani, Zong is offering its most advanced digital solutions services, and bundles to its customers

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Emirates launches powerful platform for customers to browse and book bespoke Dubai and UAE itineraries

Karachi, 13 April 2022 – Emirates has launched Dubai Experience, its powerful and intuitive platform for customers to easily browse, create and book their own customised itineraries including flights, hotel stay, visits to key attractions, and other dining and leisure experiences in Dubai and the UAE.

Customers can choose from pre-curated itineraries if they are first-time visitors, or if they have specific interests in sports, culture, adventure, or entertainment and the arts. They can also have fun creating their own unique itineraries from scratch, pulling from an extensive list of recommended activities and dining options, or mix and match, using pre-curated itineraries as a starting point.

Also read: Free Fire Pakistan Welcome Skipper Babar Azam & Shadab Khan as Brand Ambassadors & Host Grand Iftar

Whether it is one of the many popular free attractions across the UAE, or one that requires pre-booking and payment, the easy-to-use itinerary planner provides details such as estimated duration, location map and cost, allowing customers to confidently plan and maximise their Dubai and UAE visit.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said: “We are proud to promote the very best that Dubai and the UAE have to offer on Dubai Experience, which is fully integrated with emirates.com. This powerful platform offers our customers the ability to plan their Dubai journeys and stopovers, and benefit from exclusive rates and expertly curated recommendations.

Also read: PTCL Group Posts 3.2% Revenue Growth in Q1, 2022

"Through the Dubai Experience platform, Emirates aims to add value to our customers and enrich their journeys, and ultimately drive more people to visit our beautiful home and hub in the UAE. We will continue to add more exciting content on Dubai Experience, and look at opportunities to launch it to customers in more markets.”

Today, Emirates’ customers in 19 countries including Pakistan can build rich and customised itineraries from a selection of over 100 hotels and 200 activities – all of which can be added onto an existing Emirates flight booking or created around a new one.

Customers who plan and book their journeys via the Dubai Experience platform can enjoy:

• Flight benefits: 10% savings on their new Emirates flight bookings

• Hotel benefits: Exclusive hotel benefits including discounted rates, free cancellation up to 72 hours before check-in, complimentary breakfast, and 24-hour check-in at over 100 hotels, ensuring that their room is ready no matter what time they arrive in Dubai

• Activities: Discounted rates and exclusive pricing on over 200 activities

• One-stop planner on emirates.com: A unique itinerary planner with an hour-by-hour view of the trip, allowing customers to plan their travel in a granular way that inspires confidence and maximises their time. Customers can view and add to their itinerary at any time on emirates.com through their flight booking

• Curated recommendations: Over 200 top Dubai suggestions including free things to do, pay at the door options, and pre-pay attractions for complete convenience, with more listings being added all the time. Dining recommendations can also be booked directly with the restaurant and added to the bespoke itinerary

Explore Emirates' Dubai Experience platform: www.emirates.com/dubai-experience/

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TECNO announces Special Ramadan Discount offer on Camon 18 Premier

The popular Chinese smartphone brand, TECNO, announced a special Ramadan discount offer for its Camon users. The latest Camon 18 Premier phone with Gimbal Technology and Hyper Zoom will now be available for a discount of PKR 10,000 bringing the price to PKR 45,000 from its original price of PKR 54,999. The sale will be live till April 20, 2022. 

Camon series is famous for being outstanding camera phones from TECNO. The latest high-tech Camon 18 Premier was launched in Pakistan at the end of 2021 with a price tag of PKR 54,999. During Ramadan and the overwhelming demand for the phone, TECNO has brought forward a discount of PKR 10,000 when purchasing online.

The users will get a straight PKR 5000 off when they buy from the official TECNO store on Daraz. Additionally, there are two vouchers which can be used for a further price reduction. The firework voucher will give you a PKR 2500 reduction, whereas, the Bank payment voucher will further reduce the price by PKR 2500, bringing it to PKR 45000. The discount is available on only Camon 18 Premier and Polar Night colors. 

The premium device, Camon 18 Premier is equipped with the first-ever Gimbal Camera, 60x Hyper Zoom, a 120Hz AMOLED Display, 32MP front, and 64MP back camera. Moreover, the massive 4750mAh battery with the G96 fast processor, an incredible 8+256GB storage, and 33W flash charging makes the phone worth the purchase.  

The CEO of TECNO Mobile Pakistan, Kelvin Zeng, shared his views saying

“We are always grateful for the positive response we receive from our Pakistani users. Camon 18 series became one of our most selling in the latest times. We are overwhelmed with the demand the device is gathering hence have announced this special Ramadan Discount of PKR 10,000.”

So, do not miss this opportunity to get the Latest Camon 18 Premier phone for only PKR 45,000 instead of PKR 54,999. Get yours today at https://bit.ly/3LWsyWt 

For more, follow TECNO across all official social media sites.

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PTCL Group Posts 3.2% Revenue Growth in Q1, 2022

Islamabad, April 13, 2022: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), the country’s leading telecom and ICT services provider, has announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, at its Board of Directors’ meeting held in Islamabad on April 13, 2022.  

During the first quarter of 2022, PTCL Group successfully managed to keep the topline growth momentum, which has further strengthened its market standing as an integrated telecom services provider in Pakistan. Growth in revenue is mainly driven by strong performance in the consumer segment led by Fixed Broadband, Mobile Data, Business Solutions, and Microfinance services that supported the Group in achieving 3.2% growth in revenues over the comparative period despite the challenges of increase in Advance Income Tax (AIT) and reduction in Mobile Termination Rates (MTR). 

PTCL Group Highlights

• PTCL Group’s revenue of Rs 35.1 billion in Q1, 2022 is 3.2% higher as compared to the same period of last year.

• The Group’s profitability remained under pressure due to significant hike in power tariffs, devaluation of the Pak Rupee against USD, higher interest rates, and other factors like upfront costs associated with the acquisition of 4G spectrum and related network rollout. The Group has posted a net loss of Rs 1.6 billion.

• PTCL continued its growth by posting 3.5% YoY revenue growth in Q1, 2022.

• PTML’s (Ufone) revenue grew by 1% YoY as compared to Q1, 2021. 

• U Bank continued its growth momentum and has achieved a 13% growth in its quarterly revenue over the same period of last year. 

PTCL Highlights 

• PTCL’s revenue of Rs 19.6 billion for the quarter is 3.5% higher than Q1 2021, mainly driven by growth in Broadband and Corporate revenue segments.

• The company has posted an operating profit of Rs 1 billion for the quarter. Operating profit for the period remained under pressure compared to last year mainly due to increase in operating costs on account of significant hike in power tariffs. 

• Net Profit of Rs 1.9 billion for the quarter is 10% higher as compared to the same period of last year. Increase in non-operating income, due to translation gain on the Company’s forex denominated assets, dividend income from a subsidiary and gain on disposal of obsolete assets due to upgrade and fiberization of network, has helped turn the 39% decrease at operating profit level to a 10% increase at the net profit level. 

During the past quarters, PTCL mainly focused on enhancing customer experience by providing the fastest and most reliable internet services under its flagship ‘Flash Fiber’ Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) brand. Through an aggressive and robust commercial strategy, PTCL managed to expand its FTTH services in 27 cities with capacity enhancement for 125,000 new lines during the past year. The rapid rollout of FTTH and strong performance in corporate segment ensured PTCL’s topline growth. 

PTCL Consumer Business: Steady Performance

During 2022, the company’s Fixed Broadband business grew by 10.4% YoY, whereas IPTV segment also showed a 9.3% growth YoY. Within the Broadband business, Flash Fiber, the company's premium FTTH service, showed significant growth of 86.6%. The Company achieved the highest ever Fixed Broadband sales in Q1, 2022 since 2015. Voice revenue stream has seen a decline due to lower voice traffic and continued conversion of customers to OTT services. 

PTCL Business Services: 

Business services segment continued its momentum and sustained its market leadership in IP Bandwidth, Cloud, Data Center, and other ICT services segments. PTCL’s Corporate business grew by 14.0% as compared to last year. Within the Wholesale business segment, carrier revenue grew by 6.6% but the overall Wholesale segment revenue has declined as a result of closure of certain international IP leased circuits. International revenue, helped by the favorable impact of currency devaluation, has increased by 13.7% over last year.

PTCL Business Solutions wing strives to provide innovative enterprise solutions to accelerate growth through a robust telecommunication infrastructure and a diverse portfolio of services with enhanced customer experience. 

PTML – Ufone Highlights: 

• Ufone posted a YoY growth of 1% in topline in Q1 2022 despite challenges of increase in Advance Income Tax (AIT) and reduction in Mobile Termination Rates (MTR). Excluding the impact of these factors, the normalized growth is 5.3% as compared to the same period of last year. 

• Significant network modernization activity and rollout of new sites has been carried out in Q1 2022. 

• UPower, a flagship customer-centric product, was launched during the first quarter and has registered tremendous response from the customers.  

With the acquisition of 4G spectrum, Ufone’s performance in data segment has improved considerably, achieving the highest number of total data subscribers in the industry during the first two months of 2022 and continues to increase its share of new 4G subscriber acquisitions in the industry. With better data speeds, Ufone has been able to improve customer experience for its users across the country. The recent ‘Mobile Networks Benchmark Report for 2022’ by PTA also declared Ufone as Pakistan’s best quality Voice and Data Network. Attracting significant attention of mobile users across Pakistan, the launch of UPower has resulted in substantial subscriptions to the product. UPower gives its users the freedom to choose from various voice and data bundles tailored to their needs. 

U Bank Highlights: 

U Bank, the microfinance and branchless banking subsidiary of PTCL, continued its growth trajectory and has achieved 13% growth in its revenue. The bank grew its funding book to Rs 90 billion by leveraging its deposit and corporate finance arms, which is in line with the bank’s ambition to maintain its superior liquidity position. Major strategic initiatives undertaken by the bank include venturing into the low-cost housing loans, Islamic Banking space, and international remittance. The bank plans to invest in technology to make the most of the opportunities available on the digital banking front.

Corporate Social Responsibility:

As part of an effort to build a greener Pakistan, PTCL Group, in collaboration with CDA, arranged a tree plantation drive by engaging its employee volunteer force – PTCL Razakaar. In addition to the benefits associated with the environment, this drive provided an opportunity for PTCL employees to contribute towards the fight against climate change. The same drive was carried out nationwide across North, South and Central Zones, where employees from various cities also planted trees to help support the initiative. 

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