realme 11 Pro Series 5G Confirms its Launch with a Brand-new Master Design

 realme 11 Pro Series 5G Confirms its Launch with a Brand-new Master Design

Lahore: realme, the world’s fastest-growing smartphone brand confirms the official launch date of its realme 11 Pro Series 5G. Coming in two variants - realme 11 Pro+ 5G and realme 11 Pro 5G, the stellar new lineup will be released on May 10th. 

realme 11 Pro Series is collaboration between realme Design Studio and Matteo Menotto - former Gucci Prints designer, realme 11 Pro Series 5G comes with a striking-new master design, featuring an elegant lychee leather back and a lace-like strip circles its camera module and goes straight down to the bottom. According to Matteo, the design inspiration comes from Milan, a fashion-forward city and also where Matteo grew-up. He took inspiration from the beautiful monuments in the city, where the rising run drapes classic architectures and creates a pale golden hue, just like the new phone’s colour variant - Sunrise Beige. Aside from Sunrise Beige, realme 11 Pro Series 5G also offers Oasis Green and Astral Black - a total of three dynamic colour variants. 

Together with realme Design Studio, Matteo brings texture, prints, and craftsmanship that are usually seen on luxury items. So aside from a premium lychee leather back, realme 11 Pro Series 5G also uses a 3D couture-level seam technique and an industry-first 3D woven texture to create a unique and premium grip feeling in hand.

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OPPO ColorOS 13 Wins Six Awards at 2023 iF Design Awards

 OPPO ColorOS 13 Wins Six Awards at 2023 iF Design Awards

OPPO's latest operating system, ColorOS 13, was honored today with six prestigious awards at the 2023 iF Design Awards. Competing against 11,000 entries from 56 countries, ColorOS 13 received five awards in the User Experience (UX) category for its Aquamorphic Design, Multi-Screen Connect, Smart Sidebar Suggestions, Game Assistant, Smart Wallet, and one award in the App category for Clone Phone. The six awards add to the growing recognition for ColorOS 13 and OPPO's ongoing commitment to creating products with a sleek and intuitive user experience.

The iF Design Awards are amongst the most prestigious design awards in the world. In addition to winning the six awards for ColorOS 13, OPPO also received an award for the OPPO Find N2 Flip smartphone in acknowledgement of OPPO’s achievements in designing new and exciting form factors.

 

Aquamorphic Design - iF Design Awards 2023 Winner

Aquamorphic Design, the new design concept for ColorOS, received widespread recognition at this year’s awards. Inspired by water, Aquamorphic Design aims to provide an aesthetically pleasing and immersive experience that is both calming and dynamic. Underlining the design is a selection of fresh system theme palettes, fonts, and a card-style layout with polymorphic textures that enhance the relationship between humans and technology through more comfortable, flexible, and comprehensive interaction. 

 

Multi-Screen Connect - iF Design Awards 2023 Winner

Multi-Screen Connect enhances productivity and efficiency and overcomes the limitations associated with different smart devices by enabling seamless data transmission and manipulation across phones, PCs, and tablets. Through Multi-Screen Connect, users can enjoy a more convenient experience across multiple screens and devices.

 

Smart Sidebar Suggestions - iF Design Awards 2023 Winner

Smart Sidebar Suggestions provide convenient access to a collection of smart tools from the phone's sidebar, enabling users to quickly access the relevant tools needed to complete or enhance tasks, helping to reduce distractions and improve efficiency in the process. 

 

Game Assistant - iF Design Awards 2023 Winner

Game Assistant optimizes network conditions and provides intuitive control gestures and multi-window support to enhance gaming performance and provide a more immersive gaming atmosphere and multi-sensory experience. 

 

Smart Wallet - iF Design Awards 2023 Winner

Smart Wallet offers a secure and convenient way to manage payments and other financial transactions. It provides versatile features for payments, public transport, and electronic car keys and access cards, along with secure storage for digital documents. The powerful digital wallet streamlines daily tasks and provides added convenience by removing the need to constantly unlock the phone or switch between multiple apps. 

 

Clone Phone - iF Design Awards 2023 Winner

Winner of a 2023 iF Design Award in the App category, Clone Phone is a secure app that simplifies data migration from old to new phones without the need for cables or other devices, improving the data migration experience while protect user data through additional security.

ColorOS 13 is the latest version of OPPO's operating system and is currently available on a range of OPPO devices. The powerful and user-friendly operating system features an intuitive interface and advanced functionality that set a new standard for mobile devices. Going forward, OPPO will continue to develop user-centric and innovative products and services as it brings even more unparalleled experiences to users worldwide.

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Foodpanda Completes Its ‘Double Tips, Double Love’ Campaign For Delivery Riders Across Pakistan

Lahore: TikTok has become the Official Entertainment Partner of the most awaited movie of the year ‘Money Back Guarantee’, which releases in theatres on 21 April 2023. This partnership adds to the excitement surrounding the film’s release through various in-app activations that offer fans the opportunity to participate and engage with the blockbuster feature like never before.

‘Money Back Guarantee’ is a satirical comedy film featuring an ensemble cast of Pakistan’s best actors. As the movie’s already large fan base eagerly waits for its release, the fandom can now interact with the star-studded cast and each other in new and exciting ways on TikTok.

Fans will be able to find exclusive content from the movie, including teasers, trailers, and behind-the-scenes footage on TikTok. Additionally, TikTok will launch an exclusive landing page for the movie, which will include official trailers, cast teasers featuring the stars and showtimes to people’s closest cinemas. Fans will also be able to follow everything about the movie using the official hashtag #MoneyBackGuarantee as well as on the movie’s official TikTok account (@zashkofilm).

Saif Mujahid, Head of Content Operations and Marketing, Pakistan, at TikTok:

“We are thrilled to partner with Zashko Films as the Official Entertainment Partner of ‘Money Back Guarantee’. At TikTok, we believe in supporting diverse and authentic storytelling, and we’re excited to work with Zashko Films to showcase the best of Pakistani cinema. Our in-app activations will allow users to engage with the film in new and exciting ways, and we can’t wait to see the community’s response to this highly anticipated film.”

“We are ecstatic to have TikTok as our Official Entertainment Partner,” said ‘Money Back Guarantee’ producer, Shayan Khan. “As a producer, I believe it is crucial to stay relevant and adapt to the ever-changing trends of the entertainment industry.

TikTok has revolutionized the way people consume content, and we are thrilled to be a part of this exciting platform. With this partnership, we look forward to connecting with our audiences and delivering exciting and innovative content that is tailored to their interests. We are confident that this collaboration will enhance the film’s reach and success, and we cannot wait to share our journey with the TikTok community.”

TikTok Money Back Guarantee

One of Pakistan’s most popular actresses, Ayesha Omar, said: “TikTok has become a hub for creativity and entertainment. I’m excited to see all the content on the platform from the fans for ‘Money Back Guarantee.”

This laugh-out-loud comedy film, written and directed by Faisal Qureshi and produced by Shayan Khan under the Zashko Films banner, promises to be a rib-tickling ride from start to finish. The film also features a peppy and catchy soundtrack composed by Tyler Westen, a Hollywood music composer, along with vocals from Shani Arshad and Asfar Hussain from the band Bayaan.

TikTok is fast becoming Pakistan’s one-stop-shop for entertaining content, championing in a diversity of categories including but not limited to movies, music, acting, sports, food, travel, education, and fashion.

The TikTok community in Pakistan creates unique entertainment content that brings joy, celebrates creativity, shapes culture and transcends boundaries. This partnership with ‘Money Back Guarantee’ will bring even more exciting content and will showcase the talents of Pakistan’s ever-growing TikTok community.

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Emaan Islamic Banking and TPL Insurance (WTO) join hands to launch Emaan All-in-One Account

Emaan Islamic Banking and TPL Insurance (WTO) join hands to launch Emaan All-in-One Account

Karachi: Emaan Islamic Banking, a division of Silk Bank Limited, and TPL Insurance Limited - Window Takaful Operation, have announced the launch of their latest offering, the Emaan All-in-One Account. The account is tailored to cater to the needs of new-to-bank customers and existing Emaan account holders.

The Emaan All-in-One Account is the ultimate power bundle for clients because of its abundance of features, advantages, and free safeguards. Due to the numerous value-added services it provides to its customers, this account distinguishes apart from most retail-based banks. Customers of Emaan Islamic Banking who maintain an average balance of at least Rs. 100,000 can benefit from complimentary value-added services from TPL Insurance - WTO, including health, life, and travel takaful.

TPL Insurance - Window Takaful Operation is pleased to be collaborating with Emaan Islamic Banking, as a Takaful solution provider for their All-in-One Account. Through this partnership, TPL Insurance - WTO aims to provide Emaan Islamic Banking customers with the experience of real-time and hassle-free coverages and claim-to-service.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Aurangzeb J. Siddiqui – Head of FIG, TPL Insurance said, “Through our collaboration with Emaan Islamic Banking – (A division of Silk Bank Limited), our focus is to reach large audiences to build awareness and usage of our innovative takaful solutions. Moreover, through its Insurtech platforms, TPL Insurance – Window Takaful Operation intends to provide Emaan Islamic Banking customers with the experience of real-time and hassle-free coverages and claim servicing.’’

This collaboration between Emaan Islamic Banking and TPL Insurance - WTO will enable customers to opt for complimentary takaful coverages while enjoying several free-of-charge transactional benefits. The account is digitized, making it the first of its kind in Pakistan to offer the fastest claim processing.

"We are excited to start this new journey with TPL Insurance - WTO by adding innovative and rewarding solutions for our customers. This collaboration will enable our customers to opt for complimentary takaful coverage while enjoying several free-of-charge transactional benefits. Silkbank Limited is committed to continuously strengthening its retail product suit with a laser-sharp focus on service delivery and innovative products," said Mr Naveed Mushtaq, Head of Consumer Banking, Marketing & Phone Banking at Emaan Islamic Banking.

Adding to the conversation, Mr Syed Fahim Hassan, Head of Emaan Islamic Banking said, “Emaan All-in-One Account is tailored to be an ultimate power-packed account that provides various complimentary protections and transactional benefits for their customers. Unlike most retail-based banks which are not offering many value-added features to their customers, this alliance will allow individuals to maintain an average balance of Rs. 100,000 and above with Emaan Islamic Banking (A division of Silk Bank Limited) to avail FOC value-added features such as health, life, and travel takaful via TPL Insurance - WTO. Being digitized, it would be the first of its kind on accounts with the fastest claim processing.”

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Pak-Qatar Takaful Group Announces Financial Results for 2022

 Pak-Qatar Takaful Group Announces Financial Results for 2022

 

Karachi, April 20, 2023:  Pakistan premier and pioneer Islamic financial conglomerate, Pak -Qatar Group has announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022, for its companies Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL) and Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited (PQGTL).

 

The Board meetings, presided over by Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah bin Thani al-Thani, the Chairman of Pak-Qatar Takaful Group, discussed the financial results of the companies for the financial year 2022 and their future plans for the year 2023. It was attended by the Directors, including – Mr. Abdul Basit Ahmad al-Shaibei, Mr. Ali Ibrahim al Abdul Ghani, Mr. Said Gul, Mr. Muhammad Owais Ansari, Mr. Zahid Hussain Awan, Mr. Farrukh V. Junaidy and Mr. Muhammad Kamran Saleem.

 

Overview of Financial Performance:

 

During the year 2022, Pak-Qatar Takaful Group (the Group) achieved a consolidated aggregate turnover of PKR 11.44 Billion*. The Group’s Shareholders’ Fund posted a net consolidated profit after tax of PKR 207 Million; while, Participants’ Takaful Fund (Waqf Fund) generated the net consolidated surplus of PKR 151 Million for the year 2022. Despite severe economic and political turmoil, the Group had an *average consolidated growth of 9.6%*.

 

Pak-Qatar Family Takaful (PQFTL) posted a profit before tax of PKR 184 Million, with an EPS of PKR 1.14 despite all challenges.

The aggregated turnover was PKR 10.2 Billion with total assets under management were at PKR 33 Billion. 

Pak-Qatar General Takaful (PQGTL) posted a profit before tax of PKR 80 Million with an EPS of PKR 1.14. The aggregated turnover was PKR 1.2 Billion with total assets’ base of PKR 2.4 Billion .

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Meezan Bank announces Financial Results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023

 Meezan Bank announces Financial Results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023

Karachi: The Board of Directors of Meezan Bank Limited in its meeting, held at Karachi on April 18, 2023, approved the financial statements of the Bank for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The meeting was presided by Mr. Riyadh S.A. A. Edrees - Chairman of the Board; Mr. Faisal A. A. A. Al - Nassar – Vice Chairman of the Board was also present.

 

The Bank’s profit after tax increased to Rs 15.4 billion from Rs 9.2 billion in the corresponding period last year, a growth of 68%. The Basic Earnings per Share increased to Rs 8.62 per share from Rs 5.14 per share in March 2022. The Board approved 30% (Rs 3 per share) interim cash dividend for the first quarter of 2023. The Bank remains a well-capitalized institution with a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 18.15% - significantly above the minimum regulatory requirement of 12.00%. Meezan is the most valuable bank in Pakistan, in terms of market capitalization, among all the listed banks.

 

Meezan Bank is one of the largest banks in Pakistan in terms of deposits, which closed at Rs 1.79 trillion. Current account contributed to 51% of its total deposits, amounting to Rs 918 billion while the current and savings account (CASA) deposits represent 88% of total deposits, amounting to Rs 1.6 trillion. The Bank maintained its leadership position in Roshan Digital Account (RDA) with a market share of 25% in terms of the total RDA inflows in the banking industry of Pakistan. Meezan Bank has a network of more than 970 branches in 324 cities and more than 1000 ATMs across the country. The Bank’s Mobile Banking App has been consistently ranked as No.1 Mobile Banking App in Pakistan by both Apple Store and Google Play Store.

 

With an extensive product portfolio, the Bank is well-positioned to cater to all financing needs of its customers within the bounds of Shariah. The Bank has a well-diversified assets portfolio comprising Corporate and SME customers and is among the market leaders in the consumer financing sector. Meezan Bank has been recognized as the Best Consumer Bank in Pakistan for 2022 and the Best Bank in Pakistan for 2018 & 2020 at the Pakistan Banking Awards – the most prestigious recognition in Pakistan’s banking sector. The Bank has also been recognized as the Best Islamic Retail Bank globally by Islamic Finance News of Redmoney Group, Malaysia. All these prestigious awards highlight the Bank’s position of excellence in the Banking industry.

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Founder 2.0, a Co-working space startup defaulted in Vendor’s Payment

Founder 2.0, a Co-working space startup defaulted in Vendor’s Payment

Islamabad: - Founder 2.0, A recently launched Co-working space for startups in Karachi, hired the services of various vendors at their launch event but refused to pay for their services after the event ended. Its management started making lame excuses at the time of payment disbursement. The organization is being founded by self-claimed Entrepreneurs who are habitual of delaying and cheating vendors by making lame excuses to stop their payments. 

It is learned from their hired PR agency, Mediahype that they refused to issue the agreed payment after securing massive Digital, Print, and electronic media coverage from them. Their launched press release has been successfully placed on leading digital Platforms. Founder 2.0 launch event press releases appeared in National and regional Newspapers like The News, Business Recorder, Express Tribune, The Nation, Pakistan Observer, Daily Times, and Daily Jang respectively. They have successfully promoted impressive media coverage on their social media platforms and received audience praise.

After the Completion of services, CEO Co-Founder and also serving as General Secretary of SWEF Pakistan Ms. Shehr Bano Hussain started making excuses to delay payments that Electronic coverage is not up to their requirement acknowledging Digital and Print media coverage. Based on poor Electronic coverage, they have withheld all the payments of media agencies rather than releasing Digital and print media share of payment.  Despite many requests, they are unwilling to issue a portion of payment for delivered services and hold payment till Electronic coverage is not being provided satisfactorily.

The PR agency will reach out to the media community to pressurize Founder 2.0 CEO to issue their due payment and request its community to blacklist this vendor for future media promotion and coverage of any sort. This has become a regular habit of various Clients who withheld Media payments without any valid reasons and blackmail agencies to do more and expand the scope of work to secure extra mileage.

It is warned to existing Vendors and Clients to be cautious about working with such Fraud organizations like CO-founder as they are habitual of usurping Vendors’ lawful payments by making lame excuses and pretending to be running NGOs for the social uplift of Society.

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PTCL Group runs Ramazan campaign for awareness and donations to support charities

PTCL Group runs Ramazan campaign for awareness and donations to support charities 

Islamabad: Pakistan’s leading ICT services provider, PTCL Group (PTCL & Ufone 4G) conducted a week-long SMS broadcast campaign to support donations for some of the leading charity organizations in Pakistan, besides helping raise awareness regarding charitable causes and donating to credible organizations. The campaign aims to facilitate charity, compassion, and philanthropy – some of the key attributes defining the spirit of the Holy month of Ramazan – to supplement support for the most vulnerable and under privileged segments of society. 

Through the SMS campaign, PTCL and Ufone 4G reached a vast audience and encouraged them to contribute to the right causes in the Holy month of Ramazan. The Group’s customers across the country, especially in major metropolises received donation appeals from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, JDC Foundation, Al Shifa Eye Trust, Pink Ribbon, and Indus Hospital. These organizations have an exemplary track record of generating welfare for vulnerable and underprivileged people in Pakistan by providing free of cost healthcare and economic support. The beneficiaries of these charities are in millions, while an active donor base helps sustain their operations. 

The SMS broadcast campaign provided drive and direction for effective charity making, which witnesses a sharp spike during the Holy month of Ramazan. Hopefully, It will not only direct funds to where they are most needed but also enhance the impact of the welfare initiatives. 

A large number of donors in Pakistan use UPaisa to make secure and convenient contributions to leading charity and welfare organizations. UPaisa users can make contributions to organizations of their choice from a comprehensive list of charitable organizations available on UPaisa app, or by dialing USSD *786*5*5# from their handset. 

PTCL Group mirrors the compassionate spirit of Pakistani nation that is considered to be one of the most charitable nations in the world. PTCL and Ufone 4G have conceived and executed impactful corporate social responsibility and philanthrophic initiatives to stimulate shared value for society. Through its latest campaign, PTCL Group has resourced and strengthened Pakistani welfare organizations to enhance their reach and impact, so the cycle of goodness continues uninterrupted. 

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Residents of Deewangoal face great hardships due to no bridge on Yarkhun bridge

UPPER CHITRAL: Residents of Deewan goal to Kox villages at Brep valley in upper Chitral are  facing great hardships due to no jeepable bridge on  Yarkhun river. Hundreds of students, ailing person, and patients are bound to cross a dangerous wooden temporary bridge on Yarkhun rive at Deewangoal village but it also washing away by river when water surface is raise. Construction of a jeepable bridge was started at River in Deewangoal village  last year, but due to lack of funds, the work suspended and the bridge was left imcomplete. According to details, a suspension wooden  bridge was built across the river near Brep for the villages of Dewan Gol and Kozh etc. in 1994, but the bridge is now in a very dilapidated condition due to its old age. Karam Ali Saadi, a social worker of this area worked hard day and night for approval of  an iron bridge over the Yarkhun River near Diwan Goal to Kox villages situated  across the river, which consist of two thousand people. It was  approved by the then  Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan. The services of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's former special assistant to CM  for Minority Affairs, Wazir Zada Kalash, are also valuable. This bridge was  constructing under the supervision of Rural Development Department (RDD). 

In September 2022 When former Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan visited Brep valley when it was hit by tremendous flood  a resolution was presented to him demanding for  the construction of a bridge over the river near Dewan Gol. Karam Ali while explaining the details to our correspondent on phone. Saadi said that this bridge was not included in any scheme for ten months, but after much struggle, it got NOC and a fund of Rs. 26 million was approved for it. The work on this bridge was  started on May 12, 2022, but due to lack of funds, the work on it was stopped on July 5, 2022. Due to the lack alternate route or any other jeepable bridge , the people of these villages from Dewan Gol to Kozh have built a temporary wooden bridge over the river, which is destroyed due to the high water level in summer, and the people here have to walk by feet  six kilometers away. to cross an old swing wooden bridge to reach Brep. But this route is very dangerous because it passes through the foothills where heavy rocks and land sliding  are always falling. Karam Ali Saadi said that a few years ago, a student of 9th Class Suraya Bib was  died on the same road when she was going to school and a heavy stone fell on her head from the mountain. Suraya Bibi was the only daughter of her parents. Apart from this many other people have been hurt because of this. 

Because there is frequent flooding in Breep due to avalanches and GLOF events, due to which road of  Yarkhun  and Brughal Valleys are also blocking and people strain  for days if a bridge is built on river for  Dewan Gol and Kozh on the other side of the river and if  road is constructed to the villages, it will also be an alternative road as a bypass for these valleys. The people of the area are very disappointed about the suspending  of the construction work of this bridge. In this regard, our representative contacted Misbahuddin, Assistant Director of RDD Department and asked the reason, he said that Rs. 26 Million had been approved for this purpose but fund was not released timely.  The fund was closed while the contractor has done much more than this fund. Our team traveled for nine hours continuously to reach this backward valley which is the first team of any media in this area. 

Aliya Nawaz is a student of 9th class  who walks on this dangerous bridge to go to school by crossing Yarkhun River every day. She said that my school is across the river while my house is  situated on other side of the  river. I walk on the wooden bridge, but the water of the river is very fast and when we see the river below, our head is in danger of falling into the river. Alia Nawaz says that when the water level in the river is high. In summer it washes away the temporary bridge and then we walk six kilometers away and cross another swing (suspension)  bridge built for pedestrians to go to school in Brep. 

Sarisha Mirza is also a second year student who goes to higher secondary school Brep by crossing the same dangerous bridge. Girls students  who are much younger than us go to school by walking on this bridge which can fall into the river from the source at any time. She said that in summer, when the water level is high, this temporary bridge also wash away, then we walk risky was beneath outskirt  of the mountain and cross a wooden swing bridge far away. 

Amrina Inayat who is a first year student said that we go to school and college every day and we have to cross the river by crossing the bridge. Women and students have to face a lot of difficulties. In summer, when the water surface is raise , then this temporary bridge is also removed  and we go by another route, which is long and also very dangerous. She said that one of our relative  was passing that dangerous road and was seriously injured by a stone on his head. She said that when women fall ill here, people put them on cots and carry them on their shoulders and walk six kilometers by feet to bring them to the hospital. Besides  this, our people carry everyday items on  shoulders and carry them on foot 

These students  demanded from the provincial government that the bridge which  was  left incomplete should be completed immediately by providing funds so that our difficulties can be reduced. 

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CDC engages industry stakeholders on the new eVoting related amendments in Companies (Postal Ballot) Regulations, 2018 by SECP

CDC engages industry stakeholders on the new eVoting related amendments in Companies (Postal Ballot) Regulations, 2018 by SECP

Karachi, April 13: SECP has recently made amendments in the Companies (Postal Ballot) Regulations, 2018 whereby the right to vote through electronic voting facility must be provided to members of every listed company for all businesses classified as special business under the Companies Act 2017. 

These amendments have especially been introduced to add greater value to the shareholders for their maximum participation by facilitating them to cast their votes with the accessibility of e-voting system from anywhere in the world, thus bringing greater ease and transparency in the election/polling process while reducing/eliminating paper-based working at the issuer(s) end.

Being the leading Share Registrar Service partner, CDC Share Registrar Services Limited (CDCSR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited, recently conducted a series of awareness sessions regarding these recent amendments, held at CDC’s Karachi and Lahore Offices with representatives of listed companies.

These sessions, hosted by CDCSR representatives, included a detailed presentation, system demo and Q&A sessions.  It must be highlighted here that CDCSR, being a proactive industry leader, has already been providing e-voting services since 2018 and is therefore fully capable of optimizing the challenges faced by capital market stakeholders due to the subject amendments.

These sessions were successful as the companies showed their confidence and willingness to opt for the e-voting solution offered by CDCSR for their upcoming events. CDCSR has successfully extended its eVoting facility to leverage the shareholders of National Bank of Pakistan, Faysal Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, Askari Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited, Sazgar Engineering Works Limited & Synthetic Products Limited etc.

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Ericsson Consumer & IndustryLab: Flexibility is the new work life currency

Ericsson Consumer & IndustryLab: Flexibility is the new work life currency

A new report, Future of Work Life, from Ericsson Consumer & IndustryLab examines how employees and employers navigate the current work environment and their views on the future of work shaped by the pandemic, digitalization and the fluctuating labor market.

The way people spend their work hours has been the same for a long time, but the pandemic was a major disruptor of this. Work has changed and will continue to change going forward.

Almost half (48 percent) of the employees in the study say that they enjoy increased flexibility at work. 52 percent consider flexible work hours or locations as key requirements, and 25 percent say that flexibility is the top priority if they would start to look for a new job. Doing work rather than going to work is seen as central in this new way of thinking about work life.

Employers need to embrace digitalization and flexible workforce management, and this can be done by creating a workplace of the future that supports human collaboration, simplifies work and values employee input in decision making.

Key findings:

Flexibility is the new work life currency. Employees predict flexibility as a future employment need as hybrid work continues to be the norm as 25% of the global working population say they will prioritize flexibility above all else.

Digital technologies renew employee confidence. Using the right digital technologies boost twice as much positive feelings for employees without increasing stress.

Decision-makers and employees are increasingly at odds over technology. Only 33% of employers consider employee preferences when investing in new technology as 4 out 10 employees struggle with non-relevant tools for their tasks.

Flexible workplaces may come at the cost of increased surveillance. Balancing visibility and privacy is a challenge and concern for hybrid work. 65% of employees who are optimistic about technologically-enabled flexibility also believe it will be tied to an increase in monitoring.

Globalized labor markets bring talent and concerns to employers. Decision makers in emerging markets agree loyalty is declining with the rise of remote jobs.

Five employee paths shape the future of work. Employees prioritize flexibility (24 %) digitalization (20 %), project-based work (12 %), or career (19 %) and financial stability (25%).

“Based on our research, it is quite clear that the future of work is going to be increasingly dependent on ICT solutions such as high-speed, globally available mobile connectivity. We felt the pandemic could finally be seen in the rear-view mirror, and therefore wanted to take a closer look at what changes in peoples worklife had stuck, and what was only a temporary adjustment! My own favourite take-away is that remote work is clearly here to stay – maybe not exactly at the level as was measured during the pandemic, but still at significantly higher levels than before the pandemic!” - Anders Erlandsson, Head of Ericsson IndustryLab

"Amidst the rapid digitalization brought on by the pandemic, our research highlights a concerning gap between the technology available in the workplace and the needs of employees for flexible working. With 6 in 10 companies lacking relevant technology for their staff, and just 2 in 10 employees feeling they have relevant tools at workplace there is a pressing need for organizations to invest in digital tools and robust connectivity that enable remote collaboration and flexibility, not only to attract and retain top talent, but also to stay competitive in the post-pandemic world." - Jasmeet Singh Sethi, Head of Ericsson ConsumerLab

The research was carried out during 2022 within 30 markets globally; 38,000 online surveys of employees plus 3,600 online surveys of decision-makers and 11 in-depth interviews with decision-makers from selected industries within three markets; China, Spain and US.

Link to report page

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MMBL and MateSol unite to improve MSMEs Cash flow through state-of-the-art Invoice Financing

 MMBL and MateSol unite to improve MSMEs Cash flow through state-of-the-art Invoice Financing

Islamabad – April 13, 2023: Pakistan's leading microfinance institution, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Ltd. (MMBL) and MateSol, a blockchain-based invoice verification platform with a global footprint, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer better access to invoice financing for Micro Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). As per the partnership agreement, MMBL will utilize MateSol's innovative blockchain-based invoice management system ‘InvoiceMate’ to finance invoices, offering MSMEs swift, hassle-free, secure, and transparent invoice financing solutions. With Specialization in Web 3.0 and Enterprise Blockchain, MateSol offers solutions for different verticals of the industry. InvoiceMate being world’s first-ever invoice management system on the blockchain, is the flagship product of MateSol. 

MMBL is part of the VEON group, a global digital operator that provides converged connectivity and online services across seven countries. As part of its digital operator strategy, VEON is transforming people’s lives by creating opportunities for increased digital inclusion and by driving economic growth across countries that are home to more than 8% of the world’s population.

Under the subject partnership, MMBL's MSME customers will experience increased operational efficiency and reduced paperwork, resulting in a more streamlined and agile financing process. The Bank's commitment to innovation and customer-centricity is reflected in its adoption of cutting-edge financing solutions, which will enable MSMEs to thrive in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Mohammad Abubakr, Chief Operating Officer (COO) MMBL said: “Our collaboration with MateSol is set to revolutionize the financial landscape for MSMEs through digitized processes. We understand the challenges faced by these enterprises in obtaining financing, especially in today's uncertain economic climate. By leveraging our combined expertise, we aim to facilitate the growth and success of these businesses and ultimately contribute to the development of the wider economy through digital financial inclusion.”

Also sharing his thoughts, Mr. Muhammad Salman Anjum, CEO Matesol said: “We are excited to announce Pakistan’s first invoice financing marketplace with the aim to improve cash flows for MSMEs and drive financial inclusion. Aided by blockchain and AI, we provide smart invoice financing that is quick, secure, and viable for customers and banks, and with our collaboration with MMBL, this will be taken a step ahead.”

As an industry leader, MMBL remains committed to bridging the gap in financial inclusion and enabling businesses of all magnitudes to access requisite financial resources to thrive. The bank's tailored financing solutions are designed to cater to the evolving banking needs of each business, thereby empowering MSMEs to attain their financial objectives and foster growth in their respective industries. MMBL remains focused on partnering with like-minded organizations to develop innovative solutions that support the expansion of MSMEs and foster financial inclusion across the country. 

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Aesthetics Lab powered by Tibbi - Personalizing Aesthetic Experiences through Artificial Intelligence

 Aesthetics Lab powered by Tibbi - Personalizing Aesthetic Experiences through Artificial Intelligence

Lahore, Pakistan - Aesthetics Lab, a new medical aesthetics provider, is changing the way patients experience aesthetics through the power of AI technology. With a mission to provide transparency, personalization, and empathic patient handling, Aesthetics Lab is helping patients make wise decisions and achieve world-class aesthetic experiences.

Founded by two doctors and a serial entrepreneur, Aesthetics Lab leverages deep tech and Korean medical expertise to empower patients. With two clinics already functional in Lahore, Pakistan, the co-founders are optimistic about aesthetics potential and have set their sights on global expansion.

“One, we want to make sure people have the information they need to make the best treatment decisions. Two, we want to be the best at what we do, and this means mapping patient needs and preferences into a highly responsive and intelligent AI technology that we believe will launch us into a new era of aesthetic medicine,” says Dr Hamza Tauqeer, Co-Founder and CEO.

Aesthetics Lab's approach is different from other aesthetics providers that recommend every treatment under the sun at exorbitant prices without properly analyzing patient history and skin needs. Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sarah Alam states that understanding patient fears and problem areas is crucial to their approach: "Ours is more than just a less is more approach. That applies too, but our focus is on owning the patient rather than the treatment."

Aesthetics Lab offers non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures involving cleansing, chemical peels, toning, laser and injectables for face, hair and body. Non-invasive treatment options are gaining popularity as they not only deliver results equal to invasive procedures but also have less side effects and reduced recovery periods.

On a fast trajectory to realize its vision, Aesthetics Lab is working with a Korean research & development lab based in Seoul, South Korea to stay ahead in the race. "Our story is attracting a lot of interest in funding circles - I believe with the way strengths are distributed within the team, we are positioned to add unique value," says Co-Founder and COO, Raja Ahmed Shuja.

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ZONERGY won the Energy Storage Emerging Enterprise Award in ESIE2023

ZONERGY won the Energy Storage Emerging Enterprise Award in ESIE2023 Energy Storage International Summit and Exhibition held in China

Pakistan: The three-day 11th Energy Storage International Summit and Exhibition ESIE2023 came to a successful conclusion. Guo Jun, executive director and president of ZONERGY, personally led a team to participate in this exhibition. ZONERGY showed its main products such as household energy storage, industrial and commercial energy storage, and portable power supply, and received high recognition and attention from industry colleagues, media reporters, and audiences, and the scene was very popular.

 

As the wind vane of China's energy storage industry, the three-day ESIE2023 lived up to expectations and joined hands with 300+ first-line energy storage brands to shine. At the same time, the organizer also held the "2023 International Energy Storage Innovation Competition Awards Ceremony" to commend industry-leading companies. ZONERGY won the "Energy Storage Emerging Enterprise Award" for its years of steady development and innovative achievements, which once again demonstrates ZONERGY's market reputation and brand value.

 

With the help of the exhibition, ZONERGY actively communicated and interacted with industry experts, colleagues, and customers, discussed new ideas for the integration of optical storage and storage, and signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd. Build a brand and win the market together.

 

At the same time, ZONERGY also released and exhibited the star product Panda and industrial and commercial energy storage product series on the spot, which received high attention. Many industry media came to the ZONERGY booth to visit and interview and report on ZONERGY products. During the exhibition, ZONERGY also actively participated in keynote speeches to share the development of ZONERGY with the industry. Liu Yang, vice president of ZONERGY and vice president of Chengdu Research Institute, gave a keynote speech entitled "Research and Application of Sodium-ion Batteries", introducing the material properties and industrialization of Na-ion batteries, and the R&D and application of ZONERGY Na-ion batteries.

Under the "Double Carbon" goal, ZONERGY will continue to take advantage of the global market, integrate resources, deepen the energy storage industry, and contribute to the high-quality development of energy in my country

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Spotify continues to cherish the blessings of Ramadan for its listeners with an upgraded Ramadan Hub

Spotify continues to cherish the blessings of Ramadan for its listeners with an upgraded Ramadan Hub

Sanam Marvi's 'Aye Khuda' makes it to EQUAL Pakistan's playlist as she gets featured as the program's Ambassador of the Month

Karachi, April 07, 2023 – As Muslims around the world continue to cherish and celebrate the blessed month of Ramadan, embracing spirituality, togetherness, and gratitude, Spotify celebrates the essence of this grand occasion by amplifying this journey of emotions and holiness for its listeners through a dedicated Ramadan hub. The audio streaming service is offering users the unique opportunity to embody the essence of this holy month through personalized and creatively-curated playlists for all Ramadan moments.

And the chain of exciting announcements continues with the EQUAL Pakistan Ambassador for April, and the face that will light up a digital billboard on Times Square, NYC this time, is none other than the titan of Sufi music, Sanam Marvi. Marking the occasion of Ramadan, Sanam Marvi has released a new soulful kalam, “Aye Khuda”, that will also be featured on Spotify’s EQUAL Pakistan playlist.

Revered throughout Pakistan and beyond, Sanam Marvi is a legend with a career spanning almost 14 years. Singing in Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, and Saraiki, she offers a uniquely beautiful interpretation of Sufi poetry supported by an unbelievable vocal range. Trained by her father, classical music legends Abida Parveen and Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Sanam spent her childhood singing at festivals and shrines across Pakistan.Her music has reached Bollywood and earned her recognition from UNESCO as well as Pakistan's highest civilian award.

From recitations of the Holy Quran to soulful kalaams, Spotify’s playlists showcase its relevance for every moment. According to data made available by the audio streaming service, listeners gravitate toward recitation of the Quran peaking at 6:00 AM during Ramadan. Ismail An Nouri’s recitation of Surah Al-Kahf, Rehman, Waqiah, Mulk and Yaseen tops the list of the most streamed track during the month followed by Mishary Rashid Alafasy’s recitation of the same Surahs.

“At Spotify, we embrace the spirit of Ramadan alongside our listeners,” said Rutaba Yaqub, Senior Manager Editorial, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, & Bangladesh. “Our Ramadan Hub has a collection of soulful prayers that entice listeners and Salam! is amongst the most streamed playlists. The collection of kalaams titled Hamd-o-Naat is also visibly popular among the listeners featuring the legend Junaid Jamshed’s Mera Dil Badal De, Illahi Teri Chaukhat Per, and Ae Nabi Pyare Nabi in top 5 along with Hafiz Ahmed Raza Qadri’s Dar e Nabi Par and Zulfiqar Ali’s Hum Madinay Se Allah,” she added further.

In addition to religious sentiments, Ramadan is also about gratitude and joy. This reflects in the three most popular moods during the month which are ‘chill’ followed by ‘happy’ and ‘free’. Moreover, Spotify revealed some more interesting insights about listenership during this time revealing that while listenership among male users decreases from 52% to 51.3% during Ramadan, the percentage for female streamers increases from 44.1% to 44.8%.

Millennials, or specifically the age group between 18 and 24 are the most avid streamers on Spotify with 46.6% listeners falling in this category during Ramadan. The age group of 25 - 29 comes next with 19% followed by 15 - 17-year-olds who are 11.5% and 30 - 34-year-olds who make up 10.3% of the total audience base. Another interesting data point revealed by Spotify shows that streaming numbers start increasing at 09:00 pm in Pakistan. Streaming peaks at 10:00 pm and remains strong till 02:00 am. This showcases how listenership enhances at times that reflect unique Ramadan routines of the users.

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In the spirit of the auspicious month of Ramzan, Careem, the pioneer of ride-hailing services in Pakistan, enables customers to donate to multiple charities directly from the app. Embodying the literal meaning of its name in Arabic, ‘generous’, Careem also introduces a special Ramadan car type which channels donations to a good cause.

Careem’s new in-app ‘donations’ feature channels donations directly to partner organizations including The Citizens Foundation (TCF), Saylani Welfare Trust or Indus Hospital. Similarly, customers in Pakistan can now donate PKR 50 to TCF for every ride they take by choosing Careem’s ‘GO TCF’ car type. The donations, automatically included in the total fare, will be used by TCF to educate children from less privileged communities. TCF is one of Pakistan’s largest not-for-profit organizations working for low-cost formal education in the heart of urban slums and rural communities.

Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and co-founder of Careem commented, “Many communities in our region are in desperate need of our support and we feel a deep sense of responsibility towards them, especially during Ramadan. We’re humbled at the opportunity to empower and encourage our colleagues and customers to give back during the Holy Month by leveraging the capabilities of the Careem Super App, and we’re grateful to collaborate with local and regional organizations to make it happen.”

Mr. Syed Asaad Ayub Ahmad, President & CEO of TCF commented, “Every child has the right to go to school and build a better future. Yet, education remains a distant dream for millions of less privileged children in Pakistan. We are proud to partner with organisations like Careem who share our belief in the power of education and take action to help resolve the education crisis in Pakistan. This collaboration will offer the citizens of Pakistan an opportunity to play a part in bringing change through their contributions and the collective impact will help bring many children to school.”

Truly celebrating the spirit of Ramdan, iftar meals will be provided to Captains at least three times a week during Ramadan and colleagues across all markets will participate in different volunteering activities, including meal distribution and hospital visits with young cancer patients.

Customers can also donate their Careem reward points to multiple charities on the Careem app including SOS Children’s Villages Pakistan and Saylani Welfare Trust to feed people in need and to NOWPDP for helping people with disability.

To book a Ramadan car option or make a monetary donation to communities in need, download the Careem app on the App Store or Google Play and update the app to the latest version.

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Mastercard reimagines bespoke travel experiences through strategic partnership with Illusions Online

Mastercard and Illusions Online, a global leader in enterprise solutions for hospitality industry, have partnered to launch a unique online platform to bring tailored travel offers to Mastercard cardholders.

 

The new offering from Mastercard and Illusions Online will feature curated and exclusive offers from the best hotel chains around the world with discounts of up to 30%. The offer will also include bespoke travel experiences, such as early check-in, late checkout, room and status upgrades, and F&B credits. Bookings are made seamlessly via the platform, which is due to be launched in the coming months and accessible via priceless.com.

 

According to recent travel research1), consumer travel has already surpassed 2019 levels during the same period. Consumer travel has, however, changed post-pandemic with consumers taking shorter trips more frequently which is benefiting domestic and regional travel; consumers choosing kids friendly destinations as a means to reconnect with family and relatives; and remote working policies allowing for blended leisure and business travel or “bleisure travel”.   

 

“Our partnership with Illusions Online will provide our cardholders with personalized and unique Priceless experiences that will elevate travel experiences to new levels. After two years of suppressed travel, people are eager to explore new horizons with their loved ones, from planned family trips to spontaneous minibreaks. At Mastercard, we are committed to support the continued recovery of the travel sector through technology-led innovative solutions,” said Gaurang Shah, Executive Vice President, Products and Engineering, EEMEA, Mastercard.

 

Recent surveys show that consumers would rather spend on experiences as opposed to purchasing physical goods. 74% of UAE affluent travelers2 want to come back from holiday having learnt something new.   The Mastercard travel platform powered by Illusions Online will become the go-to place for people’s next travel adventure with attractive hotel offers and value-added services.

 

“Illusions’ suite of solutions simplistically adapts and responds effectively to the ever-changing market requirements and conditions of the travel industry. Our collaboration with Mastercard will allow its select card holders to get access to the best hotel offers and experience a level of service that will be extremely unique in its offerings. In return, our global hotel partners will get access to a lucrative customer base, as an extension of their direct marketing strategy – all connected and seamlessly booked via Illusions booking engines, iWTX marketplace platform and payments powered by iOL Pay,” said Faisal Memon, Founder & CEO, Illusions Online.

 

The new travel platform will enable Mastercard Titanium, Platinum, World, and World Elite cardholders to experience the benefits of the Illusions partnership that will provide them with value-added services and offers gained through its network of the biggest hotel chains worldwide.

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Daraz Pakistan celebrates the spirit of Ramadan through the ‘Daraz Donates’ initiative

Continuing its annual tradition, Daraz, Pakistan's leading online marketplace, has partnered with several non-profit organizations to give its users the option to support causes closest to their hearts during Ramadan. The platform aims to make the process of giving back more accessible and convenient for users, providing a seamless digital experience.

 

Through Daraz Donates, users can easily browse various non-profits and causes, learn more about their work, and donate directly through the Daraz app or website. The non-profits and causes available on the platform include Edhi Foundation, Kidney Center, JDC, Saylani Welfare Trust, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, The Indus Hospital, Pink Ribbon, Pakistan Sweet Home, Dawat-e-Islami, Alkhidmat Foundation, Bint-e-Fatima Foundation, and cover a range of social issues, from education and healthcare to poverty. The platform features multiple payment options, including credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, and bank transfers, making it easy for users to donate from anywhere in the country. The Daraz digital donation platform is now live on the Daraz app and website, and will be available throughout Ramadan.

 

On April 02, Daraz will also be hosting the first of its kind charity telethon of Pakistan in collaboration with HUM News, which will be bringing together multiple non-profit organizations on one platform including The Citizens Foundation, JDC, Saylani Welfare Trust, Pink Ribbon, and Indus Hospital.

 

Furthermore, Daraz will also be donating a chunk of its cross-border inventory from its warehouse to charities on a weekly basis.

 

For non-profits, it is often challenging to reach a wide audience and raise funds, but the Daraz platform provides them with an opportunity to connect with new supporters and make a meaningful impact with their work.

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Qistbazaar achieves Rs. 1.0 billion sales milestone in just 17 months

 Qistbazaar achieves Rs. 1.0 billion sales milestone in just 17 months

 

Karachi, April 06, 2023: Qistbazaar, a leading e-commerce start-up, has achieved the milestone of Rs. 1.0 billion in sales, in just 17 months since its establishment in November 2021. As a rapidly growing BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) platform, and working as a licensed NBFC (Non-Banking Finance Company), Qistbazaar is committed to uplifting the living standard of all citizens by making over 400 products easily accessible at affordable monthly instalments.

 

Over 15,000 customers have availed Qistbazaar’s plans in this period, to clock up the Rs. one billion in sales, with mobile phones, refurbished laptops, refrigerators, LED TVs, motorcycles and ceiling fans being the most popular purchase items. Customers earning less than Rs. 45,000 per month constitute 57% of total customers, with 70% of customers being below 35 years of age. Micro-business owners like ‘thela walas’ and others comprise over 40% of customers.

 

“We have crossed a milestone not only for sales but for making a positive impact on the lives of others,” stated Arif Lakhani, co-founder of Qistbazaar, adding, “Our focus is to especially support the population who are unbanked and with zero credit score. From a bunkababwala to an unemployed man buying a motorcycle to become a delivery rider, to a rickshaw driver getting a phone to connect with passengers, or to a gig worker buying a laptop to earn extra income from home, we are enabling people to earn livelihoods and grow for themselves.”

 

The platform provides personalized support to ensure that customers get the help they need and when they need, through a well-trained digital team, 8 facilitation centres and a women’s branch purely catering to women customers, acting as madadgars.

 

The growing popularity of the platform can also be attributed to that fact that everyone is eligible to buy at Qistbazaar and not just those who have credit cards or bank accounts. Payments can be made by cheques, online bank transfers, Jazzcash, EasyPaisa and cash on delivery, with early repayments also allowed.

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inDrive joins forces with the Akhuwat Foundation to reconstruct flood-affected schools across Sindh

 inDrive joins forces with the Akhuwat Foundation to reconstruct flood-affected schools across Sindh

Karachi:  inDrive, the global mobility and urban services platform, has donated  PKR 10 Million to the Akhuwat Foundation for the reconstruction of schools to support children's education.

 

The donated amount will aid the Thatta and Thar region in the rebuilding of schools that were affected by the devastating floods and heavy monsoon rains in the Sindh region in 2022.

 

The primary purpose of providing these funds is to help students carry on with their education and stand on their own two feet with dignity.

 

From June to October 2022, floods in Pakistan killed 1,739 people and caused ₨ 3.2 trillion in damage and ₨ 3.3 trillion in economic losses. The catastrophic floods in Pakistan have destroyed nearly 27,000 schools, preventing more than 2 million children from attending school and resuming their education.

 

The donated amount of PKR 10 million by inDrive will help reconstruct the schools and build new units.

 

Aleksandra Kirillina,  Team Lead of the CSR project at inDrive, stated: “The flood affected many families; the dreadful situation in the interior of Sindh leaves many people in a devastating situation which forced students to leave their education behind. One of the primary pillars of inDrive’s mission is serving and empowering communities, and education is our top priority, as a good education is the greatest gift you can give anyone.

 

To support and rebuild the education system in the cities of Thar and Thatta is to reopen those schools where children can resume their studies; to fulfill our commitment to this project,  we collaborated with the Akhuwat foundation, who’s working at the forefront of this initiative. ”

Shahryar Rashid, Manager of Marketing & PR at Akhuwat Sindh, says: “The floods, which have affected more than 20 million people, also created an emergency in education as they have made it difficult for schools to operate in more than 21 districts of Sindh. 15,842 schools have been completely destroyed or left in precarious conditions. As part of our philosophy of alleviating poverty through education, Akhuwat runs schools in districts like Thatta, Jacobabad, and Tharparkar, imparting free quality education to those who are less privileged. 

With many schools unable to open, students are forced to drop out or transfer to other schools, which for the less privileged is demoralizing. We admire organizations like inDrive for recognizing the seriousness of the situation and stepping up to help the reconstruction of these Akhuwat-run schools.

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Mariyam D. Rizwan Drops All-New Festive Collections to Take Over Your Heart & Wardrobe This Season

MARIYAM D. RIZWAN DROPS ALL-NEW FESTIVE COLLECTIONS TO TAKE OVER YOUR HEART & WARDROBE THIS SEASON

 

Karachi: The couturier who’s on everyone’s must-have list, Mariyam D. Rizwan recently launched two new collections just in time for the Spring/Summer 2023 festive season, namely: Durefishan - Ramadan Edit and Brunch & Cake - Eid Edit.

 

The highly sought out designer Mariyam D. Rizwan beautifully encapsulates the essence of the Ramadan festivities in a symphony of 6 vibrant bejeweled luxe pret ensembles with intricate details and a spectrum of traditional colors in her collection ‘Durefishan’; featuring the namesake rising star Dur-e-fishan Saleem the collection is perfect for iftars and Ramadan soirées.

 

‘Brunch & Cake’ starring the sensational Ayeza Khan is the artistic designer Mariyam D. Rizwan’s latest take on modern-day chic pret with 11 gorgeous festive luxury pieces that are the perfect addition to your Eid wardrobe with their scene-stealing silhouettes, exquisite craftsmanship, and tasteful colour palette.

 

All in all, Mariyam D. Rizwan’s 2 latest festive drops Durefishan - Ramadan Edit and Brunch & Cake - Eid Edit have something for everyone and are sure to make a place in your heart and wardrobe. Both collections styled by the celebrity stylist Aneela Murtaza are now available in-store at the Mariyam D. Rizwan atelier and online at www.mariyamdewan.com

 

Established in 2015, Mariyam D. Rizwan’s design house specialises in exclusive Ready to Wear, Luxury Prêt, and Bridal Wear that captures the essence of sophisticated luxury by provoking femininity, allure and glamour, leading the brand to become the ultimate destination for women who understand the art of fashion. The label works with luxe fabrics, textures and exquisite construction for its limited edition design and brings a fresh approach to South Asian fashion design.

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Bazaar Launches Bazaar Prime, its Exclusive Distribution Vertical

 Bazaar Launches Bazaar Prime, its Exclusive Distribution Vertical

Pakistan: - Bazaar, Pakistan’s leading B2B e-commerce platform for 5M+ businesses, launches Bazaar Prime - its exclusive market distribution arm for retail suppliers and manufacturers. 

 

Bazaar’s B2B platform provides procurement, fulfilment, digital lending, and supply chain products to retailers and manufacturers in Pakistan. Since its inception two years ago, Bazaar has raised over $100m in venture financing and has scaled to become the leading tech enabled distributor in the country with the widest footprint across 50 cities and towns. With its deep technology stack, Bazaar provides hundreds of suppliers direct access to underserved merchants across several categories.

 

On top of its existing marketplace network, infrastructure and technology stack, Bazaar Prime offers exclusive distribution to brands in designated markets. This provides brands a 24/7 ordering capability instead of booking by agents during work hours, greater coverage in their active cities, access to new markets, real-time data insights, increased cost-efficiency and dedicated resources and operational setup. 

 

Hamza Jawaid, the co-founder of Bazaar, mentions, "Bazaar Prime is a game-changer for brands seeking to improve their coverage and distribution in the market. By leveraging this partnership, brands can tap into a wealth of resources and tools that enable them to optimise their operations, enhance their customer reach, and ultimately drive business growth.”

 

Bazaar Prime has already launched strategic partnerships with category leading brands such as Reckitt, Philip Morris, PepsiCo bottlers, Mughal Rice, Tapal, Milkfields, Ana Batla and RealMe.

 

“Effective communication and improved customer relations are crucial for any business to thrive. By digitising the user experience, Bazaar has increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. Bazaar Prime has been able to improve our coverage in white spaces through increased efficiency, cost saving, improved accuracy and better customer service. As a result, our business has grown by 20% month on month in the 12 months” said Abbas Hussain, Head of E-commerce at Reckitt.

 

Bazaar is further expanding its network to over 100 cities and towns in Pakistan, allowing cost efficient access to underserved and remote towns. This enables retail brands to strengthen their presence and cater to untapped markets, solving for demand supply inefficiencies. Given how the current distribution landscape has been dominated by legacy distributors, Bazaar’s entry into the space will help brands accelerate their reach across Pakistan, while enabling the company to cement its space in the massive B2B retail economy of the country.

 

Ahmed Siyadat, Managing Director for Bazaar Retail says “Our speed and agility in setting up a tech enabled exclusive distribution is unmatched. From Mardan to Khairpur, we are present across all of Pakistan and with Bazaar Prime, our partners are able to leverage our expertise to really scale their businesses”.

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Huawei Releases 2022 Annual Report: Steady Operations, Sustainable Survival, and Development

 Huawei Releases 2022 Annual Report: Steady Operations, Sustainable Survival, and Development

Pakistan: -Huawei released its 2022 Annual Report today. The company reports steady operations throughout 2022, having generated USD92.37 billion in revenue and USD5.12 billion in net profits. Huawei continues to strengthen investment in R&D, with an annual expenditure of USD23.22 billion in 2022, representing 25.1% of the company's annual revenue and bringing its total R&D expenditure over the past 10 years to more than USD 140.55 billion.

 "In 2022, a challenging external environment and non-market factors continued to take a toll on Huawei's operations", said Eric Xu, Huawei's Rotating Chairman, at the company's annual report press conference. "In the midst of this storm, we kept racing ahead, doing everything in our power to maintain business continuity and serve our customers. We also went to great lengths to grow the harvest – generating a steady stream of revenue to sustain our survival and lay the groundwork for future development." 

Also present at the event was Sabrina Meng, Huawei's CFO. She noted, "Despite substantial pressure in 2022, our overall business results were in line with forecast. At the end of 2022, our liability ratio was 58.9% and our net cash balance was USD25.35 billion. In addition, our balance of total assets reached 0.14 trillion USD, largely composed of current assets such as cash, short-term investments, and operating assets. Our financial position remains solid, with strong resilience and flexibility. In 2022, our total R&D spend was USD23.22 billion, representing 25.1% of our total revenue – among the highest in Huawei's history. In times of pressure, we press on – with confidence." 

In 2022, revenue from Huawei's carrier, enterprise, and consumer businesses was USD40.84 billion, USD19.15 billion, and USD30.84 billion, respectively. 

Huawei is a strong proponent of growing together with its ecosystem partners, and believes that openness and collaboration lead to shared success. The company has continued to open up its platform capabilities across its HarmonyOS, Kunpeng, Ascend, and cloud portfolio, focusing on improving developer experience as well as enabling and supporting its ecosystem partners on all fronts. Huawei currently works with more than nine million developers and over 40,000 ecosystem partners to fuel ecosystem-based innovation and create greater value for its customers. 

"2023 will be crucial to Huawei's sustainable survival and development," Xu noted. "Plum blossoms tend to grow sweeter from a harsh winter's freeze. Today, Huawei is like a plum blossom. While it's true that we have considerable pressure ahead of us, we have what it takes to come out the other end – with opportunities to grow, a resilient business portfolio, a unique competitive edge, the enduring trust of our customers and partners, and the courage to invest heavily in R&D. We are confident in our ability to rise above any challenge that comes our way, laying a solid foundation for sustainable survival and development." 

All financial statements in the 2022 Annual Report were independently audited by KPMG, an international Big Four accounting firm. To download the 2022 Annual Report, please visit https://www.huawei.com/en/annual-report/2022

Note: The 2022 closing exchange rate is US$1.00 = CNY6.9533

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