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Khushhali Microfinance Bank and IFC conduct Housing Finance Training
Islamabad 15 May, 2017: IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, conducted a housing microfinance training in April at Khushhali Microfinance Bank, Pakistan’s leading microfinance bank. The objective was to enhance the capacity of the bank’s loan officers on a new micro-housing product recently launched by the Bank.
The training comes as part of a wider IFC/Khushali advisory partnership which commenced in April 2016, under which IFC is helping to develop a housing microfinance product targeting undeserved communities of Pakistan. This product was developed following a housing finance survey conducted to assess specific demand and client segmentation. In the first phase of this collaboration with IFC, the bank will provide financing for home improvements, and there are plans in a subsequent phase to modify the product to address the need for financing home purchase.
A UN report states that housing remains a dire need in Pakistan where an estimated 20 million people are homeless. This situation has been compounded over the years through the occurrence of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. With a footprint of 163 sites all over Pakistan, over 600,000 borrowers and 1.4 million savers, Khushhali is well poised to venture into housing microfinance to address the needs of both the salaried and entrepreneurial class. Ghalib Nishtar, President of Khushhali Microfinance Bank, recently said, “We have endeavored to provide tailored financial solutions to our microfinance clients by choosing the right asset and liability offerings. Our mission is to support people in graduating out of the poverty cycle and have been a market leader, offering both group loans as well as individual enterprise loans. Housing finance has long been a critical need, especially among the underserved and the Bank hopes to address this through the right mechanism which IFC is supporting us in developing”.
According to Mohammed Khaled, IFC’s Regional Microfinance Specialist, “Shelter is not only a basic human need that ensures the wellbeing of people, it is also a personal and productive asset that appreciates over time, helping low income households generate income. The market is vast as the majority in Pakistan either needs a house or needs to improve existing abode”.
Pakistan is a priority country for the World Bank Group, given its universal financial access goals. Over the past three years, IFC has ramped up its investment and advisory work in Pakistan accordingly, to help develop the private sector and enhance access to finance to MSMEs through financial intermediaries.
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Jazz Celebrates first ever Customer-Obsessed Day across Pakistan
Islamabad, 11 May, 2017: Jazz, Pakistan number 1 digital company, kick-started its customer-centric agenda by taking to the streets to celebrate its first customer-obsessed day (COD). Over 3000 Jazz employees including the company’s leadership team left their offices and met customers in markets and public spaces across Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan. The teams thanked their subscribers for their loyalty and recorded their suggestions and feedback. High-end Jazz X smartphones and free talk time were given to respondents who participated in a survey.
Leading from the front, JAZZ’s CEO Aamir Ibrahim, spent a few hours meeting customers in Islamabad said “We pride ourselves for being customer-obsessed company and thank our family of over 53 Million customers. This COD is a celebration of and a testament to this commitment. We need to know what our customers want and need for Jazz and its employees to serve them better every single day. As the CEO it was great to revisit the sales experience and see what the incredibly hardworking teams at JAZZ experience every single day and thank them for a job well done.”
“Our customers are at the core of everything we do,” said Asif Aziz, Chief Commercial Officer at JAZZ. “They provide us with the inspiration to be innovative and entrepreneurial and develop the best possible solutions, products and services to help them connect seamlessly. Today, we celebrate our customers and thank them for choosing us as their network of choice.”
To extend the reach and address more customer queries the Jazz management team also held digital sessions via Jazz’s Official Facebook page. The COD marks a new chapter in Jazz’s legacy of being a customer-centric company.
About Jazz
Jazz is the umbrella brand of Mobilink (Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited) re-introduced as a complete telecommunications ecosystem. Jazz continues Mobilink’s leadership in the telecommunications arena by spearheading a digital revolution in the country through the introduction of innovative services & products. The brand’s ultimate goal is to empower every citizen of Pakistan in today’s fast paced digital economy through its primary products i.e. Jazz Internet, Jazz Voice, JazzCash, and Jazz X.
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JazzCash to Disburse Stipends to Female Students of government schools across Sindh
Islamabad/Karachi – May 10, 2017: The Reform Support Unit (RSU), School Education Department, Government of Sindh have a mandate to disburse stipends to female students of Sind. A signing ceremony was held at a local Hotel in Karachi today to award the contract for disbursement of these bursaries to JAZZ CASH. Payments will be made in two streams of Rs. 3,500 and Rs. 2,500 in 45 Talukas and 76 Talukas respectively where the transition rate is low.
Speaking on the occasion His Excellency Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, the Honourable Minister of Education Sindh said “This initiative is reflective of the Government of Sindh’s commitment to increase the enrollment of girls in schools at the Secondary level. Investing in girls’ education is a strategic development priority as it pays huge dividends for a society. It was Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed’s dream that all girls should be educated, and we are working to realize it”
On this occasion, Secretary School Education Abdul Aziz Uqaili said that timely delivery was critical to girls’ stipend disbursement. The Government of Sind was aware of this and has been making disbursements through ATM cards, pin mailers and SMS. “This year we are going a step further and will disburse the stipends through JAZZCASH biometric verification to ensure it reaches the right family.”
Chief Program Manager of RSU, Faisal Ahmed Uqaili said “Approximately 300,000 girls’ students receive stipends annually after the data received from the school principals is scrutinized and verified independently to ensure transparency.
“Jazz, as a socially-responsible corporation, has always been at the forefront of supporting programs that have a positive social impact. Jazz believes in promoting diversity and inclusiveness and this is reflected in out products as well. JAZZ CASH will be the enabler that gives 600,000 girls access to education. Our partnership with RSU Sindh showcases our commitment to bridging the education divide in this country, and empowering women for a better tomorrow,” said Faisal Sattar, Head of Business Services Division at Jazz.
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Interwood I-9 Flagship Store & Lifewares Catalogue 2017 Launch
Interwood is launched their Flagship store in Sector I-9 (Near I-9 Police Station) in Islamabad along with their newly developed Lifewares Catalogue on Monday 8th May. The store spreading over four floors (with each floor over 7000 Sqft) is beautifully designed and houses Home Furniture, Office Furniture, Kids Furniture, Laminate Flooring, Kitchens, Doors, Wardrobes and Home Accessories. The store has been aesthetically displayed keeping in mind the sophisticated market of Islamabad.
Lifewares, Interwood’s furniture brand that is growing to be one of the leading home furniture stores in the country, has been offering a unique spectrum of home décor items for both indoors and outdoors. Lifewares has proven itself as a one-stop brand on an unwavering mission to embed beauty and class in every nook & corner of Pakistani homes. It’s bed set collections, décor items, flooring solutions and dining sets have gained much popularity over the last 2 years capitalizing with exceptional customer service across the country.
Being on the forefront of customer convenience, Lifewares launches its very first furniture catalogue, a pioneering move that has not been done by any local furniture brand. The consolidated furniture catalogue is not only designed to give customers and homemakers complete guidance on the latest products, but is aimed to educate and broaden the creative potential of people looking to re-decorate, renovate or refurnish their homes. The initiative is based on the insight that customers lack exposure towards furnishing ideas and look up to interior designers or the Internet for solutions. The Lifewares Catalogue 2017 gives solutions and much needed information to people’s general concerns regarding room setups décor placement, price range and colour options through clear and elaborate master shots, which, in turn, makes customer decisions a breeze.
The launch event was scheduled to be held on this Monday at I-9 Flagship store from 6:30 p.m. onwards. Interwood planned on a fun night with stalls conducting fun activities for the whole family. Catalogues was handed out to selected participants. The I-9 Store launched and Lifewares Catalogue 2017 hopes to successfully bring color and convenience to people’s lives living in the capital city.
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Interwood I-9 Flagship Store & Lifewares Catalogue 2017 Launch
Interwood is launched their Flagship store in Sector I-9 (Near I-9 Police Station) in Islamabad along with their newly developed Lifewares Catalogue on Monday 8th May. The store spreading over four floors (with each floor over 7000 Sqft) is beautifully designed and houses Home Furniture, Office Furniture, Kids Furniture, Laminate Flooring, Kitchens, Doors, Wardrobes and Home Accessories. The store has been aesthetically displayed keeping in mind the sophisticated market of Islamabad.
Lifewares, Interwood’s furniture brand that is growing to be one of the leading home furniture stores in the country, has been offering a unique spectrum of home décor items for both indoors and outdoors. Lifewares has proven itself as a one-stop brand on an unwavering mission to embed beauty and class in every nook & corner of Pakistani homes. It’s bed set collections, décor items, flooring solutions and dining sets have gained much popularity over the last 2 years capitalizing with exceptional customer service across the country.
Being on the forefront of customer convenience, Lifewares launches its very first furniture catalogue, a pioneering move that has not been done by any local furniture brand. The consolidated furniture catalogue is not only designed to give customers and homemakers complete guidance on the latest products, but is aimed to educate and broaden the creative potential of people looking to re-decorate, renovate or refurnish their homes. The initiative is based on the insight that customers lack exposure towards furnishing ideas and look up to interior designers or the Internet for solutions. The Lifewares Catalogue 2017 gives solutions and much needed information to people’s general concerns regarding room setups décor placement, price range and colour options through clear and elaborate master shots, which, in turn, makes customer decisions a breeze.
The launch event was scheduled to be held on this Monday at I-9 Flagship store from 6:30 p.m. onwards. Interwood planned on a fun night with stalls conducting fun activities for the whole family. Catalogues was handed out to selected participants. The I-9 Store launched and Lifewares Catalogue 2017 hopes to successfully bring color and convenience to people’s lives living in the capital city.
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EcoStar has launched Boom Box 39 inches LED TV
A chic and elegant design most suited to the aspiring customers’ living environs
Lahore: 8th April, 2017 – Equipped with Boom Box and cutting-edge technology, the slim, sleek and an artful EcoStar 39 inches LED leaves viewers spellbound with its powerful sound effects which inundate with the feelings of sound roar.
EcoStar TV sound bar/sound strip at front bottom ushers the sensation of ultimate adventure due to its premium and unmatched sound quality. A unique and pleasing sound makes it an exceptional product, most suited to the living areas and bedrooms in any household.
The aesthetics of design which contains front speakers and a powerful sound bar/strip at the bottom of the screen would make the beholder fly in imagination with theater or cinematic feel.
It offers spectacular HD quality, closest to natural colors and sharp pictures without a blur.
EcoStar’s powerful DynaCon Technology makes picture clearer and closer to nature. This latest and unique technology increases the dynamic ratio of the black color, giving a depth to the picture in real sense of the word.
As one of the all-time successful models of EcoStar LEDs to suit every need of customers, it is really a hi-tech work of genius offering much more in one TV. It promises to add value with its unique sound feature and affordable price. Customers will experience a great picture with no compromises. Its silky design and impeccable technology takes entertainment at its best.
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Digital Youth Summit Helps Pave the Way Towards Pakistan’s Digital Future
Leading technology summit brings global inspiration, forward-looking digital strategy, new reforms and investments to create 75,000 new digital jobs
Peshawar, May 8, 2017 – The 2017 Digital Youth Summit (DYS) brought together the next generation of digital innovators to announce a digital strategy and form agreements in order to help map out Pakistan’s digital future and to transform Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) into an emerging technology hub, which is expected to create 75,000 new digital jobs.
The summit had top local and international digital entrepreneurs, technologists, companies and investors to share knowledge and experience while training and investing in the 4,000 youth attendees from KP. To build on the summit’s momentum, the 4 pillar KP Digital Strategy was unveiled at the summit to provide a roadmap for KP to equip young people with the skills, access, and markets they need to secure and create jobs in the knowledge economy. It also featured a Startup Cup, in which local startups, including the winner Find my Adventure, pitched their businesses for a chance to win $2,500 in prize money to grow their ventures. “Here in KP, the youth are a huge asset. Taking on the challenge of the future, there is great promise in the role of digital,” said Imran Khan, head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI), who spoke to an enthusiastic crowd at the event’s third day.
In addition to the digital strategy, the KP government announced that:
* It would be addressing policy and regulatory gaps in ride hailing to promote the sharing economy for job creation and growth.
* The KP IT Board signed an MOU with telecom company Jazz to work together on promoting digital development initiatives in the province.
* The KP IT Board also unveiled the KP Cyber Emergency Response Center, to identify and respond to cybercrimes.
“I’m proud that KP has become an attractive place for domestic and international investors,” said Pervez Khattak, Chief Minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the opening of DYS. “We have a long way to go, but the way forward is to build capacity for the sake of our youth’s future.”
“We are very excited for KP to embrace a digital strategy for development,” said Shahbaz Khan, Managing Director for the KP IT Board. “There is great potential to create digital jobs for the sake of our youth’s future.”
Speaking on the occasion, Ali Naseer, Chief of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs – Jazz, said, “This is a new step for Jazz and compliments its vision to herald in a digital revolution in the country. Together with the KPITB, we will gradually ensure that the province becomes a platform for digital transformation of the economy and the society at large.”
This year’s summit was larger than ever with over 80 speakers, 4,000 participants, including investors, entrepreneurs, students, and representatives from the government and the private sector.
“We’re committed to supporting growth and inclusion through the digital economy in KP and beyond, said Anna O’Donnell, World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist. “We used this opportunity to bring together global expertise and are thrilled by new announcements, but know that there is much hard work ahead for all of us.”
Digital Youth Summit is organized by the KP IT Board and the World Bank Group and is powered by Jazz, supported by USAID, and sponsored by the Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, UNDP, Bank of Khyber, Gloria Jeans Coffee, March Designs, Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for KP, FATA and Balochistan, Codematics, and Animation Republic.
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Award-winning filmmaker Asim Abbasi continues shooting for his directorial debut feature film ‘Cake’ in London
[Karachi: May 8, 2017]: Award-winning filmmaker Asim Abbasi, will launch his directorial debut feature film titled ‘Cake’ in Cinemas at the end of this year. Set in the present-day world of Karachi and London, ‘Cake’ offers a heartfelt look at the realities of life and death, of past and present, of choices and consequences.
The film unfolds a story about the passage of time seen through the eyes of one family member to another. The cast is led by leading Pakistani actors Aamina Sheikh, Adnan Malik and Sanam Saeed. Last night, Executive Producer of ‘Cake’, Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari hosted the cast, crew and many members of the film and creative fraternity to celebrate the beginning of the film’s London shoot. He comments “I have been watching the evolution of Pakistani cinema over the years and am excited to be a part of this project to showcase Pakistani talent to an international audience. Cake is a film about responsibility and choice’s according to Asim Abbasi, the writer & director of the film. ‘The story unravels layer by layer, as the characters confront past secrets and buried truths. Cake is directed by Asim Abbasi, with the screenplay also written by Asim Abbasi. The Director of Photography is Mo Azmi and Aarij Hashimi is the Production Designer.
The film is being produced by UK production company – Indus Talkies, with Mahnoor Amna Mahmood as the Associate Producer and Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari as the Executive Producer. Cake will launch at the end of 2017.
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Award-winning filmmaker Asim Abbasi continues shooting for his directorial debut feature film ‘Cake’ in London
[Karachi: May 8, 2017]: Award-winning filmmaker Asim Abbasi, will launch his directorial debut feature film titled ‘Cake’ in Cinemas at the end of this year. Set in the present-day world of Karachi and London, ‘Cake’ offers a heartfelt look at the realities of life and death, of past and present, of choices and consequences.
The film unfolds a story about the passage of time seen through the eyes of one family member to another. The cast is led by leading Pakistani actors Aamina Sheikh, Adnan Malik and Sanam Saeed. Last night, Executive Producer of ‘Cake’, Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari hosted the cast, crew and many members of the film and creative fraternity to celebrate the beginning of the film’s London shoot. He comments “I have been watching the evolution of Pakistani cinema over the years and am excited to be a part of this project to showcase Pakistani talent to an international audience. Cake is a film about responsibility and choice’s according to Asim Abbasi, the writer & director of the film. ‘The story unravels layer by layer, as the characters confront past secrets and buried truths. Cake is directed by Asim Abbasi, with the screenplay also written by Asim Abbasi. The Director of Photography is Mo Azmi and Aarij Hashimi is the Production Designer.
The film is being produced by UK production company – Indus Talkies, with Mahnoor Amna Mahmood as the Associate Producer and Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari as the Executive Producer. Cake will launch at the end of 2017.
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ARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 CLOSES WITH A BANG
[Karachi, May 7th, 2017]: ARY Digital Network set forth the 1st ARY Film Festival which ended on 7th of May, 2017 with a star-studded closing night hosted by the multitalented Faysal Qureshi and the beautiful Madiha Imam.
The event was attended by the top celebrities and personalities of the media and film industry. Amazing performances by Sheema Kirmani, Sanam Marvi and Hamza Qawwal along with a stand-up comedy act by the social media star Danish Ali.
The 3 day festival screened 33 films, which were shortlisted from around 400 entries received from all over the world. The jury included local and international award winning filmmakers, writers and media personalities such as Anwar Maqsood, Khalil Nanitalwala, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Marilyn Agrelo, Ram Kishore Parcha, John Gann, Andy Merkin, Jack McDonald and Amna Khan. The festival also came up with special screenings of internationally acclaimed films such as Maheen Zia’s ‘Lyari Notes’, ‘Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velazquez Story’ contributed by the American Film Showcase and Anjum Shehzad’s ‘Mah e Mir’. Additionally, Academy award winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s ‘Song of Lahore’ was also premiered at the festival.
Award for Best Story Feature Film was given to ‘Choora Ek Pratha’ and Best Short Film (Silver Category) to ‘Amrita & I’, both were screened in collaboration with Delhi International Film Festival. Seraj us Salikin won the award for Best Short Documentary for his film ‘Masters of the Sky’; whereas award for Best Director Short Documentary goes to Ali Ijaz for ‘Pangolins in Peril’. ‘In Search of America’ won the award for Best Short Film (Gold Category); Syed Fazal Hussain won the award of Best Actor (Short Film) for ‘Dil Tau Bacha Hai’. Best Documentary Feature award was given to ‘K2 & The Invisible Footmen’ and Maheen Zia’s ‘Lyari Notes’ won the Red Category Excellence in Documentary Feature. Purple Category Excellence in Documentary Feature was given to Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy for her film ‘Song of Lahore’. Anjum Shehzad’s ‘Mah e Mir’ won the award for Best Film – Feature.
Mr. Salman Iqbal, President & Founder, ARY Digital Network, in his message about the festival said “It has been our primary objective since the establishment of ARY Films to develop and foster the film industry in Pakistan. We have now embarked on yet another journey with the first ARY Film Festival, whereby we will provide a break to new and creative filmmakers from Pakistan and around the world to come showcase their talent and get known for their efforts. This is our first year for the festival and we intend to make it bigger and better in the years to come”.
Presented by Italiano and powered by Rooh Afza, the ARY Film Festival did special collaborations with American Film Showcase and Delhi International Film Festival. It was held from 4th to 6th May 2017 at the Cinepax Cinemas, Ocean Mall Karachi.
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