Thursday, 19 March 2020

realme 5i the best choice of Pakistani youth




since the launch of latest successor of number series of realme smartphones, the news of tech disruptor realme 5i have been circulating all over. Endorsed by various celebrities, reviewed & tested by tech reviewers and loved by various blogs realme 5i has also been record breaking in sales volume among its predecessors.

However, there are subtle differences that make it a stand-out not only among Realme’s offerings but also against other brands.

realme 5i

The Realme 5 is a showstopper when it comes to its design and the specifications. For its price of Rs 24,999.

The realme 5i looks nearly identical to the Realme 5. However, turning over the back reveals a textured pattern that differentiates it from the laminated plastic back of the former. The company is calling this the “Sunrise Design,” and the phone looks stunning with that design in two colors: Aqua Blue and Forrest Green.

Moving over to the display, Realme 5i has the same 6.5-inch HD screen with an 89 percent screen-to-body ratio. The massive screen translates to an immersive viewing experience.

The camera of the Realme 5 got carried over as well. The quad-camera onthis device consists of a 12MP + 8MP wide-angle-lens + 2MP macro-lens + 2MP portrait-lens setup. The front-facing camera remains the same as well, with the 8MP inside the waterdrop notch doing the job of selfies.

Top tech Media have rated this devices as “The most scratch resistant device from realme 5 series” , “The realme 5 Series has been exceptional value for money smartphones in Pakistan and the realme 5i is no exception.” .



Pakistan’s Maaz Masood Ansari wins ACCA’s Regional Advocate of the Year award




ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has recognised Maaz Masood Ansari, Executive Director Financial Advisory, Deloitte, with its Regional Advocate of the Year Award for Middle East and South Asia (MESA) region.
The ACCA member from Pakistan, Maaz, was lauded for his contributions to developing professional accountancy across Pakistan, particularly in supporting Deloitte trainees and employees at department level further develop and become ACCA members themselves.

“ACCA’s Advocacy Awards are not about career achievement but about the way that ACCA members give back to their communities, and help ACCA to develop the next generation of professional accountants. ACCA members in Pakistan are a driving force at the forefront of the accounting industry. Maaz has set a great example for all professionals in the country on how they can lead the profession into the future by dedicating their efforts to developing future-ready talent.” – Sajjeed Aslam, head of ACCA Pakistan

Stuart Dunlop, ACCA’s regional director – MESA said: ‘Maaz Masood Ansari is an active ACCA member and advocate that has supported ACCA Pakistan immensely with his personal and professional networks, most notably at Deloitte. The collaboration between Deloitte Pakistan and ACCA Pakistan has generated many opportunities for the recruitment of talent and connecting us with employers and members as well as hosting CPD events, conferences and more. Congratulations Maaz on your great achievements for ACCA.’

Commenting on his contributions, ACCA’s regional head of member affairs, Haroon A. Jan, said,

‘Maaz has been instrumental in collaboration between ACCA and Deloitte on holding the CPEC conference in Pakistan, which was a big success in creating awareness on the economic potential of CPEC for Pakistan. Initiatives like these are an example of working in the public interest, which is core to our membership fabric.’

‘ACCA holds Pakistan Leadership Conversation annually which brings topical global developments to the professionals in the country. Once again Maaz played a key role in the building an exemplary partnership between ACCA and Deloitte, which was pivotal to achieving the objectives of the event. The impact of Maaz’s contributions was recognised by all the judges of ACCA’s Regional Advocacy Awards. The judging panel consisted of senior ACCA members from Middle East, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan,’ he further added.

ACCA launched the regional advocacy awards in 2017 to recognise members who go above and beyond in expressing public support for the accountancy profession, embodying ACCA's values. These advocates are also members who deliver public value, display ethical professionalism and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

The full list of ACCA Regional Advocate Award winners for 2019 are:

  •  ACCA MESA Regional Advocate of the Year 2019: Maaz Masood Ansari from Pakistan
  •  ACCA Emerging Markets Regional Advocate of the Year 2019: Rajeev Giri from India
  • ACCA ASEAN ANZ Regional Advocate of the Year 2019: Mariam Riza from Australia
  •   ACCA Europe and Americas Regional Advocate of the Year 2019: Eilis Quinlan from Ireland
  • ACCA Africa Regional Advocate of the Year 2019: Victoria Abiola Ajayi from Nigeria    
  • ACCA Greater China Regional Advocate of the Year 2019: Jennifer Tan from Hong Kong SAR.

In addition to their professional excellence and globally in-demand expertise, ACCA members are particularly focused on delivering public value in Pakistan. They are currently involved in numerous free-of-cost, public value projects such as promoting financial literacy among micro entrepreneurs, and helping small businesses with their scalability and sustainability.

For more information about ACCA’s advocates, please visit http://www.accaglobal.com/an/en/member/advocacy.html.  


Monday, 16 March 2020

ACCA proposes a bold future for Multan region




ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) convened a mega corporate conference on the theme 'Punjab: Corridor to Pakistan’s economic prosperity' here in Multan on 13 March 2020.
Featuring insights and thought leadership of the most prominent policy makers and business leaders from the province, the conference facilitated future-focused, action-oriented conversations aimed at revitalising region’s economy and society by proposing a bold future enabled by the power of inclusivity, integrity and innovation to usher in an era of sustainable and accelerated growth.

With an aim to build a consensus among all stakeholders on the future direction for region’s economy and society, the policy makers and business leaders shared their perspectives on topics as diverse as transforming Multan region into a global startup hub and building future-ready, globally competitive organisations.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was the Chief Conversation Leader and he delivered a highly passionate speech promoting hope and optimism for the region, the province, and the country. He highlighted how Pakistan is regaining its global influence by playing an active role in promoting global peace, building new partnerships to enhance bilateral trade with friendly countries, and attracting foreign investors through effective reforms targeted at improving ease of doing business in the country. He appreciated the role ACCA is playing in the country using its global reach, influence and resources to help local businesses and policy makers with their future-readiness and global relevance.

Senator Walid Iqbal also spoke at the event and highlighted that Multan region has a great potential, and by focusing in this region we can improve our exports, create new jobs, and empower underprivileged communities. He energised the audiences by citing verses from Iqbal and explained the poet’s philosophy on innovation, self-esteem, and courage. 

The event had an impressive lineup of speakers, including Sheikh Ahsan Rasheed, CEO, Hafeez Ghee Mills Pvt Ltd, Zia Ul Mustafa, President, Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP), Fazal Elahi, President Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dr Athar Mahboob, Vice Chancellor, The Islamia University Bahawalpur, Javaid Iqbal Chaudhry,  President, Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mian Rashid Iqbal, Sr Vice President,  Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Bakhtawer Tanveer, Director, Maqbool Group, Ahmer Arif, Project Manager, British Deputy High Commission – Karachi, and Sajjad Syed, CEO, Excellence Delivered ExD pvt Ltd, Syed Bahadar Ali, Commissioner Inland Revenue, Corporate Zone, FBR, Dr. Hayat Awan, HOD, Business Department, Air University Multan Campus, and Masooma Sibtain, Consultant, Women Economics Reforms at CRSS.

There was a strong emphasis on ensuring equality of opportunity, championing highest standards of ethics, and encouraging innovative mindset, Leaders also agreed that Pakistan can truly reach its full potential if youth of our country are given right environment to lead innovation and think beyond boundaries. With advancements in technology, there’s no excuse not to train our youth to think beyond boundaries through world-class qualifications and by developing globally in-demand skills and competencies so they can take part in global economy, without even leaving the country, by activating startup ecosystem and setting up Shared Service Centers in cities like Multan and Bahawalpur. 

The event was supported by ACCA’s partner organisations, including Security Organizing System pvt ltd Pakistan, SHAMA, Akhuwat Foundation, British Deputy High Commission, LGS, University of London, SKANS, TMUC, OBOX, Saddaqat, MA Sheikh Hospital, Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce & Industry, ICMAP, PSX, PBIT, PITB, PRA & Jamapunji.  


HUAWEI Y7p Launches in Pakistan to Resounding Market Anticipation




The smartphone features HUAWEI AppGallery, one of the world’s top app marketplaces; piques consumer interest with its power packed features, exquisite design and a great user experience.

After a successful pre-order phase, Huawei has launched the HUAWEI Y7p in Pakistan. The smartphone went on pre-orders last week to much public aplomb as people wanted to try out the HUAWEI AppGallery – the default app marketplace on the HUAWEI Y7p. It offers remarkable features for a price of PKR 28,999/- and is quite a steal with its 48MP Triple AI Camera, 6.39” FHD+ Punch FullView Display, 4GB RAM and 64GB Memory among many other features.

Touted as a smartphone for the New Age, this game changing mid-ranger comes with HUAWEI AppGallery which is available in more than 170 countries and attracts more than 400 million monthly active users across the world. Building on its popularity, the phone is also a photography marvel in its price point. The 48MP Triple AI Camera that includes an 8MP Ultra Wide Camera and a 2MP Depth Assist Camera promises one of the best photographic experiences – with true 48MP photography, 120-degree wide angle photos and videos and spectacular Bokeh imagery.

When it comes to design, the HUAWEI Y7p is breathtakingly beautiful. Be it Aurora Blue or Midnight Black – the eye catching aesthetics are surely a class apart. The display is yet another winning aspect of the device with a 6.39” FHD+ Punch FullView Display. The 8MP AI Front Camera is embedded in the screen as a punch hole, taking stunning HDR quality selfies.

On the inside, the phone is powered by a Kirin 710F Octa-core processor that is supported by a 4GB RAM and 64GB memory. The memory can be jacked up to 512GB with a microSD card, giving you space to store more of your photos, videos and apps! While the smartphone gives a powerful performance, it is also built to last – with a 4,000 mAh battery that juices out an efficient usage.

The software is also fluid as the EMUI 9.1 based on Android 9 offers a smooth experience and app management. The device also features system-level optimizations, such as EROFS along with a Full Scene Acceleration technology for better app experiences.

Thanks to these features, the HUAWEI Y7p is easily one of the best choices in today’s wide range of smartphones. Not only do you get a stylish looking smartphone, but you can also enjoy a powerful camera, long-lasting solid performance and smart features that enhance your experience even further, all at a price that won’t break the bank.


Wednesday, 11 March 2020

BlueEx Courier partners with Pakistan Cables to deliver wires and cables direct to consumer




BlueEx Courier signed a MoU with Pakistan Cables Limited to become the exclusive courier company for Pakistan’s first wires and cables estore, recently launched by Pakistan Cables.

The signing ceremony was presided over by Mr. Fahd K. Chinoy, Chief Executive Officer (Pakistan Cables); and Mr. Imran Baxamoosa, Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Ali Aamer Baxamoosa, Executive Director (Blue-Ex Courier).

Under the partnership, Blue-Ex Courier will deliver products ordered by consumers via the Pakistan Cables estore, covering all major cities of Pakistan.  As the pioneer in eCommerce logistics and facilitation in Pakistan, the ordered products will be delivered directly to consumers using Last Mile Delivery.

Mr. Imran Baxamoosa, CEO BlueEx stated that, they are a trend setter of advanced logistics services in Pakistan having pioneered E-Commerce logistics and fulfillment when they launched their online parcel booking system (first of its kind in this country) in 2011 and within a few years established the most advanced and efficient cash-on-delivery network across the country. He further added, this partnership is a testament to the fact that we are committed to providing our clients with tailor made services that suit their needs and a positive sign of the digital progression in Pakistan.

 “Pakistan Cables has launched the country’s first wires and cable online store in order to enhance convenience from a customer perspective.   We are investing in this partnership in order to provide our customers with a seamless experience , while at the same time assisting in developing the online marketplace for building materials in Pakistan. ”,  commented Fahd K. Chinoy, CEO, Pakistan Cables Limited.



Saturday happens to be the Most Forgetful Day in Pakistan: Uber




Whether you’re in a hurry, busy checking your messages or chatting with a friend, it seems to be a common occurrence for riders to leave behind their personal belongings at the end of their Uber rides. While the retrieval of these lost items from Uber cars is quite easy, a newly released Lost & Found Index from Uber offers interesting insights on the kind of items most frequently forgotten by passengers.

According to the Lost & Found Index covering the MENAP region (Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan), Saturday has been the most forgetful day of the week for passengers, while the afternoon is reportedly the time of day when a majority of these incidents occur in Pakistan.

Lahore has been stated to be the most forgetful city in Pakistan, followed closely by Karachi and Islamabad. In addition to that, November 30th, 2019 was the day on which the most number of lost-item cases were reported to Uber from all over the country.

Clothing items, cellphones, cards, bags, documents, sunglasses, keys, shoes, household items and devices like headphones and speakers made it to the top of the list of most commonly left behind possessions in cars. More interestingly, the Index also lists down a number of unusual items left behind in Uber cars by passengers, including stethoscopes, bridal dresses, walking sticks, dentures, wall clocks, X-ray scans and pillow covers.

As compared to earlier data, the past year has seen newer kinds of items accidentally abandoned in Uber rides. With the fast-paced lives of large metropolitan cities of Pakistan, the chances of individuals forgetting their belongings in a ride might be high, but it isn’t something to worry about with Uber’s professional and courteous partner drivers. 

How to Retrieve Lost Items:
If you’re one of those people who left something behind, look no further than this video, which outlines the simple steps you can take the next time you forget something behind in your Uber.

The best way to retrieve a lost item is to call the driver - but if you leave your phone itself in an Uber, you can login to your account on a computer. Here’s what to do:
1.    Tap ‘Your Trips’ and select the trip where you left something
2.    Tap ‘I lost an item’
3.    Tap ‘Contact driver about a lost item’
4.    Scroll down and enter the phone number you would like to be contacted at. Tap ‘Submit’.
5.    If you lost your personal phone, enter a friend’s phone number (you can do this by logging into your account on a computer, or using a friend’s phone).
6.    Your phone will ring and connect you directly to your driver’s mobile number.
7.    If your driver picks up and confirms that your item has been found, coordinate a mutually convenient time and place to meet for its return to you.
8.    If your driver doesn’t pick up, leave a detailed voicemail describing your item and the best way to contact you.


Glocalising accountancy profession, ICMA Pakistan and ACCA enter strategic partnership to create more opportunities for stakeholders




ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and Institute of Cost Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA Pakistan) have entered a strategic partnership agreement focusing on greater collaboration between both the accounting bodies and creating new opportunities for their members, partners and the country. The announcement was made at a high-profile event here in Islamabad yesterday.

The agreement will allow both the organisations to collaborate on delivering inclusive, integrated thinking by glocalising the governance processes, create new membership pathways, and benefit from their collective global and local knowledge, experience and reach.

‘Today’s world offers a very unique opportunity to “work together”, “evolve together” and “create together”. But it requires a mindset shift towards purpose driven collaboration to solve regional and global problems.’ - Zia ul Mustafa, President, ICMA Pakistan.

He further emphasised that members of both ACCA and ICMA Pakistan have a lot to gain from this partnership. He explained how ICMA Pakistan is playing its role in Pakistan’s economic development and also the statutory privileges and rights earned by the Institute’s members over a period of 60 years of its existence. Mr. Zia expressed that broader collaboration between both professional accounting organisations will further add to their national and international contribution towards common global objective of increasing capacity for innovation and productivity.

“This strategic partnership with ICMA Pakistan is consistent with our mission to be a global leader in the profession by providing opportunity and open access to people of ability wherever they are in the world to support and promote the highest ethical, governance and professional standards, advancing the public interest”, added Helen Brand OBE, Chief Executive, ACCA.

“I am confident that this thought leadership shall help Pakistan to build trust, understand the importance of governance and transparency, enhance quality of financial information for decision making, expand tax base, build larger portfolio for export of services, and earn reputation for the professionals in Pakistan.”

Present at the signing ceremony were Guests of Honour, Andleeb Abbas, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Zamir Ahmed, Additional Auditor General of Pakistan, and Faiz ullah Kamoka, Chairman, Standing Committee for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs.

Other important attendees included, Ayla Majid FCCA, Council Member, ACCA, Shehzad Ahmed Malik, Council Member, ICMA Pakistan, Ather Saleem, Council Member, ICMA Pakistan, Ghulam Qazi, Council Member, ICMA Pakistan, Aamir Ijaz Khan, Executive Director, ICMA Pakistan, Sajjeed Aslam, Head of ACCA Pakistan, Assad Hameed Khan, Market Head - Business Development, ACCA, Muhammad Shehzad Khan, Chairman – UK Branch Council, ICMA Pakistan, and Javaria Malik, Director Marketing and Communications, ICMA Pakistan.