Readout President Mr. Alvi’s in-person meeting CEO of Bookme, Mr. Faizan Aslam

             

H.E. Mr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan, recently welcomed the opportunity to speak candidly with CEO of Bookme, Mr. Faizan Aslam. In the meeting, the two gentlemen had a substantive conversation regarding the complex nature of the e-commerce industry, their interests and priorities across a range of issues, the impact that startups are creating upon the tech sector of the country, and the importance of managing competition responsibly. 

Mr. Faizan accentuated the powerful impact that Bookme, as a startup, has originated in the e-commerce industry of the country. From being a comprehensive e-commerce solution for ticket booking to raising a prodigious 7.5 million investment, Bookme has made a splash in the tech sector of the country. 

The continuous determination of Bookme being the best solution for its customers was also communicated in the meeting. As Bookme aims to engulf more verticals and services under its umbrella, it will be offering a supreme amount of job opportunities for hundreds and thousands of people. 

The two gentlemen also discussed the existential nature of competition in the economy that can be covered by reducing imports. And bringing foreign currency in the country would greatly help in escalating value towards the economy, and that Bookme has done just recently. By bringing millions of dollars of investment in the country to be used for digitization of travel sector, it will be beneficial to cover the gaps in the grey economy and eventually will create a huge impact. 

Mr. President congratulated and strongly aided the multilateral efforts of Bookme for a great support towards the economy through the services of their business. And for upholding the commitments that the government made with the public.   

Regarding this meeting, CEO of Bookme, Mr. Faizan Aslam quoted his thoughts,

“I felt honored to meet The President and to share the emerging value that Bookme has anchored. I gratefully acknowledge the productive time that he shared with me. I found it really encouraging the way our government is showing interest in the developing startups of Pakistan and taking measures for e-commerce and tech sector. This ecosystem is beneficial for entrepreneurs and it will eventually be helpful for Pakistan's economic growth.” 

Infinix RAP Battle between Young Stunners and RAP Demon is anticipated to be the biggest online RAP battle of 2022

   

  

Exclusively live on Infinix’s official social media platforms, the rap battle can be expected to stun the audience with dazzling performances  

Pakistan’s leading and most-selling smartphone brand, Infinix is all set to dazzle its audiences with the most exciting online rap battle between the country’s latest hit musical sensations, the Young Stunners and RAP Demon, this January 1^st, 2022. The rap battle will be aired live for viewers across the country to watch exclusively on Infinix’s official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

The Young Stunners and RAP Demon will be bringing in all the heat and energy to this action-packed online rap battle, which comes as a celebration for the success of Infinix’s introductory campaign for its NOTE 11 series. The smartphone brand has previously been in partnership with the Young Stunners as brand ambassadors for its spectacular new model, the NOTE 11 AMOLED Stunner, and is now bringing this chance to showcase their talent live. This online music concert is aiming to bring together thousands of hip-hop fans from across the nation onto one platform in order to support their favorite local talent in the most electrifying face-off.

“The Infinix NOTE 11 series has been designed precisely for the youth - the music-loving trendsetters. We are proud to have partnered up with such fantastic local talent, and become a part of Pakistan’s hip new generation with our brand’s presence, its youthful persona, and its cutting-edge high quality devices,” commented Joe Hu, CEO Infinix Pakistan.

The Infinix NOTE 11 series consists of NOTE 11 – the AMOLED Stunner phone with a 6.7-inch FHD+ Waterdrop AMOLED display, and the NOTE 11 Pro ‘Speed Up’ featuring MediaTek Helio G96 ultra-gaming chipset. Infinix has always been focused on setting new trends for the youth, empowering its users to stay connected and at par with modern times with latest, state-of-the-art devices, and encouraging them to standout in a crowd. The NOTE 11 series stands for this philosophy, and more outstanding new models of the series can be expected to be launched soon.

The voices behind ‘Afsanay’ and ‘Gumaan’, Young Stunners are a rapping duo featuring Talha Anjum and Talha Yunus. The band took no time in rising to fame, giving out one hit music number after another in quick succession. RAP Demon, also known as Abdullah Malik, reached over a million views for his rap song ‘Gauntlet 2.0’, making it the first step of many towards popularity in the hip-hop music industry in Pakistan. He is well known across borders in neighboring countries as well.

So don’t forget to tune into Infinix’s official social media handles this Saturday at 8:00 pm sharp, and get ready to groove with your favorite rappers!

CM Punjab issues letter of appreciation to PSDF for outstanding performance by a public sector company

PSDF (Punjab Skills Development Fund) was awarded with a letter of appreciation by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, for its outstanding performance amongst public sector companies. PSDF was acknowledged for its effective ability to deliver its mandate of providing market-relevant skills training to youth of Punjab on behalf of the government of Punjab.  PSDF was lauded for continuously striving for excellence in this endeavor.  

This year marks a decade for the organization, starting with operations in only 4 districts in Punjab today its funds trainings in all 36 districts and has successfully implemented trainings for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and World Bank.  PSDF is Pakistan’s largest skills development fund, dedicated to funding trainings to support skill development and creation of income generating opportunities for youth.  It has trained more than 500,000 women and men in the past decade through creating an eco-system of training service providers and forging partnerships with the industry to deliver quality skills trainings in 250 trades.  

Alongside this, PSDF has established relationships with international businesses-like Americana, Palm Atlantis, and Rotana to create livelihood opportunities for Pakistani workforce in the international job market.  With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, PSDF re-aligned its mode of training and partnered with leading online learning platforms including Coursera and Gnowbe to provide digital learning opportunities for its trainees.  

Apart from funding trainings in traditional areas, a key focus for the organization has also been to address the skills gap that exists within marginalized communities, like transgenders, non-Muslim youth and people with disabilities.  The organization has funded and designed specialized skill training programs for them through community engagement.

Going forward the organization is gearing up to launch more digital and hybrid learning programs to open income-generating opportunities for its trainees in the growing fields of professional freelancing, entrepreneurship, and self-employment. It will continue funding trainings that will nurture the skillset of youth and play a leading role in advancing the socio-economic progress of the nation.

Oraimo signed Nagina Electronics as an Official Partner in Pakistan

           

The Global premium accessory brand Oraimo, a subsidiary of Transsion Holdings, announced Nagina Electronics as its official distribution partner in Pakistan. Under this strategic partnership, both companies aim to expand Oraimo smart accessories portfolio nationwide. Oraimo is a part of Transsion group having well renowned Mobile Phone brands like Infinix, Techno, and Itel. Over 5 decades Nagina Electronics is a well-known name in Pakistan’s consumer electronics and Nagina is the official partner of various Multinational Consumer Electronics Companies for Pakistan.

The signing ceremony was held in Lahore where key officials of Oraimo and Nagina Electronics were present along with media dignitaries.

Talking on the occasion Country Head Oraimo Pakistan, Mr. Steven Said: The opportunities in Pakistan are tremendous and the market offers robust potential for global brands. We aim to establish industry benchmarks by acquiring the pole position within our domain in a record-breaking time. In line with its brand philosophy 'Keep Exploring', Oraimo will surely add a lot of excitement to our consumers' lifestyle" 

Sharing his views on this partnership Jamshaid Sabir, Director Sales & Marketing, Nagina Electronics said “We are pleased to have Oraimo official in Pakistani market as Nagina’s core philosophy is to stay ahead of the market and customer demands, which enables it to understand and cater the customer and channel demands ahead of time. Besides financial and infrastructural capabilities, hard work and dedication make the company fully capable to handle the Oraimo business in Pakistan.

The new range of Oraimo smart accessories includes Bluetooth-enabled headphones and speakers, power banks, chargers, data cables, smartwatches that have come with a one-year replacement warranty, the company is offering a six-month replacement warranty for its data cables and hands-free offerings in the country.

ACCA and The Institute of Internal Auditors renew MOU

 

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) renewal has been signed between ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and The IIA (the Institute of Internal Auditors).

The three-year agreement will further strengthen and extend the current cooperation agreement and allows both bodies to continue to work closely together to advance their respective professions.

 

The MOU was signed by ACCA’s chief executive Helen Brand OBE and IIA president and chief executive Anthony Pugliese, CIA, CPA, CGMA, CITP. Under the terms of the agreement, ACCA and The IIA will focus on advancing the careers of members, enhancing governance practices and serving the public interest.

 

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, said: ‘We’re delighted to be signing this new MOU with The IIA. We believe that we can develop research together that resonates with a global audience of finance professionals across different disciplines. We already have strong links with The IIA and we look forward strengthening those in a range of areas for the benefit of our memberships.’

Anthony Pugliese, president and chief executive officer of The IIA, said: ‘This MOU builds on an already strong working relationship with ACCA. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration together. Internal audit plays a vital role in providing the independent, internal assurance that supports all types of external disclosures, so our global organisations represent complementary functions in many areas.’

The organisations will cooperate on research and thought leadership on topics such as diversity, governance, cybersecurity and ESG (environmental, social and governance). Both organisations are collaborating on a Professional Insights report to be released next year.

 

They will also evaluate opportunities to work together on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Both parties are also going to continue to collaborate on a range of activity to benefit their memberships in markets where they already work together, as well as other markets.

 

ACCA and The IIA have been collaborating for a number of years in offering a challenge exam to ACCA members so they can receive The IIA’s prestigious Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation. The CIA is the only globally recognised certification for internal audit practitioners.

Since 2015, more than 5,000 ACCA members sat for the CIA challenge exam. The IIA is willing to make this opportunity available to qualified ACCA members because earning the CIA represents an important level of achievement for individuals practicing internal auditing.

 

The parties will advocate for each other’s qualifications and use their own channels to promote their partnership, such as member magazines and social media posts.

Infinix Integrates Extended RAM Feature into All-New NOTE 11 Series

           

RAM has never been more important than it is today with the ever increasingly demanding applications emerging in today’s app market. Infinix’s latest smartphone release, the NOTE 11 Pro integrates Extended RAM, which allows the phone’s RAM to be boosted by up to 5GB in a single click - from 8GB to 13BG, allowing uses to choose different levels of RAM increases. This is a game-changer when you’re using more apps at a certain time and need a temporary boost in performance without compromising your daily battery life. Extended RAM technology means that a part of the ROM will be used to work as RAM when the RAM is not sufficient to ensure buttery smooth performance. Users can simply open it in the settings under -“Storage"-"MemFusion".

NOTE 11’s Extended RAM feature will be available on NOTE 11 Pro / NOTE 11S / NOTE 11. With Extended RAM activated, the phones can load games faster and ensure that users can start gaming instantly, even if they switch among multiple apps.

Model	ROM	RAM	Ram Expansion Plan
NOTE 11 Pro	128GB	8GB	2GB/ 3GB / 5GB
NOTE 11S	128GB	8GB	2GB/ 3GB / 5GB
NOTE 11S	64GB	6GB	1GB / 2GB/ 3GB
NOTE 11	128GB	6GB	2GB/ 3GB / 5GB
NOTE 11	128GB	4GB	1GB/ 2GB / 3GB
NOTE 11	64GB	4GB	1GB / 2GB/ 3GB

Infinix always seek to pack the latest and greatest technology into it’s devices at attainable price points, and extended ram is just one of the many handy features planned to be integrated into future devices. Stay tuned to Infinix social media channels for future updates!

BEL has stepped into the city of Kasur to help make it Green

   

The first renewable energy company to open a dedicated sales office in Kasur, the cold stores' city of Pakistan

Beacon energy limited is proud to take our services to next level when it comes to providing our customers with before sale services and after-sale services. Our customers, mainly the businessmen in Kasur and rural Punjab are availing the solar system solution for the betterment of their business and daily life.

After inaugurating offices in all major cities (K/L/I) of Pakistan, we were proud to open our 4th sales office in Kasur. After receiving a very positive response from all the other cities, we are now getting a great response from the businessmen of Kasur and rural Panjab. This event was attended by 150+ guests and state bank of Pakistan representatives provided a briefing about solar financing initiatives and facilitation by GOP.

During the event, special shields were also awarded by the honorable Mr. Khursheed Kasuri (ex. Foreign Minister Pakistan) and the CEO of BEL Mr. Nassir Kasuri to the respected Customers of the Agri city.

With bigger visions comes bigger opportunities for the nation. BEL has generated Employment opportunities all over the country for our youth, as we have employed over 120+ young, passionate and hardworking talented team members, who are dedicated towards bringing a positive change to the country.

ACCA & Investors Lounge sign MOU to develop capital markets awareness and skills in Pakistan

         

ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Pakistan and Investors Lounge (a brand of Finox Private Limited) have entered into a partnership to promote financial inclusion and investor education amongst finance professionals and develop an understanding on areas of savings and investment management, financial analytics and stock trading. 

The partnership was announced at a high-level MOU signing ceremony held at ACCA's office in Karachi. Both the organisations' leadership was present at the event where they discussed how this partnership would strengthen the country's finance profession and offer individuals world-class investment management resources to supercharge their careers and develop a better understanding of capital markets.

Sajjeed Aslam, Head of ACCA Pakistan, said:

Capital markets play a crucial role in mobilizing domestic resources and its efficient channelling towards productive uses, thus raising national productivity. Our partnership with Investors Lounge is aimed at enhancing investor awareness, investor base and investment management skills in Pakistan.

Baqar Abbas Jafri, CEO Investors Lounge said:

Our objective is to enable over 10 million families to have better financial lives by helping them develop investing skills. Partnering with ACCA is a big step in the right direction because of their membership strength and experience in capacity building. I invite SECP, PSX, CDC and NCCPL to join hands with us as well to help increase Pakistan’s investor base.

Present at the ceremony were Baqar Abbas Jafri, CEO – Investors Lounge, Sennen Desouza, Director Business Development – Investors Lounge, Sajjeed Aslam, Head of ACCA Pakistan, Assad Hameed Khan, Head of Strategic Partnerships – ACCA Pakistan, Taimur Beiram Khan, Head of Business Development South – ACCA Pakistan, Ali Shan Ul Haque, Business Development Manager South – ACCA Pakistan and Salman Saleem, Marketing Manager – ACCA Pakistan.

About Investors Lounge: Investors Lounge is an online learning platform that trains Pakistanis to be successful at investing and money management. It provides world-class educational courses, gamification and market insights to help Young Pakistanis afford their dreams.

Infinix fans can now avail best-selling Note 11 Series at amazing price point

             

Following the massive success of its latest series of smartphone handsets in Pakistan, Infinix is bringing the biggest, most exciting treat for its valued users ahead of New Year, with the announcement of exclusive discounts on its NOTE 11(4GB and 6GB) variants and a small upward change in the price of NOTE 11 Pro phones. The price has already updated online and in stores, where the NOTE 11 series are available on new prices.

Below is a snapshot of the prices:

Handset Model	Original Price	Discounted Price
Infinix NOTE 11 4GB	PKR 29,999	PKR 28,999
Infinix NOTE 11 6GB	PKR 32,999	PKR 30,999
Infinix NOTE 11 Pro	PKR 33,999	PKR 34,999

The NOTE 11 series have already garnered much praise since their introduction in the Pakistani market. Following are some excellent features these phones offer.

Infinix NOTE 11

The Infinix NOTE 11 features a massive 6.7” AMOLED display with a 33Watt fast charging and 5000 mAh battery. NOTE 11 has an innovative boxy design which provides premium hand feel. It also has 50MP wide aperture camera for the best in class photography experience.

Infinix NOTE 11 comes in two variants of 4GB and 6GB with the massive storage of 128GB. On the other hand it also has a MediaTek Helio G88 dual chip ultra game-play processor with monster game kit to enhance gaming experience.

Infinix NOTE 11 Pro

The Infinix NOTE 11 Pro has super-fast and ultra-smooth 120 Hz massive 6.95” FHD+ display. It is power packed with MediaTek Helio G96 processor for ultra-fast gaming experience and all round performance.  NOTE 11 Pro comes with premium 64MP camera and 30X telescope zoom to take some classic shots especially in low light.

LCBDDA Announces Apprentice Program for Young Graduates

           

Lahore Central Business District Development Authority (LCBDDA) also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab) announces the country’s most unique graduate development program for young graduates and through this apprentice program, the youth can transform themselves into certified professionals.

In this fiscal year only, there will be hundreds of apprentices placed in different batches and top performers from each batch will be given permanent slots, based on their respective performances.

The program will offer 12 soft skill training programs and 10 hard skill training programs which includes personal and professional skill development courses. It is a great step in a new direction, providing an innovative approach in developing practical solutions for a better employment breakthroughs for the youth.

Announcing “The Apprentice” program at Lahore College Women University, Dr. Shahbaz Gill – Special Assistant to PM on Political Communication said, “Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan believes in developing institutions, in Lahore only, the Central Business District (CBD Punjab) and RUDA are developing institutions that are in tune with modern requirements which will create millions of jobs and I promise, to give jobs to female students of Lahore College in these institutions”. In this regard, The CBD Punjab HR team will soon initiate a Job Fair and interview female students of Lahore College for the said program.

Taking about this Apprentice Program CEO of LCBDDA – Imran Amin said: “This program will help the youth of Punjab to choose their professional fields by going through focused skill based training session for a better prospect. LCBDDA urges young graduates to register themselves in this program to get professional training relevant to their field of interest and create better employment working opportunities ahead.”

Through this program, equal opportunities will be ensured for both male and female top performers which will lead them towards a permanent job placement and it will also give the youth of Punjab, the confidence and the experience to work in a professional environment.

Infinix and Garena Free Fire launches Pakistan’s first esports-themed experience store in Lahore

             

Pakistan’s top smartphone brand, Infinix, has launched the country’s first esports-themed technology store today in collaboration with Garena Free Fire. The store is located at one of the most prime locations in Lahore, Packages Mall. For the Infinix x Garena Free Fire store launch, media persons, key media officials, Infinix, Free Fire officials, and other prominent industry members were invited for the store opening ceremony. Infinix also gave away exciting gifts to the loyal customers which were present for the store opening ceremony.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was presided over by Zeeshan Mian Noor, CEO Zenith, the chief guest of the occasion. Other attendees include Malik Khalid, Chairman of the All Pakistan Mobile dealers association, key personnel from Pakistan’s media community, Infinix Pakistan officials and Garena.

Commenting on the successful launch of the store, Joe Hu, CEO Infinix Pakistan said, “Infinix as a consumer-centric brand not only brings new innovative technology but also adds value in consumer’s life. With our new store, we aim to empower youth with esports enabled interactive technology and to promote E-sport further in Pakistan’’.          

Garena Free Fire is one of the world’s top mobile battle royale games. The free-to-play title achieved a record high of 150 million peak daily active users, and is the most downloaded game globally in 2021, according to Sensor Tower. Earlier this year, Free Fire hit over 1 billion downloads on the Google Play Store, joining a small group of mobile players who have done so.      

Pioneering in innovation, Infinix takes pride in keeping up with the latest trends and coming up with new and exciting ways to engage with its customers. The new esport-themed flagship store, is a testament to Infinix’s commitment to be a front runner in the expansion of technological advancement in Pakistan. As a top selling smartphone brand of the country, Infinix values an enhanced user experience above all, and today with this exclusive new store launch, Infinix has successfully brought an end to waiting for esports atmosphere to begin and flourish in Pakistan.

So, do not wait any longer and head over to the Packages Mall today for an irreplaceable in-store experience and some free gifts!    

Download Free Fire on the Apple iOS App or Google Play store.

Free Fire MAX is also available on the Apple iOS App and Google Play store.

Stay protected with Huawei’s newest Wi-Fi 6 home router, HUAWEI WiFi AX2

           

Your router is the most important gadget in your home, which is why making sure it’s safe and secure is highly important. Recognizing this, Huawei has made the HUAWEI WiFi AX2 the safest router to date, meaning you don’t have to worry about cybersecurity incidents. The HUAWEI WiFi AX2 provides powerful security functions, which effectively protect user privacy and cybersecurity.

So, how does the HUAWEI WiFi AX2 protect you and your family?

Wi-Fi 6

HUAWEI WiFi AX2 is a Wi-Fi 6 home router, this means that the router optimises the network when multiple devices are connected, and you can have control over the websites your kids are visiting from their mobile phones, tablets, or any other device. Wi-Fi 6 is better equipped for modern realities when it’s not just one computer connected to the Internet, but almost every other device.

Parental controls

It used to be that ‘home’ was the safest place for your children to be, however, because of the internet and the rise of social media, we know this isn’t always the case. This is why HUAWEI AX2 comes with parental controls, so parents and kids can feel less anxious and most importantly, safer. The HUAWEI WiFi AX2 is preinstalled with the HUAWEI AI Life app. This app makes it easy to manage routers and connected devices for a more user-friendly experience than users get with other routers[1].

It also comes with parental controls, so you can protect children from potential online threats even when you’re not at home. With a few taps on your phone, HUAWEI WiFi AX2 can block out inappropriate websites and limit access to selected devices. For example, if you’re child happened upon a chat room that wasn’t age-appropriate, you can block this website so they’re no longer able to visit. Or perhaps one of your children spends their life on Facebook, simply use the app to limit the amount of time spent online, and if you’re lucky – they may then be able to finish their homework!

HarmonyOS Mesh+

Wi-Fi routers have come a long way over the years, and Huawei has stayed ahead of the game. With the rise of home-working, mesh Wi-Fi systems are incredibly popular. A mesh system is usually two or more routers placed throughout your home, and they extend your Wi-Fi signal to parts of your home that are too far from your main router.

 HUAWEI WiFi AX2 comes with HarmonyOS Mesh+, which, unlike traditional mesh systems, features a Super Seamless Roaming feature that is backed by seven roaming algorithms (including 802.11k and 802.11v), making it easier for your phone to switch between hotspots as you walk around the house.

As well as being faster and more reliable, mesh systems are much safer. HarmonyOS Mesh+ gives you manual control over your hardware, meaning you’re able to kick people off the Wi-Fi if ever needed and easily change the password. Not only does it extend the reach of your int butternut, but HarmonyOS Mesh+ also keeps you in control.  

Cyber Security

Wi-Fi attack software - such as Wi-Fi Master Key - uses trial-and-error to guess Wi-Fi passwords. The HUAWEI WiFi AX2 can effectively distinguish between incorrect passwords entered by a user and brute force password traversal attacks. If the number of incorrect Wi-Fi passwords entered exceeds a certain threshold, the HUAWEI WiFi AX2 determines that the current device is experiencing a malicious brute force attack and prevents the device from connecting to the router for a certain time period.

In addition, users can set blocklists and trust lists, either singling out devices that are not allowed on the Wi-Fi network or limiting access to an exclusive list of trusted devices, further protecting user privacy and home network security.

For example, if you have a cheeky neighbor who is trying to steal your internet instead of paying for their own, you’ll know about it! And better yet, you’ll be able to block their device so they can’t keep trying.

Staying safe at home has never been so important, and it’s integral that your Wi-Fi router allows you and your family to feel protected against anything. Whilst the internet grows, certain dangers grow with it, but Huawei is always one step ahead.

---

[1] Requires an OTA update.

ACCA, Bahria University sign MOU to develop future-ready finance professionals

On Wednesday, 15th December 2021, ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Pakistan and Bahria University Islamabad, signed an MoU formalizing their long-standing partnership to develop a future-ready accountancy profession in Pakistan. In addition to enabling continuous learning opportunities for accounting and finance students via ACCA accredited programmes, the MoU aims to enhance academic cooperation between ACCA and Bahria University.

The MOU signing ceremony was held at the Bahria University (BU) campus in Islamabad and was attended by the leadership of both institutions including Mr. Assad Hameed Khan, Head of ACCA Pakistan, Rear Admiral (R) Habib UR Rehman HI(M) (Pro-Rector Academics).

The areas of collaboration include enabling the academic and professional development of students providing a pathway for students and graduates of the Accounting and Finance programme of BU to study the ACCA Qualification, in line in with ACCA’s global accreditation policy. The partnership will also provide the BU faculty access to ACCA learning and an online education hub.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Assad Hameed Khan, Head of ACCA Pakistan, said, “ACCA is excited to open up opportunities for the youth at Bahria University. With this collaboration, we are sharing our global expertise with the next generation of academics and professionals, who have a critical role to play in developing the economy and future of Pakistan.”

Dr. Muhammad Ali Saeed, Principal Bahria Business School, also speaking at the occasion, stated, “We look forward to empowering our students in adopting and thriving in the accountancy profession leverage ACCA’s world-class knowledge and training resources, allowing them to build a stronger foundation for their future career path and opening up opportunities from all over the world.”

ACCA and FreeBalance sign Memorandum of Understanding

 

A new partnership has been agreed with ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and FreeBalance, focusing on supporting Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform.

The agreement was virtually signed by Helen Brand, ACCA’s chief executive and Freebalance’s president and chief executive officer Manuel Schiappa Pietra.

Under the agreement, ACCA and FreeBalance will explore global opportunities to collaborate in support of their mutual objectives to promote and enhance stronger public financial management. The partners share a commitment to supporting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and to enhancing transparency, promoting good governance and implementing sound fiscal management.

These shared goals, global connections and reach, combined with a wealth of technical expertise, make the partners ideally placed to jointly undertake initiatives to support stronger fiscal management, skills development and PFM reform.

The partnership includes the provision of ACCA Certifications through the FreeBalance Academy, and the organisations will also explore joint public sector related research, policy responses and global events together to promote the value of public sector financial management for strong economies.

Helen Brand says: ‘We are very pleased to enter into this agreement with FreeBalance as strong public sector financial management is necessary to handle the economic impacts of Covid-19 and the climate crisis. There’s a vital need in 2022 for governments to invest in their public financial management systems, and the expertise to manage this work, so that they are flexible and resilient enough to deal with future crises.’

Manuel Schiappa Pietra adds: ‘We are delighted to partner with ACCA, a forward-thinking professional accountancy body that does so much to advance the credibility and competence of the PFM practice worldwide. By working together, we can make a significant contribution to capacity building, good governance, accountability and transparency in governments around the world. Strong PFM systems and capacity leads to sustainable growth and prosperity.’

Pakistan’s Leading Travel Platform Bookme.pk Raises $7.5 Mn Series A Round

    

Lahore-based Bookme.pk announced today that it has closed a $7.5 Mn Series A funding round. Bookme is a travel and ticketing platform similar to Traveloka in Indonesia, providing customers with online bookings for Intercity Buses, Airlines, Hotels & Events in Pakistan

The round was co-led by Zayn Capital, seed investor Lakson VC and UAE-based Hayaat Global with participation from MENA based BY Ventures and Jabbar Internet Group, New York based Millville Opportunities and Silicon-Valley based Mentor’s Fund.

“Our focus at Bookme has always been the customer experience. With this mind we have created a fully integrated platform that allows customers to seamlessly make bookings with the click of a button. We digitized the paper-based transport and travel sector in Pakistan to create a plug and play distribution system that inter-connects reservation systems of intercity buses, domestic & international airlines, hotels and events. In our view, making the overall experience cashless through APIs to enable Super App payment applications was an integral part of completing the digital experience.” said Faizan Aslam, CEO & Founder of Bookme.

Bookme is the first completely cashless platform in Pakistan with the highest number of day-to-day digital transactions for banks and payment gateways. Moreover, Bookme has partnered with Pakistan’s leading mobile wallet platform to offer its customers BNPL services, leveraging historical data and spending patterns for more than 6 million customers.

The intercity bus segment has grown significantly in Pakistan as road infrastructure and connectivity has improved throughout the country due to massive infrastructure investments over the last 5 years. In addition, major urban cities in Pakistan have a large number of rural migrants, increasing demand for bus travel for their work-related commutes.

“Bookme is led by an exceptional team with a clear vision which has enabled it to scale rapidly and dominate the travel and ticketing market in Pakistan. We are thrilled to continue to invest in Bookme and firmly believe that the Series A funding will allow Bookme to expand its operations, increase its market share and transform the travel and ticketing space in the country." said Babar Lakhani, Managing Partner of Lakson Venture Capital.

“We have followed Bookme’s journey from the seed stage to see it scale into one of the leading platforms in Pakistan. We’re extremely proud to be a continued part of their journey as we believe that this team is capable of building a Unicorn.” said Faisal Aftab Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Zayn Capital Frontier Fund.

Cost efficiency and shorter travel distances in densely populated provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are also creating greater demand for buses. Moreover, the 82-million-strong middle class, composed mostly of Millennials and Generation Z are also increasing demand for buses, airlines, hotels and events as domestic tourism and entertainment has grown over the last few years.

“BookMe has one of the most robust e-ticketing platforms because of its focused approach and customer centricity. Under Faizan's inspired leadership, this stellar team has shown their market nous with unique, compelling offerings and partnerships that have supercharged its trajectory. We are delighted to play a role in their growth story and plans, and we fully expect them to continue scaling new peaks as the digital economy deepens in Pakistan.” said Mohammed Ikhlaq, Director of Hayaat Global SFO DMCC.

Pakistani startups have raised more than $300 million so far in 2021. The country has leap frogged in internet users from 20 million in 2015 to more than 100 million in 2021. Platforms like Bookme are poised to scale rapidly as one of the leading local use-cases for this emerging youthful digital economy.

ACCA hosts its third Africa Members’ Conference 2021

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) will be hosting its third Africa Members Convention (AMC) from 14th to 16th December 2021, for the first time online.

The theme this year is ‘Repositioning the profession in Africa to drive and support economic recovery, sustainability, and social governance’ which has a forward-looking agenda aimed at helping the profession across Africa and globally build and sustain resilience in a still challenging environment due to Covid-19 and the climate crisis.

In shaping the future of the profession, over 6,000 ACCA members in Africa have been invited, alongside key decision and policy makers across economies who will be engaged during the AMC, in order to drive actionable changes.

Day 1 will focus on the role of African accountants at the heart of the continent’s route to recovery; day 2 will examine the role of digitalisation on the profession, and day 3 will focus on accountants and their role in policy development in Africa and on the global stage too.

Speaking of the event, Jamil Ampomah, director of ACCA Africa says: ‘We’ve chosen a broad theme that brings together the issues which confront finance professionals and business leaders every day of their lives. Our theme also builds on the work at our first two Africa Member Conventions. In Ethiopia in 2017 we addressed the impact of socio-economic trends on the future of finance and business in Africa, and in Rwanda in 2019 we explored the evolution of finance as Africa thrives amid disruption.’

‘We believe that this event will help the accountancy profession and its stakeholders deal with the challenges and opportunities ahead for 2022, supporting them to understand the new and emerging environment in which it works.’

Key speakers at the AMC include:

• Ms. Orla Collins FCCA, ACCA president
• Dr. Ndidi Edozien, Chair at Circular Economy Innovation Partnership
• Mr. Shailen Ramgoolam, Partner EY, Mauritius
• Mr. Rodney Ndamba (FCCA), CEO Institute, Sustainability Africa
• Dr. Bhavish Jugurnath, President of the Africa Emerging Tech Hub
• Mr Amin Miramago, CEO, Institute of Certified Public Accountants Rwanda, (ICPAR)
• Ms. Alta Prinsloo, Chief Executive Officer, Pan African Federation of Accountants -PAFA, South Africa
• Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, President of Human Capital África and Senior Economic Adviser at África Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI). 
• Mr. Edwin Makori, CEO, Institute of Certified Public Accountants Kenya (ICPAK)

ACCA members can register for the AMC online here. ACCA has also opened up this event to non-ACCA members, who can also register at the same address.

Infinix offers smashing discounts for Daraz 12:12 year-end mega sale!

         

Infinix, the leading smartphone selling brand of Pakistan has successfully joined hands with Daraz as an official Diamond Sponsor for Daraz 12.12 mega year end sale. Up to 30% discount is to be offered on Infinix newly launched smartphone series, laptops and other smartphone accessories starting from 12^th December till 22^nd December. Infinix will also be exclusively launching their new addition of Game on HOT 11 series i.e., HOT 11S which will be available to pre-order on Daraz 12.12 sale at a price of Rs 22,999.

Exclusive discounts are to be offered on Infinix’s latest smartphones including the Game on HOT 11 series, ZERO X series, NOTE 10 Series and also on Infinix INBook X1 Pro laptop series. As an official diamond sponsor, Daraz will be celebrating December 13^th, 2021 as exclusive Infinix Day, during which additional discounts and giveaways can be availed as well. Additionally, gaming enthusiasts can now pre-order the new addition of Game on Infinix HOT 11S series which is accompanied by 4GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage and is available exclusively through Daraz 12:12 mega year end sale.

 “We are glad to have partnered up with Daraz for its mega year end sale, and take pride in adding more value for our people along,” stated Joe Hu, CEO of Infinix Pakistan while talking about the Daraz 12:12 year-end mega sale.

Infinix’s grand sale on Daraz 12:12 is the perfect chance for tech lovers to get their hands on wonderful smart devices designed specifically for the trendsetters, the enthusiasts, the value-seekers! So, it’s better to hurry up and shop for your favourite Infinix products through Infinix Daraz 12:12 mega year-end sale.

Get your tickets for PAK vs WI series from Bookme.pk

   

Cricket craze is evolving at a rapid pace across the globe and it is a sport that chases highest ideals. International cricket is a game for the elite nations and our nation has proved it by bringing the game back to our country!

The confirmation of PAK vs WI Series from Pakistan Cricket Board came as a reprieve for cricket lovers after the abrupt withdrawal of New Zealand team from a white ball series in September when they returned home without playing a match. 

Since at the mercy of fate, West Indies team is coming to our homeland to play the nation’s favorite game. We as a nation need to play our role in making the game even more valuable by filling the stadiums to back both teams. So what are you waiting for? Book your ticket now from Bookme.pk and show your game spirit to the world.

West Indies team will be playing ODIs for the first time in Pakistan after December 2006. Notably, this season the series will feature 3 ODIs (One Day International) and 3 T20 matches in Karachi.

Bookme being the official ticketing partner of PCB, invites you all to support the Green and Carribean team. The T20Is will be happening on 13,14 and 16th of December, and the ODIs will be on 18th, 20th and 22nd of December. So mark your calendars and get yourself ready to roll the stadiums. Log on to www.bookme.pk or download the Bookme App to book your tickets today!

Bookme CEO, Mr Faizan Aslam quote,

PCB has shown solidarity with world cricket and has worked really hard to bring the game back to the country. The West Indies vs Pakistan series is another chance for us as a nation to prove our stance to the world. We, at Bookme, will try our best to make it a hassle free experience for cricket lovers to buy tickets online conveniently and escape the queues of the stadium.

Bagallery, a leading beauty, and fashion e-commerce Platform raises $4.5 Mn to become Pakistan’s biggest female Co-founded startup

Bagallery, a digital-first beauty and fashion startup in Pakistan has raised $4.5 million in Series A funding. Round is co-lead by Zayn Capital, existing investor Lakson VC and UAE- based Hayaat Global.

Bagallery is on a mission to reinvent how people shop for beauty and fashion products online. With its wide range of products spanning across the categories of skincare, makeup, fragrance, handbags, watches, and clothing, Bagallery serves more than 2,700,000 visitors per month and has 500,000+ satisfied customers across the country.

Co-founded by Mina Salman back in 2017, Bagallery is Pakistan’s biggest female co-founded startup, now being valued 4X vs their Seed Round funding. With 40% of employees in the startup being women, the startup firmly believes in empowering women and giving charge to them, particularly in an industry where approximately 80% of customers are female.

Quote from Salman/Mina: Pakistan is a country of 220 million people, and everyone wants to look beautiful our purpose is to offer affordable fashion and beauty products to every segment of our population. Globally fashion and beauty are the biggest categories for E-commerce, so we are playing in the right segment which has already seen many unicorns globally especially in the last 3 years. We are planning for mega expansion after this funding both through acquiring some fashion brands and expanding to other locations.  

Since raising its Seed round in 2020, Bagallery has shown tremendous growth over the last year, with a 3x increase in revenue and more than 20,000+ products and 2000+ brands added to their online store.

The startup also launched exciting innovations in the last year including virtual try-on with L’Oreal ModiFace, live streaming, and social commerce. With the startup now fulfilling the beauty and fashion needs of customers across Pakistan, Bagallery is well-poised to establish itself as a market leader in the beauty and fashion industry in Pakistan.

Quote from investor(s)

‘’It’s been amazing to see the growth of this company over the last few years and I am excited to be a continued of Mina and Salman’s vision to build the best Beauty and Fashion platform in Pakistan’’ said Co-founder & Managing Partner Zayn Capital Frontier Fund. 

 ‘’We are thrilled to continue supporting Bagallery in its aim to reinvent the online beauty and fashion industry in Pakistan. Since its launch, Bagallery has captured the market with its innovative go-to-market strategy and partnerships with leading brands. With its Series A funding, Bagallery can scale faster by acquiring online fashion brands to grow its portfolio and maintain its market leader position. We stand committed to Mina/Salman and the Bagallery team in making the company the first domestic beauty and fashion unicorn’’. said Babar Lakhani, Managing Partner of Lakson Venture Capital.

 ‘’We have been drawn to Bagallery because of its unwavering attention to strong fundamentals: passionate promoters, in-demand brand portfolio, great customer outreach, and growth focus. Salman, Mina, and the team are leveraging these strengths to continuously bring fresh, innovative concepts to the consumers, and become a top market player in this process. Hayaat is excited to support this team as they look to embark on the next phase of this exciting journey’’. said Mohammed Ikhlaq Direct Hayaat Global SFO DMCC

With the Series funding, Bagallery aims to launch exciting new projects in 2022 including a first-of-its-kind influencer platform that will allow customers and influencers in the beauty and fashion industry to connect through their website. Its vision is to democratize online beauty and fashion with best-in-class customer service and an unmatched variety. Bagallery also shared their intent to buy a few online brands in their operating categories to uplift their growth and portfolio further.

Regionally, the beauty and fashion e-commerce industry has been booming with a lot of ventures raising tens of millions of dollars in capital or having big exits.

Nykaa, Indian beauty, and fashion e-commerce company, is valued at over $10 billion, having gone public last month in late October. Myntra, another Indian fashion e-commerce startup that competes with Nykaa today, was an early player in this space and was acquired by Flipkart for $300 million in 2014. Purple raised 140 million USD making it to the list of unicorns. 3 platforms in Indonesia already become unicorns within the last few years.

Founders of Bagallery believe Beauty and Fashion will have at least 3 to 4 unicorns in Pakistan in the next 5 to 7 years.