HUAWEI Sound X - Premium Dual-Subwoofer, Bluetooth Speaker, now in Pakistan.

           

Continuing with its award-winning innovations, Huawei – the global technology leader has now introduced Sound X – a revolutionary Dual-Subwoofer Wireless Speaker in Pakistan too. The device has been exquisitely designed, in collaboration with ‘Devialet’ – the world-leading audio brand, specializing in professional acoustic technologies, to provide universal accessibility to immersive, distortion-free High-Fidelity audio, amidst a lush 360° Surround-Sound field. Over the years, Devialet’s extensive Research has created powerful sound technologies that enable suppression of background noise and low-pitched vibrations.

The Marketing Manager of Huawei Pakistan stated that: It is a pleasure for us to introduce this 1.5-inch full-frequency speaker with 6 Powerful Tweeters, to deliver; 40 Hz Bass Deep and other powerful solutions like; Huawei Share; One-hop Audio Sharing and the Starry Night feature, to provide the most mesmerizing musical experiences.

Huawei’s Sound-X is bolstered with the ‘Speaker Active Matching’ SAM® technology, the distinctive Push-Push structure, and HUAWEI’s self-developed technology - EMUI 10.1 to promise a concert-hall experience, activated by touch-sensitive buttons on a vibrant screen. Its open, visible bass unit is another sophisticated design feature, as the sound waves cause the speaker to vibrate, with the power of music. This creates a lasting visual impression, while its psychedelic light show and runway-style sound-holes put air-molecules in motion to create another spellbinding effect.

As the creator of futuristic audio-technologies, like; SAM, HBI® (Heart Bass Implosion) and ACE® (Active Cospherical Engine) - Devialet has already won 76 awards and 160 technology patents. The Devialet Premier and Reactor series devices are globally popular for their ultra-low distortion and saturation, as well as, for approaching 0 dB of background noise. The Gold Phantom and Silver Phantom models are also well-known for their radical egg-like appearance, sought worldwide, especially by the younger consumers.

Powered by a MediaTek MT8518, Quad-core 1.5 GHz Central Processing Unit, with 512 MB RAM and 8 GB ROM, the futuristic product promises stratospheric amplification power, with peak values of 4500W and 3000W respectively. The 3.5-inch Subwoofer x 2 ensures 0 dB of background noise and 0.005% ‘Total Harmonic Distortion’ (THD).

Its robust performance is backed by a reliable global warranty from Huawei. In Pakistan, the Sound X is already available at ‘Daraz.pk’: https://bit.ly/3FT4twn  and ‘Cube’: https://bit.ly/3Ae7TZo, as the sleek design and beautiful Black color continues has a mesmerizing effect on the tech-savvy music-enthusiasts.

GSV and NED launch Pakistan's first iconic football stadium

            

Global Soccer Ventures (GSV) and NED University of Engineering & Technology (NED) held the ground-breaking ceremony of the iconic landmark stadium at NED University on Wednesday. This marks the beginning of construction work on building the first stadium of the 10-year agreement to create the first soccer city stadium in Pakistan.

The state of the art stadium, to be built on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) standard, is influenced and designed by German engineering to develop a series of football infrastructure projects in Pakistan by GSV to make the city of light a soccer city. This world-class football facility will feature an international standard academy to promote football in Pakistan.

The graceful ceremony was held at the stadium site, attended by International football legend and official Ambassador of GSV Michael Owen, NED Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi, top management of GSV and students of NED. Owen also interacted with the university students and passed on helpful football tips.

Speaking on occasion, Michael Owen said, "Pakistan is the perfect destination for football, and the passion of the young Pakistani footballers has no bounds. I am thrilled to be a part of Pakistan's historic football transformation program, as I look forward to taking football to a whole new level."

NED Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi, said, "Building this state of the art stadium in the University is a great pleasure. This will let the students and football players of the city explore the much-awaited opportunities. International interest in grooming our young talent is a great opportunity for our youth. We are delighted to have international star Michael Owen be a part of this life-changing vision. We hope this stadium will be making international football stars."

Yasir Mahmood Group Chairman of GSV, said, "This 10-year agreement with the top University of Pakistan follows the vision of the government to empower youth and ensure their progress. GSV will materialize the dreams of youth by providing them with the opportunity to make their mark globally."

Zabe Khan, CEO of GSV, said, "GSV aims to identify and develop players from the grass-roots while they continue their education. They will enhance their skills by being trained by top football coaches. We are optimistic to see Pakistani talent exhaling in this sport."

Meanwhile, St Patrick's Athletic UEFA Pro licensed coaching is holding nationwide coaching and Kamyab Jawan Football talent hunt programme that is being held from 17 January to 5 February 2022. This will conclude with up to 20 players being given the opportunity of travelling to Dublin, Ireland, to train and play with the Academy and potentially First Team of St Patrick's Athletic.

Pre-Book Javed Iqbal Movie Tickets from Bookme

           

Since Covid-19 was a huge lay back for Pakistani cinemas, people had been anxiously waiting for fresh movies from the film industry. To fill that gap, K. K. Film Productions has scheduled the release of ‘Javed Iqbal - The Untold Story of a Serial Killer’ on the 28th of January, 2022. The movie is a period thriller starring Yasir Hussain and Ayesha Omar. The story of the movie revolves around true life story of a Pakistani serial killer and pederast by the name Javed Iqbal, who confessed to the sexual abuse and murder of 100 young boys, ranging in age from 6 to 16. He strangled the victims, dismembered the corpses and dissolved them in acid as a way to conceal the evidence. 

His case attracted international media not only because he was one of the deadliest serial killers in history but because, upon his conviction, he was sentenced to die in a manner similar to that in which he had tortured and killed his victims.

The movie is roaming around the country hotfooted right after its trailer was released. It is anticipated that the movie is going to be a huge hit! So what are you waiting for? Head to Bookme website or Mobile Application and Pre-Book your tickets right away to steal the first seat of the first show!    

Standard Chartered Bank and Haball Enter a Corporate Alliance Agreement to Digitize Value Chai

Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Limited (SCBPL) once again combines its international expertise in digital space with its local knowledge to bring together a unique offering unlike any in the market. SCBPL has entered in a partnership with Haball, Pakistan’s first B2B Fintech with the aim to digitise supply chain collections for its clients and bring efficiencies in clients’ business processes.

SCBPL recognises that digital connectivity is a catalyst for business growth. Through partnerships, deals and collaboration, SCBPL will continue to invest in and accelerate digital offerings, working hand-in-hand with leading fintech innovators to foster fresh ideas throughout the markets. The collaboration aims to build an enabling environment to increase the uptake of digital payments using institutional vehicles. This will create digital financial inclusion in the distribution and retail space in Pakistan. Haball is the first Fintech in Pakistan to be associated with SCBPL, supported by a goal of enabling efficiency and growth in supply chain for large corporates with faster transactions.

Haball is currently working with clients of the Bank in multiple industry verticals to digitise their value chain collections, down to the retailer leg. Its services allow manufacturers and service providers to effectively reduce the reliance on cash-based transactions and automate the reconciliation process. Haball has­ augmented the adoption of digital payments and continues to contribute to the digital economy.

Shiraz Hyder, Head of Transaction Banking, SCBPL stated, “Standard Chartered is pleased to partner with Haball Pvt. Ltd.” He further said, “Technology is an enabler, and partnerships between fintechs and banks can create opportunities that neither party could deliver alone. Our partnership with Haball will enable corporates to effectively digitize their order-to-collections cycle, while providing end-to-end visibility across the value chain, through a truly bank agnostic solution.”

Omer Bin Ahsan, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Haball said, “This partnership builds the corporate trust that supply chain stakeholders need to process payments digitally. It further drives ahead Standard Chartered’s commitment towards creating a sustainable digital infrastructure for financial services in Pakistan.”

Haball is a B2B Fintech, digitizing supply chain and business payments for large corporations and institutions. Its cloud based, agnostic platform enables corporate finance, corporate sales, distributors and retailers to digitally engage with supply chain especially with ordering, invoicing, shipment, payment and financing.  The platform agnostically manages digital payment channels and shariah compliant financing so that supply chain stakeholders can make payments from the digital channels of their choice.

Global economic confidence dips amongst global accountancy and finance professionals in Q4 2021

·         Global economic growth continues, but at a more modest pace than in mid-2021

·         ACCA and IMA believe 2022 will see further progress towards a more normal economic environment, but Covid and inflation are the main risks ahead for 2022.

The latest results from a regular global survey of accountants’ and finance professionals’ views about the global economy reveals their economic confidence fell by 12 points in Q4 2021, due to the rapid spread of the Omicron Covid-19 strain.

Conducted during late November and early December 2021 at the start of the outbreak, the ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and IMA^® (Institute of Management Accountants) Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS) shows that global orders were little changed in Q4, up just one point, signalling that growth will continue at a steady pace early in 2022.

Other key activity indicators remain relatively little changed with the capital expenditure index up one point and employment index down by six points compared to Q3 results.

GECS’ fear indices, which track concern about suppliers and customers going out of business, were also little changed in Q4 but are above pre-pandemic levels.

Michael Taylor, ACCA’s chief economist said: ‘Accountants are often the first to sense the impact of economic activity, informed by the work they do on a daily basis sustaining economies and from the feedback from their clients, especially in the small business sector. GECS reveals their concerns about costs increasing again, seeing this measure double over the course of 2021 indicating growing inflationary pressures in many markets around the world.’

Looking at specific jurisdictions, confidence fell the most in Western Europe by 28 points, which was the first region to see the rapid spread of Omicron. Confidence increased modestly in two regions – Asia Pacific by five points and North America by 10 points. Only the Middle East recorded a fall in the orders index of six points, with South Asia showing the biggest increase at +8 points.

The biggest economic risk this year is that inflation, already elevated, stays higher for longer, partly because of prolonged supply shortages. Upside surprises to inflation would trigger a greater degree of monetary tightening than is currently discounted by financial markets. The effect would be to slow global economic growth, preventing a return to its pre-pandemic trend.

For emerging markets, the 2022 picture is mixed, says Michael Taylor: ‘Some emerging markets have made progress, while others, such as South Africa and Indonesia, have suffered renewed economic contraction. Overall, their recovery to the pre-pandemic trend rate of growth remains hampered by a lack of fiscal capacity and slow progress with vaccination.’

The Q4 edition of GECS has a special article looking at the opportunities for economic development and growth for Emerging Markets (Ems) - the digital revolution and investing to meet Net Zero carbon emissions. These are two areas where EMs could boost productivity and resume the catch-up of incomes per head with advanced economies.

Michael Taylor concluded: ‘Adoption of digital technology by EMs can drive down costs and stimulate domestic demand and productivity – the driver of long-term economic growth. But there remains a need for basic infrastructure investment in EM countries, notably fast and reliable internet access. The declared goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 offers investment opportunities that would bring wider economic benefits and help boost potential growth. This investment needs to be concentrated in the energy sector, the source of a large proportion of current EM CO2 emissions. Moreover, as EM economies grow, their energy consumption is set to rise strongly.’

GECS Q4 2021 can be found here: https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/professional-insights/global-economics/gecs_q4_2021.html

Haleeb Foods organized a donation drive for Akhuwat Foundation in collaboration with UMT

             

Haleeb Foods Limited recently joined hands with the University of Management & Technology (UMT) to conduct a Winter Clothing Donation Drive for Akhuwat Foundation. This donation drive was held for 3 days, highlighting the importance of helping out and giving back to society, encouraging students to donate winter clothing for the underprivileged.

Akhuwat Foundation’s clothing bank helps many families in need and HFL takes pride in being associated with this charitable cause. Sharing her view on this collaboration the Corporate Communications Manager, Haleeb Foods – Ms. Amur Nadeem said: “We at HFL are thankful to the donors who actively participated to help the people suffering in these severe weather conditions. Haleeb Foods is highly committed towards the wellbeing and betterment of the society, helping the local community and supporting social causes.”

The company continues in its mission to lend a helping hand to the community and give back to the society as part of their multiple CSR initiatives.     

ENGLAND’S BALLON D’OR WINNER MICHAEL OWEN JETS INTO PAKISTAN TO UNVEIL GSV’S PAKISTAN’S FIRST EVER SOCCER CITY

           

England’s gem Michael Owen, as the official Ambassador of Global Soccer Ventures (GSV) jets into Pakistan. The crown jewel of Liverpool lands in Islamabad on 25 January 2022 to begin football transformation. In a series of high profile engagements and events Michael will explain his vision to overhaul football in Pakistan as GSV.

Michael will meet the PM Imran Khan and his Special Assistant Usman Dar to outline GSV’s football transformation programme for Pakistan. He will attend a meet and greet session with the Army Chief and conclude his Islamabad visit at a high profile presidential reception hosted by Dr Arif Alvi at The President House.

In Karachi, on 26 January 2022, Michael Owen will attend a press conference at NED University to officially hold a ground breaking ceremony and release images to the world of Pakistan’s first ever Soccer City.

Michael Owen said, “I am really excited to be at the helm of Pakistan’s largest football transformation programme and delighted to be discharged with the responsibility to take football to a whole new level in Pakistan”.

Zabe Khan CEO of GSV said, “There is not much to say when England’s pride and joy takes the top job to revive football in Pakistan. Michael has been a very loyal servant to Liverpool and his commitment and loyalty to making Pakistan a successful football nation seems relentless”.

Yasir `Mahmood Group Chairman of GSV said, “It is a great honour for Pakistan to welcome Michael Owen to a country which needs a professional direction with football. This change is set to kick off with a player like Michael Owen and all I can say exciting times with football lie ahead”.

Football is here to stay with GSV master plan by implementation of its strategy for Pakistan. GSV will develop a sustainable grass-roots plan, devise a Talent ID programme for international development in Europe, create lucrative professional pathways with international football contracts offering a career changing lifestyle for the super talented, develop a state of the art stadium starting with Karachi as the flagship soccer city at NED University featuring world class sport science development and ultimately creating a sensational franchise football league in Pakistan’s very own theatre of dreams.

Bookme CEO Faizan Aslam attended National SME Policy meeting at Prime Minister House

             

Bookme.pk’s CEO Mr. Faizan Aslam was invited by Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday for the launch of National Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) policy, along with other officials of Startups and Young Entrepreneurs. In the light of growing concerns regarding e-commerce, the discussion revolved around creating a startup-friendly ecosystem to unleash the huge potential of e-commerce and tech sector of the country.  

The Prime Minister avowed to take fresh incentives for the expansion of e-commerce startups, which he claimed had been ignored in the past. He also pledged to take a grim action against government departments and officials who created hindrance in emplacement of new startups and export-oriented businesses. 

In the meeting, PM Khan also shared the fact that the SME sector was an extensive source of employment and had a significant impact on wealth creation. In this regard he also supported saying, “We are giving SMEs bank credit facilities, land for their businesses on lease and [are committed to] eradicate red tapism.”

PM Khan also appreciated the fact that USD $3 Billion investment came in the country from abroad by growing e-commerce startups including Bookme. He also thanked the tech sector for being a massive part of the record-breaking rise in exports, remittances and tax collection figures. 

Minister of Information, Ch. Fawad Hussain, Industries Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiyar, Planning Minister Asad Umar were also present at the meeting. Advisor for Commerce, Textile, Industry, and Production and Investment of Pakistan, Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood declared that such meetings will often take place to disentangle economic problems for the e-commerce ecosystem and to take preferable measures despite all challenges.

Overcome the challenges of online schooling with HUAWEI WiFi AX2 home router

          

The transition between the physical classroom and online learning has been difficult for many, facing barriers such as technical issues, computer literacy, and increased distractions. 

To ensure that students can continue to study while studying at home, a reliable, controllable, and easy-to-use Wi-Fi connection is more essential than ever. HUAWEI WiFi AX2 is a Wi-Fi 6 home router that provides faster speeds, greater capacity, and reduced network congestion so everyone can work and learn at home without worrying about disconnecting in the middle of a video call.

Setting up the HUAWEI WiFi AX2

Setting up a HUAWEI WiFi AX2 has been made even easier with adaptive WAN/LAN ports, meaning you can quickly install the router without having to understand the technology and make sure your children make the most of online class.

When researching what users wanted from the HUAWEI WiFi AX2, it was discovered that many users do not know the difference between a WAN port and LAN port. This means that when a user is setting up a router, the cables may be connected to the wrong port, resulting in a connection failure. Therefore, HUAWEI WiFi AX2 has three automatically adaptive WAN/LAN ports that distinguish between WAN and LAN cables, making the setting up of the router simple. It only takes two easy steps. 

Wi-Fi 6

HUAWEI WiFi AX2 is a Wi-Fi 6 home router, this means that the router optimizes the network when many devices are connected. So, no matter how many members of the family need to be on video calls for online classes, every device will continue to receive a fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection. Wi-Fi 6 uses new technologies to relieve the issues of having a smart home with multiple devices on a single network.

HUAWEI Mesh+

HUAWEI WiFi AX2 includes HUAWEI Mesh+, a blanket term that covers several HUAWEI routing networking features. With HUAWEI Mesh+, you can combine individual HUAWEI WiFi routers to form a collaborative Wi-Fi network, allowing for greater scalability and a better user experience. When attending online classes using HUAWEI WiFi AX2 with HUAWEI Mesh+, students won’t be dropping out unexpectedly due to Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

Traditional mesh distributed routers provide Wi-Fi coverage through multi-node networking, where connected devices can freely search for the node with the best signal for data transmission. However, the algorithms that allow nodes to hand over signals are generally based solely on signal strength, rather than the requirement of the service using Wi-Fi. For example, if your children need to use a video calling service to attend their class, the Wi-Fi will connect to the strongest Wi-Fi rather than the one that has the optimum power for video calls. This, therefore, impacts user experience through frequent buffering.

HUAWEI’s WiFi AX2 features Super Seamless Roaming, included in HUAWEI Mesh+. Super Seamless Roaming uses seven roaming algorithms to ensure that your device switches seamlessly between hotspots as you walk around the house. If your children want to do morning classes in the living room and afternoon classes in their bedroom, this is no problem for HUAWEI WiFi AX2. 

HUAWEI AI Life app

The HUAWEI WiFi AX2 comes with the HUAWEI AI Life app preinstalled, making it easy to manage routers and connected devices for a more user-friendly experience than with other routers. The HUAWEI AI Life app provides visualized Wi-Fi management[1] such as selecting Wi-Fi mode, detecting signal strength, allowing guest connections, parental controls, and much more.

With parental controls, you can protect your 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 manage time spent online. Therefore, when your children are online working all day, with HUAWEI’s WiFi AX2 you can ensure that they are not distracted by watching videos online or playing internet-based games. This feature also means that you can rest assured that while your children are on the internet, they will be protected.

Privacy protection and security

Cybersecurity is essential, especially for children that are using their devices and sharing information with their teachers and classmates all day. The HUAWEI WiFi AX2 effectively protects user privacy through powerful security functions.

The HUAWEI WiFi AX2 can distinguish between incorrect passwords entered by a user and passwords entered by a bot or hacker, and if the number of incorrect Wi-Fi passwords exceeds a certain amount, the HUAWEI WiFi AX2 prevents the device from connecting to the router for some time. With HUAWEI WiFi AX2, you can be safe in the knowledge that your children’s devices are well protected from brute force attacks, so they can continue to learn online, and you can have peace of mind.

Additionally, users can set block-lists and trust lists, to signal the devices allowed on the WiFi network and limit access to a list of trusted devices to further protect user privacy and security.

HUAWEI WiFi AX2

Since the introduction of the virtual classroom, the online school has been difficult. With HUAWEI’s WiFi AX2, you gain an easy-to-install home router that provides reliable Wi-Fi that seamlessly transitions between rooms. With HUAWEI’s AI Life app, parents can have a picture of the network environment and reduce distractions. Wi-Fi 6 optimizes the network’s usage and HarmonyOS Mesh+ combines individual Huawei Wi-Fi routers to form a collaborative network. The learning from home experience has been made more reliable and valuable with HUAWEI WiFi AX2.

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[1] Requires an OTA update.

Bagallery is breaking stereotypes and taking lead for a more inclusive future

 

Pakistan’s biggest beauty & fashion online retailer brand, Bagallery perfectly understands that the real beauty lies within oneself and embracing everyone’s uniqueness. When it comes to beauty and style, we all have one thing in common that – WE ALL ARE DIFFERENT! As the fashion and beauty landscape in Pakistan is changing at a fast pace, breaking free from the stereotypical views that have plagued us for decades is pivotal, Brands like Bagallery taking the lead proudly and loudly that gives us all hope for a better more inclusive future that is prioritizing eco-friendly and sustainable fashion options.

Bagallery is committed to give its customers the confidence to be who they really are, be comfortable in their own skin, and embrace their unique qualities which makes them special in every way.

The Co-founder and CEO of Bagallery Mr. Salman Sattar said: "Pakistan is a country of 220 million people, and everyone is beautiful in their own way. We at Bagallery are committed to not only provide the best beauty and fashion products to the Pakistani Market but also support individuality which gives people the confidence to flaunt their own personal style.”

Bagallery has over 30,000+ products with 2000+ registered brands to provide the best variety in fashion and beauty products in Pakistan. To cater the needs of the customers, Bagallery provides frictionless customer service and experience.

#FutureIsBagallery

#UniquelyWhoWeAre

 #CleanBeauty 

Beaconhouse School System hosts the 3rd Learner Agency Paradigm Conference in Karachi

           

Beaconhouse, the country’s largest network of private educational institutions, successfully hosted its third Learner Agency Paradigm (LAP) Conference, at Beaconhouse’s Defence Campus in the south region, Karachi. This LAP Conference 2022 was attended by Beaconhouse School System’s (BSS) learners, teachers and employees and is the third installment from its series of conferences that were introduced early last year.

The LAP Conference 2022 was held to cultivate learner agency – a concept gaining momentum in educational institutions as a way of fostering learners’ abilities to navigate their way through life in a positive manner, creating a significant impact on their circumstances. A total of 165 project submissions were received nationwide out of which 10 learner projects were showcased in the Karachi conference. The projects focused on various initiatives undertaken by students to become active contributors to their surroundings.

The session also included a virtual address from Kasim Kasuri, Chief Executive Officer, Beaconhouse, who stated during the event, “Learner Agency has quickly become an important aspect of the education being imparted at Beaconhouse campuses nationwide. The concept gives students responsibility over their own learning, empowering them to develop a voice and take purpose-driven initiatives. There is no shortage of students wanting to take charge and bring a change around them, and as an educator I am proud to see them taking ownership through these LAP conferences.”

Among the 10 projects, the ‘Taleem Sub Ka Bunyadi Haq’ initiative was undertaken by BSS students in Quetta to raise awareness and support teaching programmes for girls in Balochistan in order to tackle low literacy rates for women. Under the project ‘Charagh-e-Ilm’, students were inspired to give back to society as active learners and participators, by developing a comprehensive and high quality education programme aimed to increase the knowledge base of BSS support staff in schools.

‘The Battle of Multiple Intelligence’ project presented by middle school students introduced a ground-breaking competition between campuses targeting multiple intelligence levels of learners such as their visual, research, analytical, creative, critical, and digital skills. Other project themes included science, literature, fitness and health, entrepreneurship, cyber currency, and Covid-19 challenges.

The LAP conferences are an effort by BSS to empower students, ensuring that learners are equipped with the right skills to address challenging circumstances, and prepare them to meaningfully influence their world as global citizens and future leaders. The Beaconhouse School System has a legacy of 46 years of educational expertise and currently has over 315,000 students.

December 2021 pass rates for ACCA exam sitting announced

Pass rates have been announced to ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) students who sat their exams in December 2021.

119,688 entered for the December sitting, which saw 145,692 exams completed. A total of 4,288 students completed their final exams to become ACCA Affiliates. In the face of the continued pandemic, ACCA also offered remotely invigilated exams to 9,809 students across numerous jurisdictions.

Commenting on the results, Alan Hatfield, executive director – content, quality and innovation said: ‘These are a solid set of results to round off the 2021 exam sessions. Last year, and as the pandemic continued, we issued over 476,600 results in total. And over this time, our students have shown immense resilience and determination to continue with their journey to become ACCA members.

‘We encourage students to make use of the extensive range of ACCA learning support, which includes detailed examiners’ reports, as well as expert tutor webinars, videos and podcasts that highlight important exam techniques and tips for success. We also continue to urge our students to use the ACCA exam Practice Platform, a free resource allowing them to practise questions and attempt mock exams with software that simulates the real exam platform. Accompanying the platform are guides to self-marking and debrief resources, to help students and tutors better understand performance. Pass rates remain up to 20% better for students who use the platform.

‘Our advice after exam results days is to reflect on next steps and our website has advice on this, alongside other resources such as our online Career Navigator which guides a route to get new skills, explore career destinations and opportunities and grow talent.’

 

The ACCA Qualification rigorously tests the skills, abilities and competencies that a modern-day accountant needs, with a firm grounding in ethics and professionalism. It prepares students for a rewarding career as a qualified and ethical finance professional.

 

Results below also include those delivered via ACCA’s on-demand offering for Foundation Diplomas, Applied Knowledge and Law exams. These accounted for a further 43,907 exams, of which over 2,625 were made possible through remote invigilation.

 

For any student-related enquiry, please email ACCA Connect at info@accaglobal.com.

Visit www.accaglobal.com for more information and resources in the Covid-19 hub.

 

ACCA Qualification	Pass rate (%)
Applied Knowledge
BT - Business & Technology	84
FA - Financial Accounting	71
MA - Management Accounting	65
Applied Skills
LW - Corporate and Business Law	83
TX – Taxation	49
FR - Financial Reporting	50
PM - Performance Management	43
FM - Financial Management	50
AA - Audit and Assurance	38
Strategic Professional - Essentials
SBL - Strategic Business Leader	51
SBR - Strategic Business Reporting	48
Strategic Professional – Options
AAA - Advanced Audit and Assurance	34
AFM - Advanced Financial Management	41
APM - Advanced Performance Management	32
ATX - Advanced Taxation	37

FOUNDATION LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS	Pass rate (%)
ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (Level 2 RQF)
FA1 - Recording Financial transactions	80
MA1 - Management Information	83
ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (Level 3 RQF)
FA2 - Maintaining Financial Records	77
MA2 - Managing Costs and Finance	70
ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (Level 4 RQF)
FBT – Business & Technology	77
FFA - Financial Accounting	69
FMA - Management Accounting	71
Foundation Specialist Certificates (RQF Level 4)
FAU Foundations in Audit	39
FTX Foundations in Taxation	52
FFM Foundations in Financial Management	42

Standard Chartered survey: 92% of affluent in Pakistan can’t meet life-goals due to ‘Confidence Gap’

Standard Chartered’s latest survey into affluent (comprising emerging affluent, affluent and high net worth) consumers in 12 markets across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and UK, revealed that in Pakistan 92 per cent of them have reset their life goals following the pandemic. At the same time, for 50 per cent of the respondents, COVID-19 has diminished their confidence in their finances, preventing them from taking the actions necessary to achieve their new goals.

 

COVID-19 has prompted the affluent in Pakistan to become more future-focused when resetting their priorities: half (49 per cent) of people have set the goal to ‘to improve my health’, followed by 40 per cent of people setting the goal of setting aside more for their children’s future (education or financial support).

 

To meet these new goals, the affluent need new strategies to grow their wealth, which often involves more proactive investment rather than just saving cash. However, their current ‘confidence gap’ has made many increasingly averse to risk, potentially stopping them from putting their money to work, through investing or making use of digital tools that simplify wealth management.

 

The ‘confidence gap’ is greater for the emerging affluent

The emerging affluent have disproportionately suffered a loss of confidence, with almost half (47 per cent) reporting less confidence compared with 30 per cent of high net-worth (HNW) individuals. That means those lower down the wealth spectrum, still establishing their finances, stand to lose out more if they do not have the support to rebuild their confidence.

 

For the affluent across the wealth spectrum in Pakistan, the three most common factors impacting their  confidence were ‘volatility in financial markets’ (35 per cent), ‘fear of poor returns on investments’ (29 per cent) and ‘lack of time to devote to planning and research’ (25 per cent).

 

Retirement is at risk

A late start to retirement planning, combined with the pandemic-induced confidence gap, leaves a significant proportion of affluent consumers at risk of a shortfall for their retirement. The survey found that 44 per cent of people do not currently save/invest for retirement. For those that do, ‘investment income’ (43 per cent) and ‘cash savings / deposits’ (42 per cent) are the most common expected sources of income in retirement. At the same time, 46 per cent plan to retire before the age of 65 and 13 per cent have set a new financial goal of retiring early. This shows a disconnect between current actions and future expectations, if a confidence gap is holding them back from investing.

 

A pro-active approach can help the affluent regain control

Globally, almost all (94 per cent) of investors who had tried more than five new investments or investment strategies reported being happy with their finances. Whether it is diversifying into new asset classes, new investment strategies to rebalance their portfolios, or exploring sustainable investing, the survey revealed that more hands-on investors are happier with their finances.

 

In Pakistan, almost all (94 per cent) of those who have made five or more changes to their portfolios, following the pandemic, are happy with their investment portfolio. 

 

Zaigham Sherrif, General Manager Personal Segment, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan said “The study shows that Adapting to their post pandemic needs, ‘44% of people are setting aside more money for the future, while 38% are now researching new financial products and 32% are now setting ‘new targets for performance / value of any investments’. Rethinking their priorities, 36% of the people want to make their finances more future proof and secured now, as per the market volatility and low interest rates.”

 

Hence, cash savings have become insufficient to meet the growing financial needs over longer life spans. The affluent people must make long term investments, with a global bank like Standard Chartered, as we have all the resources and expertise to empower our customers to build diversified portfolios of investments and to enjoy a comfortable retirement, with many lucrative opportunities.” He added.

 

Zaigham further said: “Digital Banking and investments on the go can now help them save for unforeseen events and top priorities like children’s education, as the consumers seek complementary sources of returns, with an increased inclination towards a healthier lifestyle.”

PSDF- Pakistan’s largest skill development fund celebrates a decade of skilling the nation

          

PSDF is celebrating ten years as the country’s largest skill development fund. Within a decade it has funded training of more than 500,000 men and women in 250 plus trades across all 36 districts of Punjab, implementing trainings on behalf of FCDO (Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office), World Bank and the Government of Punjab.  It began operations with just four training service providers (TSPs) in 2010 to execute its trainings and since then has established a network of more than 600 TSPs.  43% of all PSDF trainees are women and collectively PSDF trainees are generating PKR 21 billion annually.

The organization catalysed engaging the industry in Pakistan’s TVET sector through cost-sharing programs to design, deliver and co-fund training programs- bridging the gap that exists between employers and workers.

PSDF funds trainings in six program areas: E-tayyar, Umeed, Haryali, Uraan, Mahir and Aghaaz. Each program area offers specialized training courses focusing on different professions and trades to nurture the skillsets of trainees so they can successfully access income-generating opportunities. 

 In 2020, as the pandemic unfolded PSDF swiftly re-aligned its training delivery model, shifting from classroom trainings to digital trainings. It forged successful partnerships with Coursera (the world’s leading e-learning portal) and Gnowbe to offer online courses to teach learners essential skills required to become professional freelancers and start their own businesses. By collaborating with Foodpanda, Uber, Enablers, Jazz and Zong to pilot trainings and develop diverse range of skillsets that are in demand by the present job market.

PSDF has dedicated teams to monitor the quality of trainings and to design programs based on evidence proven to make a positive impact on the learner’s livelihood. It has invested in automating and digitising its operations and is the only development sector organization in the country that uses e-procurement creating a paper-less and transparent system in public procurement.  PSDF uses digital verification of its trainees to ensure that only eligible citizens receive trainings and access to resources as per its mandate.

To expand employment opportunities, PSDF has worked on connecting Pakistan’s workforce with international employers through its international Job Placement program, so citizens can benefit from the global demand of skilled workers.  Through its partnership with leading hospitality sector organizations in the Middle East, PSDF graduates are working in UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

PSDF has gained acknowledgment for its growth as an effective organization with a dedicated team of experts. The organization won the “Best place to work” award in 2019 and most recently was awarded a letter of achievement by the Chief Minister of Punjab for “effectively delivering its mandate and for its outstanding performance”. PSDF graduates who trained under its Entrepreneurship course which trains learners how to develop business plans and apply for financial loans for their start-ups have received collectively a total of PKR 100 million from HBL under Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan scheme aimed at giving citizens with scalable business ventures support. 

Under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Global Soccer Ventures Kicks Off NexGen Soccer Trial

             

Shoaib Akhtar inaugurates the collaborative effort with British Deputy High Commissioner and UEFA coaches in a star-studded press conference

Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar kicks off a life changing career opportunity for 20 super talented Pakistani football players. The initiative is spearheaded by Global Soccer Ventures (GSV) NexGen Soccer Trials in collaboration with Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive.

The road to UK & Ireland has now become unstoppable with the world’s fastest bowler, Shoaib Akhtar setting his sights to help fast track football in Pakistan. Shoaib Akhtar will also offer a transformational role to help shape the future of football in Pakistan with GSV.  The trials are being heavily invested into by GSV in Pakistan offering the very first UEFA scouting assessment on a national level in Pakistan to talent ID in 10 cities across 11 venues to subsequently offer life changing careers through professional football contracts in Ireland.

The tour also includes 4 master-classes in Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta, and Lahore to develop local football coaching expertise to European standards under St. Patrick’s Football Club development program. At least 15-25 coaches have been selected on merit to attend master-classes to help up-skill their football coaching methods and transfer skills so they become certified train-the-trainers in Pakistan leaving a sustainable roll-out plan under Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive.

Yasir Mahmood, Chairman of GSV said, “Football is here to stay for the right reasons to develop and provide an opportunity for Pakistani players. With Akhtar as an iconic cricket legend well regarded around the world will help play a transitional role in making football become on top of the minds of our nation”.

Zabe Khan, CEO of GSV said, “The only lifeline a player has and that is to play.  Pakistan has seen nothing but football being swiped off its so-called grassroots. I welcome Shoaib Akhtar standing shoulder to shoulder with GSV offering a new hope for Pakistan’s next generation football players”.

Alison Blackburne, British Deputy High Commissioner said: “Football is not just a sport, for many in the UK it’s a way of life, and it would be great to see it become more popular in sport-loving Pakistan. I’m delighted that talented young players here in Pakistan will have this opportunity provided by GSV to learn from some of the best UEFA coaches through St Patrick’s Athletic Football Club”

Karel Freaye, Belgian UEFA licensed coach said, “Football is for everyone and I am looking for talent with potential to develop and grow into professional players in Europe.  I am really excited to see what football technical excellence Pakistan has to offer with football as I see trial registrations rising by the hour”.

Usman Dar, SAPM on Youth Affairs and Chairman Kamyab Jawan Program said, “The revival of sports is the top priority of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Government. I welcome GSV in their efforts for reviving football in Pakistan. PM’s Kamyab Jawan Program together with GSV will ensure that through football talent hunt we will produce the next football Kamyab Jawan heroes who will represent Pakistan nationally and internationally”.

Garret Kelleher, President of St. Patrick’s Football Club said: ‘It is simply wonderful that the resources are now being put in place in Pakistan to allow football inspiring those with a passion for the game to fulfil their dreams and aspirations just like Shoaib Akhtar has in the world of cricket representing Pakistan at the highest level”.

Zeeshan Yousuf, CEO of itel said: “The world’s most popular sport with 4 billion fans around the world is about ignite Pakistan’s football. It is the most spectacular and universal sport. What excites me the most about this legacy project of GSV is the prospect of changing lives of 20 successful kids will be on a life-changing journey to Europe. Pakistani talent has the once in a lifetime opportunity to get groomed and secure professional contracts to take on the world, as they get set to represent Pakistan internationally. How fantastic is that”.

 

#FootballHoga
#KJSportsDrive

Bookme offers FLAT 10% discount on Allied Bank Visa Cards

           

Pakistan’s largest e-ticketing platform, Bookme, has brought an exciting offer for its customers in partnership with one of Pakistan’s most trusted banks, Allied Bank Limited.  

With the expansion and reliance on digital facilities in Pakistan, Bookme is offering  a special discount  for Allied Bank account holders. Customers, having an Allied Bank Visa Card, can now avail a FLAT 10% off on booking of Bus and Airline tickets from Bookme app and website. Maximum discount that can be availed is Rs 400 on Bus ticket booking and Rs 1,000 for Flight ticket booking. 

So what are you waiting for? Head to Bookme website or download the mobile application to make your booking and enjoy a discount!

HBL PSL 7 ticket booking is live at Bookme

                                                                                                                      

The seventh edition of HBL Pakistan Super League is all set to hit the pace from 27th January, 2022 and Bookme being the official ticketing partner of PCB is live with its ticket booking. Since Covid-19 is still looming around and therefore as a part of safety measures, the matches are anticipated to be staged only in Karachi and Lahore. Notably, this PSL season will feature 15 matches in Karachi and remaining matches will be held in Lahore. 

This time around, Bookme holds exciting news for cricket fans, customers can avail 10%

discount on first class and general stand till the 17th of January and the facility to buy 6 tickets with one CNIC or one passport. So gear up all cricket lovers, get yourself ready to hit the stadiums. Rush to Bookme website or mobile application to book tickets for yourself and your cricket partners in just a few clicks. Bookme team is working tirelessly to make it a hassle free experience for its customers and cricket fans to buy tickets online conveniently and escape the queues of the stadium. The dedicated team of Bookme will be ready, willing and able to facilitate you at the stadiums as well. Fans can also get tickets from M&P outlets as e-tickets as well as physical printouts. Brace yourself to be a part of the game in stadiums and cheer for your favorite team.