Category: Business News

Islamabad, February 14, 2023 (PPI-OT):Bank Alfalah, one of the leading commercial Bank in Pakistan, participated in recruitment career fairs at various universities where it engaged with students for its 9th Management Trainee Program called Alfa Lead. The 12-month program is designed to recruit top-tier talent possessing versatile skills that are aligned with the specific focus areas of the Bank.

This year, hundreds of students can take advantage of Bank’s unique behavioural profiling assessment tool that can assist them in navigating their career paths. The tool provides the students with a deeper understanding of their personality traits, which will aid in enhancing career development and exploring new areas of interest. Using a QR code, the students will be able to take this simple assessment within a few minutes.

Every year the Bank receives over 5000 applications from universities across Pakistan, such as IBA, IoBM, LUMS, LSE, Szabist, GIKI, FAST and so on. Furthermore, the career fair includes an on-site career counsellor and resume review service to assist the students. Students applying for various roles have to undergo a rigorous recruitment process consisting of 4 stages: Gamified Assessment, Video Interviews, Virtual Assessment Center and Panel Interviews.

As a prominent employer in the banking sector, Bank Alfalah proactively engages with young talent at career fairs, providing a platform for them to display their potential and establish professional connections for their future.

For more information, contact:
Head of Corporate Communications
Bank Alfalah Limited
2nd Floor, B.A Building, I.I Chundrigarh Road,
Karachi, Pakistan
UAN: +92-21-111-777-786 Ext 2638
Tel: +92-21-32423952
Email: salimahshiraj@yahoo.com
Website: https://www.bankalfalah.com/

The post Bank Alfalah introduces Behavioural Profiling for Students at Career Fair appeared first on Business News Pakistan.

Islamabad, February 14, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and Pakistan-Britain Business Council (PBBC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation for promoting bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President ICCI and Rashid Iqbal, CEO PBBC signed the MoU during the visit of a PBBC delegation to ICCI.

Speaking at the occasion, Julian Hamilton Barns, Chairman PBBC and Honorary Consul General of Pakistan in UK said that the bilateral trade of around 3 billion pounds between UK and Pakistan is not in commensurate with their actual potential and stressed that the business community of both countries should work together to take the bilateral trade to at least 10 billion pounds as they have potential for it. He said that Pakistan’s blue economy has tremendous potential to generate business of billions of dollars and emphasized that the Pakistani business community should reach out to international counterparts to exploit the untapped potential of its blue economy. He said that PBBC is working to promote networking and connectivity between private sectors of Britain and Pakistan to further improve business and investment relations.

Rashid Iqbal, CEO, PBBC stressed for more interaction and events between ICCI and PBBC to increase bilateral trade ties. He said that the business community of both countries should participate in trade fairs and exhibitions in each other country to introduce their products that would help in boosting trade between the two countries.

Speaking at the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan and Britain are doing trade in limited items and they should diversify trade to achieve better results. He stressed that the investors of Britain should explore joint ventures and investment in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy including CPEC and assured that ICCI would help in connecting them with right partners in Pakistan. He hoped that close cooperation between ICCI and PBBC would help in further improving trade and economic ties between Pakistan and UK.

Rizwana Asif, President, Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry underlined the need of promoting close cooperation between the women entrepreneurs of Pakistan and UK for their better economic empowerment. Zafar Bakhtawar, former President ICCI, stressed for promoting a commonwealth market that would create more business opportunities for the entrepreneurs of commonwealth countries.

For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-2250526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +92-51-2252950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk, info@icci.com.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk

The post ICCI and PBBC sign MoU to promote Pak-UK bilateral trade appeared first on Business News Pakistan.

Islamabad, February 09, 2023 (PPI-OT):Pakistan’s largest telecommunication group – PTCL and Ufone 4G announced partnership with PUBG MOBILE through their newly launched E-Sports gaming platform GameKey for a series of collaborative gaming activities throughout the year.

A special ceremony was held in Islamabad to announce this partnership. Shahbaz Khan, Vice President Wireless Commercial PTCL and Ufone, and Khawar Naeem, Country Head Pakistan, Tencent Games, participated in the ceremony along with senior officials from both sides.

PTCL Group has undertaken ambitious measures to diversify its portfolio and enhance its impact on Pakistan’s gaming landscape. The group’s newly launched state-of-the-art gaming platform ‘GameKey’ is currently hosting one of the largest E-Sports gaming tournaments in Pakistan, ‘GameKey Arena’ in collaboration with PUBG MOBILE.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shahbaz Khan, Vice President Wireless Commercial PTCL and Ufone said, “PTCL Group is the company of choice for connectivity and digital requirements of the people of Pakistan. Through our latest arrangement with PUBG MOBILE, we look forward to enhancing our relevance and future readiness vis-à-vis the evolving digital requirements of our younger generations. Pakistan has an immense talent for E-Sports and we hope to channel this potential by providing an effective platform and valuable opportunities to the youth.”

“We are glad to enter into this partnership with PTCL and Ufone 4G to bring a better gaming experience to Pakistani gamers,” Khawar Naeem said in his address. “Pakistan is an emerging E-sports market and our gamers have demonstrated their talent and skill at various global tournaments. We are confident that our partnership with PTCL Group will further strengthen Pakistan’s gaming culture and help promote new talent.”

PTCL and Ufone 4G will undertake various initiatives under this partnership to promote online gaming in Pakistan. The company has introduced a standalone monthly PUBG MOBILE gaming offer that provides 10 GB PUBGM data for just Rs. 100 to make online gaming more affordable and accessible for all.

To create traction of the package, a social media campaign is being designed wherein a selected group of 1000 Ufone subscribers will receive free PUBGM in-app item. PTCL Group and PUBG MOBILE’s collaborative initiative, GameKey Arena tournament received an overwhelming response from the Pakistani gaming community. Going forward, the tournament is set to become a calendar event for professional and aspiring gamers to demonstrate their talent and test their skills against the best lot in the country.

The launch of a futuristic gaming platform, and online sports tournaments for young gamers will consolidate PTCL and Ufone 4G’s standing as youth-centric brands with the will and vision to meet the evolving digital needs of the younger generation.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL)
F-8 Exchange, Nazim-Ud-Din Road F-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-111-20-20-20
Fax: +92-51-111-21-21-21
Email: shahzad.khalil@ptcl.net.pk
Website: www.ptcl.com.pk

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Islamabad, February 09, 2023 (PPI-OT):Former President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt on Thursday said politicians should not focus on ‘Jail Bharo’ but try to fill the stomachs of the poor. In the current alarming situation, the agitation is being planned by the politicians who are responsible for the destruction of the economy, he said.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said that the poster boy of the previous government delayed the deal with the IMF until he was removed from office in April 2019. The country was grappling with the crisis due to the wrong policies but the Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh was dismissed and Hammad Azhar was given the charge, after which a former banker was given the portfolio of the Finance Ministry for the sake of artificial development.

The banker cum finance minister started a new crisis by avoiding improving the economy and doling out packages to the billionaires, which did not give the people anything, but the growth rate became six percent. Foreign exchange reserves decreased by fifty percent, while the value of the rupee decreased by seven percent due to the policies of the former government, he informed.

Mr. Butt said that those who came after him did more damage to the economy instead of taking corrective measures. He said that it has become a tradition that every outgoing government leaves such serious problems that do not allow the new government to function. Every new government has to knock on the door of the IMF to survive, he said, adding that the PTI government has shown the worst economic performance while PML-N also damaged the economy.

PTI and PML-N boasted a six percent growth rate during their tenure, but this growth rate had nothing to do with investment, industry, and revenue. Rather, it was the result of showering resources of the country on the elite. Until the people wake up, the process of showering the national resources on the elite in Pakistan will continue, he said.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt
Consul General Ghana
Former President ICCI
Former Patron ICST
Tel: +92-333-5132199, +92-51-2822571

The post Politicians should not fill up the jails but hungry stomachs appeared first on Business News Pakistan.

Sialkot, February 09, 2023 (PPI-OT):On February 09, 2023, Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Malik, President of SCCI in a statement given to the press expressed sincere condolences to the victims and their families affected by the recent massive earthquake in Turkiye and Syria. President SCCI mentioned that We as a Nation, are deeply saddened by the loss of life and damage caused by this calamity.

Mr. Malik added that the Business Community of Sialkot extends its solidarity with the people of Turkiye and Syria during these tough times. The President of SCCI said that the Business Community stands by the Families and loved ones of Turkish and Syrian Brethren and offers their support in any way possible and wished for speedy rehabilitation.

Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Malik, President of SCCI mentioned that Business Community hopes that the Turkish and Syrian Governments and the international community, including Pakistan, will come together to provide necessary support in relief efforts to the affected areas, to bring life back to normal. On the occasion Mr. Wahub Jahangir, Senior Vice President of SCCI, and Mr. Amer Majid Sheikh, Vice President of SCCI also expressed their solidarity with the people of Turkiye and Syria.

For more information, contact:
Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)
Shahrah-e-Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat, Sialkot – 51310, Pakistan
Phone: +92-52-4261881-3
Fax: +92-52-4268835, +92-52-4267919
E-mail: sialkot@scci.com.pk
Website: http://www.scci.com.pk

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Lahore, February 08, 2023 (PPI-OT):Moazzam Ali Ghurki, President Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) suggested that digitalizing and revolutionizing small industries should be new SME Policy adopted by Pakistan, during a think tank session held at PCJCCI premises yesterday.

President PCJCCI added that it was in domestic markets and small industries that all sorts of innovation and entrepreneurship could take place which later would move out and lead to higher exports and foreign exchange earnings. Moazzam Ali Ghurki, President PCJCCI opined, “The small shopkeeper, the ‘rerhi wala’, the unskilled labourer contains the largest number of small and medium enterprises and if we make this sector boom we will have a more egalitarian development.” He also suggested that trade policy should not only be for promoting exports but for promoting all trade both at home and abroad. “We have to redesign our trade policy, centered to encourage competition, create opportunities and provide an enabling environment for domestic markets to flourish in an innovative and exciting new approach,” he maintained.

He also said that the domestic markets and small industries in Pakistan primarily included retail and wholesale traders, restaurants and hotels, construction, transport storage and communication, financial and real estate and personal services. This was sector where the poor and middle-class were hidden, he said adding “We do not need to reinvent the wheel, it is only through competition with foreign markets and services that our domestic markets will improve and benefit through knowledge spillovers, learning by doing and exposure to new technologies and management systems.

Hamza Khalid, Vice President PCJCCI said that the public and private sector should follow a vibrant vision of transforming Pakistani cities into a dynamic commercial hub of the region- a tourist destination, a shopping centre, regional headquarters for Multinational Corporation etc. “We in Pakistan must encourage fresh thinking and allow technical people into government to make good things happen. He added that when we look at the success stories of international brands and innovative individuals behind them, we see that many have started off from humble beginnings.”

He added that in several East Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and China, spaces were allocated for temporary stalls to be set up resulting in the now famous night markets, and these vibrant markets were one of the biggest tourist attractions in their cities. According to him, entrepreneurs and innovators needed neighbourhood markets to perfect their products, brands and recipes, which they would then export.

While, Moazzam Ghurki highlighted that before policy making, it should be investigated that why locally successful brands had been unable to become well-recognized brands globally. He appreciated Afridi’s idea of more small markets and bazaars for local vendors and traders and said that bazaars not only provide new opportunities and space to set up business for entrepreneurs but also promote local arts and crafts and attract tourists, which generates valuable foreign exchange for the economy.

Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General PCJCCI agreed that the proposed strategy should be focused on improving the quality and quantity of wholesale and retail outlets, ultimately linked to urban management and land use. These policies would definitely transform the current scenario of domestic market with special focus on promoting successful business through encouraging trade, entrepreneurship and innovation and providing fair and efficient markets for the welfare of all Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
Media Manager,
Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI)
Mega Tower, 309 – 6th Floor, Main Boulevard, Gulberg II,
Lahore, Punjab – Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35777460-02, +92-42-37032203, +92-42-35874353
Fax: +92-42-35777524
Cell: +92-324-4925611
Email: info@pcjcci.org
Website: www.pcjcci.org

The post Digitalizing and revolutionizing small industries should be new SME Policy: PCJCCI appeared first on Business News Pakistan.

Islamabad, February 07, 2023 (PPI-OT):Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) leading a delegation visited the Embassy of Ethiopia and held a meeting with H.E. Jemal Beker Abdula, Ambassador to discuss the matters regarding inclusion of ICCI representatives in the Pakistan business scheduled to fly to Ethiopia from March 5-10, 2023 to explore business and investment opportunities in the Ethiopian market.

Ahsan Bakhtawari lauded the efforts of the Ethiopian Ambassador for mobilizing a high-profile Pakistani delegation to Ethiopia in a short span of time, which showed his commitment and dedication to promote trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Ethiopia. He said that Africa is an untapped market for Pakistan and hoped that the visit of the business delegation to Ethiopia would open up new avenues of promoting trade and exports with the African region.

He said that ICCI members of pharmaceuticals, construction, IT and other sectors would join the Pakistan delegation to tap the Ethiopian market for business and investment opportunities. He also appreciated the efforts of the Ethiopian Ambassador for the start of direct flights by Ethiopian Airline between Addis Ababa and Karachi from March 22, 2023 that would help in promoting people-to-people and B2B relations between the two countries.

Speaking at the occasion, H.E. Jemal Beker Abdula, Ambassador of Ethiopia said that some big companies of Pakistan are joining the Pakistan delegation to explore the virgin market of Ethiopia, which is a gateway to Africa. He said that Ethiopia offers a lot of business and investment to Pakistani businessmen and their visit would enable them to capitalize on them. He said that Ethiopia imports 82% of pharmaceutical products, which account or US$ 1370 million and Pakistani pharma companies should take advantage of this potential.

He assured that he would fully cooperate with them in their registration and documentation process in Ethiopia. He said that Ethiopia also has huge demand for textile products, surgical instruments, sports goods, rice, chemicals, steel and cement and Pakistan can increase their export to Ethiopia. He said that Pakistan can also import some products from Ethiopia including tea, coffee, pulses and oilseeds. He said that Pakistan’s defense technology has great potential in Ethiopia. He briefed the President ICCI about the Pakistani delegation, which would have B2B and B2G meetings and visits to industrial areas. Zafar Bakhtawari, Zahid Maqbool, Nasir Qureshi, Humayun Kabir, Shaukat Hayat Khan and others were in the ICCI delegation.

For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-2250526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +92-51-2252950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk, info@icci.com.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk

The post ICCI lauds Ambassador for mobilizing Pak Business Delegation to Ethiopia appeared first on Business News Pakistan.

Sialkot, February 07, 2023 (PPI-OT):On February 06, 2023, H.E. Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan visited Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry to interact with the Business Community of Sialkot. The Ambassador was welcomed by Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Malik, President SCCI and during the meeting, the President SCCI said that both Azerbaijan and Pakistan should put joint efforts to establish channels that promote direct Business to Business linkages.

Mr. Malik said that Pakistan foresee Azerbaijan as brotherly country and was keen to untap the potential that exists on both sides. He mentioned that Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry would send a Trade Delegation of prominent Product sectors of Sialkot to Azerbaijan, to have business to business interactions of Pakistani business community with Azeri counterparts.

H.E. Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan while addressing the participants of the meeting praised the achievements of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry and said that Azerbaijan would be signing Preferential Trade Agreement with Pakistan, which would help businessmen on both sides to increase economic relations. He added that last year the trade volume of Pakistan and Azerbaijan has increase three times, through joint efforts from both sides.

During the meeting The Ambassador mentioned that Azerbaijan could be a gateway for Pakistani Businessmen to tap neighbouring countries through Azerbaijan with the agreement. The Envoy endorsed the suggestion of President SCCI for sending trade delegation and added that Azeri Mission in Pakistan had already conducted trade delegations with Faisalabad, Islamabad and Gujranwala Chambers of Commerce and industry, in the past. H.E. Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan mentioned that Azerbaijan was open to join hands for investments with Pakistan to cooperate in the non-oil energy, health, and agriculture sectors.

The Ambassador added that Azerbaijan was a great market for sectors like Rice, Martial Arts, Football and Surgical and Beauty Care Instruments of Industry of Sialkot. The Envoy mentioned that Azerbaijan was keen to increase people to people linkages, and the Azerbaijan Mission in Pakistan would ensure that the Businessmen from Sialkot could meet relevant buyers and importers during the visit of Trade Delegation to Azerbaijan, as Government of Azerbaijan was interested to promote trade from Sialkot to Azerbaijan.

For more information, contact:
Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)
Shahrah-e-Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat, Sialkot – 51310, Pakistan
Phone: +92-52-4261881-3
Fax: +92-52-4268835, +92-52-4267919
E-mail: sialkot@scci.com.pk
Website: http://www.scci.com.pk

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