Incompetent economic managers shatter the economy

Islamabad, February 07, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday said the so-called economic manager has proved to be the biggest problem to the economy. The policies of incompetent economic managers have pushed the country to the brink of collapse, it said. Recently another unskilled and self-styled economic expert was imported amid great fanfare but his policies ruined the troubled economy, said Brig. (retd) Aslam Khan, Chairman PEW.

He said that the economy is a serious matter that should not be left to irresponsible politicians because they are more concerned about other issues than the country. Muhammad Aslam Khan said that the rulers are still not serious about the economy. No one among those who matter is serious and they are just wasting time.

If the IMF’s ninth review is successful, the continuous increase in the value dollar may stop, but if it fails, then it will be a doomsday scenario for Pakistan, he added. He said that spending more than income and elitism have ruined many countries in the past and now this habit of the unreliable upper class is shaking the foundations of Pakistan.

Presently Pakistan has no option except IMF but still one of our economic managers tried to dictate to the international institution which failed miserably. The so-called economic experts are still wasting time waiting for help from some other country which further pushes Pakistan into problems.

He said that the economy may improve for the twenty-third time under the supervision of the IMF, but there is a fear that people will face the pain of the IMF programme but its benefits will be distributed to the elites. Elites are always promoted by giving attractive names to the plan like Kisan Package, Textile Package, or Construction Package, etc.

Every government continues to fool the people to promote the elite which has damaged the country beyond repair. Aslam Khan said that despite being cheated by dozens of people, the IMF is ready to give the cheapest loan to Pakistan, but due to repeated breaches of promises, its attitude has become tough.

Meanwhile, the circular debt is also reaching the limit of three thousand billion rupees, which is a threat to the country’s economy, but the government wants to delay the problem instead of solving it, which is not acceptable to the international organization. In Pakistan, 88 percent of consumers spend less than 300 units of electricity per month and the IMF wants them not to be subsidized.

The IMF also wants revised gas tariff, sale of failed state-owned companies, an increase in petroleum levy by Rs10 per litre, a lifting of an import ban, and some other measures which will push up inflation upto 36 percent and there is no possibility of any flexibility in its attitude. Pakistan has no option but to fully comply with the IMF conditions to evade default, he said.

For more information, contact:
President,
Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW)
402, 4th Floor, Gulistan Khan House, Fazal-e-Haq Road,
82-East, Blue Area, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2510375
Fax: +92-51-2802449
Cell: +92-321-5157671
Email: president@pakistaneconomywatch.com
Web: www.pakistaneconomywatch.com

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Current democratic government is trying to provide better employment opportunities to the youth

Faisalabad, February 03, 2023 (PPI-OT):Under the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Shahbaz Sharif, current democratic government is trying to provide better employment opportunities to the youth and especially handicapped to make them an effective segment of the society said Chairman, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) Board of Directors (BODs) Malik Tahsin Awan. He said that the process for the recruitment of special persons has been started in FESCO. He further said that the orders to protect the rights of disabled people are also narrated in the Holy Quran.

In Islam, there is no economic burden on disabled people, caring for disabled people is our religious, constitutional and moral responsibility, he added. The Chairman Board further said that Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) is providing equal employment opportunities to handicapped in the all eight districts under the jurisdiction of FESCO, including Faisalabad, Chiniot, Sargodha, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali, Bhakkar and Khushab. Applications are being invited from special persons (fit to work) for the recruitment of 388 different vacancies in FESCO under open merit. He said that for the first time such a large number of disabled persons are being recruited in FESCO.

Initially the employment period will be for six months, which will be extendable later on good performance. The recruitment of handicapped would be made for the posts of Assistant Personal Secretary, Line Superintendent-I, Substation Operator, Assistant Admin/Head Clerk, Data Entry Operator, Data Coder, Senior Store Keeper, Accounts Assistant, Commercial Assistant, Audit Assistant, Steno, Line Superintendent, Substation Operator-II, Junior Store Keeper, AFM, UDC, Stock Clerk, LDC, Meter Reader, Tracer, Security Sergeant, ASSA, Bill Distributor, ALM, Lorry cleaners, Naib Kasid and Mali. Applications for these posts will be invited through the National Testing Service (NTS) and the recruitment process will be based on merit and transparency.

For more information, contact:
Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO)
West Canal Road, Abdullah Pur, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-41-9220184-9220229
Fax: +92-41-9220233
Website: http://fesco.com.pk/default.asp

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Removal of System Constraints continues Another 250 MVA (220/132 kV) autotransformer energized at NTDC’s 500 kV Shikarpur Grid Station

Lahore, February 03, 2023 (PPI-OT):National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has successfully augmented the second 220/132 kV auto transformer of 160 MVA rating with a 250 MVA rating unit at 500/ 220 kV Shikarpur Grid Station. The said autotransformer was successfully energized today.

Completion of this project will enhance the capacity of Shikarpur grid station, which will help to carter for the increasing load demand of consumers fed from SEPCO network. This project was part of a larger and comprehensive plan for removal of critical system constraints which is ongoing with full pace. NTDC Management acknowledged the efforts of the concerned teams on completion of the project.

For more information, contact:
Director Media and PR, NTDCL
National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDCL)
221 WAPDA House Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99201020, +92-42-99202211 Ext: 2286
Cell: +92-321-478251
Fax: +92-42-99210894
Email: itdir@ntdc.com.pk
Website: http://www.ntdc.com.pk/

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Pakistan to face default risk for five years

Islamabad, February 03, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday said Pakistan to face default risk for five years as the government is not serious about reducing expenses, increasing investment, and booting exports. Even if Pakistan is saved from bankruptcy due to the IMF this year, its condition will worsen again next year, it said. To save Pakistan from bankruptcy, foreign investment of at least fifty billion dollars is needed, said, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of PEW.

A reduction of ten billion dollars per year in imports or at least a fifty percent increase in exports is required which is not possible, he said. Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that the government is not serious about reducing its expenditure or increasing its income. The government does not want to close the shops in by evening, and neither it has any intention to reduce expenditure or improve the investment environment.

Presently some difficult but necessary decisions are being made as there is no other way left for the government, he observed. He noted that the success of the ninth review of the IMF will open gates for new loans, after which the money will be squandered for political interests in such a way that the tenth review of the IMF may face problems.

Dr. Mughal said that the level of financial discipline required to save the country’s economy is not even a matter of concern for the political parties. The current government ruined the economy by manipulating the exchange rate and derailing the IMF programme while the previous government wasted trillions of rupees. Several hundreds of billions of public money were used to buy political loyalties before dissolving the provincial assemblies. He noted that all the political parties of Pakistan have proven that they either do not have the capacity or will to improve the economy.

For more information, contact:
President,
Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW)
402, 4th Floor, Gulistan Khan House, Fazal-e-Haq Road,
82-East, Blue Area, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2510375
Fax: +92-51-2802449
Cell: +92-321-5157671
Email: president@pakistaneconomywatch.com
Web: www.pakistaneconomywatch.com

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Income of $13 billion possible by eliminating load shedding: Mian Zahid Hussain

Karachi, February 03, 2023 (PPI-OT): Chairman of National Business Group Pakistan, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said the dysfunctional energy sector has contributed to the devastation of the country’s economy.

4000 megawatts of electricity are wasted annually in line losses and non-payment of bills therefore the circular debt is increasing day by day the IMF has asked Pakistan increased the price of electricity by Rs12 per unit, he said. Mian Zahid Hussain said that the power sector has become a major threat to the country’s economy, which no previous government has been able to solve on a sustainable basis despite tall claims.

Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that the power sector is harming the country’s economy by billions of dollars, while according to the World Bank, the end of load shedding can benefit the people by four and a half billion dollars and businesses by about eight and a half billion dollars annually.

The main goal of the government for economic recovery should be the acquisition of cheap, safe, and sustainable energy, for which 100% of bills should be recovered, load shedding should be eliminated and transmission and distribution losses must be brought under global standards. Mian Zahid Hussain said that dependence on imported oil and gas for power generation is a major obstacle in the development of this sector. Seventy-five percent of coal is also imported for the process of generating electricity.

Currently, 2600 megawatts of cheap electricity are being generated from Thar coal. In Pakistan, power generation through nuclear and renewable sources is dismal while production in both these sectors needs to be increased to save valuable foreign exchange and improve the balance of payments, he said.

The business leader said that the cost of installing wind and solar power plants is much lower than fuel-fired power plants, but there is less attention to this aspect, while the promotion of private solar power can completely solve transmission losses and electricity theft and save ten billion dollars in foreign exchange is also possible, but it requires determination.

The potential of wind power in Pakistan is at least 50,000 megawatts, but only 1335 megawatts of electricity are being generated from it, while only 600 megawatts of electricity are being generated through solar energy, which is only 1.4% of the potential. There is also a dire need to upgrade the power transmission and distribution system.

For more information, contact:
President,
Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF)
Tel: +92-343-2226888
Tel: +92-300-8233364
Email: ceo@kenlubes.net

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ICCI calls for promoting Pak-Syria trade and economic ties

Islamabad, February 03, 2023 (PPI-OT):Faad Waheed, Acting President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said that Pakistan and Syria are two brotherly Islamic countries and they can complement each other’s economy in many fields, therefore, they should focus on promoting trade and economic ties to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. He said that the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Syria is quite negligible, and that it can be improved by promoting business linkages between the private sectors of both countries. He expressed these views while talking to H.E. Dr. Ramez Alraee, Ambassador of Syria during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Faad Waheed briefed the Syrian Ambassador about the key industries and major exportable products of Pakistan that can be very beneficial to the Syrian consumers. He highlighted the importance of frequent exchange of trade delegations to explore untapped areas of mutual cooperation between the two countries and reiterated the commitment of ICCI to work with the Syrian Embassy to improve business and investment relations between Pakistan and Syria.

Speaking at the occasion, H.E. Dr. Ramez Alraee, Ambassador of Syria said that his country is eager to promote trade and economic cooperation with Pakistan, which is very important to reduce unemployment and improve living standards of people. He said that Syria and Pakistan enjoy good political relations that should be transformed into growing business relations to achieve mutual economic benefits. He said that Pakistan can cooperate with Syria in many sectors including energy, infrastructure development, IT and many other fields.

He stressed that a delegation of ICCI should visit Syria to see the potential for business and investment opportunities and assured that his Embassy would provide them all possible support and cooperation. He also thanked Pakistan for providing support to Syria at international forums and reaffirmed that he would work to further strengthen trade and economic bonds between the two countries.

Engr. Muhammad Azhar ul Islam Zafar, Vice President ICCI said that Pakistan considers Syria an important country for trade and said that he would lead a delegation of ICCI to Syria to explore business collaboration with Syrian counterparts. Mian Shaukat Masud, Dr. Muhammad Usman, Parveen Khan Durrani and others also spoke at the occasion and shared useful ideas to improve business relations between Pakistan and Syria.

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

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Bank Alfalah Kept Up Its Growth Trajectory in 2022

Karachi, February 03, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Board of Directors of Bank Alfalah Limited (BAFL), in its meeting held on February 2, 2023, approved the Bank’s financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Bank posted a profit after-tax growth of 28.1% compared to last year, standing at Rs. 18.206 billion. This translates into earnings per share (EPS) of Rs. 10.27 (2021: Rs. 8.00).

The exceptional performance of our team in executing the strategy and diversified product suite, resulted in Bank Alfalah achieving an impressive deposit growth of 30.5% in 2022 which brought the deposit base to Rs. 1.487 trillion. The Bank’s gross advances reached Rs. 765.693 billion, showing a growth of 9.5%. Despite challenging market fundamentals, the bank’s credit performance was strong across all segments and products.

BAFL’s non-performing loans ratio stood at 4.0% due to some prudent classifications whereas non-performing loans remain fully covered with coverage at 107.6%, including general provisions. Moreover, the Bank, in light of uncertain economic conditions, has taken a general provision against the high-risk and flood-impacted credit portfolio, which is economically vulnerable.

The Bank remains adequately capitalized with CAR at 13.83%, well above the regulatory requirement as of December 31, 2022. The Board of Directors has declared a final cash dividend of Rs. 2.5 per share (25%). This is in addition to an interim cash dividend of Rs. 2.5 (25%). Bank Alfalah has also been leading the way on the Corporate Social Responsibility front by embarking on a comprehensive program aimed at giving back to the community after the recent devastating floods.

In 2022, the Bank’s Chairman, His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, and the Board of Directors, graciously announced a donation of USD 10 million for flood relief, rehabilitation, and rebuilding efforts, an unprecedented action in the private sector domain to counter the biggest calamity to hit Pakistan in recent history.

Rescue and relief efforts have largely been completed, while rehabilitation work will continue in 2023. 2023 marks the 25th year of Bank Alfalah in Pakistan. During the last 25 years, the Bank has been a leading facilitator of national economic development, a trusted partner for SME lending, and a leading player in trade, cash management, home remittance, and bank-at-work.

Today, Bank Alfalah is a tech-savvy bank with a strategic focus on accessibility and digital inclusion. The Board’s commitment has made Bank Alfalah a forward-looking and resilient organization, and a reliable and dependable bank with a focus on long-term value creation.

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/

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OPPO Leads the Smart Future through its Innovation led Technology Showcased in Pakistan

Islamabad, February 03, 2023 (PPI-OT):OPPO leads the way for a smart future by shaping its technology for the emerging concept of digitization. To do this, OPPO showcased its ground-breaking technologies of tomorrow at the Future Fest Tech Expo in Lahore. OPPO’s booth recorded an overwhelming footfall of over 50,000 visitors who were excited for a first-hand experience of the upcoming technology trends.

With a growing demand for high efficiency charging solutions in the era of 5G intelligent connectivity, OPPO showcased its safe, low-voltage and high-power flash charge prototype of the 240W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge which can charge a smartphone in just under 10 minutes. Additionally, the 5G CPE T1 device was also showcased. It allows the user to interconnect all their devices on the Ultra-Fast 5G Network allowing them to multi-task on different devices all at once for a truly high-speed 5G experience.

The consumer centric vision of OPPO has further pushed the boundaries of the foldable smartphone experience, with a thin and light hand feel, almost invisible crease and industry-leading performance. Content creators can use the unique form factors to generate content with more convenience and less equipment. Moreover, a smooth viewing experience can be achieved without compromising on the ratio, thickness or visibility of crease. The Find N2 counters all pain points to provide users with the best foldable experience – from novelty to necessity.

The brand continues to empower content creators and users in general with industry leading imaging technology with the growing demand of technological trends by introducing tech such as its self-designed imaging NPU – the Marisilicon X. Currently available in the Flagship Series OPPO Find N2 and The Find X5 Pro, this NPU can allow game changing camera experience with features such as the 4K AI Night Video, best-in-class power efficiency, 20 bit ultra-high dynamic range, real-time RAW processing, Enhanced RGBW Pro Mode and more. This technology makes 4K Ultra Night Video with live preview possible for the first time on an Android smartphone, processing an incredible 18 trillion operations per second – you can now capture your night time memories in full clarity.

A number of content creators such as Ukhano and Khaqan Shahnawaz among other tech KOLs also visited and experienced the breakthrough innovations at the OPPO booth. The visitors appreciated this initiative as a great opportunity for youth and tech enthusiasts to witness the upcoming trends in the tech ecosystem. OPPO affirms its commitment to a smart future that previously included smart learning, smart entertainment, smart health and smart productivity.

Talking about the event, OPPO representative said, “We believe that the only way forward is to continue innovating and breaking new boundaries. Under our brand proposition of ‘Inspiration Ahead’, OPPO will continue to bring users superior products and technology that will build smarter lifestyles with tech solutions for all.”

For more information, contact:
OPPO Mobile Pakistan
Tel: +92-0800-06776
Media Queries: media@oppo.pk
Service: service@oppo.pk
Website: www.oppo.pk

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