Major brands are working across the world in various ways to help the society amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Coca-Cola announced a collaboration with a star-studded lineup of top musicians, actors, artists and entertainers.
The stars will unite virtually this weekend for “One World: Together At Home”, it is being organised by Coca-Cola in collaboration with Global Citizen and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to support and celebrate the nurses, doctors and other health care workers in this fight against COVID-19.
The one of a kind virtual concert will be televised and broadcasted on various networks and at the same time live-streamed on digital platforms such as Instagram on Saturday, April 18th at 8 pm ET.
Source: The Coca Cola Co.
The show will be hosted simultaneously by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert and has been curated in collaboration with Singer and performer, Lady Gaga, they will all be performing from the confines of their homes Here’s what Fallon posted on his Instagram for his fans and followers:
Coca-Cola’s SVP and Chief Communications Officer, Bea Perez mentions in a statement regarding this ground-breaking one of a kind event,
“The Coca-Cola Company’s purpose to refresh the world and make a difference has never been more important or more relevant. Through valued partners like Global Citizen, we are able to share our purpose in a meaningful way that encourages solidarity and strength. During these unprecedented times when we cannot be together in person, it’s even more important to come together virtually to help minimise the spread of COVID-19 by pledging to stay at home. We’re proud to be part of such a groundbreaking event.”
Celebrities from all over the globe will be joining together for the One World Together at Home. Bollywood’s Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas will also be present for the star studded event.
Check out the amazing line up for the virtual event!
Coca-Cola will be supporting the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO to help equip the front-liners from around the globe with masks, gowns and other protective gear and will also be helping local charities who are providing food, shelter and healthcare to the needy during this crucial time.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a visa extension for Pakistani nationals amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Reportedly, the UAE has agreed to the extension along with other measures that were discussed between the UAE minister on human resource and PM’s aide on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari on Thursday.
As a conclusion, the UAE ministry announced to assist Pakistani nationals in all possible ways and provide legal protection to those who are willing to stay.
Reportedly, both the ministers discussed about Pakistanis who have now lost their jobs due to the pandemic. They will be given full salaries but it was also discussed that virtual jobs will be provided to Pakistani employees on a priority basis.
April 10th, 2020: The Pakistani Consul General in Dubai announced that 10,000 Pakistanis in the UAE have now been rendered jobless due to coronavirus.
Overall, around 35,000 Pakistanis are registered with the consulate in Dubai who are looking to come back home according to Consul General Ahmed Amjad Ali.
The official shared that preparations are underway to bring the stranded individuals back home.
“Tourists, unemployed and the elderly will be given preference,” he said. He added that screening measures have also been completed for those who are returning from Dubai airport.
On the other hand, Dubai authorities are waiting for approval for Pakistan’s government to operate flights for those who want to return home.
Earlier, Dubai’s Gulf News earlier reported that hundreds of Pakistanis had gathered outside the consulate on Sunday to register to return home.
According to Express Tribune, top engineering schools in Sindh, NED University of Engineering and Technology has made some major changes in the admission policy for 2020.
Why have the changes been made?
The cancellation of exams and closure of educational systems due to COVID-19 has caused a stir. The changes are made so the admission process for the following batch can take place smoothly.
What changes have been made?
Previously, the eligibility for the bachelor’s program was an average of marks scored in the first year and second year collectively. However, this year, marks of only the first year will be considered.
Apparently, there have been changes in the merit for admission too. Now, the entrance test sums up 50% weightage. However, the weightage of the marks in intermediate exams has been reduced to 50%. Earlier, the admission test was given an 8.33 percent of weightage, while the weightage for marks in intermediate was 91.66 percent.
“The NED University will now be starting its academic session in October. Since the intermediate exams have been delayed due to the spread of COVID-19 and pre-engineering results will not be released until October, we have decided to give admissions on the basis of marks obtained in the first year of intermediate,” he said.
“[To ensure that there is no compromise on merit], we have also increased the qualification marks of the entrance test.”
About the Entrance Test
“This year, 50% of the marks in the merit structure will be from the entrance test, while the remaining 50% will be based on the results of the first year. However, the entrance test will be based on the syllabi of both the first and second year,” he clarified
The decision made earlier this weak will affect greatly how candidates prepare for the admission test for NED university, as now they will have to work very hard to qualify the entrance test.
Additional Seats Allocated
It is notable to mention that the Department of Computer Sciences has added 40 more seats to the already existing 2,682 seats in 28 sectors.
For the first time in history, NED University has also allocated 18 seats for the students of Ziauddin Board.
For more news and updates, stay tuned to Brandsynario.
As educational institutes are now changing the way they operate, more and more schools, colleges and universities are slowing moving towards online classes. Just recently, the University of Karachi has also announced to conduct online classes.
Image Source: GEO news
On Wednesday, a meeting was held in this regard at the KU Vice Chancellor (VC) Secretariat. In the meeting, KU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said,
“We need to ensure that the learning process continues. Given the number of students at the University of Karachi, we need to make sure that our house is in order before we start online classes. We do not want to go for any misadventure in this regard,”
He further added,
What we need is a well-thought-out strategy to enable each and every student to learn and meet the course learning objectives.”
Moreover, the meeting was also attended by KU Registrar Prof Dr. Saleem Shahzad, all the deans, Students’ Adviser Dr. Syed Asim Ali, Main Communication Network Incharge Prof Dr. Sadiq Ali Khan and Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) Deputy Director Jawaid Akram. The agenda of the meeting was to plan and strategize how the online classes can be made better for teachers and students.
It was decided that Karachi University would incorporate the Learning Management System as their online learning platform within two weeks while the varsity’s QEC would prepare tutorial content for the students and videos for commonly used online learning tools like Zoom, Adobe Connect and others.
All educational institutions will remain closed for the next three weeks amidst the threat of the ongoing pandemic on orders of the federal government. However, the HEC Chairperson has stated that studies would not be compromised during school closure.
The HEC has launched online classes for university and college students across the country. During the three weeks, the teachers would be giving lectures online as mentioned by Chairperson, Tariq Banuri.
According to the HEC, an online learning management system will be introduced in more than 70 classes and a team of experts will also be formed.
Banuri further mentioned,
“Institutions that don’t have these systems will get them installed within two weeks.”
It has been decided that the list of all the online classes would be compiled and would then be aired on television. The teachers would also be provided with an online evaluation system for grading purposes.
In order for online learning to take place, students and teachers both need to have access to the internet. HEC Chairperson also spoke about what they would be doing in case someone does not have access.
“We will also ensure that internet services are provided to all those areas that don’t have service and modern technological systems are installed there”
As technology has progressed immensely, various apps and tools have been invented for the ease of online teaching world-wide. The ‘google classroom’ and ‘Zoom’ are some of the apps currently being used all over the world where schools have been shut down to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
Karachi, April 16th, 2020: The Board of Directors of K-Electric Limited, has elected Mr. Riyadh S. A. A. Edrees as the new Chairman of the Company with effect from April 09, 2020, at the recent Board Meeting.
Mr. Edrees, who has nearly twenty-five years of experience across the fields of Construction, Finance, Oil & Gas and Telecommunications and Academics initially joined the KE Board in November 2005 at the time of privatization of the Company and acted as a Board member till May 2009. Mr. Edrees rejoined KE Board in July last year. He is also Chairman of Meezan Bank Limited – Pakistan, Chairman and Managing Director of Ikarus Petroleum Industries Company and is a member of the Board at a number of other companies. He also serves as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer – National Industries Group Holding, Kuwait. Mr. Riyadh holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Newcastle and an MSc in Chemical Engineering from Kuwait University.
The Board of Directors expressed their confidence in Mr. Edrees’ leadership abilities as the Company is embarking on a dynamic stage of growth and expansion and will surely benefit from his leadership abilities.
“I am honoured to lead K-Electric as its new Chairman. A trendsetter in the power sector, KE is one of the most successful cases of privatization in the country, and I look forward to working with all our stakeholders to take the Company further ahead.” said the newly-elected Chairman.
KE’s transformation, from a loss-making and debt-ridden strategic asset into a leading energy player today, underpinned by an investment of more than USD 2.4 billion dollars represents one of Pakistan’s most well-recognized operational turnaround stories and it is well-positioned to build on its existing success. K-Electric benefits from a deep bench of talent and industry expertise, and the leadership team remains fully committed to continuing executing on strategic priorities through planned initiatives of around USD 3 billion over the next four years in all business verticals along with its customer-first approach, safety, reliability and sustainability initiatives and regulatory strategy.
A twitter user accused Walt Disney of stealing from Mama Coco. Later, other users joined in the thread to bring forward problematic facts regarding the multimillion-dollar company.
Read for yourself!
Since mama coco is trending can we talk about how she is a real human that Disney stole from and lied to promising to help her and her family but never actually did pic.twitter.com/7PGrb0GJlP
Another user thought that there was another breach of copyright
Director, Lee Unkrich confirmed the character of mama coco was not based on just one person
Others were rather sarcastic!
There is really no real proof that she was used as the inspiration for Mama Coco
Walt Disney Ready to Furlough 43,000 workers
Due to coronavirus, the largest single-site employer, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has reached an agreement with workers unions that it will furlough 43,000 workers in the following week.
The furlough begins in April, most likely from the 19th reports Forbes. However, the workers that will be gone will be able to keep their insurance benefits for the furlough up to a year.
For more news and updates, stay tuned to Brandsynario.
The spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic across the globe has changed a lot of things in recent days. Countries have started to implement new policies as a precaution.
French President Emanuel Macron recently warned the public that the external borders of the Schengen Area and the Associated Member states may possibly remain closed till September.
Furthermore, any hopes of applying for a Schengen Visa during this period is utterly impossible. Moreover, the European Commission has already called for the prolongation of the border closure until mid-May. If the commission decides to extend external borders until September, this means non-EEA nationals and residence permit holders will not be able to travel to these countries.
In order to reduce the risk of the pandemic affected travelers from entering the countries, member states will start asking for additional documents regarding the applicant’s health conditions including COVID-19 test results.
According to an EU official, it is confirmed that those wishing to travel to the Schengen Area after the Member States start to gradually go back to normal.
Reportedly, the source stated:
When the Schengen Borders open up in September, if they do, Schengen Visa applicants will need to submit a Coronavirus test that has resulted negative, taken within the last two weeks prior to the visa application.
The traveller may be required to take a new test before travelling to the Schengen area, as to make sure that he/she has not been infected in the meantime, -Source
The source also shared that once the COVID-19 vaccine is available, visa applicants may also be required to be vaccinated in the future if the virus remains active.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.
Pakistan’s leading retailer Khaadi’s CEO, Shamoon Sultan talks to Kamran Khan on Samaa TV, about Pakistan’s retail sector amidst COVID-19. Sultan mentions the on-going issue is worldwide where recession has hit globally and it is not just Pakistan’s problem solely.
The Pakistani export community is also facing losses as they bring in revenue of about a billion dollars through international brands from the US and UK but due to the coronavirus pandemic their orders have either been held back, postponed and in some cases, canceled.
“Pakistan’s retail issue is very small compared to the others across the world.”
How does the Pakistani Retail Industry work?
1. Fixed Costs
The retail sector has high fixed costs to bear, salaries and rental payments make up the major components.
2. Supply Chain
The supply chain consists of two kinds of retailers in Pakistan, those who simply retail and the other who manufacture and retail as well.
How Does Pakistan’s Retail Industry Compare to the West?
“E-commerce globally is highly developed as compared to Pakistan, abroad the online sales contribution is about 30% or more while here it’s a mere 7 to 8%,” says Sultan.
The retail sector of Pakistan stands with the government on closing down stores to curb the spread of the virus however, he mentions that the retail industry has taken a huge hit, the next three months are all about survival.
According to Mr. Shamoon Sultan, the most profitable months for the retail sector in Pakistan are between March and August, since the two Eids fall during this time, 14th August, and the summer season that is longer and entails most buying. Almost 50-60 % of annual sales are made during this timeframe.
“Corona has hit us at our peak selling season and to survive it will be difficult.”
What Should the Government Do in order to rescue this retail Sector Amidst Covid-19?
1. Solve Liquidity Issue
The retail industry needs immediate liquidity to take care of all its components including production, stocks and suppliers. The central bank with the government need to make some changes and provide the retail sector with loans that will help the industry survive this pandemic. It is not just the exporters who have taken a great hit but us, the retailers as well.
2. GST Reduction
Last June sales tax went from 6% to 17% this caused the retail sector to fall into a negative 10% in the last year. If not a complete reduction, government needs to
3. Encourage further localisation, offer incentives at lower rates
Shamoon Sultan believes the country needs to move towards complete localisation and perceives COVID-19 as a great opportunity for it. Incentives must be offered at lower rates for more enterpreneurs to come into the market and further localisation to take place.
The mastermind behind Khaadi says,
“Pakistan has everything it needs to become self-sufficient, it just needs help from the government to get there.”
He mentions the revival of tourism industry after the pandemic is over is our ticket to survival, comparing to the UAE he adds, “People visit Dubai, to visit their malls, for shopping purposes and to visit cafe’s and eat good food. We have it all in Pakistan but it all simply needs organisation and these malls, stores and 100’s of cafe’s are the future of tourism in the country. “
16th April 2020: In the wake of the recent pandemic, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued directives for Ramadan Transmission as a precautionary measure.
In the wake of Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, PEMRA issues directives for its licensees on Ramadan Transmission. pic.twitter.com/HkbLrxov9I
The notification issued by PEMRA emphasizes that no audience must be present during the Ramadan transmissions alike in previous years. Guidelines and directives must based on the current situation must be followed.
It is notable to mention that the PEMRA licensees must follow directives given by the World Health Organization (WHO) alongside federal and provincial governments as a precautionary measure.
As of now, Pakistan is dealing with 6000+ coronavirus cases and 100+ deaths.
10th May 2019: Punjab Assembly’s bill against Pakistani celebrities in Ramadan transmission created quite a stir on social media. And now, the broadcast of indecent content on private channels during the Holy Month became an important matter of discussion in the National Assembly (NA).
During a session in the NA, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan demanded all private channels to not air indecent programs during Ramadan transmissions.
He stated that PEMRA is monitoring as many as fifty-five private channels to ensure that no content showcasing obscenity, anti-Islamic teachings and against institutions of the country get showcased in Ramadan.
The Minister added that it is the responsibility of all private channels to broadcast content in accordance with Pakistani culture and Islamic traditions
He lauded PTV and revealed that the state network has been consistent in promoting Pakistan in a positive way and efforts are being made to convert PTV channels to High Definition.
Earlier, the Punjab Assembly has passed a unanimous resolution to ban celebrities from attending and hosting transmissions throughout the month.
The purpose of the resolution is to persuade Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ban stars and popular entertainment luminaires to feature in Ramadan transmission.
The members of the assembly condemned the idea of celebrities hosting Ramadan programs instead of religious scholars helming the content as they lack the knowledge needed to conduct the transmissions.
Two of the biggest dating apps on the market today are Bumble and Tinder. While a lot of people use them both, there are probably some people that are using one or the other and have considered making the switch.
There are some huge and glaring differences between these two apps that are both good and bad. Because we all know that using a dating app and putting yourself out there won’t always lead to the most fruitful interactions.
Here are a few differences between the two:
Tinder is mostly considered as a hookup app
It’s no secret that Tinder is considered more of a hookup app. Because guys are usually the ones messaging first, they can say anything they want and it usually has something to do with taking things further (IFYWIM). Of course, there are some guys on this app that use it for real dating, it’s not easy telling them apart though.
Source/ Vulture
Bumble is considered as an app for something serious
Bumble is used to find love but of course, this isn’t always true, some people use Bumble just to hookup, However, it’s still considered more of a true ‘dating app’ than Tinder is. Typically, you go on Bumble if you want to find someone chill to talk to and hang out with and maybe it will turn into something more from there!
Tinder – Men Vs Women Ratio
Has twice as many men compared to women that’s a pretty big difference to have for an app that claims it’s not all about ‘hookups’. There’s double the number of guys using Tinder as there are women. This could be considered a good thing if you’re a woman who likes her options because you’ll have an unlimited amount on this app.
Bumble – Men Vs Women Ratio
Bumble has a 50/50 ratio of guys to girls, which is the ideal situation for a dating app. This means guys and girls have an equal chance of finding someone they’re interested in. But it also means that there are fewer options overall because there are a much smaller number of users compared to Tinder.
It’s normal to have a discussion on explicit topics on Tinder
It’s acceptable to say sexually explicit things and all girls know the struggle of using Tinder these days. 5/10 guys will message us using some kind of sexually explicit language but it doesn’t work the way they think it will. Though some girls using Tinder are looking for just a hookup, they probably don’t want to be hit up with a comment about it right off the bat.
Bumble has a 24-hour rule of women messaging men
Source/ Medium
The clear difference between Bumble and Tinder is that women must send the first message within 24 hours of matching. This avoids those creepy messages from guys on Tinder and allows the girl to come up with fun pickup lines. This can be great if you’re good at using pickup lines but it can also be a struggle if you’re not used to taking charge.
Users at Tinder not all successful
Both guys and girls come in a huge range of Tinder. You’ll find super career-oriented people, have model status and are comedians in their spare time, but you’ll also find people with the opposite traits. It’s a real mixed bag that takes a lot of searching to find what you’re looking for. You’ll be searching for a diamond in the ruff on Tinder.
Bumble has a higher rate of high earning users
The guys and girls on Bumble are stacked with high paying jobs, good looks, and great personalities. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t the total package. This is one of the great things about Bumble but it can also be kind of intimidating sometimes.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
Between Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, and HBO GO, we’ve almost reached the point where all our streaming services are precisely what all of us resort to for entertainment.
Founded by business and entertainment heavy-hitters Meg Whitman and Jeffrey Katzenberg, Quibi has lined up an impressive slate of celebrities to anchor their programming featuring stars like Idris Elba, Sophie Turner, Liam Hemsworth, and Anna Kendrick.
Being at home due to COVID 19, people are hungry for fresh content and new sources of entertainment, so will Quibi be their savior?
Quibi, that launched on April 6th, 2020 is a novelty that was a short-form video for people as they wait for coffee, waiting for the doctor to see them or the bus. The new streaming service is out with 50 different programs that include unscripted reality shows, short-form documentaries, films, and news.
Although, if the content sounds familiar, what sets Quibi apart is a format. Each episode is less than 10 minutes long and is designed to be watched on a phone. Quibi, it turns out, is short for “quick bite,” and promo materials lean heavily into the idea of “snackable content.”
While it adds a few bucks to the bundle, it aims to beat its competitors by playing the game a little differently.
Source/ Campaign
The latest streaming service is out with 50 different programs that include unscripted reality shows, short-form documentaries, films, and news. But if the content sounds familiar, what sets Quibi apart is a format. Each episode is less than 10 minutes long and is designed to be watched on a phone. Quibi, it turns out, is short for “quick bite,” and promo materials lean heavily into the idea of “snackable content.”
Stay tuned to Bransynario for the latest news and updates.
McDonald’s in China has issued a sincere apology after a racist notice issued by the restaurant went viral.
A video shared on social media showed a notice that read: “We’ve been informed that from now on black people are not allowed to enter the restaurant.”
Reportedly, McDonald’s claims it closed the restaurant when it found out about the notice.
This incident took place in one of the branches located in Guangzhou as tensions soar between the locals and Africans.
Credits: BBC
According to BBC, hundreds of Africans in Guangzhou were evicted after online rumours that coronavirus was spreading among African people just last week.
China’s Guangzhou is known to be the hub for African traders buying and selling goods and is home to the largest African community in the country.
McDonald’s responded saying that the ban on colored people was “not representative of our inclusive values”.
“Immediately upon learning of an unauthorised communication to our guests at a restaurant in Guangzhou, we immediately removed the communication and temporarily closed the restaurant.”
The restaurant added that it had conducted “diversity and inclusion” training in the branch.
Stay safe and stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.
April 15th, 2020: As reported, Zoom – video conferencing application gained a feature, but sadly only in the paid version of the app.
Active servers of Zoom currently exist in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, Australia, China, Latin America, and Japan / Hong Kong.
The novelty feature announced is responsible for handling the data traffic of your video conference. The feature allows the security to handle the information and connection with the newest feature and also assures the higher quality of the transmission.
Earlier, companies including Space X, NASA, and Google discontinued using zoom due to security concerns. The employees were directed to use email, messages, and calls to get the job done.
The feature releases on the 18th of April and is available for premium customers only.
April 3rd, 2020: Multimillion-dollar companies such as SpaceX and NASA have directed their employees to stop using the video conferencing app, Zoom due to ‘privacy and security’ issues.
The company in response has addressed these issues. For the next 90 days, the company will be working on the development of the features. It will conduct a third-party security review while freezing the features for the initial period given.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 has proved to be a blessing in disguise for Zoom as the count of the users has escalated quickly from 10 million to 200 million in a very short span of time.
But it’s also brought more scrutiny on the company’s product security and privacy standards as huge companies now tend to use it given the situation of the world.
April 1, 2020: We are presently forced to stay at homes right now and people who need to assure that their work gets done have to stay in contact with their heads and co-workers via video calls and telephonic conferences.
One such means of communication is via Zoom Video Communications but that is now being sued by a user who claims the popular video-conferencing service is illegally disclosing personal information.
The company obtains data when users install or open the Zoom application and shares it, without proper notice, to third parties including Facebook, according to the lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in San Jose, California.
Source/ CBC News
Zoom’s shares have more than made twice as much this year as investors bet that the teleconferencing company would be one of the rare winners during the coronavirus pandemic.
The rise in its use comes as more and more people work from home or use the video-conferencing software to keep in touch rather than meet in person.
According to the suit, Zoom’s privacy policy doesn’t explain to users that its app contains code that discloses information to Facebook and potentially other third parties.
The corporation’s “wholly inadequate program design and security measures have resulted and will continue to result, in unauthorized disclosure of its users’ personal information,” according to the complaint.
Source/ Adage
Robert Cullen of Sacramento is seeking to represent other users and asked for a declaration that Zoom violated California’s Consumer Privacy Act. He’s seeking damages under the act and punitive damages.
Zoom didn’t instantly respond to an email after regular business hours seeking comment.
The suit follows a report from the publication Motherboard, which first disclosed that Zoom’s iOS app was sharing data with Facebook. After the report, Zoom told the publication it removed the code that sent the data to Facebook.
Stay tuned for more news and updates on Brandsynario.
As the lockdown eases from the 15th of April in Sindh, food delivery services have begun operations including foodpanda, Careem delivery service, and others. Many restaurants have also begun delivering food after being closed for almost a month.
The following are the restaurants that have begun delivering food at your doorstep. However, please call and make sure the delivery timings as most of them vary restaurant to restaurant.
Oh My Grill
Image Source/Oh My Grill
Dominos
Image Source/eWeek
Lal Qila
Image Source/Facebook
Burger Lab
Image Source/ Charcoal + Gravel
KFC
Image Source/KFC Pakistan
Mc Donalds
Restaurants In Karachi That Are Selling DIY Kits To Prepare Meals At Home
The public health crisis caused by coronavirus has forced countries to face a lockdown in order to curb the spread of the virus and maintain social distancing. During this time, the restaurants have also been closed down and Karachi seems to have lost its soul a.k.a the famous finger-licking delicious Karachi food!
The hustle and bustle of people going out to eat are definitely being missed terribly, however, for every problem there’s a solution too and as the saying goes, ‘Necessity is the mother of invention!’. Eateries have introduced innovative DIY kits with their signature dishes for everyone to enjoy within their homes. This is definitely a win-win situation for everyone who’s been missing eating out since the lockdown began.
Here are the 10 restaurants with DIY Kits that you can order today:
1. Clucky’s
Clucky’s is offering their Chicken Ala Kiev Sandwich, Spicy Fried Sandwich or the Clucky Bites Combo meal, they are also providing free delivery and have a separate pick up point as well.
2. Broadway Pizza
Broadway Pizza is now offering the frozella, a 13-inch half baked frozen pizza available in two flavours!
3. No Lies Fries
The NLF Burger at home is a quarantine fix we all need! A step by step guide is provided with the DIY Kit.
4. K Town Burgers
This eatery has outdone themselves, not only are they providing a DIY Isolation burger kit, but also a one time use grill to get that perfect char-grilled burger patty! Yumm!
5. 75 Degrees Hot
6. Burridos
7. Red Volks
8. Lemongrass
A change from all the burger kits available is this Korean Chicken DIY from lemongrass.
9. Kebabar – Marco Polo Events
The latest entrant to DIY Kits is Kebabar that has introduced ready to grill BBQ, the kit also includes a mini grill to go.
10. The Melt
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15th April 2020: The government of Pakistan has launched a TeleSchool in collaboration with PTV to compensate for the academic loss due to the lockdown amid coronavirus.
The channel will be dedicated to learning only and will be aired from Tuesday across the country from 8 am to 6 pm for online education from class one to 12.
This project will help the government to reach into remote areas were education was limited because of resources. TeleSchool will be able to fill the gap for such areas and also assist other students who are restricted to stay home due to the lockdown to prepare for finals.
“The credit of making this project possible in less than a month goes to unsung heroes: content developers, teachers and staff of Federal Directorate of Education, editors, techs, and producers of Allama Iqbal Open University and PTV,” Syed Umair Javed said.
26th March 2020: The decision was made that a national TV channel in collaboration with PTV will be launched.
A meeting was set up to discuss how the state will proceed further with educational institutes being shut due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic with alternative educational content delivery mechanisms.
The meeting was chaired by the Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, Professional Training and National Heritage.
Source: India Today
Due to the closure of educational institutes in the country, the educational sector will face academic losses.
Apparently, the new TV channel’s content will be developed free of cost in collaboration with education service providers free of cost to fill up the gap.
Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) will establish emergency learning carters, where subject specialists will be reviewing and scheduling the educational content.
On the 26th of March, the briefing will be given to education ministers’ of all the provinces.
The channel in collaboration with PTV is expected to broadcast in the first 15 days of April. As of now, there are 1098 confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan while 8 people have lost their lives, confirms Dawn.
For more news and updates, stay tuned to Brandsynario.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Institute of Blood Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation has collaborated with Hilton Pharma for a clinical research trial during the current public health crisis caused by COVID-19.
NIBD has received approval for clinical trials for passive immunization to support COVID-19 patients in Pakistan. Dr. Tahir Shamsi, Dean of NIBD is a renowned Hematologist and is working with other medical institutions on this research trial.
The other medical institutions working on this medical breakthrough are:
University of Health Sciences Lahore
Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro
Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority
Other Government institutions
Press Release by NIBD to announce the clinical trial for Passive Immunization to support COVID-19 patients:
Source: Hilton Pharma, Facebook
The main area of study for the clinical trials will be plasma therapy which involves using plasma from the recovered patients to treat critically ill patients suffering from coronavirus. In the past, such plasma therapy has been used to treat measles, polio outbreaks, and recently to treat SARS and Ebola. The plasma therapy procedure is currently being used in countries like the U.S in order to battle COVID-19.
Hilton Pharma’s support to NIBD includes providing a research grant, regulatory support, training and overall data collection.
Karachi: 14th April, 2020 – Dawlance has completed the delivery of its appliances ranging from Refrigerators, Air-conditioners, electric kettles, Microwave Ovens and water dispensers, as a generous donation to The Indus Hospital (TIH). These appliances will help TIH in the nation’s fight against the threat of Coronavirus pandemic.
TIH shall be using these advanced appliances from Dawlance to enhance its capacity, deliver better care to the patients while storing large quantities of Corona kits and testing-samples that require ideal temperature (below -20 degrees). This itself is a testimony to reliability of Dawlance appliances.
Dawlance aims to equip the doctors and para-medical staff, who are the frontline force against the virus, so they are enabled to save more lives, with timely diagnosis, medical care and treatment for the increased number of patients, during this public-health crisis. These products are being used in TIH Laboratories, Blood centre and the Diagnostic-Vans created for Community-based screening in many cities like; Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, etc.
The Chief Executive Officer of Dawlance – Umar Ahsan Khan stated that; “Being a leading brand of Home appliances in Pakistan – Dawlance is committed to making valuable contributions for socio-economic development of the nation while enhancing the quality of healthcare facilities for the masses, while TIH is providing Free-of-cost, high-quality health-care to everyone.”
Dawlance understands that Pakistan has a weak health-care infrastructure, so it is inspiring the resourceful corporate sector to contribute generously to develop the infrastructure for public-health, safety and a better quality-of-life. Dawlance has an elaborate policy for social-development, promising healthcare, education, awareness and environmental protection on a large-scale.”
“The consumer-focused brand of Dawlance has continued to evolve for more than 4 decades now. As a fully-owned subsidiary of the 3rd largest home appliance manufacturer in Europe – Arcelik Turkey, Dawlance will continue to support the most credible healthcare institutions, and the hospitals designated for COVID-19 treatment. Using digital media and various channels, we are also engaging and informing the public at all levels.” Umar Khan added.
In the wake of this global pandemic threat, hundreds of nations have locked down their cities, to ensure social-distancing, while broad-based precautionary measures are also being taken in Pakistan, to prevent an exponential spread of this ailment. Corporate entities must play a generous role in enabling timely diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients. This way major damage can be prevented.
So far, the spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan is manageable, only if the people act responsibly, take precautions, do not leave their homes unnecessarily and wash their hands regularly. The next few weeks are critical to contain and eliminate this disease, so the economic impact of this lockdown can also be minimized, especially for saving the poorest segments of the society. Dawlance is committed to making sustainable efforts for the nation, to prevent any socio-economic challenge in the future too.
15th April 2020: Tahir Shah’s latest song, Farishta just released last week. Fans on social media were confused as to what the meaning of his latest track was. Shah took it to his twitter to explain in detail the philosophy behind his latest track.
The song’s exclusive message is an innocent child can change the world with just one cute smile which can bring peace in the world because children are the angels of the earth.
Shah has dedicated the song to his beloved son.
April 11, 2020: Taher Shah became a viral sensation with his song Eye to Eye, after which he released ‘Mankind’s Angel’. The singer vanished after that and has suddenly appeared during this already difficult, quarantine time with a new song, “Farishta” released today at midnight!
The song Farishta has an animated video and plays Taher Shah’s vocals in the background. It has disappointed people since it was expected he would again appear with his open hair in a different colored robe this time? His last two videos were shared and viewed multiple times over social media.
As predicted, this song has made an uproar over social media, the comments on the song are definitely worth a read to make your day as entertaining as ever!
A lot of people are concerned about his creativity, after four long years all Taher Shah could come up was a translation of his previous song? Hmph!!
Tahir Shah literally spent 4 years translating angel into farishta. WTF 🤦♂️
Government needs to play this song on streets…so people can stay in homes..😂😂
2020 couldn’t get more worse…#tahirshahpic.twitter.com/TQ5UWGCjgX
In a nutshell.#TaherShah took 4 years to translate “angel angel” into “farishta farishta” and add those creepy VFX which we have seen years back in SonPari. 😅 pic.twitter.com/GWvqGAlohe
Although the Sindh government has eased lockdown restrictions for ‘certain industries’ in view of NCC decision, here is a list of what will continue to remain closed in the province:
1. Educational Institutes 2. Marriage Halls 3. Public Places 4. Cinemas 5. Restaurants (home delivery will be allowed) 6. Shopping Malls 7. Beauty Parlors 8. Electronic Markets 9. Beaches, parks and playgrounds 10. Religious and social gatherings 11. Public transport 12. Markets and shops selling non-essential items 13. Medical stores that are not close to the hospitals to remain closed between 5pm and 8am 14. Petrol pumps to remain closed between 5pm and 8am
Update: April 14th 2020: On Tuesday, Federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the extension of countrywide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The cabinet has decided to extend lockdown till 30th April across Pakistan.
According to sources, the government has decided to open skills-related businesses after which, tailors, electricians, mechanics, plumbers and barbers will be allowed to work.
Moreover, the government has also decided to open all sectors related to construction and rules have been issued for the sector.
Remaining sectors such as air travel, public transport, public gatherings, wedding halls, cinemas and public places will remain closed until further notice.
Update: 31st March 2020
On Saturday, the city’s East deputy commissioner ordered the closure of 11 areas of the metropolis where coronavirus patients had been identified as Sindh’s infected tally continues to rise, rapidly.
The 11 unions councils sealed are:
UC-6 Gillani Railways, UC-7 Dalmia, UC-8 Jamali Colony, UC-9 Gulshan-II, UC-10 Pehalwan Goth, UC-12 Gulzar e Hijri, UC-13 Safoora, UC-14 Faisal Cantt, UC-2 Manzoor Colony, UC-9 Jacob Line and UC-10 Jamshed Quarters.
Here’s what the notification read:
Update: 31st March 2020
According to ARY News, Milk shops across Sindh were allowed to remain open till 8 pm during the provincial lockdown.
The provincial home department on Monday issued a notification which allowed the milk shops and sale points to stay open till 8 pm instead of 5 pm.
Here’s what the notice read:
“The Government of Sindh has been pleased to allow fresh milk shops/sale points to operate till 8:00 p.m. instead of earlier timing of 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of collecting/storing. However, restrictions on the packaged/powdered milk will remain same,”
Earlier, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had announced that all grocery shops across the province will be closed by 5pm instead of 8pm.
Update: 25th March 2020
The government, despite all its efforts to contain the situation, has found itself with no choice but to impose a curfew. Although PM Imran Khan is not in favor of a complete shutdown, Sindh and other provinces have gone into lockdown.
CM Murad Ali Shah stated that the province will go into a 15-day lockdown. However, it was still not enough to keep people in their homes. More than 740 arrests have been made for violating the lockdown.
Given as to how this situation seems to be getting out of hand as citizens are not listening, the government may need to go ahead with a proper curfew.
Unfortunately, a #COVID19 Patient Afrasiyab, aged 57, who was admitted in Mayo Hospital, lost his life today. These are indeed difficult times for the whole country. Only way we can fight this pandemic is by staying indoors and following the precautionary measures.
A copy of the order (document) has been circulation on social media which reads:
Whereas there has been a need to take further preventive measures in wake of increasing CoronaVirus cases (COVID-19) in Sindh, therefore, the Government of Sindh, in the exercise of powers conferred Section 3(1) of the Sindh Epidemic Disease Act 2014 (The Sindh Act VIII of 2015), and in continuation of earlier Order of event number dated 22.03.2020, is satisfied that it has become extremely urgent and important to implement the following additional measures for the purpose of breaking the chain of the spread of the virus.
The order is expected to be implemented today onwards for 13 days.
Update: 22nd March 2020
The Sindh Government has announced an official lockdown in the province. With the increasing COVID-19 cases, CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah has announced that following tonight at mid-night a 15-day lockdown will be set in place.
The CM said that this decision is in the best interest of the public. He added that all offices and public places will be closed while people will not be allowed to gather in groups.
He also stated that violating this can lead up to 5 years in jail.
“People will not be allowed to leave their homes,” Murad remarked. “I have no option left but to impose lockdown in the province.” He added.
Moreover, Sui Gas and K-Electric officials have been directed to refrain from disconnecting connections during lockdown!
Update: 20th March 2020
As of Friday, Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah has asked people to isolate themselves for three days as his team is making all efforts to contain coronavirus. The novel coronavirus has so far infected 238 people in the province.
During the 23rd meeting of the provincial task force on coronavirus, CM Sindh said,
“People should go into complete isolation for three days” and “Please stay home to protect yourself and your loved-ones.”
Moreover, he added that because of the increasing number of cases, they are asking people to not go outside as the situation will get worse if it continues. The total number of local or social contact cases in Sindh have risen from 40-51.
Earlier, PM Imran Khan spoke about the coronavirus situation around the world, saying that the US, Italy and England have reacted differently to the virus. Nevertheless, he said that Pakistan cannot afford the same response as European countries.
“Our economic situation is very fragile,” he said. “If we close down the country, what will happen to the poor? People will die of hunger here,” he said.
However, there are some precautions that the Sindh Government is taking while battling with the novel virus besides closing of Parks, restaurants, malls, marriage halls, cinemas, offices, shutting down all education institutions and gyms and banning all the public gatherings along with maintaining social distances.
Here’s what the Sindh Government has been doing amazingly!
1. Sindh Government has delayed and cancelled any social event such as concerts, fashion shows, food affairs that will involve social gatherings
Source/ Nation
2. Those suffering from high fever and cough or serious pneumonia are being tested for the disease and are quarantined if tested positive at Expo Centre and hospitals if there’s a chance of danger
Source/ Tribune
3. Sindh government has also carried and order of shutting down all recreational areas including parks, zoos and Sea View for an indefinite period of time to prevent coronavirus from spreading.
Source/ Dawn
4. There’s also a strict screening at the airport of the passengers who have landed from different countries. The airport has also been declared a red zone.
5. Public transportations have also been discontinued due to the COVID 19
Source/ Samaa
6. Encouraging online purchases of goods such as grocery, clothing and food
Source/ The Journal
7. Mass quarantine facilities are being set up in Sindh on the pattern of Sukkur quarantine centre that can accommodate at least 10,000 people in isolation simultaneously
Source/ Nation
8. Hospital with 120 beds and 16 ventilators has been specifically established by Sindh govt for keeping Covid-19 patients under isolation in Karachi
Source/ NY Times
9. The advisory has asked the people to refrain from coming into close contact with each other during the office work especially avoiding handshakes.
Source/ Buzzfeed News
10. According to the spokesman of Sindh government Murtaza Wahab, Isolation Centres have been established in Civil Hospital Karachi, Lyari General Hospital, Dow Ojha Campus Karachi, LUMHS Hyderabad, LUMHS Jamshoro, Peoples Medical College SBA, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Sukkur, Chandka Medical College Larkana and Gambat Institute of Medical Science Khairpur.
Source/ Newshub
11. Sindh government has also been sending personalized text messages to all the travelers visiting Pakistan from other countries
While the country is on a partial lockdown, medicine, grocery, fish, dairy, poultry and vegetable shops and stalls will remain open.
Also, all the government offices, except essential services such as health, local government, water board, etc, would continue work as usual.
On Tuesday, the Sindh Education Department served show-cause notices to 85 schools for not complying with the government’s orders which had been given earlier to reduce fees by 20% due to the coronavirus pandemic, the department’s spokesperson said.
Adding on to this, he said, “the schools have not paid their employees and did not reduce their fees by 20%,” He also stated that the department had sent show-cause notices to 30 private schools two days ago for violating the government’s orders.
The official further said,
So far, we have sent notices to 85 schools,”
Moreover, the spokesperson has warned private schools to pay their staff within a week or else strict action would be taken against them.
Update: April 9th 2020
On Wednesday, all private schools in Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad Capital territory announced they would challenge the directives for mandatory 20% concession in tuition fee for April and May. They said that they are already suffering losses due to the closure of the educational institutes till May 31.
Kashif Mirza, chief of All Pakistan Private Schools Association said,
“We will petition the court against the orders asking schools to reduce tuition fees by 20 per cent,”
The announcements came after the two provincial governments and PIERA ordered private schools to ensure a 20% reduction in fee and provide job security to the teaching and non-teaching staff.
The Sindh government has ordered private schools to reduce at least 20% in school fees.
According to the official notice which has been circulated, this concession is for the month of April/May.
The order states that private schools across the province need to consider at least a 20% reduction.
Furthermore, the notice reads that the officials said the orders will be enforced strictly in “letter and spirit”.
Moreover, in case of failure to comply, the parents can report the school at the complaint cell which will be set up specifically for this purpose. The telephone numbers for the complaint cell are 021-99217490, 0333-3243148 and 0333-7036425.
On the other hand, teachers and staff members of the institutions can also report complaints if they are not paid salaries for the mentioned months.
The Punjab Government also put a similar decision on the table which proposed 20% reduction in fees, but private schools rejected the idea.
What do you think about this action? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
