Celebrity Couples Who Made Things Official In 2019!

-

Nov 15, 2019

Laurent Simons is an extraordinary 9 year old boy from Belgium, studying Electrical Engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE).

Laurent’ Bachelors degree will be completed this year in December.

He then plans to join a PhD program in electrical engineering while also studying for a medicine degree, his father told CNN.

Kartarpur Corridor: Ahad Raza Mir is Looking for This Driver to Thank Him!

While the staff calls him “simply extraordinary”, here’s what his parents have to say:

“We thought Laurent’s grandparents were exaggerating when they said he had a gift, but his teachers soon concurred. They noticed something very special about Laurent.”

Laurent’s teachers have tried hard to understand the depth of his talents through test upon test, and say that his ability to grasp new information is so remarkable that he is like a sponge.

The TUE has allowed Laurent to complete his course faster than other students.

Here’s what Sjoerd Hulshof, education director of the TUE bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, said in a statement:

“That is not unusual. Special students that have good reasons for doing so can arrange an adjusted schedule. In much the same way we help students who participate in top sport.”

“Laurent is the fastest student we have ever had here,” he said. “Not only is he hyper intelligent but also a very sympathetic boy.”

Laurent’s parents like to pay great emphasis to letting him enjoy life while he works on his special talents.

“We don’t want him to get too serious. He does whatever he likes,” said his father. “We need to find a balance between being a child and his talents.”

When asked, Laurent said he enjoys playing with his dog Sammy and playing on his phone, and wants to develop artificial organs when he grows up.

This little boy is surely a marvel; here’s hoping his talents are directed and used for good, noble causes.

IT Ministry to Develop ‘Beti’ Application to Empower Women

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

PIA Over the Moon as Legend Abida Parveen Flies via National Carrier

By

-

Nov 15, 2019

Pakistan International Airways is ecstatic as the Sufi legend Abida Parveen flies through the national airlines from Islamabad to Karachi.

PIA shared a really sweet tweet on its official Twitter account sharing the moment with the audience. The onboard staff was over the moon on the presence of the legendary singer and didn’t hesitate to take tons of selfies with her.

The national airline is recovering from a very strenuous financial crunch and trying to bounce back to its former glory.

The official account of Pakistan International Airlines is a really good source for all the latest updates and promotions from the airways.

Read how the airline expresses its happiness in their official tweet.

We were thrilled that the maestro, legendary, one and only Abida Parveen chose the national flag carrier to fly from Islamabad to Karachi on PK 301. When the two icons of Pakistan come together, the flag will surely fly higher! #PIA #AbidaParveen #TheSufiQueen pic.twitter.com/syGpmyZVT6

— PIA (@Official_PIA) November 14, 2019

Also, PIA is offering a 50% discount on advance booking of excess luggage on domestic and international flights.

Now offering Advance Baggage Purchase on selected International & Domestic routes.Get up to 50% discount on buying in advance!Available via PIA offices globally, all agents worldwide or via website https://t.co/jbbQchXRSs Call 111-786-786 for details #PIA #AdvanceExcessBaggage pic.twitter.com/hExqirugAv

— PIA (@Official_PIA) November 14, 2019

There are many more discounts and promotions from PIA and you need to check out their official social media accounts for all the details.

Etihad and PIA Launches Codeshare Deals

The national carriers of Pakistan and UAE have joined hands to bring “Codeshare Deals” to their consumers. The airlines will publish and market the same flights on the route of Pakistan to UAE or vice-versa.

The codeshare flights are now open for booking and the first flight will operate on November 26th. Nausherwan Adil, the chief commercial officer of PIA expressed his delight in the development while saying that it’s a great opportunity.

“The relationship between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates has always been a strong one and we feel proud to be working closely with our friends at Etihad Airways.”-By Adil

Etihad and PIA have previously signed the deal in October 2016 and now this will be the second phase of the same deal.

Etihad has been operating in Pakistan since 2004, November and currently operates two daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Islamabad, a daily service to Karachi and 11 weekly flights to Lahore.

PIA, on the other hand, has been in service for three decades now and serves seven weekly flights each from Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. This is great news for all the frequent travelers of the UAE and Pakistan.

What are your thoughts about this news? Share your views in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for all the latest updates.

Monal Restaurant Islamabad to be Shut Down by Pakistan Army?

By

-

Nov 15, 2019

In a shocking twist, Islamabad’s famous hill-top eatery ‘Monal’ might be shut down by Pakistan Army.

The reason behind this sudden decision comes from a claim that the restaurant is constructed on a portion of land which belongs to the Pakistan Army.

Reportedly, the army has claimed to 5,500 acres of land on which the restaurant is constructed. This land is a part of the Margalla Hill National Park.

Furthermore, Shahid Mahmood of the Capital Development Authority has reportedly briefed the National Assembly on Climate Change on Wednesday about the situation.

He shared that the CDA was unaware it was constructing the Monal restaurant on army land.

#ISLAMABAD: #Monal Restaurant is built on military land in the #MargallaHills that it now wants back, Capital Development Authority (#CDA) Member Planning Dr Shahid Mahmood told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/tS25J7JChB

— Islamabad 🇵🇰 (@Islaamabad) November 14, 2019

Monal Restaurant is built in the center of the Margalla Hills National Park. Asides the 5,500 acres that were allotted to the Pak army by the government of Punjab, the remaining 16,000 acres of land is the property of CDA.

Moreover, committee chairperson Munaza Hassan raised an intriguing question about the fact that Margalla Hill National Park was constructed to preserve and protect wildlife and the environment. So how did Monal get permission to be established in the first place?

Chairperson Munaz Hassan demanded member planning to ask CDA to submit the details of the construction of Monal on protected land.

As per documents, CDA had leased the land to a private party for the construction of the restaurant in 2006. The agreement was set for 15 years with a yearly amount of Rs3.12 million.

We have now to see what the fate of Monal Restaurant Islamabad will be.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Is The Monal Restaurant Closing Down? Here is the Real Story!

Karachi: Billboards to be Taken Down in 24 Hours

By

-

Nov 15, 2019

During a meeting on Wednesday, the commissioner of Karachi announced that all billboards across the city will be taken down in 24hours.

This meeting was lead by Commissioner Iftikhar Shalwani, members of the local government and administration were present during it.

Furthermore, Shalwani added that these billboards have ridden the metropolis of its beauty and they are illegal and have been installed without taking permission.

Just last month, the Supreme Court had passed an order to remove billboards from public properties across the nation.

This order was also applicable on cantonment areas, on the land of government offices, and in housing societies.

However, these illegal billboards have once again surfaced across Karachi.

The commissioner ended with a statement saying that these billboards will be removed and non-compliance will lead to strict action.

Cluttered Karachi – Increased No. of Billboards Causing Road Accidents

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

New Survey Reveals Karachi is The Worst City to Drive in!

By

-

Nov 15, 2019

For people who drive in Karachi, this might not come as too big a news. However, it is still a bad news for the citizens of Karachi.

According to a new French-based survey that has been recently released, Karachi is one of the worst cities to drive in.

Taking three major factors into consideration (infrastructure, safety and costs), the survey has a list of 100 global cities’ ranking to determine which were the best, and worst, locations for drivers.

After Lahore, the Air Quality of Karachi is Also Declining!

Not surprisingly, Karachi ranks at number five. Mumbai topped the list while Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia came second and Kolkata, India third.

In the same study, Karachi ranks at number three on the list of cities with the most incidents of road rage. Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, topped the list while Moscow, Russia came second.

I used to love driving so much now im swearing all the time on the road like its crazy here in karachi

— Soban (@theSonofArsene) November 9, 2019

Many agree that driving, on its own, isn’t that frustrating but driving particularly in Karachi can really bring out the worst in people.

Motorcyclist in Karachi spend more time driving on footpaths than roads. To say the people of Karachi drive like animals is insulting animals. Such barbaric behaviour has serious repercussions not only on roads but society as well. When will Karachi Police wake up.

— Wasif Ahmed (@wasifkahmed) November 7, 2019

Let’s hope that authorities and civilians both work together and abide with the law to improve this situation in Karachi and make this city a better place to live, breathe and drive in.

29 Schools Closed in Pakistan for Not Revising Fee Structure on Supreme Court’s Orders

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Hamza Ali Abbasi Says ‘Goodbye’ to Entertainment Industry to Spread Love & Harmony through Islam

By

-

Nov 15, 2019

Hamza Ali Abbasi has announced his retirement from Showbiz. The actor had been dropping hints on his social media way before the official announcement.

Hamza made this announcement through a 30-min long video explaining every bit of his decision to his fans. He also mentioned that he will only work in projects that include the message of Islam.

He also shared his journey from being an Atheist to a believer and how things took a positive turn after the change of paths.

After the video was released on the actor’s YouTube channel it went viral on all the social media platforms with thousands of fans reacting on this news. Watch the video yourself.

https://youtu.be/guI0xG8lLcE

Before this final goodbye, Hamza had sent his fans in a state of curiosity before with his tweet which suggested he might be quitting the entertainment industry. The actor took to his Twitter account to announce a massive piece of information in which he wrote he will be making a major announcement by the end of October.

A journey of more than a decade comes to an end. I have a very important announcement to make at the end of this month. Will hope my voice reaches many. Will be off social media till end of Oct.

— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) October 11, 2019

His acting career has been almost a decade long, which is probably what the actor was hinting towards in his Twitter message. He appeared in super hit dramas like Pyarey Afzal and Mann Mayal, currently, he is appearing in Alif.

The star did a number of movies also that includes Jawani Phir Nahi Anni, Main Hon Shahid Afridi and JPNA 2. Now, the cat is already out of the bag we can’t react to the news at the moment.

Though his fans are actually supporting his decision.

@iamhamzaabbasi 100% AGREED!More power to you 💪
May Allah protect you 🤲#HamzaAliAbbasi pic.twitter.com/RAQQ53F2UV

— Malik Mahmood | محمود (@AhmadisRMuslims) November 14, 2019

The sadness is evident but they still support Hamza’s decision.

You know i want to say alot about #HamzaAliAbbasi Video but i just can't….😭😭😭 He made me realised ke kitna zaroori hai hamara ALLAH k nazdeek hona…
Beshak ALLAH kisi kisi ko chunta hai….
I can proudly say that this Man is my ideal my inspiration… 💕

— Ayeshay Rao (@AyeshayRao) November 14, 2019

#HamzaAliAbbasi
You always remain in our heart💖
😞😞 pic.twitter.com/i3tccXjvXT

— Noorima Khanam (@NoorimaK) November 15, 2019

Masha Allah News of the day… May Allah bless you for the entire life❤ #HamzaAliAbbasi pic.twitter.com/bOBv5j0fAQ

— Fariya butt (@Fariyak08203689) November 14, 2019

Naimal Khawar also bid farewell to her acting career before she married the Alif star. The Legend of Muala Jutt will be his last film. We support Hamza Ali Abbasi in his decision and wish him all the very best for his future. He is an inspiration for his fans and will continue to inspire many.

What are your thoughts about Hamza’s decision? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Nike is Pulling Out its Products from Amazon!

By

-

Nov 14, 2019

Nike is not going to sell its products on Amazon anymore after two years of partnership this decision came as a shock for loyal customers.

The sportswear giant has taken this decision after Amazon was not able to track down fake Nike products on the platform.

Also, Nike is focusing on the direct customer experience that has been a part of their strategy from 2017.

Initially, the brand gave a limited number of products for the e-commerce platform as a part of the pilot.

As per the international media publication, Nike is now reluctant to sell its product on any third party platform other than Amazon. The brand is more focused on selling the product directly, enhancing the buyers’ experience. Platforms use for selling will be its own website, app or physical stores. Nike confirmed the news of the withdrawal in a statement given to the private publication.

“As part of Nike’s focus on elevating consumer experiences through more direct, personal relationships, we have made the decision to complete our current pilot with Amazon Retail.”

The brand will continue the pilot tenure with Amazon. The brand has always raised its concern about fake or replicas present on Amazon. This is the same reason Birkenstock, a famous sandal maker withdraw its product from the platform. Nika and Amazon were in talks for weeks before both come to the term of this partnership.

As per the survey by Morgan Stanley (an investment banking company), shared Nike to be the most purchased clothing brand on Amazon in 2017. With immense reach and trillions of loyal customers, Nike doesn’t need Amazon to hype its sell, but this may be negative news for Amazon. Nike’s selling halt will affect other brands’ decisions.

What do you guys think of this news? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario to know all the latest news and happenings.

After Lahore, the Air Quality of Karachi is Also Declining!

By

-

Nov 14, 2019

News about the #LahoreSmog has been all over social media since the past few weeks.

Lahore has been enveloped in pollutants while government officials continue to blame Indian farmers for the recent spell of smog.

It got so bad that the smog levels in Lahore crossed 550 on the air quality index, while the threshold for hazardous level of air quality is 300. Lahore’s air quality is currently equal to smoking 22 cigarettes a day!

Karachi Water Crisis: PTI to Install a Desalination Plant!

The index warned that the air in Lahore is hazardous to breathe, especially for young children.

However, the problem isn’t limited to Lahore anymore; it has reached Karachi, too.

Karachi was already not in a very good position in terms of air quality. A report published last year said the air in Karachi was unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Here’s what the report said:

According to the statistics provided by the independent air quality monitors et up by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative community, all cities measured in Pakistan exceed safe levels for air quality recommended by the National Environmental Quality Standards for Ambient Air by the Environmental Protection Agency in Pakistan (PK-EPA).

This air quality may result in serious health effects, aggravating lung and heart diseases and causing respiratory effects in the general population.

Lahore has the worst air quality, with only 2 days of good air quality in 2017, where smog has become a ‘fifth season’.

“Similarly to fog, pollutants in the air are trapped within the temperature inversion layer close to the ground,” explained Abid Omar, founder of the Pakistan Air Quality Initative. “This build-up of pollutants is hazardous to health during the winter months from October to December. Citizens are advised to take precautions to avoid exposure to this dangerous air.”

Here is where Karachi currently lies in terms of air quality:

Are you having difficulty breathing? Let us know in the comments.

Stay safe, and stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Karachi Water Crisis: PTI to Install a Desalination Plant!

By

-

Nov 14, 2019

Good news for Karachiiets, PTI is about to install a water desalination plant near sea view to provide cleaning drinking water.

This news came in just after a member of PTI announced their plans for the installation of a water plant for the residence of Clifton and Defence.

The plant will cost around Rs.7 billion as per the MNA Aftab Siddique and the process of installation will begin in two months.

The vicinity around Defence and Clifton has been suffering since the start as tap water contains salts and extremely hazardous for health. This desalination plant will remove all the impurities and salt from the seawater to turn it into fresh drinkable water. This plant will provide water to a bigger chunk of residents, also the citizens visiting Sea View.

During the announcement one of the spokesman from PTI, Khurram Sher Zaman also criticized Sindh Government for not taking any measurements to cope with the water crisis in the city. It’s been more than a decade that the city has been suffering from the water crisis and nothing has been done to overcome the shortage.

Citizens are not just deprived of clean drinking water but many areas don’t even have water supplies at all. This problem hasn’t surfaced overnight but no proper planning and development of new projects have exaggerated the impact.

As per a UN report, Pakistan will be deprived of water if no measurements are taken to prevent water resources. This news of the installation of a desalination plant is a blessing for the citizen. We wish more of such steps are taken by the government to overcome the shortage.

What do you think of this development? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario to know all the latest updates.

Kartarpur Corridor: Ahad Raza Mir is Looking for This Driver to Thank Him!

By

-

Nov 14, 2019

The way Prime Minister Imran Khan has accommodated the Sikh pilgrims by opening the Kartarpur Corridor for them and facilitating them with visas has won many hearts.

Khan has been praised and lauded both locally and internationally, so much so that posters of him were put up in Amritsar to celebrate his gesture of kindness.

Lately, one of the most charming Pakistani actors, Ahad Raza Mir took to his Twitter account to start a search for a very special driver. The driver, Saddam Hassan, was escorting Sikh pilgrims to Kartarpur, and an Indian journalist decided to record him.

HEC Announces New Turkish Scholarships Under OIC Exchange Programme

Since then, his warm and welcoming attitude is making him go viral over the web.

Hassan is being hailed as a hero and ambassador of peace for welcoming the pilgrims from across the border so beautifully with open arms.

Take a look at what Ahad said:

“This is what every Pakistani feels and stands for: Compassion, humanity and peace,”

“Can anyone help me get Saddam’s contact details? Want to meet and thank him for being such a good ambassador of our country.”

This is what every Pakistani feels and stands for: Compassion, humanity and peace. Saddam Hassan really sums up the fact that Pakistan welcomes everyone. Can anyone help me get Saddam's contact details? Want to meet and thank him for being such a good ambassador of our country. pic.twitter.com/7rvYzU1C2f

— Ahad Raza Mir (@ahadrazamir) November 13, 2019

The Indian journalist, named Ravinder Singh, has a huge smile on his face as he records the video and asks Hassan how he’s feeling about the Pakistani government’s gesture.

Here’s what Hassan says in response:

“I don’t think you are as happy as me,” Hussain replied smiling, “The way my eyes have welled up with tears. I am very happy.”

“Seeing you all, I have that feeling that one has when one go for Hajj. This is the same experience for you,”

In a world so full of hatred and discrimination, stories like this really make us feel like there is some hope for humanity left.

We hope Ahad can get hold of the kind young man and thank him the way he’s been wanting to.

Salary Trend Report: Salaries Across Pakistan Expected to Decrease in 2020

Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Instagram Reels vs TikTok: Which App will Emerge as the Winner?

By

-

Nov 14, 2019

TikTok needs no introduction. It is the world’s most popular and famous lip-sync dubbing application that was won hearts across the universe.

On the other hand, ‘Reels’ is a new feature brought forth by Facebook for Instagram Stories. To be more specific, Reels is a video editing tool that can be used to make 15-second videos.

Although everyone has been calling out Reels for copying TikTok, the Facebook-owned application thinks otherwise.

In a statement, Instagram shared:

No two products are exactly the same, and at the end of the day, sharing video with music is a pretty universal idea we think everyone might be interested in using. The focus has been on how to make this a unique format for us… Your Friends are already on Instagram. I think that’s only true of Instagram.

https://youtu.be/UH7WG7rcsko

Mic Drop: Facebook’s Lip-Sync Challenge to TikTok

For the time being, Reels has only been released in Brazil to test the feature for other markets.

Instagram had done something similar when they had introduced Instagram Stories which people called out for being a copycat of Snapchat Stories.

However, the real question is will Instagram be able to give serious competition to TikTok with this new tool?

One thing is for sure that the feel of content, due to their different structures is definitely different from one another.

Time will tell which app dominates in the longer-run.

What do you think?

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for news and updates.

Zaid Ali T. & Yumna Just Nailed the #PUBGMFingerDance Challenge!

Worldwide Smartphone Shipments Rise by 0.8% in the Third Quarter as Huawei Went Full Steam in China, According to IDC

By

Press Release

-

Nov 14, 2019

Worldwide smartphone shipments increased 0.8% year over year in the third quarter of 2019 (3Q19) reversing seven quarters of decline.

According to new data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

In total, companies shipped a total of 358.3 million smartphones during the quarter, which was up 8.1% from the previous quarter and enough to return the industry to positive growth.

“Despite facing challenges across many international markets, Huawei doubled down on China in the third quarter.”

“Samsung benefited the most internationally from Huawei’s woes, ramping up the more affordable A series, while in China the other domestic competitors felt the heat from Huawei.” By Melissa Chau, associate research director with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.

Digging into the growth areas, India led emerging markets in total, which together were responsible for propelling worldwide growth, mainly from the rise of Chinese brands. In China, greater consolidation toward the top 5 brands was the main trend in the quarter.

“The market returning to positive growth shows the resilience of this industry as well as the ongoing demand for mobile phones, all in the face of many global macroeconomic challenges.”

The top Chinese brands all increased their local shipments in preparation for 11.11 or “Singles’ Day,” the Chinese equivalent of Black Friday for shopping in the U.S.

“The number of factors in play for the competition is incredible. It is clear Huawei continues to make big gains in China, which remains the world’s largest market. Apple beat many expectations and is driving strong volumes in mature markets that face equally challenging headwinds.

And most importantly, the top 5 OEMs accounted for more than 70% of the world’s smartphone shipments for the first time ever this quarter. The industry and vendor landscape is still changing but the trend of consolidation is ramping along with it.”- By Ryan Reith, program vice president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.

Smartphone Company Highlights

Samsung gained share in 3Q19 with annual growth of 8.3% on the back of the Galaxy Note 10 launch in August and increased A series volumes, with a total of 78.2 million smartphones shipped. The lower-end to mid-range A series, in particular, helped to fill in the gaps left behind by Huawei.

Huawei shipped higher volumes than expected as it shifted focus to its domestic market, particularly in lower-tier cities, and increased inventories given the unknown future with Google Mobile Services. While a sentiment of nationalism has helped to bolster Huawei in China, solid relationships with the local channel players have been key, offering favorable distributor terms and a well-rounded product portfolio. Nevertheless, there will be challenges ahead with 4G inventory to clear while consumers wait for affordable 5G products to hit the market.

Apple shipped 46.6 million iPhones in 3Q19, which was a slight decline year over year but still better than most expectations. Apple continues to sell some refurbished iPhones via its own channels, which sustain and possibly grow the installed base but also impact iPhone revenues. Newer iPhones, specifically the iPhone 11s and XR, did very well this quarter, capturing strong share in important markets like the U.S. and Western Europe.

Xiaomi for the first time saw less than a third of its shipments delivered domestically in China, which was second to India in volume. Domestically, despite its launch of the CC series to appeal to young female consumers, shipments declined under pressure from Huawei. The runway was clearer for Xiaomi in India, however, where it strengthened its offline presence by expanding its sales network via the Mi Store and Mi Preferred Partners.

OPPO also focused its attention outside of China as it approached the tipping point of nearly half of its shipments outside of China with domestic shipments focused on the Reno series and the A9. India experienced the strongest momentum internationally where the Reno series helped complete its product portfolio with higher-end offerings while the online-exclusive K series strengthened its online presence.

Salary Trend Report: Salaries Across Pakistan Expected to Decrease in 2020

By

You can read the full report here.

-

Nov 14, 2019

According to the Salary Trend Report released on Tuesday by mobility consultancy ECA International, Pakistanis need to prepare for a fall in their salaries next year.

Unfortunately, according to the report, Pakistanis are the only nation in the Asia-Pacific who will possibly suffer a substantial decrease in their salaries in 2020, as a result of ever-increasing inflation and depreciation of the Pakistani rupee.

Needless to say, this will mean employees will likely be worse off than they were last year.

29 Schools Closed in Pakistan for Not Revising Fee Structure on Supreme Court’s Orders

Here’s what Lee Quane, Regional Director Asia at ECA International has said about the situation:

“The average real salary increase in Pakistan is forecast to be -3.0%, meaning that employees will be worse off than they were last year. Despite the nominal increase staying at a relatively high 10.0%, inflation has shot up as the rupee has depreciated.”

Inflation in Pakistan is expected to reach 13.0% in 2020, exceeding the nominal increase and leaving workers out of pocket compared to 2019.

However, the same is not true for other Asia-Pacific countries including India, China, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

According to the report, India topped the table for average real salary increases in Asia, but now also tops the table globally in 2020 too. The average real salary increase is set to be 5.4% for workers in India, which is four times the rise expected in Hong Kong.

Workers in China are set to see a real salary increase of 3.6% in 2020, while UK workers will receive a lower real salary increase in 2020 as compered to the previous year.

Overall, the global average salary increase stands at 1.4% and the Asia-Pacific average increase in 3.2%.

Former Careem Employees Will Lose 25% of Value from Stock Options if They Cash Out Before Uber’s Closing Deal

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

MoITT Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui Visits U Microfinance Bank HQ

By

Press Release

-

Nov 14, 2019

The Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunications Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui visited U Microfinance Bank Ltd. Head Quarters ( a wholly-owned subsidiary of PTCL – Etisalat) in Islamabad.

Over the last 4 years, U Microfinance Bank has made important contributions towards the implementation and achievement of the national financial inclusion agenda put forth in the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2023 that aims to bring 50% of Pakistan’s adult population into the banking net.

Over these years the bank has demonstrated exceptional growth and our network outreach has gone from 28 branches to 200 branches with its portfolio having grown from PKR 900 million to PKR 21 billion as of closing figures for the last quarter (ending September 2019). U Bank also boasts of 305,000 active borrowers and 400,000 depositors with a deposit base of PKR 20 billion.

In 2018, the bank also recorded an impressive profit growth of 111% compared to the previous year. In addition, the bank’s net equity has gone from PKR 1 billion to currently PKR 2.5 billion tier I and PKR 4 billion tier II.

The Federal Minister for IT lauded the U Bank management team for a remarkable turn-around story of the Bank. President & CEO of U Microfinance Bank –Kabeer Naqvi added that we as a microfinance bank are fully committed toward the economic enablement of the Pakistani citizens and firmly believe that U Bank can play a significant role in delivering on this national agenda.

U Microfinance Bank contribution towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals & National Financial Inclusion Strategy – NFIS goes beyond simply financial uplifting and increasing income – rather the bank, with its vast range of creative products and the services positively impact health, education, house-hold emergency management capacity, woman empowerment/gender equality, small industry uplifting, as well as providing environmental protection and renewable energy, among others.

As an organization, U Bank also remains primed to become a forerunner in the future of banking by solving the critical challenges faced by customers and providing them with ever-improving value-added services. Having established its physical footprint across the nation, the next challenge that the bank is taking on is that of digital transformation to further expand its reach to customers at the last mile who have historically remained neglected by the banking industry.

According to a study by Google, by 2030 Pakistan is projected to be the fourth fastest-growing digital economy thanks to the significant gains in IT/Telecom infrastructure and connectivity (with further investments being made still), e-commerce, e-governance, and service delivery, digital finance education and agriculture (land record digitization, farming advisory services, etc.)

U Bank, for years 2020 and beyond, aims to achieve operational excellence by investing in and leveraging technology to set industry standards while benefitting from process automation and innovation. The bank will also continue to use its branchless banking license in catering to the last mile customer. Branchless Banking and digitization will thus remain two key focus areas for the bank.

U Bank has embarked upon the journey towards becoming a digital bank that is prepared to deliver value and services via technology, enabling it to potentially become one of the most accessible banks in the country, whilst ensuring that it continues to substantively contribute to the SDGs & NFIS goals.

Latest Figures Show Over 19 Million People Now Living with Diabetes in Pakistan as the Numbers Continue to Rise

By

Press Release

-

Nov 14, 2019

17.1% of the adult population in Pakistan now living with diabetes. International Diabetes Federation launches 9^th Edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas to mark World Diabetes Day 2019. IDF Diabetes Atlas highlights the importance of preventing the condition and tackling its complications to protect individuals, families, and society.

On World Diabetes Day, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has released new figures that highlight the alarming growth in the prevalence of diabetes around the world.

New findings published today in the 9^th Edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas, show that Pakistan is now in the top 10 countries for the absolute increase in diabetes prevalence.

The IDF Diabetes Atlas 9^th Edition reports that the prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan has reached 17.1%, now 148% higher than previously reported. In 2019, over 19 million adults in Pakistan are estimated to be living with diabetes putting them at risk of life-threatening complications.

8.5 million of these 19 million, are undiagnosed and, as a result, may be particularly at risk.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, 38 million more adults are now estimated to be living with diabetes globally compared to the results published in 2017. Globally, an estimated 463 million adults are living with diabetes and 55 million are in the Middle East and North Africa region alone. Type 2 diabetes accounts for up to 90% of the total.

The rise in the number of people with type 2 diabetes is driven by a complex interplay of socio-economic, demographic, environmental and genetic factors. Key contributors include urbanization, an aging population, decreasing levels of physical activity and increased levels of overweight and obesity. For reasons which are unknown, type 1 diabetes is also on the rise.

“Diabetes is a serious threat to global health that respects neither socioeconomic status nor national boundaries.

The increasing prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan is a wake-up call. We must do more to prevent type 2 diabetes, diagnose all forms of diabetes early and prevent complications. We must also ensure that every person with diabetes has affordable and uninterrupted access to the care they need.” – By Prof. Abdul Basit, Director, Baqai Institute of Diabetology & Endocrinology (BIDE), Karachi, and member of the IDF Diabetes Atlas Committee.

Other key global findings from the IDF Diabetes Atlas 9^th Edition reveal that Diabetes is among the top ten causes of death, with up to half of deaths occurring in people under the age of 60. The total number of people with diabetes is predicted to rise to 578 million by 2030 and to 700 million by 2045. 374 million adults have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), placing them at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes was responsible for an estimated $760 billion in health expenditure in 2019. One in six live births are affected by hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP).

Diabetes has an impact on all age groups, regardless of geography and income. Globally, over 1.1 million children and adolescents are living with type 1 diabetes, while three in every four people with diabetes (352 million) are of working age (20-64 years). The rise in prevalence is putting a strain on the capacity of countries to guarantee regular and affordable access to essential medicines and appropriate care. This leaves many struggling to manage their diabetes, placing their health at serious risk.

When their diabetes is undetected or when they are inadequately supported, people with diabetes are at risk of serious and life-threatening complications, such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and lower-limb amputation. These result in reduced quality of life and higher healthcare costs and place undue stress on families.

Much can be done to reduce the impact of diabetes. Evidence suggests that type 2 diabetes can often be prevented, while early diagnosis and access to appropriate care for all types of diabetes can avoid or delay complications in people living with the condition.

HEC Announces New Turkish Scholarships Under OIC Exchange Programme

By

-

Nov 14, 2019

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced 5 Turkish Cypriot Government scholarships under the OIC Educational Exchange Programme.

The scholarships will begin from the spring semester of 2019-2020 academic years.

Qualified students from OIC member states including Pakistan are eligible to avail the opportunity to study at undergraduate (Bachelor), graduate (Master) and post-graduate programmes in the participating universities.

Following are the universities in which students can apply for admission:

Cyprus International University (CIU)
Girne American University
Final International University (FIU)

Applicants can visit the websites of the above universities for further information on the programs offered and more details.

Please note that, according to HEC, the scholarship offer does not include the following disciplines:

medicine
dentistry
pharmacy studies

The medium of instruction at the aforementioned universities is English.

The deadline to apply for the scholarships programme is November 30, 2019, so apply before the last date passes!

Former Careem Employees Will Lose 25% of Value from Stock Options if They Cash Out Before Uber’s Closing Deal

By