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Tax Amnesty Scheme 2019: PTI’s Latest Package to Boost Revenue

Tax Amnesty Scheme 2019

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced its tax amnesty scheme 2019, its first amnesty package on Tuesday.

Tax Amnesty Scheme 2019 by PTI: All You Need to Know

The scheme is an attempt to boost revenue from hidden domestic and offshore assets.

The government also announced that it intends on stopping the unchecked outflow of dollars via foreign currency accounts. This will help in amending the law and hidden domestic and offshore assets, reports ET.

Finance Minister Asad Umar shared:

An asset declaration scheme will be announced before the budget. The government has not yet finalised the tax rates for the amnesty scheme.

Jemima Responds to Fan’s Annoying Question About PM Imran Khan

For the newly risen government, the timing is very crucial. This is because the announcement comes just before the signing of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

An IMF is expected to visit Pakistan in the third week of April. On the other hand, the government also wants to use this new scheme to enhance its tax collection which has fallen short of its target in the first 9 months (of the fiscal year) by a whopping Rs 318 billion.

Overall, this will be the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) 11th tax amnesty scheme. In the past, all the previous schemes have failed to meet the desired results, applying more pressure on the current government to make ends meet with the desired results.

Asad Umar shared that the individuals were facing issues because of the implementation of a number of laws, including the Benami Transactions Prohibition Act. He further added that the government wishes to give a chance to its citizens to declare their assets hidden in and out of Pakistan.

At the occasion, Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar also shared that the FBR has served the first 6 noticed under the Benami Transactions Prohibition Act. Previously, PTI had raised questions towards the previous government, Pakistan Muslim League Noon – PMLN, for offering 4 tax amnesty schemes in a span of 5 years.

Until the government addresses the issues of smuggling and under-reporting, people will continue accumulating assets, and the government would keep on offering one amnesty scheme after another – Asad Umar had said at that time.

However, PTI has not yet taken steps to address the issues of under-invoicing and smuggling in its tenure so far. The government itself has a new responsibility as the direct taxes collection amount to only 37 percent of the total collection and most of it is collected by levying over 72 kinds of withholding taxes.

At present, there are three valuation rates and people pay taxes at deputy collector rates that are hardly 40 percent of the market value.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Adnan Sami Responds to PM Imran Khan’s Pakistan Day Tweet

Cannes Lion’s Young Marketers Competition Coming to Pakistan

Cannes Lion's Young Marketers Competition

The Pakistan Advertisers Society, in association with The Jang Group, the Official Representative for Cannes Lions in Pakistan, is organizing Young Marketers Competition (YMC) on 10th -11th April 2019.

The prize is an all-expense paid trip to the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in June 2019 to participate in the Global Competition.

cannes lion

The challenge

After a briefing from a charity or NGO, a team of two will have 24 hours to build a creative brief.

It’ll need to perfectly capture information about the product or service, the client organization and its aims, and the specific goals of the campaign – the kind that will clearly act as a creative springboard for an agency.

This will be judged by a selection of industry experts before the winner is announced live on 11th April 2019.

Who is it for?

• Marketing / Brand / Product managers
• Communications managers
• Channel marketing managers
• Public relations specialists
• Brand managers
• Product marketing managers
• Market research analysts
• Digital marketing specialists
• Content marketing specialists

Eligibility

• Working for a Brand / Advertiser
• Aged 30 or under

The last date of registration is 8th April 2019. Jury session will be held on April 11, 2019, at Marriott Hotel, Karachi.

For more information, please visit http://pas.org.pk/ymc/

Nargis Fakhri Makes a Gorgeous Bride in Pakistani Designer Wear

nargis fakhri

The gorgeous Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri recently did a photo shoot for a Pakistani based magazine wearing Pakistani designer Ansab Jahangir.

We must say, she looks drop-dead gorgeous in a heavily embellished dress and we just couldn’t stop drooling over her.

The actress did the photo shoot for Sunday Magazine’s wedding special issue and she surely did justice to Ansab Jahangir’s beautiful outfit.

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The pictures have been unveiled by the designers and are now doing rounds on social media.

The caption reads as:

Here it is the exclusive first look at the #AnsabjahangirXNargisfakhri collaborative- Representing the aesthetic we aspire towards Nargis stuns in an ansab jahangir bridal ensemble resplendent with a blush pink kalidaar heavily embellished with Swarovski stones , resham and Japanese beads paired with a metallic organza lehenga.

Have a look at the pictures!

Well, we are totally drooling over her outfit!

We just cannot take our eyes off her here! 

Sonam Kapoor’s Statement In Support Of Pakistan Triggers Indians

She surely made such an amazing bride! 

Two days before the shoot was unveiled, Nargis Fakhri took to her Instagram account and teased her fans by saying that she has really something exciting coming up with the Pakistani designer.

Have a look at her video!

What are your thoughts about the story? Let us know in the comments section below.

Originally published on Veryfilmi.com

Smartphone Explosion Reported in Lahore: User Seriously Injured

A 40-yr old man named Harris sustained 20% of injurious burns after his cellphone caught fire.

Reportedly, he went to sleep with his handset on charge and kept it under his pillow. Due to no ventilation, the battery heated and eventually burst. His pillow and bed eventually caught fire.

He sustained injuries to the neck, face, and other parts of the body. Harris was taken to Jinnah Hospital Lahore for further treatment.

State Bank of Pakistan Plans to Issue Digital Currency by 2025

The Executive Director of the Jinnah Burn Centre, Muazzam Nazir Tarrar told Samaa:

The bed caught fire first and then it spread everywhere.

We kept him in the ICU till his condition improved.

He may even need plastic surgery.

Thankfully, he is out of danger. However, the professor has advised individuals not to charge phones overnight and to place them away from things which might catch fire.

At the moment, the brand remains unknown. It is important for individuals to take all precautions at all times.

Watch Video

(Watch from 40:40 onwards)

https://youtu.be/3CiC29zhWpQ

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Popular Google Play Store Applications Hit By Malware!

Alia Bhatt’s Mother Soni Razdan Wants To Move To Pakistan!

alia bhatt mother

Alia Bhatt had co-starred with her mother, Soni Razdan for the first time in her film ‘Raazi’. While the movie was anti-Pakistan in nature, it was banned in our nation but eared massive moolah at the box-office across the border.

In a recent interview, Alia Bhatt’s mother shared her views on the conflict in Kashmir and the relationship between India and Pakistan.

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While talking about the issue, she said that because of the war, Kashmir has run out of cultural balance and also said that she is strictly against India becoming a Hindu nation.

However, she also shared that whenever she talks of things like these, most of the Indians label her ‘anti-national’ and advise her to move to Pakistan.

While talking about it, the veteran actress then said that she sometimes wants to move to Pakistan as she thinks that things can work out for her there.

She said:

Sometimes I think I should better go to Pakistan only. I would be very happy there and yes, Pakistani food is delicious as well.

IN India, people make me run here and there and a lot of times I have been asked to go to Pakistan because of my opinions.

On the professional front, Soni Razdan is currently busy with promoting her upcoming movie ‘No Fathers In Kashmir’ which revolves around the journey of a girl who visits Kashmir valley in search of her missing father.

https://youtu.be/bUkR6395p44

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What are your thoughts about the story? Let us know in the comments section below.

Originally published on Veryfilmi.com

Umar Akmal Fined, Apologizes For Violating Discipline

Umar Akmal Addresses Ongoing Feud With Zulqarnain Haider
Umar Akmal Addresses Ongoing Feud With Zulqarnain Haider

Cricket fans in Pakistan are heartbroken after Australia whitewashed Pakistan 5-0 in the ODI series.

While the nation is disappointed by the performance delivered by the national cricket team, a controversy revolving around Umar Akmal has shocked social media even more. A video of Akmal has gone viral, revealing the cricketer partying in a night club in Dubai.

Already his unsatisfactory delivery in the field has been a letdown for his fans who were rooting for his return in the squad. And the recording has turned out to be an unpleasant surprise.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fined the cricketer 20% of his match fee and given an official reprimand.

According to Geo News, Akmal has apologized for his actions and accepted the punishment.

PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan stated:

“I am glad that Umar has realized his mistake, and has accepted and apologized for his actions, which were clearly unprofessional and in no way can be ignored or overlooked”

“The PCB expects a high level of professionalism and commitment from its players, and this action is a reiteration and timely reminder that any indiscipline shall not be tolerated or accepted.”

Umar Akmal Serves Defamation Notice to Model Rachel Khan

The batsmen apparently filmed his own video while shaking a leg to Akon’s ‘Smack That.

The clip was bound to create a massive uproar and as expected, Umar Akmal is facing the internet’s wrath.

Meanwhile, the trending video was also noticed by West Indies cricketer and Peshawar Zalmi’s captain, Darren Sammy.

Seemingly, he stood up for Akmal and urged people to spread positivity about him instead.

This is not the first time Umar Akmal has found himself in the eye of a social media storm.

Previously, Akmal has drawn ire for being undisciplined as his various leaked controversial videos upset the sentinments of cricket fans.

In 2017, he made it to the news for targetting head coach Micky Arthur of mistreating and verbally abusing him.

What do you think about Umar Akmal’s viral video?

Let us know in the comments below.

Umar Akmal Gets Support from Fans After PSL Video Goes Wrong!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates.

 

State Bank of Pakistan Plans to Issue Digital Currency by 2025

Digital Currencies

The federal government of Pakistan has come to a decision to establish Electonic Money Institutes (EMIs) to regulate digital currencies.

These will be established from Monday (2nd April) in order to combat money laundering and terrorism as a part of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

According to Dawn, the State Bank of Pakistan is to issue digital currency by 2025.

Federal Minister for Finance Asad Umar asked the central bank to ensure top-class cybersecurity in the banking system with the help of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to extend benefits towards the people.

As we move towards a digital economy, it is absolutely important to ensure cybersecurity,– said the finance minister

PTA Announces New Deadline for Mobile Registrations

To officially introduce the system with an opening ceremony was held today at the Islamabad office of the State Bank of Pakistan. Asad Umar was the chief guest along with SBP governor Tariq Bajwa, finance secretary Yonus Dhaga and other officials.

During the ceremony, a senior State Bank official explained that EMIs were non-bank entities to be licensed by the central bank to issue e-money for the purpose of digital payments.

SBP’s Deputy Governor Jameel Ahmad also shared his two cents. He said that the central bank is working on the concept of digital currency and wishes to introduce it and implement it by 2025. This will help in promoting financial inclusion and reduce inefficiency and corruption.

Asad Umar has stressed over technological advancement and flawless cybersecurity in his past speeches.

During his previous speech, he shared that Pakistan is a good 30-40 years behind other countries when it comes to digital technology and shared that the digital cash transfer system is a fantastic development.

On the other hand, he also added that Pakistan needs to the technology available to leapfrog ahead as to where the other countries stand.

Popular Google Play Store Applications Hit By Malware!

These regulations will help combating money laundering and terrorism financing while it will also help regulation of digital currency throughout the country – Sources told Express Tribune

The sources also shared that FATF had warned of the use of digital currency by terror organizations. The new set of regulations have been made keeping in mind to regularise digital or cryptocurrency in light of FATF’s action plan.

According to CoinDesk, companies will have to meet capital requirements, undergo the scrutiny of executives, take measure to protect users’ funds and carry out customer due diligence, including storing personal details such as name, ID card number, address and telephone number.

There is an urgent need for all countries to take coordinated action to prevent the use of virtual assets for crime and terrorism – FATF said at the time (October 2018)

Pakistan is now implementing these recommendations and introducing the Electronic Money Regulations based on which EMIs will be issued licenses by the government.

As per Express Tribune, the government will also be authorized to suspend or cancel licenses of EMIs deviating from the set rules and regulations.

Have something to add to the story? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Prime Minister’s Startup Pakistan Program to Support 1 Million Young Entrepreneurs

 

 

Public Holiday Announced on April 4 by Sindh Government

Public Holiday Announced on April 4

Sindh Government has announced province-wide public holiday on April 4.

The date marks the 40th death anniversary of the former Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

A notification has been also issued in this regard, stating that all the government and semi-government offices, local councils and legislative bodies working under Sindh Government will remain closed on that day.

Offices providing private services will remain open.

public holiday

Z.A.Bhutto served as a prime minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977; he was then sentenced to death by General Zia-ul-Haq in 1977 for his controversial court judgment. He was hanged at Rawalpindi’s Adyala Prison on April 4th, 1979.

Pakistani Politicians Like Never Seen Before: See Rare Images

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates!

Influencers VS Celebrities: Effie Pakistan Jury Members Weigh in on the Trend

Influencers VS Celebrities:

The advertising world has seen a shift in the trend of using traditional celebrities for brand endorsements. Companies are now directing their budget towards influencer marketing.

WHO IS A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER?

These are the people who have created a significant amount of social media following by creating content online that meets the interest of their target audience.

From YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and now even TikTok, these influencers have accounts, blogs or vlogs to connect to a highly relevant audience.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER AND A CELEBRITY

By developing stellar careers, achieving feats and developing a presence on traditional media channels, stars become a household name which an influencer usually isn’t.

Consequently, celebrity endorsements are roped in by brands due to the mass exposure they can generate. The target audience assumes that the product has weightage if a media darling is associated with it.

Meanwhile, an influencer targets a niche market and due to the fact they are more active in the virtual world, and influencers usually garner more engagement than celebrities.

Consequently, brands are running after self-made influencers who might have a smaller following than a star but they boast authenticity while generating a greater buzz and engagement.

ARE INFLUENCERS BECOMING A THREAT TO CELEBRITIES?

A research was conducted on Twitter in 2016  that revealed that 40% of the consumers bought a product after seeing it used by an influencer.

Over the years, brand worldwide are now moving towards influencer marketing to harness the power of social media within a highly targeted group of people.

Similarly, in Pakistan, brands like Maybelline, Total Parco, AlKaram, Emirates and have been spotted using social media influencers to make it big in the market.

View this post on Instagram

Guys!!!! My @maybelline video is here! And I'm SO excited and SO proud of how it has turned out. It was the best surprise to be picked by them and for the brand to embrace diversity by picking someone who wears a head scarf. My experience shooting with their team was brilliant too. The other girls in the video were SUPER nice @rebelliousbrownie @amal asif @ayeshakhalid_ @fzm_boutique_fitness @glitterandpopbymahnoorj @rantsofadesibride. It was the most empowering experience to be with all of them! LITERALLY no words to express how GREAT I feel. And you know what – none of it would have happened without the support of YOU guys. Thank you for your love and duaas, always! 💖 @getsetmakeuppk

A post shared by Kanwal Ahmed (@kanwalful) on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmhNGh3G91Y

Recently, Pakistan Advertisers Society (PAS)  partnered with US-based Effie Awards, a prestigious global network recognizing effective marketing communication. The first jury round took place on the 15th and 16th of March at Marriott Hotel, Karachi.

Brandsynario asked a few jury members present at the session their opinion on the Celebrity Vs Influencer trend.

https://youtu.be/hf49Kfs0Ocw

Khadija Hashimi, Head of Corporate Affairs and Brand & Marketing, Standard Chartered Pakistan stated:

I still see a lot of celebrities out there. but I think it is the turn of influencers, especially to see what’s happening across the boundaries. influencers are playing a key role especially with the millennials these days. It is a positive trend as long as we move towards the true influencers.

Humayun Farooq, Marketing Director – Health, Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan stated:

Now that the world has changed and I have seen it changing in the last decade and a half in front of me,  I believe influencers are much more real. They are the people the audience can relate to much much more than a celebrity who lives a life which is much larger that that of individuals, common people as you call them.

They are close to the hearts of people and that’s where the shift is happening. It is going to happen even more in Pakistan in days to come.

Seems like both influencers and stars have their share of pros and cons when it comes to brand endorsements. Once brands can determine what works best for them, then the real deal begins.

 

PAS Holds Effie Awards’ Jury Second Round

Effie-Awards'

Pakistan Advertisers Society (PAS) recently partnered with US-based Effie Awards, a prestigious global network recognizing effective marketing communication, and held the second jury round on the 29th of March at Marriott Hotel, Karachi.

Effie Awards with its 51 national programmes, 4 regional awards and 1 global award, leads, inspires and champions the practice and practitioners of marketing effectiveness, whose efforts are celebrated with the award.

With the affiliation with Effie, PAS Awards, which have been highly respected in the industry have now been replaced by Effie Awards Pakistan.

To contest for the renowned title, the competition was open to all marketing entries that ran in Pakistan between the period of July 1, 2017, till September 30, 2018. The first jury round took place on the 15th and 16th of March and reviewed 200 entries. The second jury round took place on the 29th of March and reviewed 87 shortlisted entries.

The entries for round 2 were compared with each other horizontally within their categories, compared to round 1 where entries were judged stand alone.

The jury entailed more than 40 admirable leaders from the industry who are experts in their fields of marketing, advertising, academia, creative, media and research from around the world and have a positive track record of exemplary performance working in their areas.

It was vital that the jurors belonging from one industry judged cases opposite to their interesting categories to eliminate biases and conflict of interest. To ensure this, the jury was divided into 4 groups; each group containing 10 to 11 people. The group was perfectly balanced with a mix of creatives, marketing and advertising heads to media and research executives. Each group was monitored by a moderator who had professional experience in holding a jury before. The jury members were nominated through an online process and included top tier management of some of the biggest brands of Pakistan.

It included titles such as; CEO, RB Pakistan, Board Director (Foods & Refreshment) Unilever, Creative Director, (Spectrum Communications), CEO Starcom and Manager Director Mondelez International. The entries were judged on demonstrated excellence in 4 key areas: definition of objectives, strategic development, creative execution, and measurement of results.

Each jury member examined written content and viewed creative reels in order to score a campaign. The scores were not discussed within members. A concluding award gala will be held in May 2019 and the winners will be awarded a Gold, Silver and Bronze trophy. A special recognition award, the Grand Effie Award will also be awarded to the most effective and standout campaign of the year.

The Effie Pakistan finalists and winners will also receive credit in the Global Effie Index, which identifies and ranks the most effective agencies, marketers, brands, networks, and holding companies by analyzing finalist and winner data from all Effie competitions worldwide. Announced annually, the Effie Index is the most comprehensive global ranking of marketing effectiveness.

World Test Championship: ICC Announces Bizarre Rules!

ICC World Test Championship

International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced major news and updates for the most-awaited World Test Championship. The tournament will be held from July 15th, 2019- April 30th, 2021.

During the tournament, nine top-ranked sides in the world will compete with one another, each side playing six series on a home-and-away basis against mutually selected opponents in the two-year cycle.

The two sides which will emerge as the ultimate winners will face each other at the ICC World Test Championship final in June 2021.

One of the biggest changes ICC has announced for this tournament is the removal of the traditional coin toss. The coin is flipped and each team is given a side, heads or tails, accordingly, they get to decide whether they’d like to bat or bowl first.

This time around, ICC is giving fans the opportunity to decide which side gets to pick.

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ICC will be applying for both numbers and Instagram handles to kits from the beginning of the World Test Championship. This decision will help the sport reach out to the younger generation on the social media platforms which they use the most.

“Yes, it starts from August 1 for the World Test Championship. It is a part of the wider plan to promote Test cricket,” Claire Furlong, ICC’s GM Manager (Strategic Communications) was quoted as saying by PTI earlier.

ICC has introduced a number of new rules and regulations to change the game in a way to attract more cricket fanatics.

Now, the real question is… is this an APRIL FOOLS joke? Or is ICC really changing the rules?

Well, all of these rules seem interesting and we’re excited to see how they shape the future of the game. If you think they’re legit or an April Fool’s prank, let us know in the comment box below!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

IPL 2019: PEMRA Bans Coverage in Pakistan

Honda Car Prices Increased for Several Variants

Honda Civic

Update: Honda Atlas has hiked the prices for their cars by PKR 85,000. The new rates are effective of 1st April onwards.

The price of more than 10 cars have been increased. These cars are as follows:

  • 1.8L VTI CVT – Current Price: PKR 3,134,000 – New Price: To be announced
  • 1.8L VT SR CVT – Current Price: PKR 3,299,000 – New Price: To be announced
  • 1.3L MT – Current Price: PKR 1,854,000 – New Price: PKR 1,919,000
  • 1.3L AT – Current Price: PKR 1,994,000 – New Price: PKR 2,059,000
  • 1.5 MT – Current Price: PKR 1,914,000 – New Price: PKR 1,979,000
  • 1.5 AT – Current Price: PKR 2,054,000 – New Price: PKR 2,119,000
  • 1.5L Aspire MT – Current Price: PKR 2,064,000 – New Price: PKR 2,134,000
  • 1.5L Aspire AT – Current Price: PKR 2,204,0000 – New Price: PKR 2,274,000
  • BR-V MT – Current Price: PKR 2,234,000 – New Price: PKR 2,234,000
  • BR-V CVT – Current Price: PKR 2,384,000 – New Price: PKR 2,434,000
  • BR-V 5 CVT – Current Price: PKR 2,484,000 – New Price: PKR 2,569,000

honda price list april 2019



Honda Atlas has increased the price-tag for their Civic variants following in the steps of Indus Motors Company.

Honda Civic models have jumped by approximately 11.5% due to the newly introduced federal excise duty (FED) on cars of over 1700cc capacity as well as the depreciation of the Rupee to Dollar.

Express Tribune got in touch with Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited Chief Financial Officer Ahmad Umair Wajid confirmed the news by saying:

Yes, we have increased prices. We have changed prices of our Civic variants in the 1800cc category only…due to the imposition of 10% FED – he added

BYD China to Launch Electric Vehicles in Pakistan

A notification was also circulated by the automotive brand reading, “as per the second amendment of Finance Supplementary Bill 2019, the government of Pakistan has announced the implementation of federal excise duty at 10% on locally manufactured cars and SUVs of above 1,700 cc capacity. With the FED implementation and passing a part of Forex (rupee depreciation against the US dollar and other major world currencies)”,

The ex-factory price of the 1.8L i-VTEC Civic is PKR 3,134,000 while the 1.8 Oriel version is PKR 3,299,000. Those who wish to have navigation and leather seats will have to pay up PKR 74,500 more for navigation and PKR 59,500 for leather seats.

New prices have now been effective from 11th March onwards.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Toyota Car Prices Increase by 10%

The Party Worker: Omar Shahid Hamid’s Novel to Become a Netflix Series?

the-party-worker

Pakistan is yet to make its Netflix debut with an original series but it looks like the wait is finally going to be over.

Pakistani novelist Omar Shahid Hamid has officially announced that his internationally acclaimed book ‘The Party Worker’ is soon going to be made into a film/series and he’s eyeing for Netflix!

Netflix Partners With Telenor Pakistan

Taking to Twitter, he confirmed the big news revealing that he has recently signed a deal for one of his bestselling novels.

Omar Shahid also mentioned that if they don’t get Netflix approval, the series will then be aired on HUM TV.

Here’s what he wrote:

‘The Party Worker’ takes us to the streets of Karachi exploring the other face of politics of Pakistan. Having served the Karachi Police for more than a decade now, Omar Shahid takes us to the shady places in the metropolis city of Karachi where crimes and corruption are common.

And as it’s synopsis reads,

When a Jewish woman is killed on the steps of the Natural History Museum in New York, disparate lives are thrown together for one purpose: to bring about the downfall of the Don, the uncrowned king of Karachi.

Sana Fakhar Makes it to Netflix!

Omar Shahid Hamid is a serving security expert and counterterrorism professional.

He wrote books during his 5-year sabbatical as he was on the hit list of Taliban in 2011 after his father Malik Shahid Hamid was assassinated in Karachi.

View this post on Instagram

Omar Shahid Hamid is the best-selling author of The Prisoner, The Spinner’s Tale, and the most recent #ThePartyWorker. This rich vein of untapped stories is where Hamid has drawn his inspiration and narratives for his books. – Watch our full interview with the Karachi's Cop to learn about why he joined the police, how he stumbled upon writing and what he believes is the biggest challenge faced by police today. – Special thanks to @LibertyBooks for helping us promote authors. For a 10% discount on the retailer's website, use promo code: VCAST – #writingfiction #fictionwriters #politicalstories #reallifestories #narratives #booksandbeyond #literature #writersofPakistan #Pakistaniauthors #OmarShahidHamid #books #readingbooks #VCastOnline

A post shared by VCAST Online (@vcastonline) on

The 42-year old author has written two other bestselling novels including ‘The Prisoner’ and ‘The Spinner’s Tale’ and has been widely featured in major news outlet internationally.

Originally published on Veryfilmi.com

Popular Google Play Store Applications Hit By Malware!

Credits Kim Komondo Show

Android users have been alerted about a wide range of applications which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

Reportedly, these applications have been hit by malware. The massive invasive Italian spyware campaign was being hosted for two years!

This was first identified by non-profit security organization Security Without Borders (SWB). SWB shares that the campaign was utilizing Italian-language service applications from mobile operators apps that instead of doing their stated function are in fact spyware.

google playstore malware

PTA Announces New Deadline for Mobile Registrations

As the apps were targeting Italian citizens, they were decoying local services and were downloaded by a couple of hundreds each.

Which applications have been impacted?

The report further shares that not only is this spyware capable of copying a user’s data, but also has the ability to extract user information from applications.

This includes data collected by Viber messenger app data, WhatsApp logs, Wi-Fi passwords, the WeChat data, GPS coordinates of the phone (live), Facebook Messenger conversations, address book, Facebook contacts list, calls log, Calendar events, Gmail information, and cellular tower information.

Furthermore, the malware is also being said to be able to record phone calls, retrieve browsing history and bookmarks from Chrome, and record ambient audio using the device’s microphone.

google playstore malware

iPhone Users Need to Update Their iOS NOW!

The stolen data is temporarily stored on the device’s SD card for eventual downloading by the command and control server.

Exodus- What it does & how does it work

Being called ‘Exodus’, the malware was existing since 2016, however, after coming under notice, Google has since then removed the applications causing the trouble.

Nonetheless, the malicious actors behind the campaign have been known to re-establish them on Google Play. Google confirmed to SWB that about 25 variants of Exodus have been found and removed.

The Exodus malware triggers right after being downloaded, it grabs the device’s basic info, such as the phone number, to validate the target and then dynamically loads and execute the primary stage 2 payload.

“We identified previously unknown spyware apps being successfully uploaded on Google Play Store multiple times over the course of over two years. These apps would remain available on the Play Store for months and would eventually be re-uploaded,” the researchers wrote.

“Of the various binaries downloaded, the most interesting is null, which serves as a local and reverse shell, and rootdaemon, which takes care of privilege escalation and data acquisition. rootdaemon will first attempt to jailbreak the device using a modified version of the DirtyCow exploit,” the report stated.

Legal and law enforcement experts told Motherboard the spyware could be illegal. “These apps would remain available on the Play Store for months and would eventually be re-uploaded.”

Where did it come from?

All the evidence collected by Security Without Borders in its investigation indicates the malware was developed by eSurv, an Italian company based in the southern city of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Users Hit by Battery Draining Bug!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

LUX Style Awards 2019 Nominations Announced

LUX Style Awards 2019

The most coveted and recognized annual Awards for excellence in entertainment and fashion, the glamorous Lux Style Awards are back, with the aim of recognizing talent from 2018’s Fashion, Film, Music and Television industries.

Keeping this in consideration, the LSA office released nominations in 24 Fashion and Entertainment categories on March 30th, 2019.

The nominees for categories in Fashion, Film, Music, and Television are listed below. Nine of these will be open for the Viewer’s Choice voting, which will be conducted on the luxstyle.pk website (Link below).

This year, the Awards Office updated several categories to reflect the industry’s changing dynamics. Best Actor Film (Critics) & Best Actress Film (Critics); Best Actor TV (Critics) & Best Actress TV (Critics) were added in the Film and TV categories. This is in addition to the Best Actor and Best Actress Film & TV that will as always be decided via Viewer’s Choice. A category for Best Emerging Talent in Television is added to the TV genre in order to acknowledge the efforts of upcoming actors and actresses.

The nominee process was overseen by audit company PriceWaterhouseCooper. Anticipation continues to build up as the annual LUX Style Awards that aim to honor excellence are scheduled for July and can be viewed on national television.

LUX Style Awards 2019 Nominations

FASHION

Model of the year (Female)

Anam Malik

Fahmeen Ansari

Rubab Ali

Sadaf Kanwal

Zara Abid

Model of the year (Male)

Aimal Khan

Champ Imi

Hasnain Lehri

Shahzad Noor

 

Achievement in Fashion Design (Bridal Couture)

Elan

Faraz Manan

Kamiar Rokni

Nida Azwer

Shehla Chatoor

Achievement in Fashion Design (Menswear)

Deepak & Fahad

Fahad Hussayn

Hassan Sheheryar Yasin

Jazib Qamar

Republic by Omer Farooq

 

Achievement in Fashion Design (Pret)

Chapter 2

Elan

Generation

Sana Safinaz

Zara Shahjahan

 

Achievement in Fashion Design (Luxury Pret)

Hussain Rehar

Misha Lakhani

Sana Safinaz

Sania Maskatiya

Shehla Chatoor

 

Best Fashion Photographer

Alee Hassan

Ashna Khan

MHM Photography

Rizwan ul Haq

Stop Style

 

Best Hair and Make-up Artist

Fatima Nasir

Qasim Liaqat

Saima Bargfrede

Shoaib Khan

Sunil Nawab

 

Best Emerging Talent in Fashion (0-3 Yrs.)

Eman Suleman – Model

Hamza Baande – Photographer

Mushk Kaleem – Model

Munsif Ali Khan – Model

Roshanay Afridi – Model

 

FILM:

 

Best Film

Cake

Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2

Load Wedding

Motorcycle Girl

Teefa in Trouble

 

Best Director

Ahsan Rahim for Teefa in Trouble

Asim Abbasi for Cake

Haseeb Hassan for Parvaaz Hai Junoon

Nabeel Quraishi for Load Wedding

Nadeem Baig for Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2

 

Best Actor

Adnan Malik for Cake

Ahmed Ali Butt for Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2

Ali Zafar for Teefa in Trouble

Fahad Mustafa for Load Wedding

Mohammad Ahmed for Cake

 

Best Actress

Aamina Sheikh for Cake

Hajra Yamin for Pinky Memsaab

Mehwish Hayat for Load Wedding

Sanam Saeed for Cake

Sohai Ali Abro for Motorcycle Girl

 

Best Playback Singer

Arif Lohar for Tillay Wali Jooti in Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2

Atif Aslam for Tham Lo in Parwaz Hai Junoon

Mulazim Hussain & Missal Zaidi for Rangeya in Load Wedding

Shuja Haider for Donkey Raja in Donkey King

The Sketches for Meri Dunya in Cake

 

MUSIC:

Best Song

Clap by Faris Shafi & Talal Qureishi

Mein by Meesha Shafi

Raat by The Sketches

Rung De by Chand Tara Orchestra

Ya Qurban by Khumariyan

 

Singer of the Year

Bilal Ali of Kashmir for Khwaab

Khurram for O Ki Jane

Saif Samejo of The Sketches for Raat

Shamoon Ismail for Marijuana

Mohsin Abbas and Sohail Haider for Na Jaa

 

Best Emerging Talent

Abdullah Siddiqi for Resistance

Anna Salman for Middle of Nowhere

Nehaal Naseem for Piplaan di Chaan

Saakin for Saqi-e-Bewafa

Sami Amiri for Umeed-e-Karawan

 

TELEVISION:

Best TV Play

Aisi Hai Tanhai on ARY Digital Network

Dar Si Jati Hai Sila on Hum TV Network

Dil Mom Ka Diya on ARY Digital Network

Khaani on Geo Entertainment

Suno Chanda on Hum TV Network

Best TV Play Director

Ahsan Talish for Suno Chanda

Anjum Shahzad for Khaani

Kashif Nisar for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila

Qasim Ali Murid for Aangan

Shahid Shafat for Dil Mom Ka Diya

 

Best TV Writer

Amna Mufti for Ghuggi

Asma Nabeel for Khaani

Bee Gul for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila

Faiza Iftikhar for Aangan

Zanjabeel Asim Shah for Balaa

 

Best TV Actor

Bilal Abbas for Balaa

Feroze Khan for Khaani

Nauman Ejaz for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila

Qavi Khan for Aangan

Sami Khan for Khudgarz

 

Best TV Actress

Iqra Aziz for Suno Chanda

Neelam Muneer for Dil Mom Ka Diya

Sana Javed for Khaani

Sonya Hussayn for Aisi Hai Tanhai

Ushna Shah for Balaa

 

Best Original Sound Track

Aangan by Farhan Saeed & Naveed Nashad

Dar Si Jati Hai Sila by Yasira Haseeb

Ghuggi by Bina Khan and Naveed Nashad

Khaani by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Naulakha by Saif Samejo

 

Best Emerging Talent

Amar Khan in Belapur ki Dayan – Actress

Nabeel Zubairi in Suno Chanda – Actor

Osama Tahir in Dar Si Jati Hai Sila – Actor

Rida Bilal for Khudgarz – Writer

Zubab Rana in Meray Khudaya – Actress

 

Online voting will be live next weekend.

To cast your votes next weekend, visit:  www.luxstyle.pk/lsa2018/nominees/vote-now/

For more details on LSA 2019, follow the social media buzz on: #LSA2019

For more details:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuxStyleAwards/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxstyleawards/?hl=en

Website: www.luxstyle.pk

Synergyzer Depicts Pertaining Issues Leading to the Debacle of Pakistan’s Media Industry

This year Synergyzer’s 2019 Annual Edition scrutinizes the core reasons behind the dismal state of Pakistan’s ever so bourgeoning and powerful media industry.

Terming the current state of the media industry as ‘evolutionary’, the annual edition puts across views of various reputable stakeholders on the current dismal state of the once so progressive and refusing-to-settle media sector of the country, in the shape of features within the annual edition.

These views express and identify improper and meaningless practices within the media circles, as one of the core reasons of the debacle, which has been largely due to multiple pressure situations that bound inspirational individuals to surrender, irrespective of it being totally opposite of the views they reserve.

While Synergyzer digs deep into the undercurrents of the ongoing evolution, it also unearths factors lurking in the background that were vigorously working to shrink and sabotage the strengthened base of the country’s media industry.

Synergyzer, through the powerful views expressed by the stakeholders, reveals the pertaining issues that have led towards the debacle of the media industry and lists down the ‘great media rates’; while also chalking out a concrete way forward on how Pakistan media as well as advertising industries can still emerge as the winners in the provided situation.

 

 

Haier Introduces the Complete Pure Air Solution Every Pakistani home needs!

haier

Haier as always brings smart solutions to the table. After observing the climatic effects on Pakistan’s landscape, it is the need of the hour to come up with an Air Conditioner that has a solution for every air and weather-related problem.

To match that need Haier has introduced Haier Puri Inverter Series with Super IFD Filter which cleans the air from impurities and then cools, dries or heats it up according to the requirement of the weather.

Haier Puri Inverter is an all-year-round solution, all across Pakistan. We have discussed in detail how climate change is resulting in weather extremes and how pollution has an impact on human health in the previous article.

We know the world we live in has major environmental problems in the form of air pollution. As the Air Quality Index declines in all the major cities all across the world, the consumer wants a solution for pollution. In Pakistan, breathing problems have been notably increasing because of dust, smoke and smog are a threat to health and wellbeing.

Haier Puri Inverter provides a solution to control and regulate the indoor Air Quality Index by purifying the air with its advanced Super IFD filter and check the quality of air with its Air Quality Sensor which monitors air against pollutants and later Super IFD filter helps purify it. This makes the air-filtration feature of an air-conditioner to be more effective and on par with that of an air purifier and can handle small particles of PM 2.5 while cooling or heating your rooms.

In the summer season the pollution, dust, smoke, and heat make the outdoor weather unbearable. A regular AC doesn’t cool as it should, but it also never cleans and purifies the Air, so invest in an Air Conditioner that is the best investment of your money. If you are thinking of purchasing an Air Conditioner then be sure to purchase Haier Puri Inverter which is an Air Purifier combined with an Air Conditioner. Not only this, in the summer season we all know the power shortage reaches its peak, to deal with this problem Haier Puri Inverter can smoothly run on UPS with an additional device which helps to keep you cool when the heat is on top.

Next comes the monsoon weather which brings along the humidity. It’s not just hot, it becomes so clammy and moisture-laden that one can’t survive without a good Air Conditioner that dries the air too. Haier Puri Inverter dries the air and get rids of the small impurities in the air, so that you breathe easy and nice.

After the monsoon, comes the winter with flu and cold, everyone living in Pakistan knows that smog also has engulfed Pakistan in recent years and has had a negative impact on our health in general. But again, one can’t fight the outdoor weather. But we can always control and regulate our indoor weather and air condition. Haier Puri Inverter not only warms the air in winter but also cleans the smog, smoke, and pollution from the air we breathe indoors where it is going to be working.

So, all in all, if you are considering an Air Conditioner to bring to your home. Haier Puri Inverter should be your first choice. Super IFD Filter which cleans and purifies the air is now a necessity according to the natural atmosphere we live in, but in addition to that, we have the self-cleaning option also available in Haier Puri Inverter Series.

So, in a nutshell, Haier Puri Inverter has an Air Filter in the form of Super IFD Filter to purify the air from pollution and impurities, it heats, cools and dries the air according to the weather. It has self-cleaning and is UPS enabled. So, what more do you want in an Air Conditioner?

“We are using WMO as a Vehicle to Releasing the Genius in Pakistan” – CEO Spirit of Math

Spirit of Math in collaboration with Allied Schools and Dunya TV launched the 1st Edition of the World Mathematical Olympiad (WMO PAKISTAN) in an elegant event at The Deli, Karachi.

In the presence of esteemed media and journalists from all media outlets, Spirit of Math announced WMO Pakistan as a nationwide hunt for the best mathematical minds of Pakistan from grades 3-6, selecting and training them to form Team Pakistan and represent the nation on the international stage of the WMO Global Finals in August. In Bangkok, Team Pakistan will compete with peers from countries across the globe.

With media partners Dunya TV, WMO Pakistan will send out a nationwide call to registrations to ensure that the opportunity to participate goes out to ALL grade 3 to 6 students from all over Pakistan.

In order to provide an equal opportunity to all students, WMO Pakistan will subsidize registration fees for willing students from public/government schools and will look to subsidize the fees completely with the support of project sponsors and partners for greater outreach.

WMO Pakistan has also partnered with Allied Schools (a part of Punjab Group of Colleges) and will have access to 30 plus campuses as test centers in both urban and rural regions of Pakistan to provide greater access to all.

After the preliminary phase of two tests in which all students participate, WMO Pakistan will determine the top 100 students from all over Pakistan. The Top 100 will then be invited to participate in the WMO Pakistan National Finals by the end of June 2019. It is out of these top 100, the top 12 of Team Pakistan will be determined.

Team Pakistan, no matter which part of Pakistan they have qualified from, will be flown and given boarding and lodging in Lahore (at no cost to them) and will undergo comprehensive training throughout the month of July, with WMO Pakistan coaches from Canada and Pakistan. This will be crucial to prepare them for the tough competition ahead.

Finally in August, the 12 students of Team Pakistan, an accompanying parent per student and coaches along with key stakeholders and partners will be flown to Thailand, where for four days they will participate in the global finals, meet like-minded students from all over the world and also participate in a cultural exchange with students from other countries.

It will be an experience like none other for these children.

Although WMO Pakistan is an annual event, the journey for the top 100 Pakistan National Finalists will receive scholarships, bursaries, and support from WMO Pakistan and sponsors. Out of the top 100, those in Lahore will be given access to Spirit of Math classes.

If they are outside of Lahore, they will be given scholarships to advance their quest of knowledge. WMO Pakistan wants to ensure that these high performing students are rewarded and not refused opportunities because they cannot afford it.
This is an investment in the future. Not only in Pakistan but globally.

Spirit of Math Inc. has the expertise, the proof of performance and Pakistani children have the talent and they are the leaders of tomorrow.

WMO Pakistan is a project by Spirit of Math Inc. a global math education company with more than 30 years of success and over 10,000 students filling 40 campuses across Canada, in the USA and in Pakistan.

Media partners for the event are Dunya TV and Allied Schools (a part of the Punjab Group of Colleges) are Venue Partners for WMO Pakistan. String Media are experience partners responsible for Event and PR management.

JS Bank Just Made Pakistan Proud at Asiamoney Best Banks Award

JS Bank

With another milestone to its credit, JS Bank has bagged the accolade for the ‘Best Bank for SMEs’ in the Asiamoney Best Banks Award category.

Asiamoney‘s awards program lauds banks that have excelled across a range of core banking activities over the past 12 months.

Being one of the fastest growing commercial banks in Pakistan, the brand has made the nation proud with its relentless efforts to boost the industry of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

This is evident from the fact that bank has now become the third largest SME bank of the country since it kick-started its operations in 2014-15.

Within a short span of 4 years, JS Bank is paying off rich dividends via its insightful relationship driven SME expansion strategy. Last year alone, the bank exhibited a massive growth of 155% and boasts an SME portfolio of around a whopping PKR 47 billion (USD 348 million) as of December 2018.

Developing Employment Opportunities for Pakistanis

JS Bank has joined hands with brands like USAID, Karandaaz, Careem, Nestle Pakistan & Engro Foods Limited (Friesland Campina) to provide employment opportunities.

What’s more, its four-year journey in the sector delivered funding to 16,000 borrowers directly and over 100,000 people.

Uplifting Women of the Nation

JS Bank has also made special efforts for women entrepreneurs with its specialised strategies.

Its rural outreach program has enabled a plethora of employment platforms for females in the area and has given them financial stability.

It is to be noted that the banking powerhouse is one of the leading providers of loan against gold in Pakistan- the fastest SME loan processed in the nation in less than 100 minutes!

The bank’s tremendous achievement and its success over the years is a direct result of a value-driven approach to customer satisfaction.

This effortlessly makes JS Bank the ultimate choice for SMEs and entrepreneurs across Pakistan.

Daraz Announces Its Mission To ‘Make It Easy To Do Business Anywhere In The Era Of The Digital Economy’

Daraz is the leading online marketplace in South Asia, empowering tens of thousands of sellers to connect with millions of customers.

“Daraz is a mall, a marketplace, and a community in your pocket,” said Bjarke Mikkelsen, CEO Daraz, at a Press Conference today.

  • We provide immediate and easy access to 4 million products in more than 100+ categories.
  • More than 2 million Pakistanis use Daraz every day
  • We deliver more than 1 million packages every month to all corners of Pakistan.
  • We have created 50,000 jobs in Pakistan, and every month 2,000 new sellers are educated through our university.
Mikkelsen spoke about how everything changed for the company in 2018:
  • A new and Personalised App giving each user a unique experience
  • DarazMall was introduced for users to follow their favorite brands with premium quality and service level.
  • Global Collection for our customers who like to shop from abroad.
  • Top-ups & E-store for convenience and a Voucher Module for the deal hunters.
  • Daraz Wallet for easy payments and instant refunds.
  • Message Center to keep all your information in one place.
  • Q&A feature to allow customers and sellers to interact freely.
…and many more innovations to come in 2019!

Mikkelsen spoke about the efforts that are being made for seller empowerment, “Daraz is a university for entrepreneurs. Our education is free of charge and anyone who has a smartphone can start a business.”

20,000 sellers have been educated on e-commerce operations through Daraz University. Every month, Daraz educates 2,000 new sellers and provides advanced online and offline training courses to its existing sellers.

Daraz is making constant efforts to fully digitize and improve the delivery experience.“Logistics is a challenge because the ecosystem in Pakistan is not digitalized and integrated. To overcome this challenge, we have built Pakistan’s first logistics company specifically designed for e-commerce operations,” he said.

DEX already has ~1,000 riders in 30 cities for faster and better delivery service (including much better tracking and visibility). Daraz does more than 55% of all Daraz deliveries through DEX and delivery time is 1-2 days faster than with external partners. Daraz is helping existing and new logistics providers digitalize (large and small).

Daraz offers same day delivery on a selection of products. For example, grocery products that are needed instantly, Daraz operates 30 hubs across the country that provide a One-Day Delivery service.

Customers can use the City filter to find products available for One-Day Delivery in their city – more cities will be added over the next few months. The Hubs are also customer experience centers for easy pick-ups and returns, for personalized customer service and to build a friendly community for Daraz.

For its Premium Service ‘Fulfilled by Daraz’,  Daraz operates 4 major warehouses in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, covering an area of more than 200,000 sq.ft and has employed more than 500 people at these warehouses.

“Fulfilled by Daraz” means that the product is shipped from one of our own warehouses. For fastest delivery and quality assurance, we always keep the top ~30% selling products in our KLI warehouses. Customers can use the filters to select the service level designed for your needs.

Daraz also launched DarazMall on its App last year. “DarazMall is the doorway to our top-trained sellers that are committed to top-quality products, express shipping and a
14-day return policy” said Mikkelsen.

Mikkelsen also spoke about how Daraz makes sure the customer is protected in all of what they do, “With thousands of marketplace participants, our most important job is to make sure the customer is always protected. We work hard to minimize mistakes, but when they do happen, we make them 100% right!”

Technology and Seller Education are the keys to create a safe and happy shopping experience for our customers. All of Daraz sellers are educated through Daraz University where big weight is put on appropriate pricing, product quality, and service levels.

Daraz technology allows them to monitor price inflation and irregularity instantly. Sellers that falsely increase prices are strictly penalized or delisted. The App is designed so that Sellers that offer the best prices, best customer service levels, and fastest delivery automatically get the most visibility.

Mikkelsen also spoke about the newly introduced Daraz Ratings & Reviews that give customers additional product and seller information before the purchase. He also spoke about the developments in the return and refund process.

“Refunds for returned products have always been one of the major pain points for customers because funds have to go through multiple banks to reach the customer’s account. With the Daraz Wallet, we have made the refund process instant and convenient,” he said. Customers can also use the wallet to collect vouchers and make online payments with maximum security and convenience.

At the press conference the Daraz company mission, ‘Make it easy to do business anywhere in the era of the digital economy’ was announced.

“We firmly believe that the digital era is on par with the Industrial Revolution. In the coming 10-20 years, digital technology will fundamentally alter many parts of society from commerce to politics to culture,” commented Mikkelsen. “Our purpose is not only to embrace this change but to proactively create change and welcome a better future for Pakistan.”

“Progress is not without challenges, but we are ready to be the innovator in this era and we are dedicated to overcoming any challenges on the way,” he concluded.

Daraz announced its six aspirations to lead Pakistan into the Digital Era by 2022:

  1. As the market leader, we will continue to drive 100%+ annual growth of the e-commerce market for the next 4 years.
  2. Reach 200,000 active Daraz sellers (all educated through Daraz University).
  3. Engage 25 million Daraz users monthly by being relevant, convenient and service-minded.
  4. Create 1 million jobs for marketplace participants.
  5. Fully digitalize the logistics ecosystem with real-time visibility for customers regardless of location.
  6. Introduce digital payments to 10 million new customers