James Michael Tyler: Friends actor passes away aged 59

James Michael Tyler, well known for his role as Gunther in the TV sitcom Friends, has died at the age of 59.

“Tyler passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday morning,” Tyler’s manager said.

“If you met him once you made a friend for life,” it added. “[He] is survived by his wife, Jennifer Carno, the love of his life.”

The actor was reported to have diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2018 which later spread to his bones.

“Wanting to help as many people as possible, he bravely shared his story and became a campaigner for those with a prostate to get a… blood test as early as 40-years-old,” his manager stated

However, he did not control the same amount of screen time as the six main Friends characters, Gunther was and continues to be a popular character among fans.

In the tv show, Gunther worked as a waiter and manager in the coffee house called Central Perk.

He had a crush on Rachel (Jennifer Aniston’s character) throughout the series, who also worked there as a waitress in the show’s initial seasons.

“The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh Friend)… but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband”, his manager added.

T20 World Cup: Pakistan breaks win streak against India

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, Pakistan’s openers, set a record for the best-ever partnership for any wicket against India in T20Is.

On Sunday, during a World Cup match in Dubai against their arch-rivals, the duo surpassed the milestone.

After Babar Azam chose to bowl first, India set Pakistan a 152-run target.

Haris Rauf, a Pakistani pacer, grabbed the last wicket in the first innings, dismissing Hardik Pandya for 11 runs in the last over.

Pakistan’s Rizwan, also completed 1,500 T20 runs in the T20 Worldcup match. He’s only the 2nd Pakistani after Babar Azam to score 1,500 runs in a calendar year.

Shaheen Shah Afridi Taking 3 wickets and player of the Match against India.

#PAKvIND: The two rivals to come face to face today

Former champions India and Pakistan will play in a Twenty20 World Cup blockbuster in Dubai on Sunday, and the buildup to the match demonstrates the game’s ongoing appeal between the subcontinent’s bickering neighbors.

Virat Kohli of India and Babar Azam of Pakistan have both described the match as “just another game,” yet this is plainly not the case.

The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan was in 2013, and the teams now only encounter in global tournaments, the most recent of which being the 2019 ODI World Cup in England.

Former India player Suresh Raina wrote for the International Cricket Council (ICC) website on Saturday “I was involved in the games in 2014 and 2016. If you ask me, as a player, it was always a high-pressure game.”

He added “In the build-up, everyone is just telling you how big it is.”

“The fans have enjoyed this rivalry over the years and it is cricket at its best.”

The 17,500 tickets for the game were sold out within hours of being on sale, and special specials on both countries’ television stations are airing about the event.

“My inbox is flooded with requests for match passes,” Dubai businessman Anis Sajan, owner of the franchise in United Arab Emirates’ domestic T10 tournament led by England captain Eoin Morgan, informed Reuters. “I’d say an India-Pakistan match is bigger than the Ashes.

“It may have become one-sided of late but emotions run high,” Sajan, vice president of the Dubai-based Danube Group, told inferring to India’s 12-0 record against Pakistan in cricket World Cups.

Mastercard Academy: ‘The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey’ Educational Platform to help SMEs

Karachi: From urban kiosks and rural farmers to fashion stores, service providers and entrepreneurs in countless other sectors, the small business segment in the United Arab Emirates has faced unprecedented changes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, further fueled by the rapid acceleration of digital transformation and e-commerce.

To support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in navigating this journey, Mastercard Academy has launched ‘The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey’ – a first-of-its kind digital education platform that brings together a range of world-class academic and business resources to help small businesses learn and thrive.

Last year, soon after the world went into a lockdown, Mastercard announced a $250 million commitment over five years to support SMEs with digital tools and training during the pandemic.

Now with the launch of ‘The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey’, Mastercard will further empower small businesses with data insights and knowledge to more efficiently and securely run their enterprises.

With a click-to-watch process on Mastercard Academy, the Entrepreneur’s Odyssey platform has direct links to recorded videos that will bring participants face-to-face with professors from Harvard, INSEAD, Wharton and the Christiansen Institute of Innovation, alongside an expert Mastercard faculty.

“Small businesses are the backbone of local communities and an engine for the global economy. Because of this, it’s never been more important to ensure that entrepreneurs and small business owners have access to educational resources, insights, tools and solutions to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and truly thrive.

The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey is the latest in our Mastercard efforts to deliver on the needs of these critical businesses so they can design, launch, manage and grow their ventures,” said Michael Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth for Mastercard.

“Every small business owner and startup entrepreneur, particularly those with growth ambitions, should join The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey by Mastercard, a highly compelling online educational program.

Particularly now that digital presence and operations are even more essential than in the past, The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey will help startup and SME owners upgrade their practices to use new tools to address rapidly changing customer expectations.

The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey provides highly relevant entrepreneurship and management principles, and practical tools that anyone can apply to their businesses successfully,” said Professor Daniel Isenberg, CEO of Entrepreneurship Policy Advisors and former professor, Harvard Business School.

‘The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey’ is a mobile and tablet-friendly, self-paced curriculum that includes online lessons* across 21 modules with a total of 28 videos of approximately 20-30 minutes each.

Following a five-pathway approach, the resources are open to all aspiring and established entrepreneurs with no limits on number of viewers and free to watch. The platform will also be offered to government partners.

The five pathways include:
• Design – This pathway and the next are aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs for whom the building blocks of every great business starts with an idea and a job to be done. In this pathway, Efosa Ejomo from the Christiansen Institute of Innovation discusses why any entrepreneur’s business model should seek to address a struggle. The segment also includes how to design a customer experience, taught by a Mastercard executive.

• Launch – This pathway addresses what it takes to turn one’s business plan into a business venture. Professor David Bell from Wharton Business School discusses pricing and value creation as well as how to win in a digital economy, while a Mastercard expert gives his top tips and tricks from a digital Sherpa.

• Manage – The Manage and Grow pathways are for established entrepreneurs to discover the technology, skills and techniques to help them run their business like a professional. In this pathway, Professor Daniel Isenberg discusses the importance of building a resilient mindset while another Mastercard expert shares insights on how to build a social media marketing campaign.

• Grow – Professor Isenberg continues to share why a growth mindset is always critical to success no matter what stage of the entrepreneurial journey one is in. He presents his 3C Scale Up Model: Customers, Capacity and Cash and offers practical advice for each of the Cs.

• Community – The final pathway in the curriculum shares tools, case studies, resources and access to fellow entrepreneurs. Marla Blow, founder of FS Card and experienced venture capital fund raiser discusses the Entrepreneur’s North Star in this segment.

The small business segment worldwide is diverse and vast representing the majority of businesses in local economies. This means SMEs have a significant impact on employment, growth and GDP, with the potential to make a genuine difference in terms of equality, inclusion and community wellbeing.

“Small businesses need support to adapt. There’s often a knowledge gap, especially for smaller enterprises that have been operating in traditional ways until recently.

That’s why Mastercard is offering this new set of educational tools to help guide and support small businesses through the pandemic, and beyond, into the recovery phase.

By leveraging its technology, insights, global expertise and partnership approach, Mastercard aims to empower every business everywhere to grow digitally, become stronger than before, and prosper in a more connected, equal, and inclusive world,” added Driss Belemlih, Senior Vice President, Customer Delivery, Middle East and Africa.

The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey is a progression of other similar SME-related programs that Mastercard has developed in the past such as The Mastercard Trust Center which provides SME owners with links to curated education, resources and tools from trusted external sources to help them defend their business against cyberattacks.

The Mastercard Digital Doors program also helps small businesses open their digital doors get SMEs online, protect their business, and ensure they have the right tools to digitally transform.

FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited Financial Results

Karachi l: FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited announced its financial results for the nine months ended September 30th, 2021.

The Company reported net revenue of PkR 38.7 billion, representing 19% growth versus last year. This milestone was attained by developing new channels, increasing market penetration, improving route to market, and enhancing investment across brands.

These initiatives reflect Friesland Campina Engro Pakistan Limited’s unwavering commitment to provide all-purpose nutrition across Pakistan.

The business environment faced unprecedented economic challenges due to currency devaluation and all-time high commodity prices. 

However, the Company has effectively navigated through these challenges to grow sales volumes, and simultaneously improve Gross Margin by 403bps versus last year through continued focus on mix management and saving initiatives throughout the value chain.

Furthermore, effective controlling of other costs, reduced rate of borrowing and effective working capital management has led to an improvement in profit after tax by 407bps versus last year.

On September 8th, FrieslandCampina, one of the largest dairy cooperatives globally, celebrated its milestone 150-year anniversary of delivering superlative dairy products and nutritional excellence.

In line with this long-standing commitment, during the year FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited along with the Pakistan Dairy Association has renewed its efforts of creating mass awareness around nutrition and safe milk consumption.

The Company also inaugrated a Farmer Helpline to facilitate existing and potential dairy farmers.  Additionally, the Company partnered with financial institutions to launch a digital “Supplier Financing Solution” with the aim to fuel growth for the SME sector by supporting the working capital requirements of small businesses.
 
DAIRY AND BEVERAGES SEGMENT: With COVID-19 related restrictions easing, the segment reported net revenue of PkR 33.8 billion registering 16.8% growth compared to the same period last year.

The improvement was achieved by adding 6000 stores to the retail network during the year, coupled with 14X growth in e-commerce volumes. Olper’s and its value-added products (Cream and Flavored Milk) led this growth with strong brand and trade investments.
 
With the strategic aim of improving accessibility and sustainability, the Olper’s economy pouch was launched at a PkR 50 price point in Pakistan. This innovative, multi-serve pack offers a strong value proposition which enables consumers to experience the natural goodness of milk in a safe, healthy, and affordable manner.

Other recent launches include Olper’s Flavored Milk, Olper’s Full Cream Milk Powder (FCMP), Olper’s Creams, Olper’s Pro-Cal, Tarang Tea Whitening Powder (TWP) and Tarang Elachi, all of which have gained a healthy market share in a short span of time despite strong competition from established players.

The Company will continue to leverage FrieslandCampina’s global expertise to introduce new products and innovations as a key driver of future business growth.
 
ICE CREAM AND FROZEN DESSERTS SEGMENT: The Easing of COVID restrictions and an early start of the summer have led to highest-ever volumes in the nine months, with reported growth of 41.7% and revenue of PkR 4.9 billion versus last year.

The business segment created excitement by launching 4 new products, and its buzz-generating “summer blockbuster” and “wow bhara bite” campaigns. Increased usage of e-commerce continues to improve the breadth and depth of its customer base.

As part of expanding its trade footprint across Pakistan, the category has also successfully inducted several cabinets and trikes.
 
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: The financial performance of the company for the nine months ended September 30th, 2021, is summarized below:
 
FUTURE OUTLOOK: Inflation is likely to continue increasing due to higher domestic energy price, international oil price and global commodity prices, which in turn puts pressure on the exchange rate. In addition to its existing plans, the Company will continue to remain agile and drive efficiencies to off-set external impacts.
 
FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited will continue to strengthen its ties with both, the Pakistan Dairy Association, and the Government by supporting multiple, consumer-focused, educational initiatives on the potentially hazardous effects of loose milk, and increase awareness of the positive features of safe, packaged milk.
 
The Company will continue to drive business growth by strengthening its brand equity, accelerating innovation, and expanding its portfolio.
 
FCEPL remains committed to the highest standards of hygiene, food safety and sustainability and will continue to leverage its global expertise and 150+ years of heritage to provide safe, affordable, and nourishing dairy products to millions of Pakistanis, every day.
 

Pakistan High Commission London celebrates Eid Milad-un-Nabi

London – Farah Kazmi: Pakistan High Commission London celebrated Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) with religious zeal on 19 October 2021.

Led by Begum High Commissioner, Amb (R) Leena Salim Moazzam, ladies from the High Commission organised a Mehfil-e-Milad-un-Nabi at the Chancery Hall of the Mission. A large number of ladies and children from the UK-based Pakistani community also attended the auspicious ceremony.

Ladies attending Mehfil-e-Milad at the Pakistan High Commission London

Recitation of Naat-e-Rasool and speeches by the children added to the bliss of the celebration. Special prayers were offered for peace and prosperity of the country and the entire world.

Speaking on the occasion, Begum High Commissioner wished the Muslims in the UK and the world over a blissful Eid Milad-un-Nabi. She said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the messenger of peace, tolerance and love for humanity. By acting upon the teaching of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), she said, the entire humanity can benefit and live in peace.

On this occasion, the High Commission’s building was illuminated with decorative lights. Facade lighting gave a magnificent look to the historic building of the Mission.

Systematic planning critical to ensure success of competitive Electricity Market

Karachi: A gradual and systematic approach is critical to ensure that the Government’s vision of an open electricity market can be achieved successfully.

This was the consensus among an expert panel of key stakeholders and thought leaders who gathered to speak at a webinar on the ‘Liberalization of the Power Market in Pakistan’ under the Future of Energy dialogue series curated by Nutshell Conferences, the Corporate Pakistan Group (CPG) in collaboration with the NEPRA and supported by K-Electric. The focus was to brainstorm Pakistan’s smooth transition roadmap towards a competitive electricity market.

The two-hour live webinar was attended by Chairman NEPRA as well as representatives from Pakistan’s industrial community, global energy consultants Kearney, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Discussion centered around the key features of market liberalization and the policy level changes required to create an enabling environment which include but are not limited to the privatization of state-owned distribution companies and the introduction of a comprehensive and sustainable wheeling policy for transmission and distribution networks.

Alongside this, the panelists also opined on the impact of an open electricity market on the economy, utilities, and especially on the customers at large.

The session began with the Keynote speech by the Honorable Chairman NEPRA, Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi on the liberalization and future regulatory landscape in which he highlighted that NEPRA is aiming to remove inefficiencies from the system and to reduce the power cost in the country through Competitive Trading Bilateral Contracts Market (CTBCM) Model in the near future.

NEPRA and the Federal Government have been working closely to develop the policy roadmap which can achieve this goal. He further added that the CTBCM will have a direct positive impact on the economy in terms of boosting industrial activity.

NEPRA has approved a detailed design and implementation plan that includes the best practices from global examples.
Mr. Omer Haroon – Head of Strategy & Power Market, CPPA discussed the key features of CTBCM and explained that it ultimately induces competition that gives customers greater choice and control through market-based innovation.

Agreeing to what Chairman NEPRA said, he shared his views that the ultimate goal of CTBCM is not just to ensure the availability of power but also its affordability and for this, the market design needs to take into account the principles of transparency, predictability, and accountability.

He said that every market design is unique, several global markets exist but there are differences in design principles due to local environment it provides. He also added that CTBCM, if implemented rightly, drives appropriate energy prices which benefits the customer.

Mr. Peter Brishimov – Principal, Kearney – a global management consulting firm with presence in over 40 markets worldwide – highlighted the prerequisites for successful liberalization of the market such as financial stability of the all entities in the sector, and sound governing institutions including regulators as well as financial institutions etc.

He further recommended that the pace of liberalization should be gradual to ensure that there is no adverse impact. Based on the learning from the other countries, Pakistan should first conduct a dry run of 6-12 months prior to fully opening the market to derive learning and challenges.

He emphasized that strengthening DISCOs is essential to the success of the model, and liberalization, if done in a systematic and gradual manner, can be a source to attract FDI within Pakistan’s power sector that will ultimately benefit Pakistan in accelerate its economic growth.

As a representative of industrial customers, Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig – Chairman, Baig Group, underlined the challenges being faced by the consumers under the current regime and how liberalization can help address these issues.

He said that currently, the most pressing pain points of the customers are the security of supply and affordability of the power which is preventing industrial growth from actualizing its full potential in Pakistan.

While there has been progress, especially after the global crunch due to the pandemic, there is still significant room for more growth. The Government has been supportive of industries but it is also coming at the cost of increased subsidies which they have to bear.

He opined that a competitive market supports industrial customers and economic progress by forcing companies to innovate and lower their cost of service. However, he cautioned that while CTBCM has the potential to be a game-changer for Pakistan, it is an ambitious undertaking.

Echoing the sentiments of Mr. Brishimov, he suggested that the way forward needs to be supported with a step-wise approach and requires effective planning to prevent any one stakeholder from being overburdened. Dr. Baig also added that despite an economy impacted by Covid, Karachi’s industries have demonstrated 11% higher growth.

Supported by Government policies and economic prospects, industries have opened LCs of USD 5 billion recently because we are confident that the situation is improving, he further mentioned.

Adil Marghub – Regional Industry Head & Energy, IFC, The World Bank, shared ways of securing finance for power projects in liberalized market scenario. He said that the most important thing is to have clear rules.

If rules are properly set up, the funding automatically follows, and the market becomes attractive to Foreign Direct Investment. He further shared global examples such as from Turkey and Mexico.

He further said that bankability of a project is also tied to competitiveness of the market.
The session was moderated by Azhar Hussain – Principal Investment Officer, MCT Region International Finance Corporation, who discussed key impacts on consumer tariff and subsidy for regulated and non-regulated consumers and how the consumers may benefit from CTBCM if a sustainable wheeling policy including stranded cost as part of the wheeling charges is implemented.

Mr. Azfar Ahsan, Chairman of Nutshell Conferences and the organizer of the important conversation stated that liberalization of the market is a positive step, and the strategy needs to be flexible so it can adapt to our politico-economic dynamics.

He further mentioned that the consensus among experts was that opening of the market can be a game changer for Pakistan while the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance, and Federal Government have been working actively to mitigate issues that gave us the faith that we have been on the right track.

Naz Khan, Chief Strategy Officer, K-Electric thanked all participants particularly the Chairman NEPRA Tauseef H. Farooqi for their all out support and for an in-depth conversation on the important subject. She further stated that K-Electric’s will encourage similar initiatives which create a win-win for all stakeholders.

The Future of Energy webinar is a series of dialogues being curated by the Nutshell Group to promote the exchange of ideas and a conversation on the pertinent topics with implications for Pakistan’s power sector.

Chairman NEPRA to Address Webinar on Liberalization of Power Market in Pakistan

Karachi: In collaboration with NEPRA, Nutshell Group and Corporate Pakistan Group (CPG) is hosting a webinar today on Liberalization of Power Market in Pakistan at 03:00 pm – 05:00 pm.

This webinar brings together relevant stakeholders, decision-makers and thought-leaders to discuss the upcoming changes in the power sector of Pakistan, its impact at length and brainstorm a clear road-map. The webinar is powered by K-Electric.

The objective of the first webinar is to seek insight into Pakistan’s readiness levels to achieve successful liberalization of the electricity market. Chairman NEPRA, Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi will enlighten the audience in this webinar with his keynote speech on the Liberalization and future regulatory landscape.

After the address by Chairman NEPRA there will be key sessions moderated by Azhar Hussain – Principal Investment Officer, MCT Region International Finance Corporation.

Other speakers of the webinar include, Mr. Omer Haroon – Head of Strategy & Power Market; CPPA, Dr. Ikhtiar Baig – Chairman, Baig Group; Peter Brishimov – Principal, Kearney; Adil Marghub – Regional Industry Head & Energy, IFC, The World Bank.

These key sessions will be followed by Questions & Answers. The webinar will be broadcasted live on Social Media platforms

K-Electric holds 111th annual General virtual meeting

Karachi: K-Electric (KE) held its 111th Annual General Meeting (AGM) for FY 2021. With the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the AGM was hosted virtually.

The meeting was chaired by Shan Ashary – Chairman of the KE Board, with Moonis Alvi – Chief Executive Officer, KE also in attendance, along with Aamir Ghaziani – Chief Financial Officer, Rizwan Pesnani – Chief Risk Officer & Company Secretary, Rizwan Dalia – Chief People Officer, Sadia Dada – Chief Marketing & Communication Officer, among other members of the Board and KE leadership.

Shareholders were briefed about prevalent challenges such as continuous accumulation of outstanding net receivables from government entities (PKR 57.6 billion on principal basis, as of June 30, 2021), and delays in determination of tariff variations which had a direct impact on Company’s liquidity position and resulted in high levels of borrowing for working capital requirements.

Despite the aforementioned issues, the company remained committed and during the year invested around PKR 81 billion across the power value chain. The company also continued to show strong financial performance.

K-Electric declared profit of PKR 11,998 Million in FY 2021 as compared to a loss of PKR 2,959 Million during FY 2020 resulting in earning per share (EPS) of 0.43 rupees per share in FY21 as compared to loss per share of 0.11 rupees in FY20. Increase in total assets has also been observed from 703,414 Million in FY20 to 835,677 Million in FY21.

The operational performance also remained significant as the company observed increase in units sent out by 9.6% as compared to last financial year, Furthermore, with targeted loss reduction initiatives, the company managed to reduce its T&D losses to 17.5% in FY 2021 from 19.7% in FY 2020.
Construction of the 900 MW RLNG-fired BQPS-III is being pursued on fast track basis.

Successful completion of the required rehabilitation works on 220 kV KDA-Jamshoro circuit along with the implementation of cross-trip scheme enabled KE to off-take additional power of around 450-600 MW from National Grid, which remained critical in managing the peak summer demand in 2021.

Additionally, the projects of 500 kV KKI and 220 kV Dhabeji grids have also been initiated that will allow the company to import a total of up to 2,050 MW from the National Grid, thus managing the growing power demand in KE’s service area.

KE to date has converted around 11,000 Pole Mounted Transformers (PMTs) to Aerial Bundled Cable (ABC). This process has enabled the Company to significantly reduce its T&D losses and benefit consumers through reduction in load-shed combined with community engagement and upliftment initiatives. By virtue of these initiatives, in FY 2021, 125,000 customers were converted from hook connections to metered connection as compared to 45,000 customers in FY 2020.
K-Electric also launched the first edition of the KHI Awards in FY2021, whereby the company has supported over 30 organizations across various categories which are working for the betterment of the city. The recipients included recognized names such as the Indus Hospital, Hunar Foundation, and others, with the total asset base of the winners standing at PKR 54 billion.

As part of its diversification strategy, under KE Venture Company (Pvt.) Ltd., K-Solar (Pvt.) Ltd was launched which commenced its operations in June 2021. Specialized in distributed generation business, K-Solar will provide sustainable and long-term solar solutions to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers.
Moreover, furthering its customer centricity initiatives, in addition to customer facilitation and interaction platforms, KE also launched complete services for its senior citizens and specially-abled customers via 118 call center.

Furthermore, K-Electric launched a WhatsApp Service for residential customers in Karachi and adjoining areas which can be used to lodge technical or billing complaints, obtain duplicate bills as well as income tax certificates, and download the forms for new connections along with a checklist of required documents.

The KE Management also expressed their commitment to make investments of around USD 1 Billion in the next 2 years to ensure provision of safe and reliable supply of power to the consumers.

However, for these planned investments to materialize, timely approvals from NEPRA and resolution of issues related to KE’s receivables from government entities and departments would be critical

Kim Kardashian leaves fans in fits of laughter

During her Saturday Night Live monologue, Kim Kardashian West did not hold back while discussing her personal life, public persona, and famous family.

The creator of Skims was in a sassy mood, joking about with her audience.

“I’m really happy to be here today to show you guys that I’m a lot more than just a gorgeous face with excellent hair and makeup,” she added.

“I’m basically so much more than the reference shot my sisters gave their cosmetic doctors,” she says.

“But there’s one thing I’m extremely proud of,” Kardashian said, “no one can ever label me a gold digger.” “I’m not sure how you become one, to be honest. So I asked Corey [Gamble], my mother’s boyfriend.”

She also made a point of discussing her family’s unsuccessful political campaign.

“Now, I understand that we as a country are divided, but I’d want to see America come together, which is why I’m here to announce that I’m running for,” she started, before adding, “I’m just joking, guys!” I’m not going to run for president. It’s impossible to have three unsuccessful politicians in the same family.”

She went on to discuss her high-profile separation from Kanye West, who has been offering the Skims creator some helpful hints ahead of the big event.

She made the crowd laugh with her humorous explanation of why she opted to break her marriage with him.

“I married the greatest rapper of all time, after all. Not only that, but he’s the wealthiest Black man in America, a gifted, genuine genius who has blessed me with four wonderful children.”

She went on to say, “So you have to understand that when I divorced him, it all came down to one thing: his personality. I know it seems cruel, but people often tell me that comedy is born from truth. And if there’s one thing I’m constantly aiming for, it’s authenticity.”

Pakistan reports a decline in COVID-19 positivity rate

Karachi: The number of new coronavirus infections in Pakistan continues to drop, with the positive rate decreasing to 1.8 percent on Sunday.

According to the latest data from Pakistan’s National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 40,584 tests were done in the previous 24 hours across the country, with 767 of them coming back positive, bringing the overall caseload to 1,257,955.

Meanwhile, 19 more individuals died from the coronavirus in Pakistan on Saturday, bringing the total number of people who have died from the virus to 28,106.

Furthermore, 1,559 COVID-19 patients have recovered in Pakistan in the previous 24 hours, increasing the total number of recoveries to 1,187,308. As of Sunday, the number of active cases had risen to 42,541.

Pakistan gave an average of 978,412 dosages per day over the past week reported. At that rate, administering enough dosages for another 10% of the population will take another 45 days.

Abdul Qadeer Khan dies aged 85

Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, the “father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb,” passed away at the age of 85 after being hospitalized with Covid-19.

Dr. Khan was acclaimed as a national hero for turning his country into the first Islamic nuclear power in the world.

He was also known for smuggling nuclear secrets to countries such as North Korea and Iran.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, said the country has lost a “national symbol.”

PM tweeted that he was adored by our people because of his important role in making us a nuclear weapon state.

President Arif Ali was also saddened by a great loss. He wrote on his Twitter handle:

“Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. Had known him personally since 1982. He helped us develop nation-saving nuclear deterrence, and a grateful nation will never forget his services in this regard. May Allah Bless him.”

The scientist, known as AQ Khan, was important in the establishment of Pakistan’s first nuclear enrichment plant at Kahuta, near Islamabad. The nation conducted its first nuclear tests in 1998.

State Funeral for Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan

The government has planned a state funeral for Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan in honor of his great contribution to the country and people.

The national flag of Pakistan will fly at half-mast on Sunday, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Interior.

AQ Khan’s Biography

Abdul Qadeer Khan (A.Q. Khan) was born in Bhopal, India, on April 1, 1936. Khan moved to Pakistan in 1952 as a Muslim. He graduated from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium with a PhD in metallurgical engineering. Soon after pioneering studies in phase transitions of metallic alloys, isotope separation based on gas centrifuges, and uranium metallurgy, he started working at Physical Dynamics Research Laboratory, URENCO.

Khan’s life was upended, as it was for millions of others, when Great Britain partitioned the Indian subcontinent into the new states of majority-Hindu India and majority-Muslim Pakistan in 1947.

Pakistan received the drawings for a nuclear weapon using a uranium implosion design that China had successfully tested in 1966 in the early 1980s from China. The Chinese nuclear test on May 26, 1990, is thought to have been carried out to test the Pakistani bomb design.

He delivered a statement on Pakistani television on February 4 accepting full responsibility for his activities and absolving the military and government of any involvement—a claim that many nuclear specialists found hard to believe. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s president, pardoned him the next day. The Islamabad High Court deemed his ruling unlawful in 2009.

 

K-Electric Signs UN Global Compact, Embedding Sustainability into Business Operations

Karachi: Recognizing the importance of sustainability as a driver of operational efficiency and innovation, K-Electric has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enlist in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), joining a network of over 14,000 companies across 162 countries working towards embedding sustainability in their core business operations.

The MoU was signed between KE represented by CEO Moonis Alvi and Majyd Aziz, President of the Global Compact Network Pakistan (GCNP), the Pakistani body of the UNGC at KE’s Distribution Network Academy in the presence of Chairman NEPRA Tauseef H. Farooqi.

KE is among the first power utilities in Pakistan to be a part of this global initiative which aligns with the company’s commitment to embed a robust Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) strategy for sustainable value creation.

K-Electric has been focused on creating lasting impact in the communities it serves through a variety of initiatives. Through Project Sarbulandi – aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 to “make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable” – the company is investing PKR 10 billion to uplift communities alongside ensuring the provision of safe, reliable, and uninterrupted electricity.

Across areas in Orangi, Korangi, Bin Qasim, Malir and others, the company has adopted and beautified public spaces and schools, installed water purification plants, and established free medical assistance camps for the residents.

At the same time, the company has also installed over 100,000 low-cost meters to regularize the electricity connections, as well as installed Aerial Bundled Cables (ABCs) to bolster the infrastructure.

The result has been a consistent improvement in the area’s profile, with many areas now receiving uninterrupted electricity supply.
In alignment with UN Sustainable Goal 5 – to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” – In February 2021, KE also inducted 40 women from across Karachi as part of its Roshni Baji community ambassador program.

Over the last 7 months, these women have engaged over 100,000 homes educating homemakers on essential safety practices to undertake in their premises.

They have also been trained as Pakistan’s first certified female electricians capable of deploying the internal wiring of homes, shops, or warehouses on a single-phase supply.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO K-Electric Moonis Alvi said, “The UN Global Compact is an unparalleled platform in its ability to unite companies on a singular vision.

We look forward to sharing our contributions and learning from the best practices across the world as we move towards a cleaner, greener, and more efficient future.

The Federal Government has also envisaged a future where renewable energy plays a critical role, and we are committed to playing our part in achieving this mission. I would also like to thank Chairman NEPRA for endorsing this initiative.”

Since privatization, KE has invested billions across its value chain and doubled the capacity of its transmission and distribution networks which enabled a significant reduction in T&D losses.

This has also enabled the utility to provide uninterrupted power to around 78% of the city; through sustained efforts and subject to regulatory approval on investment plans, KE is aiming to take this number up to over 90% in the upcoming years.

President Global Network Compact Pakistan (GNCP) Majyd Aziz also commented, “I am pleased that K-Electric has become the signatory of the UN Global Compact.

KE’s mission and values already focus on sustainable and socially responsible policies which reflect through various initiatives it has been leading.

Adopting the UNGC principles that include focus on human and labor rights, environmental protection, and anti-corruption, will help K-Electric to further accelerate its progress towards achieving higher sustainability and environmental goals for the benefit of society at large.”

Two outages in one week – Is Facebook Alright?

Karachi: The world has seen massive outage of Facebook and related platforms like Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram on Monday this week for six hours.

The world was shook as the major social networking platforms all around the world went down. However, people had twitter to communicate their thoughts.

But it all happened again this week, on Friday as again the Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp were down for more than two hours.

The company and spokesperson apologized for the breakdown and said, ‘there has been a configuration change’ that has impacted people all around the world.

The company took to twitter to apologize and said, ‘We’re sorry if you weren’t able to access our products during the last couple of hours.

We know how much you depend on us to communicate with one another. We have fixed the issue – thanks again for your patience this week.’

Also Facebook cleared the rumors and claimed that the outage on Friday was not in any way connected to the outage on Monday.

Facebook was just updating their system and data routed which caused a minor outage for two hours.

The term ‘Batsman’ will disappear – A huge change in the world of Cricket

Karachi: International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to bring a change in the world of Cricket, and announced to replace to word ‘Batsman’ with a new word.

Cricket has seen a lot of changes over the years but after the introduction of women cricket, a huge debate took place in the Cricket world regarding the term which should be used for women, who are batting on the field.

The term which is used for male cricketers batting on the field is ‘Batsman’ and so, when women cricket started, people and experts started calling women batting on the field as ‘woman or female batsman.’

However, the senior cricketers shared their thoughts that this is not a fair term to be used for women cricketers. And a change should be made to the term so that it becomes gender neutral.

So, International Cricket Council (ICC) decided and announced that instead of calling women as ‘female batsman,’ they should be called ‘Batters’. In fact, both men and women cricketers will be called ‘Batters’ in the game.

ICC has decided to enforce this change with the upcoming T20 Worldcup. So far, All the cricketers have appreciated this move of ICC that will change the 200 years’ history of cricket.

NEPRA under its CSR Drive ‘Power with Prosperity’

Islamabad: To help reduce energy poverty and make solar power more accessible especially for the unserved and underserved communities of Pakistan, NEPRA under its CSR drive “Power with Prosperity” has brought Akhuwat Islamic Finance (AIM), K-Electric and Engro Energy together who all signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at NEPRA HQ, to offer interest-free microfinance loans (Qarz-e-Hasna) to households and small business owners for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

The trio collaborated under the visionary leadership of Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi – Chairman NEPRA, who launched Power with Prosperity Fund earlier this year to initiate mega CSR projects to uplift the underprivileged communities of the country.

This venture has come at a time when solar power makes less than 2% of the entire power mix. With the government’s intent of boosting the share of clean and green energy up to 60% of the total energy mix by the year 2030 under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, this initiative by NEPRA will prove to be a game-changer and an avenue to provide access to a clean energy source in an affordable manner for homeowners and small businesses.

For this purpose, KE and Engro Energy are donating a cumulative revolving grant of PKR 15 Million to Akhuwat which will create a dedicated credit pool for the loan borrowers. The loan duration will be up-to 36 Months with a minimum loan size of PKR 20,000 with no interest rate.

Elated at the occasion, Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi – Chairman, NEPRA said, “Extremely delighted to see that different organizations are gathering today under NEPRA’s CSR banner of Power with prosperity. As a regulator, NEPRA is striving to create an enabling environment to promote the culture of shared value and inclusiveness in the power sector.

This initiative is one among many other steps taken by NEPRA in the recent past to bring improvement in the power sector’s culture. Moreover, nearly 30% of Pakistanis are still living today without electricity, NEPRA is leading such initiatives to bridge this gap between the served and unserved communities of Pakistan.

It is the moment of ultimate satisfaction that NEPRA is facilitating a partnership between power companies and social development organizations for the benefit of all such communities at large.

We appreciate Engro Power and K-Electric for playing remarkable role in our efforts in promoting the use of green energy for greener Pakistan. We are also sure that as these companies have set an example for all other companies in the sector to follow and join hands in the near future.”

Chairman Akhuwat Foundation, Dr. Amjad Saqib said, “It is one of its kind initiative in Pakistan that organizations are collaborating on such scale to make renewable energy solutions easily affordable for the masses.

This initiative is not only a milestone towards reducing energy poverty in the country but also a step towards making a carbon-free future. We will look forward to seeing more members of the power industry joining hands and taking the lead in realizing NEPRA’s vision of Power with Prosperity.”

Mr. Moonis Alvi, CEO – K-Electric, while expressing his support to the initiative, added, “As the world is focusing on addressing the climate change problem, K-Electric is leading various projects for environment protection and sustainability.

I am pleased that K-Electric is also contributing to this solarization project that coincides with Social Development Goal (SDG) 7, which is to make renewable energy more accessible for all. It is also inspiring to see that the honorable Chairman and Members from the NEPRA Authority have a special focus on societal development which encourages organizations to undertake ambitious community upliftment programs.”

Mr. Ahsan Zafar Syed, CEO, Engro Energy Limited; expressed his opinion “Engro, has a rich legacy of always playing a part in solving the most pressing issues of our times. Our social interventions ensure that our stakeholder communities are the main beneficiaries and are a part of our inclusive business model.

This partnership with Akhuwat; is in line with our efforts to play a part in the transformation which is taking place in the energy landscape of Pakistan and ensuring the masses are able to benefit from accessible and affordable energy. Engro stands together with NEPRA in powering prosperity and playing a part in bringing social welfare through such initiatives in Pakistan.”

FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Ltd joins the UN Global Compact

Karachi: FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Ltd, a leading dairy company with over 150 years of dairy expertise has joined the United Nations Global Compact to reinforce its commitment towards achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promoting responsible business.

The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, with more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 60 local networks. It provides strategic direction and support to enable businesses to achieve their sustainability objectives.

Mr. Ali Ahmed Khan, Managing Director FCEPL stated, “Our corporate values are wholly aligned with the principles embodied by the UNGC. By formalizing this partnership,

we not only hope to be stalwarts in championing this common cause, but also serve as exemplars for our industry and other businesses in Pakistan”.

Systems Limited secures two wins in Asia Money 2021 in “Most Outstanding Company” category

Karachi: Achievements continue to rain for Pakistan’s premier technology services and solutions organization Systems Limited, as the company has won the 2021 Poll of Asia’s Outstanding Companies by Asia Money.

Being the only IT company from Pakistan on the list, Systems Limited has won the accolade in two categories, namely Outstanding Company in Small/Mid-Caps and Technology Hardware & Equipment.

The announcement came just within a week of Systems Limited’s historic inclusion in Forbes Asia’s Best Under A Billion list for the second year in a row.

The Asia’s Outstanding Companies Poll is a benchmark award that honors companies in Asia that have excelled in areas such as financial performance, management team excellence, investor relations, and CSR initiatives.

The 2021 poll received over 5,787 votes for publicly listed companies across 13 markets in Asia. The results recognize 191 companies as being the most outstanding in their respective sectors and markets.

Mr. Aezaz Hussain, Founder & Chairman of Systems Limited, on this occasion said, “Being among Asia’s high-achieving companies is nothing short of amazing. This recognition highlights our drive to continue the pursuit of excellence. I’m immensely proud of the way the entire management team and the Board of Directors of Systems spearhead these breakthroughs.”

CEO & Managing Director Mr. Asif Peer expressed his delight by saying, “I’m truly grateful for this win which is a testimony of our hard work, passion, and commitment towards our teams, customers, and partners.

This is inflection point for us and I’m positive we will continue to face all the challenges head-on and set new records with our growth mindset.”

With less than three months to end 2021 and back-to-back achievements under the belt, the top-tier leadership of Systems Limited stands humble yet confident about the company’s continued growth fueld by the dedication of its teams and support of its partners and stakeholders.

Legendary comedian Umer Sharif dies at age 66

Legendary comedian Umer Sharif died today, Saturday, in Germany as the renowned artist was travelling to the US for treatment.

The veteran comedian was supposed to travel to the United States for medical treatment through an air ambulance.

However, due to his deteriorated health he was moved to a hospital in Germany.

Number of renowned artists, celebs and politician took to social media and offered condolences to the grieving family as soon as the news of his death broke.

One of a famous Pakistani actors, Faysal Quraishi wrote on his Twitter handle, “Heartbroken to receive the devastating news of our very own king of comedy #UmerSharif.” Quraishi added, “He was a true gem in our industry and nothing short of a legend amongst us. May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah. Praying for his family during this difficult time.”

Ali Zafar found himself “complete loss” for words as he came to know about the death of Umer Sharif.

Saba Qamar was “saddened to learn about the passing” of legendary comedian.

https://twitter.com/s_qamarzaman/status/1444229729586978817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1444229729586978817%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F2322978%2Fveteran-comedian-umer-sharif-passes-away

Fakhr-e-Alam took to his Twitter handle, and Thanked him “for the laughs”
He continued, “you will live forever. Rest In Peace Legend.”
Previously, the king of comedy had asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to help him with his treatment. After which, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry announced that the government will facilitate Shari’s medical treatment.
Pakistani artist Umer Sharif left millions of his fans sad and heartbroken.

 

Karachiites praise K-Electric over uninterrupted power supply amid continuous rainfall in city

Karachi: K-Electric has received an overwhelming response from its customers for provision of uninterrupted power supply to the Karachiites during heavy rainfall in the city.

Customers have expressed immense satisfaction over KE’s constant services and appreciated the work of its technical team.

Netizens, while commending the role of KE on social media platforms uttered that if the power utility continues to deliver the services in the same manner, it will certainly play a vital role in eliminating the trust deficit that exist between the power entity and the people of the city.

Another customer applauded the role of power utility’s management and its technical team for being excessively active and alert to customer’s queries and complaints during the downpour.

Customers across Karachi paid a rich tribute to the staff and the entire team of K-electric for facilitating uninterrupted power supply in many areas of the metropolis, despite continuous rainfall last night.

K-Electric customers further hoped that the power entity will continue the same practice in future also.

Moreover, the KE remains highly committed and vigilant to ensuring customer support in the midst of the cyclone threat through its helpline 118 and all other social media platforms.

HBL and DIBPL join hands to become Lead Advisors and Arrangers for Eighteen

Karachi: HBL and Dubai Islamic Bank Pakistan Limited (DIBPL) joined hands as mandated Lead Advisors and Arrangers for Eighteen (Elite Estates Pvt. Limited), a luxury housing development located in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The initiative is one of the largest syndicated finance projects in the real estate sector with a funding of Rs. 7.5 billion by a banking consortium in Pakistan.

HBL and DIBPL are also acting as Agent and Investment Agent respectively. Other members of the consortium include Bank Alfalah, Bank of Punjab, Habib Metro Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Soneri Bank.

The agreements were signed by senior members of the consortium including Uzair Naveed Rabbani, Corporate Head North – HBL, Aymen Ismail, CFO – Eighteen and Junaid Ahmed, CEO – DIBPL. Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO – HBL was also present at the ceremony.

This four-year partnership will facilitate in the development of Eighteen, an exclusive joint real estate venture of Egypt-based Ora Developers, Saif Group and Kohistan Builders & Developers (KBD) of Pakistan.

Located just 10 minutes from the New Islamabad International Airport, the grand project occupies a focal place in the twin cities.

With an aim to connect sophistication with convenience, Eighteen turns your dream of a lavish lifestyle into reality.

Tarek Hamdy, CEO – Eighteen said, “We are grateful to the participating banks, especially the lead arrangers HBL and Dubai Islamic Bank, for successfully structuring and closing this landmark transaction.

We believe that it will open new avenues of funding for real estate developers and help in attracting more foreign investment in this sector.

We are also grateful to the Government of Pakistan and the State Bank of Pakistan for helping create a conducive environment that has really helped the real estate developers like Eighteen to access the local banking market for their funding needs.

We remain committed to delivering high class premium living, first of its kind in Pakistan.”

Commenting on the partnership, Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO – HBL said, “The real estate industry in Pakistan has a lot of potential and has seen significant growth over the recent years.

HBL is committed to developing the real estate sector of the country by advising the Government regulators and policy makers and assisting in bringing together a structured framework to augment the development of this industry.

In line with the Bank’s strategy to increase its footprint in the Developer Financing space, HBL as the lead advisor and arranger for Eighteen will help facilitate channeling of both local and international investments in Pakistan.”

Junaid Ahmed, CEO DIBPL said, “We enjoy a strong relationship with Eighteen which dates back to 2018 when we had solely arranged a syndicated project finance facility for the first phase of the project.

With this transaction, we have further extended our trust and commitment to the project. Our parent, Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC has played a pivotal role in the real estate development of UAE.

In Pakistan, we are playing our part in helping unlock the true potential of real estate development which is also in line with the vision of the current government.”

Taliban denies reports of women being stopped from attending universities

Female students are not prohibited from attending Afghan colleges, according to the Taliban administration in Afghanistan.

According to the university administration, both female students and professors are attending classes as normal.

The New York Times, an American publication, reported on the alleged prohibition on women’s admission to Afghan colleges.

The New York Times reported on Monday that the Taliban’s new chancellor for Kabul University declared on Monday that women will be barred from the university permanently as teachers or students, tightening the Taliban’s restrictions on women.

The NYT’s article, however, was based on a Tweet sent from a “false Twitter account,” according to the Kabul University administration.

The institution stated, “These phony accounts are being exploited to deceive individuals with fake news.”

Ghairat does not have a social media account according to the statement, and any information requested must be gathered via the university’s website.

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