Chairman NEPRA Commends Graduation of K-Electric First Women Certified Electricians Cohort

Karachi: On a visit to K-Electric, Chairman NEPRA Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi presided over the graduation of Pakistan’s first cohort of certified women electricians.

The ceremony was also attended by Mr. Rafique Ahmad Shaikh, Vice Chairman, Mr. Maqsood Anwar Khan, Member, and Ms. Huma Zafar, Consultant CSR from the Authority.

This program, launched as a collaboration between K-Electric and Hunar Foundation, focused on enhancing the skill set of these women, empowering them to support their communities and is an extension of K-Electric’s Roshni Baji community ambassador program also launched by Chairman NEPRA in February of this year.

Since their induction in the program 7 months ago, the Roshni Bajis have been engaging at a grassroots level with communities across Malir, Orangi, Surjani and Lyari among others, and have educated over 100,000 households on practices for safe use of electricity inside their homes.

With their assistance, almost 7,000 consumers and counting have also been successfully converted to safe, legal electricity connections. This initiative is in line with KE’s vision to partner with communities to uplift and empower residents through access to a strengthened supply of power and job creation, and also follows NEPRA’s CSR vision of “Power with Prosperity”

The certification entailed 8000 man-hours of training and is enabling these women to break gender stereotypes, gain greater financial independence, and create their own space in traditionally male dominated spaces.

The training allows them successfully to deploy complete internal wiring on a single-phase supply of up to 5kW from the electric utility’s meters to the distribution board of a home.

Additionally, they have been trained to calculate the load and energy consumption of appliances, which can be used to ensure that the electricity supply inside homes is safe and reliable and create awareness on energy conservation practices as well.

They also have easier access to communities where homes are predominantly occupied by women during working hours; almost 50% of our daytime users are women.

During this time, the Roshni Bajis have also been trained in self-defense, how to ride and maintain a motorcycle, and how to enhance their communication skills.

These tools are empowering women with greater mobility and confidence to take an active part in the workforce and play a role in contributing to the economy.

Gender equality is an integral part of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and KE is proudly contributing in the national effort to foster an enabling environment to allow women to thrive on an equal footing as their male counterparts.

Chairman NEPRA Tauseef Farooqi commended the achievement, stating, “It is heartening to see that K-Electric is taking an active interest in inculcating awareness and a sense of community ownership on the tenets of personal and public safety, and also going beyond this to provide women a springboard for their economic empowerment with holistic training.

NEPRA’s own CSR vision believes that transforming the socio-economic landscape of Pakistan can begin with an active engagement and development of local communities, and participatory models like what K-Electric is undertaking are a positive step which can drive a lasting behavioral change.

It would be a great opportunity to share this knowledge with other Distribution Companies to extend this platform to all of Pakistan.”

Speaking at the occasion, CEO K-Electric Moonis Alvi said, “At K-Electric we believe that the sustainable route to promote societal progress is through the upliftment of women and the provision of better economic opportunities.

Diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of our company philosophy and our female grid operating officers and female meter readers are setting a precedent in the national power sector.

We are also investing heavily in our communities under our PKR 10 billion Project Sarbulandi with a dual focus on driving a growth in social capital and providing a consistent supply of electricity.

The Roshni Baji program and the first cadre of certified female electricians will complement these efforts.”

NEPRA was also given a demonstration of KE’s Geographical Information System (GIS) whereby the company is mapping its complete transmission and distribution network for greater visibility and real-time monitoring.

K-Electric’s senior management also apprised the Authority about reasons behind delays in making the first unit (450MW) of KE’s upcoming flagship 900MW power plant BQPS-III operational. The authority, while expressing great concerns, directed KE to expedite the process.

KE management also apprised the Authority on the utility’s plethora of initiatives leveraging technology and driving operational excellence.

It was briefed that KE’s upcoming plans to transition towards paperless billing which will reduce the consumption of natural resources and protect the environment through less CO2 emission.

NEPRA while appreciating the initiative, termed it in line with the vision of the Authority to transform the power sector of Pakistan.

“Pakistan is the most affected by instability in Afghanistan”, High Commissioner Pakistan

London – Farah Kazmi: High Commissioner Moazzam Ahmad Khan, who is also Pakistan’s authorised representative to the Commonwealth, represented Pakistan at the annual Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting conducted virtually today on behalf of Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Moazzam Ahmad Khan informed the meeting about Pakistan’s perspective on Commonwealth problems such as climate change, trade, and pandemic preparedness.

The High Commissioner expressed Pakistan’s perspective on the situation in Afghanistan, as well as Pakistan’s involvement in aiding evacuation and humanitarian relief efforts, in his address to Commonwealth Foreign Ministers.

He emphasized that, as the country most affected by Afghanistan’s decades-long insecurity, Pakistan has a significant stake in the country’s peace and stability. Pakistan has not only continued to host nearly 4 million Afghan refugees but has also endured 80,000 deaths and $ 150 billion in economic damages as a result of the conflict.

He also said that “there was finally an opportunity to put an end to the 40-year war in that country”.

“The humanitarian situation posed a challenge. Afghanistan stood on the brink of a catastrophe with 18 million Afghans in dire need of assistance. At the same time Afghan soil needed not to be used to harm any country,” he added.

He urged the international community to avoid abandoning Afghanistan and take a pragmatic approach”. He said that, “the nation should be assisted in walking steadfastly towards peace, progress, and prosperity at this vital time.”

The High Commissioner regretted that a state in South Asia is systemically targeting minorities, engineer illegal demographic change in dispute territories and igniting regional tensions to secure electoral gains.

He also insisted commonwealth play its role.

Taliban’s Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar added in Time’s 100 most influential people

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban and a seasoned military leader, has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 most important people for 2021.

Veteran writer Ahmed Rashid wrote Baradar’s profile, describing him as a “very religious character” and a charismatic military leader.

He’s also one of the group’s moderate faces, as his profile correctly depicts.

“Despite being a modest, discreet guy who seldom offers public remarks or interviews, Baradar symbolizes a more moderate current within the Taliban, one that will be forced into the spotlight in order to garner Western backing and critically needed financial help.

His profile states, “The issue is whether the guy who persuaded the Americans out of Afghanistan can sway his own movement.”

Afghan women’s rights campaigner Mahbouba Seraj, US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, former US President Donald Trump, and recently elected Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi are among the others who have made the list.

Baradar ‘s early Life

In 1968, Baradar was born in the war-torn Uruzgan region of Afghanistan and reared in Kandahar, the country’s second-largest city.

In the 1980s, Baradar, like most Afghan commanders at the time, took up weapons against Soviet forces and battled them. After the Soviets left Afghanistan, the nation descended into a raging civil war as the mujahideen struggled for control of territory.

Mullah Baradar was depressed by the civil war and fled to Kandahar, where he founded a religious school alongside Mohammad Omar.

In the early 1990s, Mullah Baradar assisted Mullah Omar in founding the Taliban organization. He was good friends with Mullah Omar and married his sister.

Mullah Omar is reported to have given him the name “Baradar,” which means “brother.”

From 1996 until 2001, Baradar was a prominent military and administrative figure in the Taliban regime. When the Taliban were deposed in 2001, he was working as the deputy minister of defense.

After the US invasion, he fled to Pakistan and was apprehended in 2010. On social media, photos of him being paraded in shackles by Pakistani officials were widely circulated.

Umer Sharif receives US visa for medical treatment

KARACHI: The US government has granted visas to ailing veteran comedian Umer Sharif and his family for medical treatment in the United States.

Umer Sharif is receiving treated for cardiac problems at a private hospital in Karachi and has asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to expedite US visas for his surgery in the United States.

Murtaza Wahab, a representative for the Sindh government, verified the news and praised the US embassy for providing visas.

“I’m more pleased to report that the visa has just been issued. He wrote, “Thank you to the personnel at the US Consulate for the help provided.” He also mentioned that the air ambulance will come the next day.

Meanwhile, SAPM Shahbaz Gill said that Umer Sharif’s family has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Imran Khan for his assistance in expediting the visa procedure.

He added, “the PM is praying for his early recovery.”

Murtaza Wahab said on Wednesday that the Sindh government has sanctioned a grant of Rs40 million for his medical treatment during a news conference with Sindh Education and Culture Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah and famed comedian Umer Sharif’s son Jawad Umer.

He predicted that Umer Sharif and his family will leave in the following 24 to 36 hours after receiving their American visas.

Kim Kardashian goes an extra mile with Met Gala Fashion

Kim Kardashian is serious about her Met Gala style. Since her debut red carpet appearance in the now-iconic floral print Givenchy maternity dress in 2013, the reality star has continuously gone above and above with her choices.

Given that, as well as her most recent wet-look raindrop gown, which drew Thierry Mugler out of retirement in 2019, the stakes for tonight’s event were high.

Celebrities put their best foot forward on red carpets, but what happens when you can’t see their face at all?

Kardashian’s stark black Balenciaga high couture gown, complete with matching mask and train, was unlike anything else she’d worn at the Met previously. The outfit completely obscured the reality star’s face and famed figure, giving her something she hasn’t had in a long time: obscurity.

With Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia on her arm and a similar costume including a black-out hoodie, Kardashian kept the entire audience guessing as she walked into the event. Although her sister Kendall was near by, giving spectators a hint, her dress and enigmatic atmosphere provided the crowd something fresh and innovative.

However, Kardashian’s makeup artist reacted to the confusion over her dramatic faceless all-black Met Gala look.

Mario Dedivanovic, the Kardashian makeup artist, said that he handled her glam the night of the event, which included contour, strong brows, and a smokey eye.

The beauty guru even utilized high-end La Mer and his own cosmetics line to achieve her monochrome appearance.

He captioned his Instagram image, “Behind the Mask,” with a winking emoji.

Kim opted for a full face of makeup despite covering it up for the star-studded event, and the internet went wild.

One of Mario’s followers commented, “Ahaa! I was wondering if she still got her makeup done when I saw her with the mask.”

Another fan wrote, “What was the point with the makeup since you are fully covered up?”

Someone else responded, “Oh she was still BEAT! Love this attention to detail, the entire look was FABULOUS!”.

Mario posted a number of memes regarding the ordeal. “If you’re feeling worthless today, remember someone had to apply Kim’s cosmetics for the Met Gala,” one message said.

However, Kim’s ex husband, Kanye West, reportedly had a big impact on Demna Gvasalia’s Balenciaga attire, according to an E! News.

He was the one who introduced Kim to Demna and was important in her new relationship with Balenciaga,” the source explained, describing the star’s new fashion period. “Kim’s style is like a whole new subculture and fashion statement.” There’s no brand or face, yet everyone recognizes her.”

International Prices of dible Oil Hiked Local Costs of Ghee

KARACHI: The unpredictable worldwide prices of edible oil have driven up local costs of ghee/vegetable in the country, and a sliding scale is needed to link the pricing of ghee in local markets with the international markets, according to a senior government official.

Finance and Revenue Minister Shaukat Tarin, who presided over a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) at the Finance Division, instructed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to devise a plan to have a meaningful influence on the pricing of ghee/edible oil in domestic markets.

Taking stock of the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) weekly estimation, Tarin implored a member of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to revisit its methodology and expand coverage by including the footprint of Saasta/Itwar Bazaars in major cities, where ascending pressure on food prices is absorbed through the provision of food goods at subsidized price.

The PBS does not currently cover the considerable price difference between wholesale and retail pricing in Saasta Sahulat Bazaars.

As Pakistan is a net importer of basic food products such as wheat, sugar, and ghee, according to Finance Secretary Yusuf Khan, an increase in international food costs is influencing domestic pricing.

According to him, the international price increase is attributable to a drop in global food production and strong consumer demand, as well as supply chain interruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mohammad Yousuf tests positive for COVID-19

Former cricketer Mohammad Yousuf will not be available as a coach in Pakistan’s T20 squad as he tested positive for coronavirus.

Omar Rashid will manage the Pakistan T20 players in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf, according to sources.

It should be remembered that the 5-player New Zealand series and World Cup squad camp will begin on September 16th, according to reports.

Yousuf played in 90 Test matches for Pakistan, scoring 7,530 runs with a strike rate of 52.29. There were 24 hundreds and 33 half-centuries made by the skillful right-hander. In 2005, he scored 223, his best score in the format, against England in Lahore.

Afghan govt requests CAA Pakistan to begin flights for Afghanistan

The new Afghan ruling government has contacted Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to request permission for planned flights by Afghanistan Airlines Ariana and Kam Air.

The Afghan Ministry of Civil Aviation submitted a letter to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requesting approval for the planned flights of Afghanistan Airlines Ariana and Kam Air to Pakistan, according to the letter.

Permission for flights was required under the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) between the two neighboring countries, according to the letter, which also stated that US troops had demolished amenities at Kabul International Airport during the withdrawal process, and that Qatar had restored technical aviation facilities at Kabul Airport.

The Kabul airport had already been reopened following the US withdrawal, and the first flight from Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif had taken off.

Foreign flights, on the other hand, will take some time to begin, according to the chief of Afghan civil aviation.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) canceled a chartered flight from Islamabad International Airport to Kabul scheduled for Wednesday on Tuesday.

Officials claimed that international flights were resuming from Kabul Airport, with a Qatar Airways flight carrying foreign passengers departing from Kabul.

On September 09, Kabul Airport announced the start of foreign flights.

The first aircraft of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) landed at Kabul International Airport on September 13 following the formation of a new government in Afghanistan.

According to people familiar with the situation, the PIA flight that was previously canceled has been rescheduled for Thursday morning.

Rapper G-Eazy arrested for assaulting socialite

G-Eazy was arrested on Monday after being charged with assault in connection with a nightclub altercation.

According to Page Six, the No Limit hitmaker’s gang got into a fight with another group early Friday morning at the Standard hotel, as revelers partied the night away at Fashion Week parties at Le Bain and the Boom Boom Room.

According to the outlet’s sources, a member of the rapper’s crew struck socialite Daniel Chetrit in the head with a bottle.

G-Eazy was charged with assault after a 29-year-old man and a 32-year-old male claimed being struck by the defendant, according to police.

It’s unclear whether authorities made any further arrests or if the rapper was the one who reportedly assaulted Chetrit.

G-Eazy was arrested at 5:30 p.m. on Monday and handed a desk appearance ticket. At a later date, the rapper will appear in front of a court.

Shops, businesses to remain open till 10 pm, Sindh Govt

KARACHI: The provincial administration of Sindh government lifted several coronavirus-related restrictions on Wednesday, citing the falling trend of COVID-19 infections in the province.

Markets, stores, and other enterprises in Sindh are permitted to stay open until 10 p.m. with strict adherence to COVID-19 SOPs, according to a notification issued by the Sindh Home Department.

Nonetheless, markets will remain closed on Sundays.

Pharmacies, medical institutions, food shops, and other vital services are now permitted to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Only vaccinated persons are permitted to dine indoors till 11:59 p.m., according to the Sindh government. Vaccination cards, on the other hand, will be required for all consumers.

Indoor marriages and related ceremonies with a limit of 200 guests are only permitted for vaccinated persons.

Under stringent COVID rules, outdoor marriages and related ceremonies with a limit of 400 people are permitted.

Shrines may be remain opened on the orders of the appropriate divisional/district administration, in collaboration with the health department, as well as the Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department.

Offices are permitted to operate during regular business hours with 100% attendance.

Contact sports such as Karate, boxing, martial arts, and others will continue to be prohibited. Indoor gyms, on the other hand, will be restricted to those who have been vaccinated.

All parks, water sports, and other activities will operate at half capacity. Under rigorous respect to COVID-19 guidelines, public parks are allowed to stay open.

 

Prince William, Kate Middleton send Prince Harry birthday greetings

On his 37th birthday on Wednesday, Prince Harry got love and lovely wishes from his brother Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, went to their official Twitter and Instagram accounts at the same time to wish Prince Harry a happy birthday.

On the Duke of Sussex’s birthday, the royal couple also posted a charming flashback photo.

Prince William and Kate Middleton wrote on twitter “Happy Birthday Prince Harry!”

They also greeted Prince Harry on his special day on their official Instagram account, where they posted the same photo.

They also greeted Prince Harry on his special day on their official Instagram account, where they posted the same photo.

Mercury expected to increase in Karachi today

KARACHI: Today is anticipated to be “extremely hot” in Karachi, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), with temperatures reaching 41 degrees Celsius.

According to the Met Office, the highest temperature in the city will remain between 39 and 41 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Over the next 24 hours, the weather will stay hot and dry.

“Hot and dry weather is forecast for most of the country’s plains. However, scattered rain-wind/thundershowers are predicted in lower Sindh, the Pothohar region, Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir, and the surrounding areas, according to the Met Department.

Two monsoon systems are now active in the region, according to PMD Karachi Director Sardar Sarfaraz. The two systems, however, are not likely to bring rain to Karachi, he noted.

He predicted that Karachi’s weather will stay scorching until Thursday, but that the sea breeze would return on September 16.

Another low monsoon pressure system is likely to form in the Bay of Bengal on September 17, according to the PMD Karachi director.

The Met Office had already issued a heatwave warning for Karachi, predicting that the city’s weather will stay hot and humid until September 14.

“Karachi will have hot and humid weather, with a low temperature of 26°C likely and a maximum temperature of 39°C possible,” the Met Office said on Sunday.

Pakistan records decline in COVID positivity rate

KARACHI: Pakistan has been seeing a gradual decline in daily COVID-19 cases over the last two days. Nearly 2,714 fresh cases were reported on Wednesday morning as per the National Command and Operation Centre’s statistics showed.

The positivity rate, according to the NCOC’s latest stats, fell to 4.78 percent . The last time the country’s positivity rate was less than 5 percent was on July 24.

The 2,714 new corona-affected cases were emerged after 56,733 tests were conducting in the last 24 hours. This pushes the total number of cases to 1,212,809.

A slight downward trend in daily numbers has been observed, with active cases going under 80,000 for the first time since early August. The number of active corona cases currently are 77,532.

However, another 73 people have lost their lives to COVID-19, in the last 24 hours, therefore the death toll to 26,938.

The total recovered cases crossed the 1.1 million mark after 10,923 people recovered from the coronavirus in one day. Currently, some 1,108,339 patients have recovered.

Climate change: World to witness hotest days, says BBC

In the latest findings of BBC, scientists have warned that the world is about to witness the most hot days every year.

According to global BBC’s report “Since 1980, the total number of days with temperatures above 50°C (122°F) has increased in each decade. Temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius 14 times each year on average between 1980 and 2009.”

The number, according to BBC, “rose to 26 days a year between 2010 and 2019.”

Extreme temperatures are becoming more likely as the earth heats.

High temperatures can be fatal to humans and animals, as well as wreaking havoc on buildings, roadways, and electricity systems.

Temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius are most common in the Middle East and Gulf.

Following this summer’s record-breaking temperatures of 48.8°C in Italy and 49.6°C in Canada, scientists have warned that days over 50°C will occur abroad unless fossil fuel emissions are reduced.

Dr Sihan Li, a climate researcher at the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford said that “The faster we cut our emissions, the better off we’ll all be.”

Dr Li also warned that “with continued emissions and lack of action, not only will these extreme heat events become more severe and more frequent, but emergency response and recovery will become more challenging,”

However, these increases were not felt uniformly over the world: certain maximum temperatures in Eastern Europe, southern Africa, and Brazil rose by more than 1 degree Celsius, while portions of the Arctic and the Middle East had increases of more than 2 degrees Celsius.

How will the rise in Temperature impact the world?

High temperatures and humidity can be dangerous to one’s health even when the temperature is below 50 degrees Celsius.

According to a research published last year by Rutgers University in the United States, as many as 1.2 billion people around the world could endure heat stress by 2100 if present levels of global warming persist. That’s at least four times the number of people that are affected now.

People are also faced with difficult decisions when the landscape around them changes, with excessive temperatures increasing the likelihood of drought and wildfires. While other variables can play a role, climate change is a major contributor to desertification.

Petrol prices are expected to increase

The prices of petroleum products are proposed to increase by Rs. 1 per liter and high speed diesel by Rs. 10 and a half.

Kerosene can be as expensive as five and a half rupees, the final decision will be taken tomorrow on 15 September, in consultation with the Prime Minister.

On the other hand, Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) ruled out the possibility of a reduction in the price of natural gas.

During the briefing in the Standing Committee, Chairman OGRA said that our natural gas reserves are declining, natural gas prices cannot be reduced, petrol is the cheapest in Pakistan in the region.

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat met. At the meeting, OGRA ruled out a reduction in gas prices.

Chairman OGRA said that our natural gas reserves are declining, natural gas prices cannot be reduced.

Apple all set to introduce new iPhones as part of 5G push

Apple shares have gained roughly 15.6 percent year to far, lagging the Nasdaq Composite Index, which has gained about 19 percent.

Apple Inc. is anticipated to unveil new iPhone and Apple Watch models with minor changes on Tuesday, and experts expect cellular carriers to play a large role in the annual event as they strive to persuade consumers to sign up for 5G contracts.

Last year, Apple unveiled the iPhone 12, which featured a fresh design and was one of the first handsets to integrate 5G connection. Analysts predict modest hardware enhancements and a greater focus on 5G this year.

On the outside, the iPhone 13, as analysts expect the new phone to be called, will likely look very similar to the iPhone 12.

However, analysts also hope it to have faster wi-fi and processor chips, and Bloomberg has suggested that the top priority will be on display and camera enhancements such as a “Portrait Mode” to blur backgrounds when shooting videos.

Carriers like AT&T Inc, Verizon Communications, and T-Mobile USA, which have significantly expanded their networks since the beginning of the year, are likely to offer new incentives around devices that can take advantage of the faster speeds those networks can provide, according to Ben Bajarin, head of consumer technologies at Creative Strategies.

Apple fans who purchase multiple products, such as an Apple Watch and an iPhone, are more likely to continue with the brand and spend money on the company’s apps and services, according to analysts.

“It’s the only service they provide where you have to have this product or you won’t be able to use the service,” Bajarin explained.

 

Green Team to tour Bangladesh in November: BCB

KARACHI: After the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s cricket squad will visit Bangladesh, according to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury.

Chowdhury confirmed that the Pakistan cricket team will play all three formats of the game throughout their November trip of Bangladesh.

Nizamuddin, on the other hand, stated that the BCB is in discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to finalize the schedule.

“The Pakistan series will take place immediately following the [T20] World Cup. To finalize the specifics, the cricket operations department is in talks with the Pakistan board. There will be more ODIs and Tests, and all formats will be included” Speaking to the press, he remarked.

The Pakistan cricket squad will arrive in Bangladesh on November 15 to play the series, according to Chowdhury.

Chowdhury also disclosed that Pakistan will repay the Bangladesh cricket team, who visited the country for a T20I series in January 2020. On November 15, the Australian cricket squad will arrive in Bangladesh for the series.

In the series, the Men in Green defeated their Bangladeshi rivals 2-0, with the third match being called off due to weather.

Umer Sharif’s son appeals to the nation to pray for father

KARACHI: Legendary actor Umer Sharif’s son Jawad Umer has said that his father’s health is not showing any signs of improvement if he is not sent to the US, he will have to go for open heart surgery.

A picture of the actor is making rounds on social media, which suggests that the actor needs prayers.

Umer Sharif, who is suffering from a heart condition, is still in a critical health condition. The actor is undergoing treatment at the hospital and his condition is not improving

In this regard, his son says that his father’s health is critical, according to doctors, the heart disease has worsened.

On the other hand, after the directive of the Prime Minister, arrangements are being made at the government level for Umer Sharif regarding US visa and air ambulance.

The son added that his father was not conscious at the moment and did not recognize anyone even after regaining consciousness for a few minutes. He appealed to the entire nation to pray for his father’s recovery.

Political figures continue to pay visits to Umer Sharif, the most recent being former Karachi mayor Farooq Sattar.

Imran Ismail, the Governor of Sindh, and Fawad Chaudhry, the Federal Minister of Information, also paid a visit to Umer Sharif in a private hospital in Karachi.

Britney Spears announces engagement to a young Muslim

Britney Spears has confirmed her engagement to Sam Asghari, her long-term beau.

The 39-year-old pop star took to her Instagram handle where she shared a her picture with her fiancé showing off the ring.

Spears is suing to get her 13-year conservatorship, which governs her personal life as well as her finances. She has also divulged that according to the terms of the arrangement she cannot marry Mr Asghari or have more children.

Jamie Spears, her father, filed documents in a Los Angeles court last week to end the conservatorship. A court date has been set for September 29. The concerns about her mental health led to her being placed under conservatorship in 2008.

Mr. Asghari, who is 27, is a fitness trainer and actor. He also shared a photo of the engagement ring. Moreover, his manager also confirmed the news about their their engagement to People Magazine.

https://c.express.pk/2021/09/sam-britny-1631539651.jpg

Britney and Sam first met in 2016 on the set of a music video, Slumber Party. It was only after this video that the series of meetings between the two began.

The singer has already married twice. In 2004, she married Jason Alexander, a childhood acquaintance, in Las Vegas, but the marriage was shortly dissolved.

She married dancer Kevin Federline later that year, with whom she has two children. In 2007, the couple divorced.

Gas supply to KE from SSGC will be disturbed between 14th to 17th Sep due to dry docking

Karachi: SSGC will be unable to provide sufficient quantity of gas to KE from 14th to 17th September.

A KE Spokesperson has said, “In line with the information received from the SSGC, gas supply to KE will remain curtailed between 14 to 17 September 2021 due to dry docking.

SSGC supplies KE around 190 MMCFD gas but during the days of dry docking, supply of gas to KE is expected to be up to 150 MMCFD. A contingency plan is in place to overcome the shortage of gas supply.

The power utility under the Economic Merit Order, may use alternate fuels to produce power in case of a surge in demand due to expected hot weather conditions in Karachi.

KE has however, requested SSGC to enhance gas pressure at the utility’s power plants in Korangi to help in overcoming any power shortfall.

Officials of KE and SSGC will remain in constant contact in this situation to manage the situation.

In case of queries or any complaints, consumers may contact KE around the clock through its call centre 118, SMS service 8119, KE Live App, and through the company’s social media platform.”

K-Electric announces Financial Results for FY 2021

Karachi: The Board of Directors of K-Electric Limited in its meeting held on September 10, 2021_at KE Head Office, approved the financial results for the year ended on 30 June 2021.

During the period, driven by investments of around PKR 81 Billion across the power value chain supplemented by improved economic conditions and revival of economic activity post the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as favorable government policies, the Company showed strong operational performance including T&D loss reduction from 19.7% in FY 2020 to 17.5% in FY 2021 and improvement in recovery ratio from 92.1% in FY 2020 to 94.9% in FY 2021.

In its financial results issued to the PSX, KE declared profits of PKR 11,998 Million as compared to a loss of
PKR 2,959 Million during FY 2020 resulting in earnings 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.

According to Moonis Alvi, CEO, K-Electric, “KE’s financial results have shown a satisfactory improvement after the last year’s drop in profitability due to COVID-19.

We are proud that KE’s transformation continues to be recognized as a success story of privatization and strengthens our position as a progressive power utility.

The reduction in T&D losses and improvement in recovery ratio is yet another reflection of our strong performance, sustained investments in our systems and infrastructure to enhance efficiency and services to our customers.

We are engaged with Government of Paksitan and other relevant stakeholders for sustainable resolution of circular debt and to receive required regulatory approvals, which will enable us to continue to strengthen infrastructure for enhancing our ability to serve our customers and continue our improvement trajectory.”

It is pertinent to note that the utility company has undertaken various initiatives to increase system reliability and meet the city’s growing power demand. On the self-generation front, construction works on the 900 MW RLNG fired project, Bin Qasim Power Station-III (BQPS-III) is progressing on the fast track basis.

Upon completion, the power plant, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and at an estimated cost of around USD 650 million, will be among the top 5 most efficient plants in the country. Work on the first unit of 450MW is 90 percent complete while the second phase of 450MW is also proceeding swiftly.

In August 2021, KE entered into a Gas Supply Agreement (GSA) with Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) for the provision of 150 MMCFD RLNG to KE’s Bin Qasim Complex.

Pursuant to successful additional power withdrawal of 450-600 MW from National Grid through existing interconnections starting from April 2021, the company has also initiated the process for setting up new grids and interconnections for off-take of further additional power from the National Grid, which will take the total supply from National Grid to 2,050 MW.

During the year, KE enhanced its transmission capacity through the addition of 5 new power transformers along with a 132kV Mehmoodabad Grid Station, which will help in catering to the rapid demand growth from the residential segment in the area.

Futher, the addition/replacement of power transformers resulted in the net addition of 184 MVAs during the year, taking the total transformation capacity to 6,536 MVAs which is sufficient to meet the peak demand in KE’s serviced area.

On the Distribution front, KE is scaling up its efforts to combat power theft, by installing theft-resistant Aerial Bundled Cables (ABCs).

So far around 11,000 PMTs have been converted to ABCs across KE network with full determination to convert the remaining high loss PMTs swiftly and sustainably.

During FY2021, the company launched the second phase of Project Sarbulandi; a transformational project of approximately PKR 10 billion that focuses on improving network health, minimizing commercial losses through ABC conversion, improving recovery levels, and uplifting areas through community engagement activities.

Further, to mitigate power theft and promote a culture of timely bill payments via the provision of easy installment plans, the ‘Azaadi’ rebate scheme was initiated which played a key role in improving the recovery ratio as mentioned earlier.

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.

During the year, KE also launched K-Solar, a subsidiary that provides solar energy solutions to industrial, commercial, and residential customer segments with improved access and latest technologies.

Moreover, furthering its customer centricity initiatives, in addition to customer facitlitation and interaction platforms, KE also launched complete services for its senior citizens and specially-abled customers via 118 call center.

The power utility remains fully committed to its mission statement of ‘brightening lives by building the capacity to deliver uninterrupted, safe, and affordable power’ while serving its growing customer base of 3.2 million and more.

However a key concern for KE remains the prevailing circular debt situation affecting the sustainability of the sector.

Delay in the release of tariff determination of DISCOs including K-Electric, continues to cause accumulation of receivables and adversely impacting the liquidity.

K-Electric Launches WhatsApp Service for Customer Convenience in the Power sector

Karachi: K-Electric continues to leverage technology and digitization in its business operations with a focus on enhancing customer experience and offering them greater convenience.

Another milestone was achieved in this regard as KE became the first power utility to launch a WhatsApp Service for residential customers in Karachi and adjoining areas.

The 24/7 service has been launched to provide consumers a hassle-free experience with real-time responses.

The fully automated service 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.

Business operations around the world were impacted with the advent of COVID-19, causing a radical shift towards Alternate Delivery Channels (ADC) including internet and mobile banking for payments and e-commerce transactions.

Reports estimate that phone ownership increased by as much as 10% during 2020, with some estimates noting that almost 77% of utility bills across Pakistan were being paid online.

In the fiscal year FY20-FY21, K-Electric also noted an increase in ADC usage, corresponding to an increase of approximately PKR 7.4 billion in bill payments.

With WhatsApp becoming a mainstream communication tool, it provides a substantial opportunity to connect with customers in real-time.

The WhatsApp service has been launched with the support of Infobip, a global leader in omnichannel communication offering a suite of tools for advanced customer engagement and support. KE and Infobip signed an MoU in July of 2021 to roll out the service to consumers.

Commenting on the launch, Sadia Dada, Chief Marketing and Communication Officer at K-Electric added, “Leveraging technology is enabling businesses to become more agile and resilient in a post-pandemic world.

We prioritize customer convenience and want to provide them with a plethora of services through which they can remain digitally connected with KE for their complaints or queries.

We are constantly exploring innovative ways to revolutionize how we interact with our customers and modernize our digital touchpoints to create a richer, simpler, and more engaging customer experience.”

Raza Abbas, Head of Customer Experience at K-Electric, was elated at the launch of the service, stating “K-Electric is proud to be at the cutting edge of technology and digitization.

WhatsApp is one of the most widely used services in the world and many businesses are incorporating it in their customer engagement strategy.

This addition will strengthen our connection with our consumers and give them the flexibility to reach out to us from anywhere in the world with ease.”

Safder Merchant, Country General Manager for Infobip also stated, “Digital transformation went from being a benefit to a necessity almost overnight, and truly customer-centric companies need to adjust to the new market requirements.

That’s why we are proud that K-Electric is one of the market pioneers in their industry; they recognized the needs of their customers and introduced communication over WhatsApp for Business – customers’ preferred communication channel.”

Connecting with KE through the WhatsApp service is as easy as saying hello to a friend. Consumers simply need to add the number +92-348-0000118 on their phones and message to begin their journey.

They may be prompted to provide their 13-digit KE account number only once, after which they will be registered in the system. The platform is free however, mobile internet data charges from telecommunication service providers may apply.

The 24/7 WhatsApp service is another addition in the suite of existing services for customers including the call center 118, SMS service 8119, KE Live App, and social media platforms.

Exit mobile version