Tech and Telecom

Karandaaz held a webinar to share the findings of the recently concluded survey on the impact of COVID-19 on financial behavior in Pakistan. This survey was designed and conducted in partnership with Kantar and is preceded by six waves of the Financial Inclusion Insights (FII) Survey. The FII survey is a nationally representative survey gauging financial inclusion and access to and use of mobile money and other digital financial services in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Uganda. In Pakistan, the last FII survey was implemented prior to the COVID-associated lockdown in March 2020. Subsequently, this survey was…

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) has proposed the Ministry of Finance to offer similar incentives to the manufacturing sector as have been given to the construction sector in the upcoming budget (2021-22). The ICAP has submitted ‘model federal budget 2021-22’ to the Ministry of Finance based on financial priorities of the nation. The document revealed that Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) has long remained under a constrained economic environment under the shadow of exchange rate depreciation and restrictive monetary and fiscal policies. Costs of industrial inputs, frequent and repetitive implementations of stabilization and revenue measures, and lower domestic…

While the Covid-induced push to digital solutions has caused countless ecommerce startups to sprout in Pakistan, the small but emerging telemedicine landscape is also showing promise with many new players. With people being advised to stay at home to minimize their exposure to the novel coronavirus, a doctor’s visit is not without its risks as hospitals become pandemic hotspots. Remote consultation with your physician has emerged as a viable solution in the current scenario. By connecting with your doctor from the safe distance and comfort of your home, you save time and hassle while reducing your risk of contracting the…

By Awais Bhatti As the cities across the globe are expanding, so is the consumption of resources reaching an unprecedented level. It is reported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that almost 8 million tons of plastic become a part of oceans every year and the situation can aggravate if necessary measures are not timely devised. In light of this, Graana.com highlights the importance of household waste management and how waste from homes can be managed at the household level. Household Waste Management The term ‘Household Waste Management’ refers to the collection, treatment, and disposal of waste…

The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has officially banned transactions and trade in cryptocurrencies mined outside the country. "Accordingly, authorized exchange offices and banks can make foreign exchange payments for import through cryptocurrencies mined in the country (…), but trading and buying and selling other cryptocurrencies are not allowed". — Meh (@Fatalmeh) May 6, 2021 The latest stance against the deregulation of open trade across the crypto streets comes in the wake of Bitcoin’s meteoric price surge since mid-December 2020, which in turn fed a growing appetite in Iran for crypto assets after the country’s stock bubble burst in the…

Pakistani telecom operator, Ufone, has announced free data ‘Eidi’ on mobile top-ups for its consumers under Eid Recharge Offer. Consumers will receive free data on regular balance recharge of Rs. 100 and above via across all recharge mediums. The offer will help Ufone users stay connected with their loved ones during Eid vacations while COVID-related restrictions bar physical socialization. The free data will bring consumers additional connectivity, fun, and entertainment during the Eid festivities. In order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of consumers, Ufone also makes mobile recharges available through its digital mediums including, MyUfone App, UPaisa App, Ufone…

In order to minimize shareholding disputes and make the entire process of holding, monitoring and transferring of shares much easier, cost-efficient and transparent, the SECP is considering a proposal requiring all the public listed, public unlisted, public interest and private limited companies to have their shares in book-entry form in compliance with Section 72 of the Companies Act, 2017. Shares held in the book-entry form shall have the same rights and privileges as shares held in physical certificate form. Once notified, all companies, required to replace their physical shares with book-entry form, shall apply to a depository, licensed by the…

To double the joys of Eid and enable Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia to connect seamlessly with the loved ones back at home, the country’s top cellular and digital services provider, Zong 4G, has introduced unbeatable IDD (International Direct Dial) offers in collaboration with Saudi’s leading telecom company, Mobily. The offer includes attractive weekly and monthly international roaming offers for both prepaid and postpaid customers of Zong. The packages are designed with customers’ needs in mind and the complete details of the offer along with the information about subscribing to these packages are shared below: Saudi Arabia Mobily Bundles Price (PKR)/Validity…

The Anti-Trust Watchdog has again acted against cartelization in the poultry industry and completed an inquiry revealing that nineteen poultry feed companies have been involved in price coordination and their alleged anti-competitive conduct has caused poultry feed price rise in late 2020 thus resulting in a sharp increase in the prices of chicken and eggs. This is the third big action by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) in the poultry industry. Earlier in 2010, it slapped Rs. 50 million fine on the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) and again in 2010, imposed Rs. 100 Million on PPA for cartelization. This…

The Pakistan Rupee (PKR) continued its upward journey against the US Dollar (USD) throughout this week in the interbank market. This marks the eighth consecutive day of improvement for the rupee against the greenback. The rupee gained 32 paisas against the USD in the interbank currency market today, closing at Rs. 152.27 to the USD at the end of the trading day today (Friday, 7 May) compared to Rs. 153.59 to the USD on Thursday (6 May). This marks a 23-month high for PKR against the USD since PKR traded at this exchange rate in June 2019. On a week…