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The fifth round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy concluded with all six teams trying their best to dig out a result, but for the first time in the tournament, all the matches ended in a draw.

Although the matches ended in a draw, there was some thrilling action as two out of the three matches went right down to the wire as the teams managed to survive at the end of the final day’s play.

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One of the 5th round matches took place in National Stadium Karachi as Northern took on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. KP were set a target of 390 in the fourth innings and despite a courageous fight, they found themselves holding on for a draw as they faltered to 309/9. With just a few overs to go, KP managed to ward off the threat as umpires called off the day’s play.

Similarly, Southern Punjab and Central Punjab closed off the fourth day’s play with just one wicket remaining. Central Punjab’s last-wicket pair managed to hold on as Southern Punjab were left frustrated. Central Punjab had to chase down 259 but they could only manage 164/9 at the end of the match. Central Punjab are still winless after 5 matches.

Sindh and Balochistan match ended in a draw as well as Sindh finished with 96/3 at the end of the day’s play. Both the teams showed their batting prowess with 2 centurions each from both sides. The bowlers faced a hard time on a batting-friendly pitch.

Halfway through the tournament, things are starting to heat up as Southern Punjab’s lead at the top of the table is under serious threat.

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Here is the updated QeA Trophy points table after the 5th round:

Team
Matches
Won
Lost
Drawn
Points
Net Run Rate

Southern Punjab
5
2
1
2
74
+0.254

Northern
5
2
1
2
74
+0.184

KPK
5
2
1
2
67
-0.100

Balochistan
5
1
1
3
67
-0.041

Sindh
5
1
1
3
60
+0.076

Central Punjab
5
0
3
2
30
-0.376

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

The post Here’s How Things Stand After 5th Round of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy appeared first on .

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The Oppo Reno Ace lineup has remained exclusive to Oppo ever since it first debuted back in October last year. However, now that the flagship status appears to be moving to the Reno 5 series, it seems that the company is transferring the Ace lineup to its sub-company Realme.

A tipster has claimed that the Chinese company is working on a Realme Ace flagship phone that will be powered by the Snapdragon 875 and will have a thin chassis. He says that it will also have super-fast charging and since the currently existing Reno Ace lineup already features 65W fast charging, we can expect to see much faster charging on the Realme Ace.

There is no more information on the upcoming Realme flagship as of yet, but the company recently unveiled 125W Ultra Dart fast charging technology which can charge a 4,000 mAh battery up to 33% in just 3 minutes. The technology may debut with the upcoming Realme Ace.

On the other hand, Realme is also expected to launch a successor to the Realme X50 flagship series next year. It remains unclear whether the Realme X60 will be the next flagship or the Realme Ace. There are no details available on the Realme X60 series as of yet, but stay tuned for updates.

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AirSial, Pakistan’s private carrier, is set to spread its wings countrywide in the coming days with the arrival of its first aircraft A320, at the Jinnah International airport in Karachi.

The airline is scheduled to receive two additional aircraft in the days to come to complete the mandatory fleet size for the commencement of its domestic operations in the major cities of the country.

The airline invested nearly $90 million to acquire the aircraft on the dry lease from various airlines.
According to officials, PM Imran Khan is likely to inaugurate the operations of the airlines, which would commence its full-fledged operations from December 25.

The management of the airlines has decided upon a flight schedule plan of three flights from Karachi to Lahore daily and three flights from Karachi to Islamabad and Karachi to Sialkot weekly, subject to the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

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The management also decided to launch the airline with comparatively less operational details than the established operating airlines. However, they said that the quality of the services would be maintained up to the international standards, including flights rescheduled, fare returns, and compensation practice.

The Sialkot-based carrier was scheduled to launch its operations earlier this year in May. However, the launch was postponed to December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

AirSial is the brainchild of the business community of Sialkot, which also built the city’s airport to facilitate trade and tourism with different countries. The carrier has 200 owners and board members.

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The Lahore-based fashion e-commerce startup, Clicky.pk, closed $700,000 in the Pre-Series A round of funding. Former executives from Amazon MENA region and Xiaomi, and other angel investors also participated in the round.

Founded in 2016 by Muhammad Khalid and Syed Shahzad, Clicky.pk is a fashion-focused marketplace and retail startup. Having known each other for 15 years, they have their roots in the Manchester Business School, and extensive work experience in the Middle East.

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Asif Keshodia, former MENA Executive of Souq.com and one of the key investors in this round said,

I am thrilled to be a part of this startup in Pakistan. Clicky.pk is going to take the customer experience to new heights and address the growing demand for online fashion retail in the region. We see a massive opportunity here, looking at successful online fashion destinations launched in other markets like ASOS in the UK, Zalando in Germany, and NET-A-PORTER in France. With local investors being stakeholders, it’s a testament to the confidence that exists in the huge market potential for e-commerce in the country.

Now the larger focus for Clicky.pk is to work directly with manufacturers and build private labels across diverse fashion categories. The new funds will be used to grow a team of fashion designers for home-grown labels, and the fashion marketplace will also invest in logistics and a supply chain in four major cities of Pakistan while focusing on improving the customer experience. Moreover, two of its fulfillment centers will be based out of Lahore and Islamabad.

Clicky.pk’s former investors include Souq.com and Fatima Ventures. Representing the local investor on its board, Ali Mukhtar from Fatima Ventures said,

Khalid and Shahzad have been building a focused e-commerce business and we are excited to see how this investment will bring opportunities for local brands and private labels to grow and provide a high-quality fashion retail experience to Pakistani consumers.

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Pakistan’s e-commerce market value has crossed $1 billion, with an average pre-paid order value of $27.8 in 2019.

Fashion and apparel remain among the top three categories of e-commerce in the country. Search insights from Google also indicate the popularity of women’s wear, with 89 percent of Pakistani consumers researching fashion products online before purchasing them.

The fashion industry in the country is projected to grow its revenue by USD 5 billion in the next three years. Currently, 12 percent of the total market revenue in the fashion segment is generated through online sales. By 2023, e-commerce fashion sales are expected to grow by 18 percent across apparel, footwear, and fashion accessories.

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The Xiaomi Mi 10 series became official in February this year, but its successor, the Mi 11 lineup, is expected to break cover earlier next year in January. This is because the Chinese company is reportedly trying to become the first to release a Snapdragon 875 phone in 2021.

The launch date leak comes from none other than tipster Digital Chat Station who believes that the Mi 11 series will go public in January next year and production for the flagship phones will start soon. He adds that the device has been sent for network certification already.

Expected Specifications
The Xiaomi Mi 11 series is expected to be powered by the 5nm Snapdragon 875 SoC, which is set to be announced soon in December. The device will have a curved punch-hole display and three cameras on the back. The main sensor will be a 108MP shooter alongside a 30x zoom lens and an ultrawide camera capable of doubling as a macro lens.

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will have the same design, but a 120Hz display with QHD+ resolution. It is unclear whether the base Mi 11 will have the same screen resolution and refresh rate. The Mi 11 Pro may also have a quad-camera setup while the base Mi 11 may only have three.

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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) apprehended a gang reportedly responsible for leaking the medical entrance test sheet in Peshawar. Sources suggest the gang comprised 20 students and 2 organizers, who pinched the exam sheets in Tehkal, Peshawar.

As per details, the gang leaked entrance exam questions hours before the commencement of the test. The FIA’s investigation is currently underway.

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In a similar case last year, the Federal Investigation Agency arrested three people and two of them were government employees. The culprits were responsible for their alleged involvement in leaking CSS exam papers. An FIA official stated the Agency received complaints about a group allegedly trading CSS exam sheets.

As per the Agency’s details, the culprits leaked CSS exam questions in return for large sums of money, hours before exam time.

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The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has abolished the two-year Bachelor’s degree programs at its affiliated institutions across the country. According to its notification, students will no longer be able to pursue two-year degrees like B.Com and B.Sc. This measure is reportedly expected to be enforced in January 2021.

The HEC’s notification has led to students resorting to social media to voice their concerns and questions regarding their futures.

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The following are some FAQs that are in line with the definitive viewpoints of sources close to ProPakistani.

What is HEC’s New Policy?
The HEC will not recognize two-year Bachelor’s degrees including Bachelor’s of Arts (BA) and Bachelor’s of Science (B.Sc.), undertaken after the calendar year 2018. It also issued notifications to its affiliated schools and Degree Awarding Institutions (DAIs ) that it will not recognize these programs in the event of their certifications being awarded to their candidates.

The notification highlighted that students who had enrolled in the discontinued programs at higher education institutes before 31 December 2018 will be allowed to complete them until December 2020. Students who fail in these programs will be awarded the new Associate Degree (AD) upon their completion.

For the avoidance of doubt, students admitted to two-year post-higher secondary or equivalent programs after 31 December 2018 shall have been and shall continue to be admitted to Associate Degree programs.

Through the AD program, the HEC intends for its affiliated institutions to provide general education that has a broader spectrum of application in society. The enrolled students will be trained in the metrics of marketing, financial literacy, and ethics.

Why Has the HEC Introduced This Policy?
Graduate degree programs around the world are typically either 3-year or 4-year programs. Students with two-year B.Com or B.Sc. degrees cannot qualify for international postgraduate studies with their qualifications. Simply put, students with two-year degrees will not be able to apply for foreign Master’s degree programs that require applicants to have completed 16 years of education. Students enrolled in B.Com or B.Sc. programs will qualify for admission to foreign postgraduate programs only if they have completed both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

According to the HEC, this is not the first time the policy has been introduced. “We have been working on it for the past two years,” it stated.

In March 2017 and July 2019, a notification issued by the HEC had called upon its affiliated universities to immediately discontinue their two-year academic programs. It had been observed by the HEC that despite its notification, the aforementioned programs are still being offered at institutions.

Local institutions will be held responsible for not acknowledging the HEC’s revised policies if the canceled degrees are still active.

Will the HEC Cancel All the Programs Starting After December 2020?
All the HEC-affiliated institutions are liable to address this query. According to the HEC’s refined plans for the AD programs, the BA/B.Sc. degrees can be converted into ADs with minimum changes in the courses during the first year transition period. To facilitate this change, institutions offering AD programs will be allowed to convert their offered pre-existing program into the new one.

The HEC has also directed institutions to proceed with transient changes in their BA/B.Sc. curricula for the AD program. Although conditionally, the HEC-affiliates should continue transitioning to the AD programs with additions that are in accordance with the policies and guidelines that are periodically provided by the HEC.

Do the Affected Students Have to Apply to Other Schools From Scratch? What About the One Year That They Have Passed?
The HEC’s semester guidelines only allow the exemption of some course credits according to its credits transfer policy.

Students can look for enrollment options in either four-year BS degree programs or BS AD programs. They can take the courses that they have studied in their transcripts. All individual cases will be considered by universities on the basis of the courses that have already been studied, and the universities will decide if the credit hours can be transferred or not.

Will the Degrees of B.Com. and BA Students be Considered Now, or Will They Have to Reapply?
According to the HEC, these degrees will be accepted. Additionally, the degrees that had commenced prior to December 2019 will also be accepted.

Will Institutions be Fined if They Continue to Offer the Cancelled Programs?
Currently, this option is not under consideration primarily due to the on-going transition from the outdated degree programs to the international standard.

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Are Master’s Degree Programs Being Terminated as Well?
According to the HEC, Master’s degree programs are not being terminated. However, candidates can apply for them only after completing a four-year Bachelor’s degree. For students who will have completed their B.Com/BSc programs by 2020, the decision will be taken by their universities.

What are AD Programs?
AD programs are two-year programs that extend two-year BA or B.Sc. degrees to four years to enable them to be internationally recognized. The goal of an AD program is to provide broad-based education to students along with experiential learning via skill-based courses.

As per the National Qualifications Framework developed by the HEC, AD programs are equivalent to 14 years of education. Prior to their completion, students can enroll themselves in the fifth semester of Bachelor’s programs of their choice after an evaluation of their transcripts by the concerned universities.

If you have more questions, leave your queries in the comment section below, and we will get back to you soon.

The post Here’s How HEC’s Cancellation of 2 Year BA and BSc Programs is Affecting Students appeared first on .

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A major risk to this scenario of economic recovery on a path of external and internal balance is the upsurge of COVID-19 infections all over the world and also, to a lesser degree, in Pakistan, said Ministry of Finance in its Monthly Economic Update & Outlook (November 2020) report issued on Friday.

The report also outlined the factors showing that Pakistan’s economy is underway of recovery. The MEI [Multivariate ENSO Index] shows strong growth in the first four months of the current fiscal year. Furthermore, based on current information, no significant deterioration in the balance of trade in goods and services is expected.

The inflow of workers’ remittances also remains strong, which means that it might preserve external balance. This, in turn, implies the prospect for a stable exchange rate in the near term, which may contribute, in addition to specific government measures, to reduce inflationary pressures.

The government of Pakistan also intends to keep the pandemic spread in check by imposing a number of restrictions in some sectors and areas of the economy. The effects on the economic outlook will depend on the intensity and duration of these restrictions. But well-designed government policies may soften the economic burden of these necessary restrictions.

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On the other hand, the recent world-wide communications regarding the production of some successful new vaccines may also give rise to the possibility of back-to-normal economic activity in the near future. These developments may boost business and consumer confidence and further enhance economic growth, Finance Ministry said.

Taxation
The report also revealed that the provisional tax collection by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has increased by 4.5 percent during the first four months of the current fiscal year.

Domestic tax collection grew by 5.7 percent, while customs duty declined by 1.6 percent during the period under review. For the month of October 2020, the net collection witnessed an increase of 4 percent to reach Rs. 336.1 billion against Rs. 323.0 billion in the comparable period of FY2020.

Automobiles
During July-October fiscal year 2021, total car sales increased by 8.1 percent while production plunged to 14.4 percent.

For the month of October, the production and sale of cars increased by 21.5 and 25.4 percent, respectively on a year over year (YoY) basis. Total trucks and buses sale increased by 20.8 percent and production decreased by 22.1 percent.

Energy
The government has announced a Relief Package for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), under which electricity tariff has been reduced to Rs. 8 per unit (down from Rs. 16 per unit) from November 1, 2020, till June 30, 2021, with no peak hours.

For the next three years Rs. 12 per unit of electricity tariff would be charged from all industries, which means a 25 percent tariff discount.

Under the Economic Stimulus Package, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has given relief to export-oriented industries by giving Rs. 40 billion (out of Rs. 70 billion) tax refunds up till September 30, 2020.

Inflation
The report said that the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) of October 2020 was recorded at 8.9 percent compared to 11 percent in October 2019. The average CPI between July and October eased to 8.9 percent from last year’s 10.3 percent. Hence, both YoY and average inflation followed the downward path compared to the upward trend in last year.

Sensitive Price Indicator for the week ended November 19, 2020, increased by 0.24 percent on weekly basis after two consecutive declines during the month of November 2020.

The financial sector continues to perform better in the wake of unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the first quarter, the recorded performance for this sector slightly increased to 1.1 percent of GDP against 0.7 percent recorded last year. However, it still remained below the target set for the first quarter.

The primary balance remained in surplus of Rs. 257.7 billion (0.6 percent of GDP) in Q1, FY2021. During the quarter, tax revenues (federal & provincial) stood at Rs. 1068.9 billion. Development expenditures increased by 15.4 percent for the first quarter this fiscal year against Rs 142.5 billion in the first quarter of last year.

In October 2020, the Current Account remained in surplus ($382 million) for the fourth consecutive month. Thus, the Current Account posted a surplus of $1.2 billion (1.3 percent of GDP) during July-Oct FY2021 against a deficit of $1.4 billion last year.

Foreign Investment
The report added that the foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 67.9 percent to $317.4 million on a month over month basis in October 2020 against $189 million in September 2020. On a YoY basis, FDI increased by 150.9 percent during October 2020 and stood at $317.4 million as compared to $126.5 million in October 2019.

During July-October FY2021, FDI increased by 9.1 percent to $733.1 million as compared to $672.0 million last year.

Foreign Private Portfolio Investment recorded a net outflow of $145.6 million during July-October FY2021. Foreign Public Portfolio Investment recorded a net outflow of $162.0 million. The total foreign portfolio investment recorded an outflow of $307.5 million during July-October FY2021 against an inflow of $452.3 million last year.

Countries that majorly contributed to the inflows are UAE ($69.2 million) and Singapore ($19.2 million). While outflows destinations were UK ($106.6 million), US ($88.1 million) and Luxembourg ($29.0 million).

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Worker’s Remittances during July-October FY2021 rose to $9.4 billion against $7.5 billion last year, showing a growth of 26.5 percent. Share of remittances from Saudi Arabia was 28.8 percent ($2715.3 million), UAE 20.4 percent ($1924.9 million), USA 8.7 percent ($815.9 million), UK 13.4 percent ($1264 million), other GCC countries 11.2 percent ($1057.2 million), Malaysia 0.8 percent ($73.4 million), EU 8.5 percent ($804.7 million) and other countries 9 percent.

SBP Reserves
Data on Foreign Exchange Reserves for Pakistan in the report showed that the total liquid foreign exchange reserves increased to $19.3 billion by the end of October 2020, up by $3.9 billion over end-October 2019.

The breakup of reserves accumulation in October 2020 shows that the SBP’s reserves stood at $12.2 billion ($8.2 billion last year) and $7.2 billion ($7.2 billion last year) in commercial banks’ reserves. The present reserves level provides the import cover of around 3 months.

Stock Exchange
The KSE-100 index hovered around 40,000 points in October 2020 and closed at 39,888 points on October 29, 2020, losing 788 points in the month. Market capitalization lost Rs. 249 billion and settled at Rs. 7,399 billion on October 29. Major world indices have shown an oscillating trend in October 2020.

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