News Herald

                                            The latest ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and IMA ®  (Institute of Management Accountants)  Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS) suggests that confidence among accountants and finance professionals edged slightly higher in Q2 2024 and is just above its historical average.  For chief financial officers (CFOs), all the key global indicators rose, with sharp gains evident in the New Orders and Capital Expenditure indices.   There were some notable regional differences . Western Europe-based accountants reported another decent increase in confidence as the euro area and UK economies continue to stage recoveries. Even Asia Pacific saw a small rise off the back of a huge gain previously, and the New Orders Index increased strongly. The region is benefitting from improvements in the global economy, including in the manufacturing sector and the upward moving technology cycle. However, North America’s financial professio

                                                 Monsoon season is here, and while the soothing rains provide much-needed relief from the blazing summer heat, they also keep us home, preventing us from enjoying our favorite outdoor sports and leisure activities. But don't let the monsoon blues depress you! Infinix has come to the rescue with an innovative and amusing solution that promises to keep you active and interested without leaving your house. Say hello to Infinix's new TikTok filter, which is meant to bring the thrill of sports to your fingertips directly from the comfort of your home. This innovative initiative is part of the "Infinix Champions Game Challenge," which aims to engage consumers in a new and enjoyable way. The new TikTok filter includes many sport-themed mini-games that imitate the thrill and excitement of playing your favorite sports, all from the palm of your hand. The Infinix filter is quite easy to use. You only need a smartphone with the Tik

      Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited (PQGTL), a leading provider of Shariah-compliant General Takaful solutions in Pakistan and Yousuf Dewan Group have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding to introduce a groundbreaking auto Takaful product tailored specifically for the newly launched electric vehicle Honri – both variants 2.0 and 3.0 – and Shehzore by the Auto Division of Yousuf Dewan Group. This partnership marks a significant milestone as an auto assembler in Pakistan partners with a dedicated General Takaful operator, offering comprehensive Takaful coverage for electric and commercial vehicles. The MoU, signed by the Chairman of Yousuf Dewan Group Mr. Dewan Muhammad Yousuf and CEO of Pak-Qatar General Takaful, Mr. Saqib Zeeshan, underscores their commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions in the automotive sector. The signing ceremony was also attended by Mr. Kamran Saleem, Director, Pak-Qatar Group, Dr. Usman Hayat, Group CEO Yousuf Dewan Group, Mr.

                                              The tractor manufacturing and parts industry faces a significant crisis, threatening the stability and future of a sector that plays a crucial role in the national economy. With a substantial export value of $20 million, a robust vendor base of 200, and an employment figure reaching 200,000 the industry has achieved an impressive 95% localization. The imposition of a 10% sales tax on tractors, effective from the budget announcement in June 2024, has exacerbated the situation. Previously, tractors were exempt from sales tax until June 2024, ensuring smooth operations and financial stability for manufacturers like Millat Tractors Limited (MTL). The new tax policy has pushed MTL back into the refund regime, reminiscent of the challenges faced post-2012 when SRO 363 established a refund mechanism that processed refunds efficiently within three months. In 2022, the introduction of SRO 563 (1)/2022 complicated matters further by imposing conditio

                                            Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), a leader in transformative urban development projects, participated in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) technical study and workshop on District Cooling Systems held in Dubai. This prestigious event was hosted by Empower, a renowned leader in district cooling services, in collaboration with Tabreed, a key player based in Abu Dhabi. The workshop gathered global experts and industry leaders to explore innovative solutions and best practices in district cooling systems, which are essential for sustainable urban development. CBD Punjab was represented by Director Project Management, Asif Iqbal, and Deputy Director Deputy Director Renewable Energy & Smart City Solutions, Yasir Khattak. Their presence underscored CBD Punjab's commitment to integrating advanced cooling technologies and sustainable infras

                                           Syngenta Pakistan, a leading agriculture innovation and technology company that provides crop protection, seeds, and digital services to millions of Pakistani farmers, has introduced ‘Cropwise Grower’ application - a free-of-cost, highly innovative digital solution to engage & advise the Pakistani farmers to enhance their farm productivity.   Within 1 year , the ‘Cropwise Grower’ has become Pakistan's Fastest Growing Agri-Tech App, offering multiple features including instant detection & diagnosis of crop-diseases, pests or other threats to the farmers’ crops. At the time of this publication, it is the Top Trending App on ‘Android Play Store’ in the ‘Education Category’ with  600,000+ downloads , covering over  4 million  acres of farmland. Cropwise Grower app offers multiple features, including instant detection and diagnosis of crop diseases, pests and other threats to the crops. The App’s ‘scan, detect and diagnose’ feature call

                                                  Infinix has teamed up with champion players from the PUBG MOBILE Super League (PMSL) in Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA), and Central and South Asia (CSA) regions to take over a massive billboard in New York's Times Square, announcing Infinix's upcoming participation in the 2024 PUBG MOBILE WORLD CUP (PMWC).   As the official gaming phone for the 2024 PMSL EMEA and CSA seasons, the Infinix GT 20 Pro has consistently delivered exceptional gaming experiences to team players. Its impressive performance has earned unanimous endorsement from the players, leading to its prominent placement on the Times Square billboard. GT 20 Pro Shines in Times Square New York's Times Square, known as the "Crossroads of the World," is a bustling commercial district and a coveted showcase for global brands. The towering billboards of Times Square, capturing worldwide attention, represent the ultimate aspiration for many brands to b

                                                CEO Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), Imran Amin, chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress of the Walton Road Upgradation Project. This pivotal initiative is set to significantly enhance the infrastructure of Punjab's provincial capital. The meeting was attended by Executive Director Technical CBD Punjab Riaz Hussain, Director of Architecture and Planning Samir Aftab Sial, and official contractors of the project. Executive Director Technical CBD Punjab, Riaz Hussain, provided an extensive briefing on the project's progress, highlighting key milestones achieved. Notably, the completion of the main trunk sewer and the remodeling of the ADA Nullah were reported. The ADA Nullah will soon be connected with the newly constructed nullah, marking a critical step forward. Additionally, the sub-base work on Walton Road is completed, with the water-bound layer currently in progress. Disposal stations are als

                                         Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL) has launched a one-of-a-kind Shariah-compliant investment plan by the name of Mahana Bachat & Takaful Flexi Plan (MBTP). MBTP offers members 100% Shariah-compliant returns with a minimum contribution amount of PKR 50,000. Participants can further increase their returns through regular top-up contributions as low as PKR 1,000 per month. The plan allows for easy online withdrawals, both partial and permanent. Participants may also withdraw profit in the form of an additional steady monthly income. The benefit that stands out among all other benefits is that it includes complimentary Takaful coverage of up to PKR 30 million or 6-multiple of the last 3 months’ average cash value, whichever is lower. Beyond these key benefits, MBTP offers discounts on other Takaful covers, including a discounted rate of 1.35% on motor, 25% discount on travel, 20% on home, 50% on individual health, and 50% on additional lif

            AMBASSADOR SHEIKH AND RENOWNED BUSINESSMAN TAHIR JAVED DISCUSS COLLABORATION WITH CEO IMRAN AMIN TO PROMOTE CBD PUNJAB PROJECTS IN THE U.S. The newly appointed Pakistani Ambassador to U.S. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, visited Punjab Central Business District Development Authourity (PCBDDA), also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab) in a bid to discuss potential opportunities to attract foreign investment and foster relation between Pakistan and U.S. Accompanying him was the prominent business figure Tahir Javed. The visit was marked by a comprehensive briefing provided by Imran Amin, CEO of CBD Punjab, who outlined the various ongoing and planned projects under the CBD Punjab initiative. The briefing session was attended by COO CBD Punjab, Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua, Executive Director Technical, Riaz Hussain, Director Marketing, Waseem Sadiq, and Director Architecture and Planning Sameer Aftab Sial. Each of these officials contributed insights into their respec

                                                        Alibaba.com , a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, today announced Tony Parker as a Global Ambassador for its “Same Player, New Game” creative campaign for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.  Alibaba.com is the Official E-Commerce Services Partner of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. As the world’s only truly global, multi-sport athletics competition, the Olympic Games brings together over 200 countries in more than 300 events. Just as the Olympic Games reaches a global audience, Alibaba.com—which connects B2B buyers and suppliers from over 200 countries and regions and offers services and business tools to enable businesses to discover products, find suppliers and place orders quickly—serves as a hub for ambitious individuals to go for gold in the world of commerce. Alibaba.com’s Global Ambassador, Tony Parker, is a two-time Olympian who reached the quarterfinals of Men’s Basketball with France at the Olymp

                                                             Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab) hosted an official possession ceremony for Plot #4 and Plot #5 of Lahore Prime CBD Punjab Quaid District. The possession of the plots was given to Pakistan Consortium Company Reit Fund (PCC). The event was attended by distinguished members of PCC including Gohar Ijaz, Mian Amir Mehmood, Naeem Butt, and representatives from Habib Rafiq Group. On behalf of CBD Punjab, CEO Imran Amin, Chairman Board Barrister Syed Azfar Ali Nasir, and senior officials of CBD Punjab were present to mark this significant milestone. CEO CBD Punjab Imran Amin, emphasized the strategic importance of this development in his address, stating, “In the next five to ten years, our vision is to create a master plan and development projects that not only instill confidence and trust within the business community but also lay down a robust infrastructure foundation. The trust bestowed upon us by the business comm

                                               Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited (PQGTL), a leading provider of Shariah-compliant General Takaful solutions in Pakistan, announced partnership with Dewan Farooque Motors Limited (DFML) to offer motor Takaful coverage for vehicles distributed through their nationwide network. This collaboration will see PQGTL provide Takaful coverage for both the electric vehicle, offered under the banner of Eco-Green Motors Limited (EGML), and trucks sold through the nationwide distribution network of DFML. “We are looking forward to having a lasting partnership with Dewan Farooque Motors Limited for expanding our Takaful coverage to electric vehicles and a wider range of commercial vehicles,” said Mr. Saqib Zeeshan, CEO of PQGTL. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to providing innovative and Shariah-compliant solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.” Ms. Saleha Hassan, Head of Marketing at DFML, said, “We are pleased to collabor

                                                             Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, today announced the inaugural Key E-commerce Leader Award (KEL Award), designed to honor distinguished e-commerce suppliers within the South and Southeast Asia regions. Launching this week and continuing through November 2024, the KEL Award will see eligible Alibaba.com suppliers from seven countries – India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – compete in a national round in their respective markets from August to October. The 10 best performers from the national round will take the stage in the finale to be held in Vietnam in November, where the three most outstanding contestants among them will be crowned the winners of the KEL Award. Contestants are expected to showcase their use of Alibaba.com in developing and expanding their export ventures, along with the strategies they employ to stand out in the global marke

                                      The Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), has successfully completed the fastest land transfer in its history, closing a transaction worth 6.9 billion PKR for plots Lahore Prime 4 & 5. Taxes deposited for this transfer exceeded 310 million PKR to the government treasury through the Board of Revenue (BOR), marking the largest plot transfer at auction price in Punjab. This significant transfer, involving a 23-kanal plot owned by the Pakistan Corporate Consortium REIT fund, is a milestone for both CBD Punjab and the Pakistan Corporate Consortium (PCC). It represents the first plot to be transferred by CBD Punjab to PCC, with the BOR recording its largest transfer fee on a single purchase for the year 2023-2024. In a groundbreaking move to boost investor confidence and streamline business operations, CBD Punjab has fulfilled its promise of transferring land to i

                                    A leading expert in the cosmetic surgery – Saima Dahri recently hosted a grand event, to celebrate the first anniversary of the ‘Voila Aesthetic Clinic’ (Instagram: Voila Aesthetic Clinic). This clinic is the first of its kind in Karachi, to introduce the revolutionary ‘InMode’ cosmetic surgery machine, based on next-generation technology, imported from the United States of America. Aesthetic plastic surgery encompasses various procedures designed to enhance the appearance of the face and body. The InMode technology is globally renowned for doing wonders to a person’s beauty. The Viola Aesthetics Clinic also offers the highly acclaimed Morpheus 8 procedure, which targets subdermal layers of the skin and tissue to remodel collagen on the face and body. It ensures minimal risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, making it suitable for all skin types. Fractional tissue treatment simulates collagen production. For darker skin and tones, effective ski

                          In the competitive mobile gaming landscape, Infinix has carved a niche for itself by prioritizing exceptional performance. Their dedication to the gaming community is evident in their smartphone designs, which incorporate powerful processors, high refresh rate displays, and innovative cooling systems. The Infinix GT 20 Pro perfectly exemplifies this commitment to smooth gameplay. Remarkably, within its price range, the GT 20 Pro stands out as the only phone capable of delivering a stunning 120 fps experience in PUBG Mobile. Therefore, this industry-leading performance has earned it the prestigious title of the official gaming phone for PMSL, a testament to Infinix's ability to deliver exceptional value and power to serious mobile gamers. Talking about exceptional value the Infinix GT 20 Pro boasts a trio of features meticulously crafted to propel your mobile gaming to the forefront. At its heart lies the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate processor, a 4nm po