BoK opens Islamic branch in Chakdara
CHAKDARA (PR): The Bank of Khyber (BoK) is playing a vital role in encouraging economic developmental activities across the country through its network which will help in bringing balance economic growth.
This was stated by Muzaffar Said, Minister for Finance Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while addressing a public gathering here in Chakdara after formally inaugurating BoK Raast Islamic Banking Branch at main bazar Chakdara. The ceremony was attended by present & former elected representatives of the area apart from BOK Managing Director Shams-ul-Qayumm, Group Heads Operations Shabeer Sheikh, Islamic Banking Muhammad Asad, Heads of Business Development Rehmanullah Khattak, Muhammad Naveed Qureshi, Head Establishment Suleman Akhtar, Maintance Arbab Fazal Rauf and Head Marketing Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani.
Muzaffar Said mentioned that due to confidence of public BOK is growing in all operational areas and providing financial assistance for the promotion of trading activities and due to services rendered to the business community getting a good number of business as reaching to the door steps of the customers. Mr. Muzaffar Said added that Chakdara is a gateway to Dir area, and this branch will serve not only locals but also play important role in business & trading activities of the whole Dir area. The Minister Finance thanked the people of the area for showing interest in BOK. Earlier, Mr. Shams-ul-Qayyum welcomed the Minister Finance & guests including the peoples belonging all walks of life and briefly mentioned about the history of Bank and said that BOK has been serving this province since its establishment in 1991 after establishing through Assembly act and till 2003 we provided conventional banking services but in 2003 the then Senior Minister for Finance of the province desired the Islamic Banking system since 2003 BOK is also providing Raast Islamic Banking Services under the State Bank of Pakistan & Shariah Compliant Supervisory Board. We are offering these services to all walks of life for the betterment of the society specially trade &
Eni can do well with oil at $65 to $70 a barrel: CEO
LAHORE (PR): Eni SpA can do well with oil at $65 to $70 a barrel, Chief Executive Officer Claudio Descalzi said. That range “is still safe if you are in conventional assets,” Descalzi said. He said Rome-based Eni’s asset break-even price is even lower at $45. Oil prices will probably rebound by the end of this year and could reach $70 to $90 “in a couple of years,” he said. Descalzi said oil companies including Eni will cut investments by 10 percent to 13 percent. It’s hard to invest as long as there is uncertainty and the role OPEC can play in restoring stability is “really crucial,” he said. Once prices stabilize, there is a “good window of one year” in which mergers and acquisitions may occur in the industry as companies take advantage of opportunities. Eni won’t be among companies participating in acquisitions as it has no need for the moment, Descalzi said. “Our strategy is to work on exploration,” he said. “We’ve discovered more than 10 billion barrels in the last six years.”
Mobilink initiates SIM re-verification in press clubs
LAHORE (PR): Mobilink has launched a countrywide SIM re-verification drive for the journalist fraternity of Pakistan by setting up Biometric Re-Verification kiosks at Karachi, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Faisalabad, Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Bahawalpur Press Clubs. The kiosks were set as a means to facilitate and encourage journalists, their friends and families to verify their SIMs through the biometric verification system.
Omar Manzur Head of Corporate Communication, Mobilink said, “The Journalist fraternity of Pakistan has always been of immense importance for Mobilink. SIM re-verification is a national cause and we committed to reaching out to every Mobilink customer as we lead this drive. We have received an overwhelming response to this initiative from the journalists; I am grateful to the Press Clubs across the country for extending support during the re-verification process.”
Mobilink teams were present at press clubs across the country in order to increase awareness among journalists, their friends and family regarding the SIM re-verification process.
The teams highlighted the importance of the process to the verifiers and encouraged them to urge their circle of friends to come forward and verify their SIMs in best interest of a safer future for Pakistan.
HBL, NOWPDP join hands
KARACHI (PR): HBL, Pakistan’s largest bank, recently signed an agreement with Network of Organizations Working with People with Disabilities, Pakistan. NOWPDP aims towards promoting the creation of an inclusive society which values and upholds the rights of people with special needs.
This agreement will enable HBL to integrate people with special needs into the mainstream through capacity building of institutions, creating awareness and providing economic empowerment.
Tariq M. Akbar, Head of Global Operations, HBL said, “The bank has taken a very noble initiative that is completely non-monetarily driven. This is not a business opportunity but a pure service that strengthens our vision of enabling people.”
Amin Hashwani, President NOWPDP, stated, “We are delighted to see that HBL has become the torch bearer and the trendsetter in disability inclusiveness, within the banking sector.”
HBL is the first bank in Pakistan to take this project through its 30 selected branches Pan Pakistan. Implementation will be starting with infrastructural changes to make the buildings more accessible along with conducting sensitisation sessions to train its employees to interact and communicate with these people more effectively.
‘Cold Stone Creamery’ comes to Karachi
KARACHI (PR): The premium American ice cream chain, Cold Stone Creamery® launched its second flagship store in Karachi. US Consul General – Karachi, Brain Heath was the chief guest at the launch along with the Consulate officials and senior management of Cold Stone Creamery®, Pakistan.
Headed by Adnan Asad of Venus Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited, the café is located on the rooftop of The Place, Phase 8, DHA. The first Cold Stone Creamery® Café in Pakistan was launched in Lahore in November, 2014.
For the Pakistani consumer, the Cold Stone Creamery® experience is not just about best-in-class ice cream products but also about premium services that deliver value to the customer so that they can create and participate in their own personal ice cream experience, since their chosen ice-cream is prepared in front of them. Cold Stone Creamery® ice cream is made fresh daily and is available in 21 flavors.
With this revolutionary evolution, consumers are able to create their signature creations at affordable prices that start from PKR 300/-
Speaking on the occasion, the US Consul General – Karachi, Mr. Brain Heath said, “I am happy to report that two-way trade between Pakistan and the United States was more than $5 billion in 2012 and the U.S. is Pakistan’s largest export market. But our trade relations can grow still further. That is why I am happy to see Cream Stone Creamery Café and other U.S. businesses setting up shop in Karachi.
Office-bearers elected
LAHORE (PR): The office-bearers of Awaz UC Forum Cantonment Board, as part of its re-organisation, were elected during a meeting held under the auspices of Working Women Development Foundation – South Asia Partnership. The ceremony was held at Basharti Church Model Colony No 2, Lahore Cantt under the supervision of Tanveer Haider and Haidayat Vicky. The members elected Ifra Baji as president, Jamil Masih as vice president, Hadiyat Vickey as general secretary, and Atiqa Gulzar as joint secretary.
Moot on mathematical, statistical models held
LAHORE (Staff Reporter): The First Annual Conference on Mathematical and Statistical Models in Economics, Finance and Applied Sciences took place on Friday, 6th February 2015, at the Main Campus of Lahore School of Economics. The conference provided an opportunity for eminent mathematicians, physicists, statisticians, economists and social scientists from all over the country to come together and learn from each other. The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Shahid Amjad Chaudhry, Rector of the Lahore School of Economics and Dr. Rana Abdul Wajid, Director, Centre of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences, Lahore School of Economics who welcomed all the guests and faculty members from institutions across the country.
Dr. Shahid Amjad Chaudhry explained the critical objective of providing a platform for all likeminded academics from all over Pakistan to join together in research collaborations while Dr. Azam Chaudhry, Dean of Faculty of Economics, Lahore School of Economics delivered the keynote address on “The Role of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences in Social Sciences”.
The topic of the first session was Differential equations and Optimal control Techniques, which included talks by Dr. Adnan Khan and Dr. Amer Rasheed from Lahore University of Management Sciences, Dr. Rehana Naz from Lahore School of Economics. This session was chaired by Dr. Imran Naeem Chairman of Department of Mathematics, Syed Babar Ali School of Sciences & Engineering. The second session was chaired by Dr. Mujahid Abass, Lahore University of Management Sciences. The topic of this session was Fuzzy Logics and Decision Making and it included speakers Dr. Ismat Beg and Dr. Asma Khalid Lahore School of Economics, Tabasam Rashid of National university of Computer and Emerging Sciences.
The third session was chaired by Dr. Theresa Chaudhry, Lahore School of Economics and the topic of the session was ‘Factors Affecting Economic Development and Growth’ and the speakers included Dr. Samina Naveed, Dr. Verda Salman and Zahid Siddique, from the National University of Science and Technology.