DNA

Lahore, September 22, 2020: OLX, Pakistan’s number one marketplace, has introduced an advertising tool to help small and medium businesses in Pakistan to proficiently plan and execute their online marketing campaigns. This new tool named as ‘Self-Serve’, will allow small and medium businesses to promote their products and services to almost 950,000 daily active users visiting the OLX platform, which accumulates to over 12 million users in a month. Reaching out to such a huge audience in the most efficient and cost-effective way can enable these businesses to multifold their revenues by generating new customer leads.

The OLX Self-Serve tool lets SME advertisers flexibly design customized campaigns focused on achieving specific objectives. Besides, it also enables the advertisers to optimally plan their campaigns and tune their efficiency by using filters such as audience targeting, budget range and campaign duration, in a few simple steps. The OLX marketplace currently has 14 diverse classified categories, ranging from mobile phones and electronics to cars, property, home appliances, fashion etc. This helps advertisers target their online campaigns towards the most relevant category as per audience interest.

While speaking about this platform, Farhan Khan, Country Head Sales at OLX Pakistan said, “OLX Self-Serve platform has been designed to assist small and medium scale businesses promote their products and services to a large set of audience without hassle. Through this platform, SMEs will be able to target the right audience, generate leads and expand their business. Our support for these businesses to thrive and prosper using this platform will remain available at all times.”

Smugglers have long been using legitimate cargo to cover their illegal shipments. The high volume of global trade consignment movements makes it particularly hard for Customs and law enforcement officers to spot illicit loads tactfully concealed in an apparently legitimate consignment 

A.M.BHATTI

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Office Pakistan – the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the UNODC Container Control Program (CCP), in partnership with national counterparts Anti-Narcotics Force, Civil Aviation Authorities, and Pakistan Customs inaugurated its 3^rd Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) at Islamabad Airport. The Unit is tasked to profile inbound and outbound air consignments and identify and stop those that may carry illicit substances.

Smugglers have long been using legitimate cargo to cover their illegal shipments. The high volume of global trade consignment movements makes it particularly hard for Customs and law enforcement officers to spot illicit loads tactfully concealed in an apparently legitimate consignment. To address this challenge, UNODC and World Customs Organization (WCO) developed the Container Control Programme concept and methodology which invests on human resource development and training profiling experts. The aim of the Programme is to bring the best of counterpart agencies together and streamline the focus of the Unit on risk analysis, joint profiling and targeting in an inter-agency setup.

The UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme was initiated in 2004 and Pakistan was among the first countries to join the initiative, with the first unit being established in Karachi seaport. With promising results of the Karachi Port Control Unit, Pakistan volunteered to be the host of the very first CCP Air Cargo Control Unit at Karachi International Airport. Thanks to contributions by the Government of Denmark, Karachi ACCU was established in 2016. Lahore ACCU followed in 2018 with Japan and United States of America being its major donors.

The inauguration of Islamabad ACCU marks the 3^rd operational Air Cargo Control Unit in Pakistan after Karachi and Lahore, expanding the initiative to all three major airports of the country. The investments by both Pakistan, international donors, UNODC and WCO in setting up ACCUs started to payoff and show excellent results. In 2019, the Units in Pakistan stopped 40 attempts of narcotics trafficking resulting in seizures of total 128 kg Heroin, 25 kg Cocaine, 303 kg Ketamine and 9 kg Methamphetamines. Most frequent destination of these seizures were United Kingdoms (19 cases), Canada (5 cases) and Malaysia (3 cases).

“The success of the Container Control Programme in Pakistan is a result of the great commitment from national counterparts” said Mr. Jeremy Milsom, UNODC Representative for the Country Office in Pakistan during his opening remarks. “This is a great example where the joint initiative of UNODC and WCO flourishes through national counterparts’ reception, collaboration and appreciation” Mr. Milsom continued.

The event was also a venue to pay a sincere gratitude to the Governments of Japan and the United States of America, the major donors to the establishment of Islamabad ACCU.

H.E Mr. SHINDO Yusuke, Charge d’ Affaires ad interim of Japan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in his speech mentioned, “strengthening aviation security to prevent trafficking of illegal items is one of the major challenges not only for Pakistan but other countries as well. Here, I would also like to mention that stability and peace is one of the important pillars of the foreign policy of Japan. The Government of Japan continues to contribute to the stability based on laws and regulations in various countries.”

Other major donors of the Global Container Control Programme include Australia, Canada, Denmark, European Union, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, and United Kingdoms.

HONG KONG  :  Asian investors struggled to match their Wall Street counterparts Wednesday, with markets drifting as spiking infection rates, new containment measures and still no US stimulus fuel concerns about economic recovery.

After a global rally since March’s nadir, a gloom has descended on equities this month, with uncertainty leading into November’s presidential election and ongoing China-US tensions adding to the mix.

US stocks broke an extended run of losses Tuesday as traders went bargain hunting, while the technology sector was also boosted by the prospect of people being forced to stay at home again.

With a record of nearly two million new virus infections last week, leaders are fighting to prevent another explosion of cases that forced economically devastating national lockdowns around the world earlier in the year.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled new steps that will from Thursday see English pubs and other hospitality venues close at 10 pm local time, while he also halted the planned phased return of fans to live sporting events that was due from October 1.

“To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter,” the government said, despite fears for the wider economy as many city centres turn into ghost towns.

In Washington, Fed boss Jerome Powell warned Congress the world’s top economy would see a slower recovery if lawmakers did not push ahead with a fresh rescue package, noting that stimulus cheques and expanded unemployment payments moderated the impact of the virus earlier this year.

At the same testimony Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said there would be a strong rebound in the third quarter but admitted that “some industries particularly hard bit by the pandemic require additional relief”.

However, political hostilities appear to be worsening on Capitol Hill ahead of the election and there is little expectation that Democrats and Republicans will hammer out an agreement before then. That is despite fresh unemployment benefit supplements passed by Donald Trump in an executive order running out in some states.

Still, Stephen Innes at AxiCorp added that while central bank support had been crucial, investors were now keen to see real signs of recovery.

“Although central banks can do more, equity markets have likely reached their multiple policy deluges’ saturation point,” he wrote in a note. “And as such, the stock markets might continue to struggle to make new highs until there are more positive signs of real economic growth.”

Tokyo ended the morning session 0.6 percent down as it reopened after an extended weekend break while Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore and Manila were also lower. But Jakarta, Bangkok and Wellington eked out gains, while Sydney jumped more than one percent.

“This is a massive roller coaster and you just have to hold your stomach,” Erin Gibbs, at Gibbs Wealth Management. “We are most likely to see this continued high volatility” until the vote, she added.