DNA

FAISALABAD, AUG 10 – The FCCI has faithfully carried out its responsibilities in the most difficult period of the pandemic. All the organizations including police, doctors, paramedic staff, firefighters, journalists and other local body organizations who are performing their duties 24/7 during Corona were provided basic safety items by FCCI.

The FCCI donated Rs 7 to 8 million to them during the lockdown and also donated Rs 40 million to Samanabad Hospital. This proved that The FCCI is a partner in the needs of not only traders and industrialists but also every citizen of our city. This was stated by FCCI President Rao Sikandar Azam during his interview.

“My Presidency era was the hardest in the history of FCCI” he said. As President, my responsibilities have grown even more and we are going through the most active and vital period in the history of the FCCI. I worked day and night with my team and solved the problems of Faisalabad business community and industrialists in these difficult situations. I am proud and happy that in addition to the 27 members of my standing committee, the remaining 112 team members also played a vibrant role in making my plans a success. From the beginning of our presidency, we have formed a team to improve international relations and have started contacts all over the world to get our exports out of the catastrophe. We sent delegation to various countries: Denmark, USA, UK, Europe, Russia, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia by the end of February. First time in FCCI history, we sent a delegation to the Mecca Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Then covid 19 pandemic hit the world and effect flights and meet ups but we adopted a positive strategy and started a series of digital contacts. We arranged audio-video meeting for international contacts. Our major export market is US and UK which closed due to COVID 19. During pandemic, if the rest of our industries were affected, our medical and personal safety and hygiene exports increased. Even our textile exports increased by  5 to 6%.

Rao Sikandar said that knowing the need of the 21st century, I digitized the FCCI infrastructure and due to this move, for the first time in the history of FCCI, corruption of Rs 35 million was caught. Inquiries are underway against the perpetrators. The system is being transparent for everyone. Corruption will no longer be possible. We have built a strong system to control the expenses of the Chamber, which has resulted in a reduction of about Rs 10 million in my time. It is the only chamber in Pakistan where no member of the executive body receives any privileges like car, fuel or tour travelling expenses. The president and the executive body have to bear their own expenses. At FEDMIC, we have got 10 acres of land approved by the government. Where FCCI’s new and more  effective structure will soon be formed. We setup e-Markaz stations of all government agencies in FCCI to save local businessmen valuable time and reduce hassle. Now any local businessman who need any government agency such as Company Registration, Taxtation, FBR, Police, Traffic Police, Nadira, SBP, Visa consultancy or SME should contact the relevant counter in FCCI office and without any hassle get the best service. No long line, no long wait.

Talking about local business, Mr. Rao said, “We have introduced ECHO friendly business policies which have the full support of the government. The government is listening to us and is taking all the actions that our city businessmen are in needs currently. Govt is working with the FCCI to rehabilitate the industry or business that has been struggling during pandemic period, and to help it fully. Faisalabad is no less than a paradise for new investors. Today’s investment is a guarantee of a bright future. We have everything from human resources to modern infrastructure development to meet ISO standards. One of the best chambers in the world is FCCI which has recognition in the business world due to its investment friendly policies. Here in FCCI, we are developing policies to reduce production costs that let our merchants to compete international market easily.

We understand the needs of today’s youth and have introduced a program called Techno Park at the FCCI, where people from the IT industry will be given a place in the Chamber and startups will be fully supported. We will work together to promote freelancing and entrepreneurship so that our young people of today can lead a healthy and prosperous life and fetch a brighter future for their country and nation. This is a founding stone towards 4^th generation industrial revolution. Our project team consists of more youngsters whom I am directly looking after so that we can achieve our goal in time.

My conscience is satisfied that I have spent my presidency and in the best possible way I have made the best plans according to the time and circumstances and worked on them day and night to make them active. My timely decisions and plans have further strengthened the reputation of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce which has satisfied my conscience. I am happy that I have lived up to the expectations of the traders and industrialists of Faisalabad and am making the best decisions for their betterment during my presidency.

DNA

Islamabad , AUG 10 –  Oladoc – Pakistan’s leading doctor booking & video-consultations platform has launched its e-wallet in oladoc app. As part of this service, users will now be able to make payments for doctor appointments directly through their oladoc wallets, store credit and get discounts.

The digital wallet will also come in handy in cases where reimbursements are required. As a promotional offer, the digital wallet will have 200 rupees for all new users on signing up via oladoc app.

With services in more than ten major cities of the country and 6,000+ doctors on the panel, oladoc has been able to revolutionize the way healthcare is made accessible to the Pakistani population. Previously, oladoc was one of the first responders to the Covid-19 crisis in the digital healthcare sector. They launched Video Consultations within the first week of the pandemic to encourage Pakistanis to stay home and consult specialist doctors within the comfort of their home. Additionally, they created a Facebook group – Doctors Consultation & Health Advice to help people get free advice from experienced doctors on the platform.

Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our lives and has essentially changed the way consumers engage with the world around them. This pandemic has shown us the importance of digitisation& cashless payments. Moreover, the spread of the virus through currency notes has made it evident that cashless payments are the way forward.

While talking about the new feature, Abid Zuberi, the CEO of oladoc said, “The launch of oladoc wallet will enable our users to avail healthcare services in a seamless manner without having to put their health at risk. In addition, this will help us digitize the largely unstructured healthcare sector by enabling users to pay via digital channels. Paperless transactions are the future of payments in Pakistan and this feature is our step towards that future”

You can download the oladoc app on iOS and Google Play Store from here to avail the offer!

KARACHI : The Supreme Court on Monday expressed displeasure over power cuts in the port city and summoned the chief executive officer of K-Electric to explain his position as to load shedding.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, who headed a bench hearing cases at the apex court’s Karachi registry, took the city’s sole power distributor to task over prolonged load shedding and electrocution deaths.

He remarked that eight to ten people are dying due to electrocution daily but the National Electric Power Regulator Authority (Nepra) isn’t doing anything. He said those responsible for electrocution incidents should be booked and their names put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

CJP Gulzar said an FIR of every death from electrocution be registered.

On July 29, the Nepra had taken “serious notice” of electrocution deaths during recent rains in Karachi and invited citizens to report such incidents to the regulatory body.

In a statement, a spokesperson of NEPRA said that in order to ascertain the real causes behind these incidents and to fix responsibility the regulatory body has created a dedicated email address to receive evidence from the general public and affected families.

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan lambasted the authorities responsible for Karachi on Monday while hearing a case related to billboards being swept away during strong winds and causing injuries and deaths.

The SC bench, under Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed, criticised Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, the Sindh government, electricity utility K-Electric and others over what it called dereliction of duty.

During the hearing, the CJP asked where the mayor of the city was, noting that Akhtar is always complaining about lack of powers.

“Go home if you do not have authority; why are you sitting as a mayor?” remarked the CJP.

Justice Ahmed then inquired about the tenure of the mayor, to which Akhtar, who presented himself before the court, responded that he will leave the post on August 28.

“Go, leave the city be,” lashed out the CJP, saying that the mayor of the city is responsible for the destruction of the city during their tenure.

“The mayor Karachi seems to have a vendetta against the city, [even though] people voted for him so that he could do something for Karachi,” said the judge.

SC expresses indignation over billboards issue

The CJP also commented on the issue of billboards causing accidents in the city, asking Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani to submit a report on the matter.

The Advocate General, Sindh was also present, who told the court that a case has been registered in the matter.

“The entire city is full of billboards,” said the judge, adding that if these fall down then they can cause severe damage.

“Let us do an inquiry on the past five years to see who installed these billboards,” remarked Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan.

“There are so many billboards that airflow has been restricted. This is a violation of the law,” said the CJP.

The SSP South told the court that a case has been registered against two suspects for installing faulty billboards and that a search is underway.

“Have they gone hiding in the sea? Don’t give lame statements before the court and go find them within half an hour,” the CJP remarked.

The commissioner Karachi then told the court that people have erected billboards on private property, and that hundreds of billboards were removed over the last four years.

‘Where is the writ of the Sindh govt?’

The CJP continued questioning the authorities, remarking that the Sindh government and the local bodies are ‘enemies of the city’.

The CJP said that there does not seem to be any governance in Karachi.

“Where is the writ of the Sindh government?” he asked the officials present before the court.

He continued that the billboards issue has been in violation of building codes and the entire city presents a dismal picture due to piles of garbage and dirt.

“It seems everyone takes out their chunk and abandons the city,” he said, adding that it looked like everyone is a part of a mafia.

Case against KE CEO, administration on ECL

The apex court then lambasted the sole power supplier of the city, saying that it will issue an order against KE.

The CJP said that a case should be registered against KE and its entire administration should be placed on the ECL.

He added that the directors of the power supplier should be arrested and sent to jail.

“Daily 8 to 10 people die due to electrocution,” said the CJP, adding that KE has meanwhile collected billions and trillions in its coffers.