The winners of the 9th UBL Literary Awards 2020 were announced by UBL on their social media platforms on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Celebrating the literary efforts of Pakistani writers form both within and outside Pakistan, UBL announced the winners of these awards for the ninth year running. 

Despite the unprecedented conditions across the globe due to the Covid-19 pandemic, enthusiastic participation was witnessed after the call for entries announcement for the awards was released earlier in 2020. The books, which were written by Pakistani authors and published both within and outside Pakistan from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019, were shortlisted by an esteemed panel of judges which included the likes of Dr. Asghar Nadeem Syed, Mr. Ghazi Salahuddin, Dr. Arfa Syeda, Ms. Kishwar Naheed, Dr. Anwaar Ahmad, Mr. Masood Ashar and Ms. Muneeza Shamsie. 

Two new categories of Debut Book (both in English & Urdu), in addition to the existing eight were awarded this time.

Easypaisa, Pakistan’s flagship digital payments platform has joined hands with NADRA Technologies Limited (NTL) to provide cross-platform services on NADRA e-sahulat networks enabling convenient access to digital financial solutions. Under the partnership, all 12,000 NADRA e-Sahulat centers across the country will now also provide a host of Easypaisa services.

The agreement was signed by Khurram Malik, Head of Easypaisa, Telenor Microfinance Bank and Mr. Ali Javed, Director General, Public Service Directorate, NADRA Technologies Limited. Senior members from both organizations were also present on the occasion. 

Easypaisa, the leading digital payments platform with more than 150,000 branchless banking agents across Pakistan is among the frontrunners working towards revolutionizing digital financial services. NTL’s partnership with Easypaisa is testament to the fact that change is being adopted at a national level providing a robust foundation for convenient access to digital financial services throughout the country. 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, digital payments have taken a center stage when it comes to safe and convenient access to financial services. This partnership is another step towards the development of a digital ecosystem that benefits the country as a whole. 

Speaking at the occasion, Khurram Malik, Head of Easypaisa, Telenor Microfinance Bank said; “Effective collaborations are the ideal way forward to extend our services in partnership with some of the leading technology-based platforms in the country. Our alliance with NADRA Technologies Ltd. is an avenue for both organizations to make digital payments simple and conveniently accessible for everyone while also improving financial inclusion ratios in the country at the same time.”

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Ali Javed, Director General, Public Service Directorate, NADRA Technologies Limited emphasized on the need of effective collaboration between Government and private sector to further facilitate general public as well as to bring good governess. Focus of NADRA Technologies has always been towards new partnerships and avenues, eventually creating public convenience to access government services and to create jobs in the market. Alliance with Telenor Microfinance bank is also a milestone in supporting Government initiative of National Financial Inclusion. 

Easypaisa has evolved significantly as a complete digital payments solution especially in the months following the announcement of lockdowns across the country in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. The service has opened significant avenues for customers to conduct various transactions reliably and safely through a platform which is easily accessible through a smartphone app, USSD codes on feature phones and also through a network of 150,000 agents across Pakistan.

EFU Life Assurance Limited, the leading private life insurance provider in the country, has been conferred with ‘Brands of the Year Award 2019’ for the Best Life Insurance Company by The Brands Foundation.

‘Brands of the Year Award’ is a distinctive and premier recognition for a brand recognized as a champion in its industry category based on current year market standing and consumer preference. It honors only that single brand in each category every year which dominantly led through all the levels of selection criteria.

The Company is committed to building on to the brand and providing comprehensive accessible and affordable insurance plans to meet the diverse needs of individuals through all stages of their life.

ISLAMABAD: MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Company B.V. has launched an apprenticeship programme for the youth of its operational areas, with a focus on district Hangu for the year 2020/21. Through this programme 20 individuals, fresh university graduates and technical diploma holders with minimum years of experience, will be provided with on-the-job learning and development opportunities along with appropriate remuneration.

The program will help provide focused and skill based training to the locals of the area to grow further in their fields. The selection shall be based on technical and non-technical fields purely on merit basis through a pre-defined criteria as per the company policy. The program shall be advertised in the local newspapers in order to provide equal opportunities and selection on merit basis only. It is a step in a new direction, providing an innovative approach in developing practical solutions for the betterment of the local communities.

MOL Pakistan has been actively involved in the improvement of the standard of living of communities affected by its operations, providing economic advancement in the area through numerous initiatives. The company provides tailor-made support schemes to the local communities. Protecting the environment, contributing to the economic well-being of the local communities, education and healthcare-related programs are the core of MOL Pakistan’s social investment strategy. A significant amount has been disbursed as part of its social welfare programs and CSR initiatives in the country.

At the occasion, the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Energy Petroleum Division, Khayal Zaman said, “I am very happy that MOL Pakistan is providing an opportunity for our local youth. This is indeed the best way to ensure appropriate training, improving the economic situation and creating better opportunities for our people.”

The MOL Group Regional Vice President for Middle East, Africa and Pakistan, Ali Murtaza Abbas commented, “MOL Group has always ensured the uplift of its communities in areas that it operates in. We are very happy to announce this apprenticeship program and hope that it provides further skills to our youth and enabling them to secure a better future for themselves. This is an innovative approach being used for the first time by the company and we see it as a continuous effort for the future betterment of the local communities”.

Islamabad, September 09, 2020: Bank of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (BAJK) and Jubilee Life Insurance Company Limited have recently entered into a distribution alliance for Jubilee Life’s insurance products in order to augment the accessibility of insurance products and capitalize on the significance of financial inclusion. The signing ceremony was held at a hotel in Islamabad.

The consumers would benefit from innovative products as it renders financial security and financial well-being. Syed Rizwan Aziez, Head of Bancassurance, Jubilee Life Insurance, Mr. Khawar Saeed, President and CEO, Bank of Azad Jammu & Kashmir along with other senior executives and representatives of the company attended the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the occasion, Syed Rizwan Aziez, Head of Bancassurance, Jubilee Life Insurance said, “This Bancassurance ceremony would enhance strategic penetration of insurance products and subsequently also provide an opportunity to expand our product portfolio. We aim to complement existing bank products and also gain a foothold in potential markets. Bancassurance is ideal for the distribution of mass-market products and extend products to the clients as per their needs and values. This integration would also help in improving market presence and maximizing synergies”.

Taking the opportunity, President and CEO of Bank of Azad Jammu & Kashmir Mr. Khawar Saeed emphasized on the importance of Bancassurance as a prominent step to serve the financial needs of its customers. He said, “Collaborating with Jubilee Life Insurance Company Limited is another step towards the expansion of our product portfolio, enhancement of our customer retention and integration of financial services tailored to the clientele’s needs. Furthermore, it will help in increasing value to our customers’ wealth management solutions and improve customer relations”.

Islamabad: Syed Amin Ul Haque, Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication (MoITT), along with Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Federal Secretary for Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication visited PTCL HQ in Islamabad where they participated in a tree plantation activity to endorse Prime Minister Imran Khan’s 10 Billion tree plantation tsunami drive. 

Along with that, they also had a presentation and meeting on PTCL progress and development with Rashid Khan, President & CEO, PTCL and top management. All participants followed the safety guidelines and kept social distancing throughout the activity.  

On this occasion, Syed Amin Ul Haque, Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication said, “We are glad to see PTCL playing a key role in providing connectivity across the country and is paving the way towards a Digital Pakistan. Being a national company, PTCL is also contributing to environmental preservation that is line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a clean and green Pakistan.”

Talking at the ceremony, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Secretary IT & Telecom and Chairman Board of Director, PTCL, said, “It is an honor to be here at PTCL to create awareness regarding low forest cover and pollution in the country. He further said, I am proud that the national carrier is taking a special interest in Prime Minister’s vision for a Digital Pakistan to ensure country’s economic growth and support the tree plantation tsunami movement for a green Pakistan.”

Speaking at the event, Rashid Khan, President & CEO, PTCL, said, “We are honored to have the Federal Minister and Secretary visit PTCL HQ and take part in our plantation drive. PTCL is a great supporter of Prime Minister’s 10 Billion tree plantation tsunami movement that will help in mitigating the effects of global warming and increase forest cover throughout Pakistan.”

PTCL has always participated actively in climate and environment related initiatives and its HQ is amongst the few Green Offices certified by WWF in Pakistan. 

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has uploaded the Income Tax Returns Forms for Tax Year-2020. FBR has further simplified the Income Tax Returns for salaried class and small retailers. The small retailers having turn over up to 10 million will now file simplified one pager Income Tax Returns for Tax Year-2020. The Income Tax Returns can be filed through web portal and Tax Aasaan application.

This was announced in a press conference by Spokesperson FBR Syed Nadeem Hussain Rizvi, Member IR Policy Ch. Muhammad Tarique and Member IT Asim Ahmed here at FBR HQ. It was also informed that wealth statement form had also been further simplified and any ambiguity or confusion being faced by the filers had been removed in the Tax Returns Forms for Tax Year-2020. Moreover, the taxpayers are provided guidance on filling all the required particulars. “It is like a guided tour,” said Member IR Policy Ch. Muhammad Tarique.

The Income Tax Returns can be filed online through smart phones by installing the Tax Aasaan application from Google play store. The FBR officers also informed that a media campaign would also be launched for awareness and education purposes. The video tutorial on filing Income Tax Returns has been uploaded on the official website.

FBR has set up Facilitative Desks at all field formations throughout the country to provide assistance to the taxpayers in filing Income Tax Returns. FBR has upgraded its system which will not allow the choking of the system in the last days of Tax Returns filing. The taxpayers can file their Income Tax Returns till 30^th September, 2020.