FARUKH SHEHZAD

ZEM Builders have sent a great statement of intent by announcing themselves as partners of Islamabad United for PSL 6. The news has added to the joy of the fans who are rooting for Islamabad United in the ongoing season of the biggest cricketing event in the country.

Regarding the partnership 

The CEO of ZEM Builders in Bahria Town Rawalpindi, Zeeshan Qureshi broke the news of the collaboration with Islamabad United a few days back by saying, “PSL is the most awaited T20 cricket event of the year, and we are proudly announcing our partnership with Islamabad.

United. Islamabad United is a prestigious team of PSL, and we’re delighted with this partnership.”

He believes that the partnership between two of the leading organizations in the twin cities is a step in the right direction. “I feel that it is a pleasure for us to partner with Islamabad United that performed well in previous PSL seasons. It (Islamabad United) also shares our vision of the betterment of Pakistan, ensuring good quality. We wish them the best of luck for this season of PSL.”

On the other hand, Ali Naqvi, Islamabad United owner, has also confirmed that ZEM Builders have sponsored his team for the sixth edition of the PSL. “We are pleased to partner with one of the leading real estate companies in Pakistan. Their pursuit of excellence is one that we share.”

He praised the efforts of ZEM Builders in playing an active role in the development of the twin cities. He said, “Their (ZEM Builders) presence in the twin cities region of Islamabad and Rawalpindi makes them an obvious partner for us.”

Who are ZEM Builders?

Zem Builders have built a reputation of itself as one of the most trustworthy real estate companies in Pakistan. Ever since their launch, they have become a household name and have changed the map of the twin cities with their state of art projects. Some of their projects include Lake Vista, Skylark, Liberty Tower, ZEM Ark, ZEM Ark 2, and Urban Nest. ZEM Gardenia is the latest project of these real estate giants that is coming soon. Want to know more about the projects of the ZEM Builders? Check out their website.

The CEO of ZEM Builders, Zeeshan Qureshi has set his sight on making ZEM Builders a global company that would become the face of Pakistan's real estate industry.

Islamabad United

A PSL franchise that does not need any introduction. Their records speak for themselves. Islamabad United is the most successful team in the history of the PSL. They have been crowned the champions of the biggest sports event of Pakistan not once but twice, in 2016 and 2018 respectively, making them the only team to do so. The reds have started the PSL 6 in hot form and they are one of the favorites to lift the trophy for the third time. They have a star-studded squad that is bound to produce stellar performances. From Alex Hales to Phil Salt to Shadab Khan, Islamabad United has superstars in every department, a feature that not many teams can claim to have. This gives them an edge over the competitors.

What is in it for the fans?

The collaboration between two of the leading organizations of the twin cities has raised the hopes of the fans. They hope that both of them would work together as a unit to improve the sports as well as living standards of not only the twin cities but of Pakistan. Now that they have joined forces it can be said that it is only a matter of time before they produce unmatched results. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

ISLAMABAD, MAR 27: An online meeting was held between the Communication University of China (CUC), Beijing, University of the Punjab, Lahore, and the Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad.

During the meeting, various academic initiatives and projects were explained by the Communication University of China and the University of the Punjab.

It was further decided that the two education institutions will collaborate to initiate joint academic projects. The discussed projects included conferences, seminars, Round Table Discussions, etc.

Furthermore, in order to develop long-term academic connectivity between the two universities, scholarship programs for masters and PhD students, research projects, and faculty exchange programs were stressed upon. Additionally, significant projects under media education, communication, and science and technology were also brought under discussion.

During the meeting, the management of Communication University of China praised the active role played by CGSS in bridging the gap present in the academic domain of the two brother countries i.e., China and Pakistan. The meeting, facilitated by CGSS, aimed at developing bilateral academic connectivity.

The online meeting was attended by representatives from Communication University of China (CUC), Beijing, University of the Punjab, Lahore, and the Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad. They included:

• Mr. Wenyuan Wang, Deputy Director of the International Office, Communication University of China • Prof. Yanqiu Zhang, Vice Dean of the Institute for A Community with Shared Future, Director of African Media Research Center, Communication University of China

• Prof. Deqiang JI, Vice Dean of the Institute for A Community with Shared Future, Communication University of China

• Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab, Lahore

• Dr. Fauzia Hadi Ali, Director, Regional Integration Center, University of the Punjab, Lahore

• Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad

• Ms. Palwasha Nawaz, Project Executive, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY CGSS

---------

Exclusive / Editor-In-Chief

Farukh Shehzad

Majority of us including people especially from the subcontinent and Pakistan are always excited to travel abroad to further establish their business and to enhance the style of living.

A long time ago a large number of Pakistani families travelled to different parts of Europe to earn money and making their future better and more secure.

After reaching in various parts of Europe, Pakistani families faced a huge struggle in different shapes, for example, they were like just born babies, they did not have the idea of how to speak and communicate with local people there in Europe, they did not have any idea which business and work we should go for? But they continued putting their efforts on the moneymaking path and eventually, after a long course of time, they got succeed.

And now, Pakistani families living in Europe are very much well settled, they have established their business now and probably their different bank accounts are filled with money, so they are enjoying all the facilities, as well as they, they have enabled theirselves to purchase any expansive product with ease.

What are the assets?

Assets mean children of Pakistani families... they are the assets of them.

I belong to Lalamusa, the oldest and historic city of Pakistan and my native place.

When I sit with friends we discuss various topics and the world affairs.

During that discussion, I have heard about stories of Pakistani families of my native town (Lalamusa).

Year's back a family alone with his children travelled to Spain and after spending a few years in Spain they started to feel and notice something strange was happening around them.

They noticed that children of those families who were well settled already in Spain, their children are not listening to their parents and they have made foreign friends, specially Pakistani Muslim girls who have made foreign boyfriends and they are going with them to late night parties in clubs.

He said, Children of those families came at home late at night, especially Pak Muslim Grils came late at night and parents could not do anything to stop their Girls and Children, which was a pain full moment for those parents and the parents were crying for not having control over their children in Spain.

After watching all this the family of my native town who traveled to Spain finally they overturned its decision to stay in Spain and decided to buy the air tickets to fly back to Pakistan and they along with their boys and girls returned to Pakistan without losing any moment.

All of the people at that time criticized him a lot for leaving Spain but after passing many years his decision proved a good one and now he is in Pakistan, earning a small amount of money but he has secured and saved his assets, saved his children from going on wrong tracks.

One more family of my city (Lalamusa) who traveled to an European country along with their children they also witnessed that Pakistani Muslim girls have made foreign boyfriends, going to parties with them, coming back home at late night.

Their parents have been crying, after watching all this, and this family decided to spend nonstop 6 months in Pakistan with their children and 6 months in Europe to save their assets, to save their children.   

80% are the chances that the decision of spending nonstop 6 months in Pakistan will work for this family in keeping their assets safe and secure.

Culture of Advice in Europe:

The culture of advice does not exist in Europe. As we know on most of the occasion children in Europe after the age of 18, they do not pay attention to the advice of their parents but the culture of advice to some extent exist in Pakistan as yet.

Concluding Remarks:

It's not only about Spain, in fact, entire Europe has also the same culture of living.

Want to say to parents that your Children are your valuable assets, Save your assets / save your boys and girls by spending your whole life with your children in Pakistan, or at least by spending nonstop 6 months in Pakistan.

Pakistani Families can not afford to spend their entire life in Europe if they want to save their assets.   

The recipe is quite simple for the Pakistani Families living in Europe that they must adopt the culture of living in Pakistan.

Live in Pakistan, earn less amount of money and save your children, save your assets.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Since the Broadsheet scandal surfaced a few weeks ago, it has been wrongly perceived from a narrow skewed lens. Broadsheet CEO Kaveh Moussavi capitalised on the opportunity provided by the lack of comprehension to command the media airwaves and set a narrative that presented everyone involved from the Pakistani side in a bad light. The government did the right thing by making the arbitration award documents public.  However, this is just the beginning; the whole broadsheet episode calls for accountability and for fixing responsibility of this fiasco.

Historically, the Broadsheet dispute is tied up with Pakistani politics and its battle with corruption. The National Accountability Bureau, formed in 1999, hired Broadsheet in 2000 to trace and recover assets allegedly stolen by influential figures, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In late 1999s, NAB began negotiations with Trouvons (a Colorado-based company) for recovery of assets and plundered money outside of Pakistan. 

At that time, Jimmy James represented and was part-owner of Trouvons, whose business included the kind of investigations and recovery assets that NAB would require to be carried out. He had some previous business experience in Pakistan. His business associates included a Colorado lawyer Ronald Rudman and an English barrister William Pepper. James represented to NAB that Trouvons had the necessary expertise and experience to undertake the work of investigation and recovery of assets on behalf of NAB internationally, outside Pakistan.

Contrary, NAB ended up signing an agreement with Broadsheet whose ultimate beneficiary was also Jimmy James but it was a shell company, registered in the Isle of Man (IoM) just a month before signing of the agreement.  It is interesting to note that the agreement was signed on the basis of qualification of Trouvons as it is near to impossible that Broadsheet, having been formed a month earlier, could have any kind of the experience which was expected of it.  The point to note is that NAB totally failed to take into account why Jimmy James (also main beneficiary of Trouvons) established a new company just one month before the agreement with NAB.

Had it been attentive, the agreement with Broadsheet may have not been signed. The suggested and unchallenged reason for the change from Trouvons to Broadsheet as a contracting party under the ARA (Asset Recovery Agreement) was that Ronald Rudman had been suspended from his membership of the Colorado Bar on grounds of dishonesty. James knew that if NAB became aware of it, there would be no further negotiation. Therefore, he caused Broadsheet to be incorporated so that it rather than Trouvons could enter into the proposed agreement with NAB, as it did on 20th June 2000.

Moreover, a parallel and separate agreement was signed between NAB and International Assets Recovery firm (IAR), represented by William Pepper on 15 July 2000.  The agreement signed between Broadsheet was intended is to be limited to investigations and recovery of assets in USA, Europe and Asia, and IAR was to cover other parts of the world.

With the NRO underway between Gen Pervez Musharraf and the Sharif family, NAB terminated the agreement unilaterally with Broadsheet in October 2003 without going through the proper termination procedure. NAB had terminated the ARA accusing Broadsheet of misrepresentations made during pre-contractual negotiations and commitment of repudiatory breaches. To which, Broadsheet contended that any shortfall in its performance of the ARA was caused by NAB’s breaches of its own obligations and it claimed damages in respect of those.  To the misrepresentation plea taken by NAB, the arbitrator noted that the alleged representations were made on behalf of Trouvons, not Broadsheet.

Another key issue in this whole saga was the correct interpretation of clause 4 of the ARA, which gave Broadsheet the right to claim compensation. The scope of the ARA was intended to be limited to investigations and recovery of assets in the USA, Europe and Asia, not worldwide.  But that was achieved not by express provision, but by limiting its scope to specific registered persons or entities or targets. Its scope was defined as reference to the target list and there were no geographical limits.  The arbitrator noted that neither party has raised the question of possible rectification of the written agreement (a remedy that might be available under English law if the document mistakenly failed to record what was in fact agreed).  Therefore, the advantage of this misrepresentation went in favour of Broadsheet’s claim.

In April 2007, Broadsheet was dissolved by the court. Unaware of the fact, NAB entered into settlement agreements with International Assets Recovery firm (IAR) and Broadsheet in 2008.  Under these agreements, NAB undertook to pay $1.5 million to Broadsheet and $2.25 million to IAR.  James signed the agreement as chairman of Broadsheet LLC Gibraltar (a misnomer) , as a manager of Steeplechase and also on his own behalf describing himself as shareholder and beneficiary of Broadsheet LLC, without giving any regard to the fact that the Broadsheet (Isle of Man) had already been dissolved in April 2007. During this period, NAB totally failed to find out that Broadsheet IoM was under liquidation and Jimmy James was not entitled to sign any agreement on behalf of Broadsheet IoM.  The fact that the settlement worth $1.5 million was paid in two instalments to Broadsheet Colorado instead of Broadsheet IoM displays the height of negligence.

At the time, when the poor taxpayers of Pakistan were paying the price of elite corruption and  the incompetence of its institutions, Moussavi was gearing up to milk this sad state of affairs. During his meeting with Ahmer Bilal Soofi in April 2007, Moussavi learned that the latter was meeting Jimmy James to settle the Broadsheet claims in his personal capacity without involving Moussavi, who thought himself to be 50 percent claimant of the settlement proceeds.  The backdrop to this 50 percent claim was his meeting with Jimmy James back in the early 2000s, where he offered James that in return for funding Broadsheet’s costs of bringing a claim against NAB , they would share the proceeds 50/50 .  Knowing that Jimmy James’ settlement with NAB had no legal standing, as Broadsheet was under liquidation, he created his financial stakes in Broadsheet by contacting an unpaid creditor of Broadsheet, Oakfield Corporate Services, whose claim was for a modest sum of £4000 pounds.  IAR, funded by Moussavi, acquired the debt from Oakfield on terms which included paying the balance from the proceeds of any recovery from NAB. In a further transaction, IAR acquired the beneficial interest in Broadsheet from two Panamanian companies that were its original members and moved court to declare the liquidation null and void. From November 2009 onwards, Broadsheet has been controlled by Moussavi.

Having Moussavi in control, Broadsheet went into arbitration against NAB. The hearing on the Liability Award was held in August 2016 by the London Court of International Arbitration. Owing to lack of interest shown by the then government, a liability award was issued in favour of Broadsheet. Subsequently the Quantum Award hearing took place in July 2018 and the Court awarded Broadsheet $21.59 million plus interest as damages for the breach and repudiation of the agreement.  The appeal against the Quantum award was dismissed in July 2019. The incumbent government tried its level best to use all available legal remedies to salvage the situation, until the UK High Court seized the account of the Pakistan High Commission in London. Left with no choice and to save the national honour and dignity, the government finally approved $28.7 million payments to Broadsheet.

In a nutshell, the Pakistani taxpayer has paid the price of elites’ corruption and malafide intention on the part of negligent individuals. Now, the best the government can do is to uphold its manifesto of accountability and fix responsibility. The key areas of inquiry may revolve around the process of selection and appointment of Broadsheet and IAR, the officials responsible for drafting a flawed contract (article 4 of ARA), reasons and effect of cancellation of agreements with Broadsheet and IAR in 2003, justification of settlements agreements, wrong payment and interest of successive governments in arbitration proceedings.  The moral of the story is simple– there needs to be no compromise on corruption, otherwise Pakistani nation will keep paying for elites’ corruption and tyranny, as in the case of Broadsheet.

------------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY Pakistan Today

---------------

ISLAMABAD, MAR 26: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar has been asked to resign from his position over last year's fuel crisis, federal minister Asad Umar announced on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan had asked Babar to step down from the position for a 90-day period, during which the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will conduct a forensic investigation into the "criminal acts" that led to the fuel crisis.

The agency will be bound to submit its report within 90 days based on which prosecution of the elements involved will be done.

Meanwhile, the petroleum secretary will also be given an order to report to the establishment as soon as the decision for his replacement is made, which Umar said will be before the start of the forensic probe.

The minister stressed that the decision was not being taken because any unlawful step had been spotted by the government related to the SAPM or petroleum secretary.

"The prime minister has taken this decision because the investigation of the whole chain has to happen; there are investigations of billions of rupees worth of loss to the nation, that is why to bring this certainty that there is not even a doubt that anyone could influence [the probe], these actions have been taken for both these individuals," the minister said.

In addition, "it was said about some of the people sitting in administrative positions that their background is such or they don't have the capability or ability to be sitting on those positions. The petroleum division has been told to look at those administrative decisions and quickly report to the PM after making those decisions," Umar told the presser.

He noted that the Petroleum Division, which represents the executive branch, and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) played a central role in the law according to which all the petroleum sector was run.

He said an "ambiguity" had been created by the lawmaking done so far about which actions were the responsibility of Ogra, the regulator, and which were to be taken care of by the Petroleum Division.

"To end that ambiguity, a law will be made and whatever amendments are required [will be done], so it is completely clear who has the authority and responsibility," he said, adding that during the investigation into the fuel crisis, Ogra stated that some tasks were to be done by the Petroleum Division and vice versa, "and both were quoting different sections of the law".

Umar said the punishments for many actions that could cause loss to the economy and the people were very weak, announcing that "the law will be revisited [and] the punishments and sentences will be made according to the consequence — meaning the harm that is possible from them."

A number of other things have also been identified for improvement in the petroleum sector which will be reported to the Petroleum Division following which it will make its action plan, the minister revealed.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan always sought to make the lives of Pakistanis better and one of the challenges in such efforts was the existence of "big cartels" and mafias in different sectors "which for many decades have become stronger and stronger".

Umar said after the report into the fuel crisis was made public on the premier's orders, critics had questioned who had been punished in light of the probe.

"Now the time is coming for punishments," he said, stressing that the prime minister was determined that the cartels and mafias "will not be forgiven in any case".

"And when these actions are taken, these very powerful mafias and cartels will not sit and accept quietly and silently the PM's decisions and stay at home," Umar said. "They will try to create a lot of difficulties but the prime minister is ready for that and that's why there is a message for all these cartels from the PM that your time has come to an end and now the time of the people of Pakistan has come."

The minister said there was "no doubt" that the institutions which were responsible for preventing corrupt practices had failed in fulfilling that duty.

"We have to determine exactly whether that responsibility was not fulfilled just because they were not qualified or they had any confusion in their mind about their power and authority and where their personal interests were directly involved and where they colluded in this theft," he emphasised.

"The PM is clear that those who are responsible and involved in this crime, whoever they are, go to jail and are handcuffed."

The crisis and the probe

In June last year, the country witnessed a severe petroleum shortage, ostensibly due to falling global prices and the attempt by the oil industry to avoid inventory losses.

Subsequently, Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered an Inquiry Commission to ascertain the facts behind the shortage and fix responsibility.

The Inquiry Commission, headed by Abubakar Khudabakhsh, the additional director general of FIA, originally comprised seven members, including those from investigating agencies, former members of Ogra and attorney general, but later co-opted eight other experts to complete the task.

The commission’s 163-page report, issued in December, had hurled scathing allegations at the entire oil supply chain, from policymakers to regulators and market players down to retail outlets, besides recommending departmental proceedings against top hierarchy of the Petroleum Division, dissolution of Ogra and a halt to the operations of refinery and oil marketing company Byco.

The commission had also estimated over Rs250 billion worth of oil smuggling from Iran and noted that a wide range of operations in the oil sector were against the law and rules, operating in a vacuum and without any check and balance.

Speaking alongside Umar, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood said Babar and the petroleum secretary being asked to step down did not mean that any investigation or proceedings had been done against them.

"This has been done so the inquiry which has to happen and the forensic evidence that has to be collected, there is not even a doubt that those people who were managing these affairs at the time can somehow influence that inquiry," he stressed. "So this distinction is very important to be kept in mind that they have been asked to step down in an effort to make that inquiry fair and transparent."

Asked why no action was being taken against federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan, Umar said Khan's role was on a policy level and he was "not directly involved in these operational affairs".

--------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY DAWN NEWS

---------------

OSLO, MAR 26: On Wednesday, Norway’s Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide welcomed Saudi Arabia’s announcement on Yemen. On Monday, Saudi Arabia announced it would present a plan for an UN-monitored ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen.

“Norway welcomes the Saudi announcement expressing readiness for a nationwide ceasefire and a comprehensive political solution in Yemen,” Søreide said.

“This is in line with the UN proposal. We call on all parties to engage in unconditional talks to end the suffering of the Yemeni people,” the Minister said.

According to Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, the plan means that the main airport in the capital Sana will reopen. 

He said the ceasefire could be implemented immediately if the Houthis accept it.

“Nothing new”

But the Houthis’ first reaction was that there is nothing new in the plan. They said that the air and sea blockade of the country must be lifted first.

“Saudi Arabia must declare an end to the aggression and lift the blockade completely.

“Presenting ideas that have been discussed for a year is nothing new,” Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam told the rebels’ TV channel Al-Masirah.

The war in Yemen has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Yemen is the poorest country in the Arab world.

----------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY norwaytoday

-------------

ISLAMABAD, MAR 26: Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is supposed to be under quarantine after having tested positive for Covid-19, came under severe criticism from the opposition for presiding over a meeting of his media team at his Banigala residence on Thursday.

The opposition said the prime minister had himself violated standard operating procedures despite the third wave of the dreaded disease and called for registration of an FIR against all those people who attended the meeting for violating the SOPs.

Prime Minister Khan had tested positive for coronavirus on March 20, just a couple of days after receiving an anti-Covid vaccine.

Interestingly, none of the government’s spokesmen could defend the prime minister adequately on his act of chairing a meeting during quarantine period and many of them avoided to engage media personnel over the issue.

The criticism of the prime minister began soon after a picture of the meeting was posted on social media by Senators Shibli Faraz and Faisal Javed, who attended the meeting.

Clad in a grey tracksuit and joggers, the prime minister appeared to be fine and healthy in the picture. The picture showed him sitting in a room on a sofa at some distance from his media team comprising Mr Faraz, Mr Javed, Yousuf Baig Mirza and Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari.

In messages posted on social media platforms, people wondered whether it was necessary for the premier to hold an in-person meeting. They asked why he did not chair the meeting through one of the many video conferencing applications available.

According to the SOPs formulated by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), a Covod-19 patient has to be quarantined for nine to 14 days. However, Prime Minister Khan attended the meeting only four days after testing positive for the disease.

When contacted, Minister for Planning and Development and NCOC chairman Asad Umar said the SOPs only suggested precautions and participants of the meeting were sitting at a reasonable distance from the prime minister.

He, however, admitted that it was better to avoid such meetings during the quarantine period.

Yousuf Baig Mirza, who was among those who were present at the meeting, rejected the criticism and said the meeting was held after taking all precautionary measures as per the SOPs.

“We did not touch each other and all of us were wearing masks. We did not take anything to eat and drink and sat with a reasonable distance from the prime minister during the 45-minute meeting,” he said.

He said the prime minister’s main purpose was to give information to the people about subsidies being given to them on the occasion of Ramazan.

Soon after the meeting, Senator Javed posted pictures of the meeting on his Twitter account and revealed that the prime minister and his wife, who is also suffering from Covid-19, were fine.

both PM and the First Lady are doing fine. The PM will soon start coming to the office,” he said.

For his part, Pakistan Medical Association’s general secretary Dr Qaiser Sajjad said that patients suffering from Covid-19 should not meet people.

Commenting on the PM’s meeting, he said: “There are chances of transmission of coronavirus. If it is necessary to hold meetings, the prime minister should use the option of video conferencing as the virus rapidly spreads in closed areas,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said the prime minister violated the SOPs and gave a message to the entire nation that there was no need to follow them.

The heads of states and governments should set examples for the public. “But here the prime minister is himself encouraging people to violate the SOPs,” she added.

-------------------------------------------------

COURTESY DAWN NEWS

------------

ISLAMABAD, MAR 25: After taking the cake market by storm with the launch, ‘Cake Up’, Pakistan’s leading biscuit manufacturer, EBM - Makers of Peek Freans - has now introduced the Peek Freans Smile Donut Cake – a center-filled donut cake coated with icing and sprinkles and enriched with creamy goodness.

Peek Freans Smile Donut comes in two delicious flavors; Chocolate and Strawberry. These irresistibly soft and delicious donut cakes present a delightful twist - a delectable center-filled surprise of creamy filling along with a coating of sugary icing and sprinkles. With the launch of this donut cake, EBM aims to cater to the masses by making high quality donuts that are more accessible and affordable with a price of just RS 25.

While talking to the media about the launch, the DGM Marketing for EBM, Aaminah Saeed, said, “EBM has always ensured to provide consumers with innovative treats and convey a brand message that makes a difference to society. With the launch of Smile Donut, we aim to serve as a reminder for our consumers to smile more often, something that people usually forget in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We hope that every bite of this unique, creamy treat brings you joy and happiness.”

Shahzain Munir, Director at EBM, added “For years, we have been serving the nation with our delicious delicacies and we are now excited to introduce our latest brand in the cake segment. At EBM, we always strive to provide our consumers with the best experiences and we hope people will enjoy this new treat as much as they love other products offered by us.”

Three years ago, EBM launched Peek Freans Cake Up which has won Pakistan's first ever Effie Award in the Snacks and Desserts category. The Award honors extraordinary achievements in the field of marketing and is already a symbol of success worldwide. EBM has always emphasized on new ways it can connect with its target market with unique concepts and ideas, a vision which has enabled EBM brands to earn such highly esteemed accolades.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Extreme Commerce Magna Carta College (ECMCC) to impart knowledge to Pakistani youth with the international education standards to increase more potential for business and digital skills in Pakistan

KARACHI, MAR 25 - The prestigious Magna Carta College at Oxford, UK and Extreme Commerce Pakistan have established Pakistan’s first higher education institute for entrepreneurship focusing on digital skills and eCommerce.

The institute, Extreme Commerce Magna Carta College was inaugurated today by His Excellency, Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner, Karachi and UK Trade Director Pakistan. The ceremony took place today at the ECMCC, Tariq Road, Karachi Campus.

Mr. Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner, Karachi and UK Trade Director Pakistan appreciated ECMCC’s mission of providing top-notch education and impeccable entrepreneurial skills that will enable the youth of today to become the leaders of the future. Mr. Nithavrianakis also emphasised the importance of quality education through ECMCC that will lay pivotal focus on enhancing the future of E-Commerce in Pakistan through a student-centric approach.

The (ECMCC) institution has been established with a vision of disseminating a full spectrum of affordable pre-university to post-graduate competency and research-based learning, complemented by world-class international qualifications. The institution focuses on providing state-of-the-art facilities and futuristic outlook on academic and entrepreneurial education through highly skilled professionals, entrepreneurial faculty and mentors across the globe.

Sunny Ali, Founder Extreme Commerce on the launch of the institution said, “We are extremely pleased to partner with the Magna Carta College and together, we will help build human capital at par with the international standards in Pakistan. Through the EC-MCC partnership, we aim to provide quality educational resources to everyone in Pakistan and help enhance their career progression chances”.

In his message to the participants, Professor David Faulkner, Dean, ECMCC said, “Our faculty are addressing the key career challenge facing Generation Y and the Millennials. With this initiative, we aim to help deliver quality education in Pakistan. We have brought together a team of world class teachers from the UK and Pakistan to help realize this dream”.

The concept of Extreme Commerce Magna Carta College (ECMCC) became a reality when Sunny Ali, founder of Pakistan’s largest E-Commerce platform, Extreme Commerce and Dean Prof. David Faulkner from Magna Carta College, an Oxford independent business school aligned their visionary goals to provide the students from Pakistan with an opportunity to acquire international quality education along with excelling in the spheres of E-Commerce.

The vision of the institution encompasses the provision of quality education and impeccable entrepreneurial skills that will enable the youth of today to become the leaders of the future. The mission of the institution focuses on inspiring and empowering enterprising potentials to institute successful knowledge-based, emergent to advanced careers and businesses globally.

ECMCC aims to deliver academic excellence along with the development of E-Commerce and entrepreneurial skillset of students that will help elevate future prospects of students by enabling them to earn and learn simultaneously.

Extreme Commerce Magna Carta College is Pakistan’s first Entrepreneurial Higher Education Institute built upon the collaborative union of Extreme Commerce and Magna Carta College, UK. With a pivotal focus on the current generation and their mindset, ECMCC caters to the needs and learning methodologies suitable for the students driving a force of change and meeting the needs towards a sustainable development of the country.

ECMCC aims to inspire and empower enterprising potential of the youth, to institute successful knowledge-based, emergent to advanced careers and businesses globally. The institute achieves ubiquitous mission as an inclusive community built on extreme passion for critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration. The purpose of ECMCC as a futuristic scholastic and incubation hub, is to build and disseminate a full spectrum of affordable pre-university to post-graduate competency and research-based learning, complemented by world-class, international qualifications.

============================

ISLAMABAD, MAR 25: The military parade in connection with Pakistan Day celebrations, previously postponed due to "inclement weather", was held in the capital on Thursday at Parade Ground near Shakarparian hills.

President Arif Alvi attended the parade as the chief guest, while Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi were also present.

Prime Minister Imran Khan was unable to attend as he is currently in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19.

The ceremony kicked off with the fly past of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy fighter jets, led by Air Chief Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, which saluted the president.

F-16, JF-17, Mirage, AWACs, P-3C Orion and ATR aircraft formation participated in the fly past.

The parade also showcased the local cultures of the four provinces as floats from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir were featured during the ceremony.

Contingents of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Special Services Groups, Frontier Corps, Rangers, Islamabad Police, Frontier Constabulary, Airport Security Force and Boys Scouts, marched past the dais while saluting the chief guest, Radio Pakistan reported.

JF-17 and Sherdils performed acrobatic manoeuvres, painting the sky a myriad of colours as an enthralled audience cheered them on.

As a mark of the strong bond between Pakistan and Turkey, a Turkish fighter jet also presented a range of dazzling manoeuvres, the report added. A Turkish military band also surprised the audience by playing national songs.

'Pakistan fully capable of defending its integrity'

In his speech, President Alvi said Pakistan was equipped to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty, categorically stating that any misadventure will receive a befitting response, Radio Pakistan reported.

"We will defend our independence at all costs," he said. However, he added that Pakistan desired peace, security and development in the whole region and had taken practical steps in pursuit of this.

He said that peaceful coexistence was the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy, adding that the current situation required the South Asian leadership to reject the politics of hate, prejudice and religious extremism.

"Pakistan wants to move forward with good intent and peace, but our desire for peace should not be construed as our weakness," he said.

President Alvi also paid tribute to the country's armed forces, stating that the entire country stood shoulder to shoulder with them in the face of foreign aggression and on national issues. "Our martyrs and our ghazis are our pride," he said.

He also commented on the situation in occupied Kashmir. "The entire nation stands by their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in this hour of trial." The president also urged the international community to take notice of the grim situation in the occupied valley.

Public holiday and traffic plan

As per notification issued by the deputy commissioners of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, a local holiday was announced in the twin cities in connection with the military parade.

To facilitate the parade, Islamabad traffic police restricted traffic on the Islamabad Expressway from Khanna Bridge to zero point between 5:00am to 2:00pm. Islamabad traffic police also specified alternate routes to facilitate traffic flow.

Earlier this week, the military's media wing had said that the parade had been postponed due to "inclement weather and rain".

------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY DAWN NEWS

---------