First Meeting of Pakistan-Korea Business Council of FPCCI held in Karachi

Mr Sohail Nisar, Chairman Pak-Korea Business Council of FPCCI convened the First Meeting of the Council which was graced by Mr. Chang-Hee Lee, Consul General of Republic of Korea in Karachi.

Haji Fazal Kadir Sheerani, President FPCCI in his welcome address emphasized the need for more interaction between the Business Communities of two countries. He also stressed upon that opportunities for joint ventures that exist in many fields including alternate energy, agriculture, engineering sectors, food processing, technical and technological collaborations etc. He also suggested frequent exchange of trade delegations, promotion of new products by organizing exhibitions, conducting joint study to find new products for bilateral trade, and to remove hurdles that impede the bilateral trade between Pakistan and South Korea.

Mr Sohail Nisar, Chairman Pak-Korea Business Council mentioned that Korea has demand for at least 20,000 tons of mango, which is currently being met through imports from a few countries. But the delicious, aromatic and different varieties of mangoes grown in Pakistan have no parallel. He said despite a 30% duty on mango imports, the Pakistani fruit could have a good demand in the Korean market. He, however, called for swift processing of mango at the existing facilities.

Members of the Council informed the Consul General about the difficulties being faced by them in the process of obtaining visas, despite the fact that they have visited Korea several times for business purpose. The President FPCCI suggested establishing a special window at the Consulate General of Korea in Karachi to issue visa to the genuine businessmen on the recommendation of FPCCI.

The Consul General was also informed that Pakistan-Korea JBC meeting is due for last six years and sought his cooperation in holding it at the earliest so that the two sides could take a fresh look at the opportunities and challenges before them in order to achieve comprehensive development and foster greater collaboration.

Mr. Chang-Hee Lee, Consul General of Republic of Korea in Karachi thanked the FPCCI for inviting him. He informed that Korea is the 12^th largest economy in the world and 4^th largest in Asia. He said Pakistan and South Korea have a lot in common, be it socio politics or cultural aspects and enjoy a much deeply enrooted friendly and mutually co-operative relations since more than six decade. He said it was encouraging for him to witness the presence of big Korean Corporations in Pakistan, like Samsung, LG, Lotte, Ssangyong, POSCO, Daewoo and establishing relationship with Pakistani business community. Mr. Chang-Hee Lee said the problems faced by Pakistani businessmen are regrettable and he would take up the matter with the Authority in Korea for rectification.

NBP Embarks to Establish the Largest Data Center

In line with the NBP President’s vision of technology at the core of banking, National Bank of Pakistan inked its Data Center Project on turnkey basis with Getronics (AGCN) Pakistan. The project shall be an International Standards Certified Tier III Data Center Project.  This Data Center facility will serve more than 1290 online branches for Centralized Banking Applications; to ensure 24x7x365 (Always Online) IT services across the bank and all its applications including a 24 hours IT services monitoring & operations center.  

The Project Head NBP Mr. Qasim Y. Khan (Vice President/Wing Head IT Strategic Planning Wing) and country manager Getronics Pakistan Mr. Faisal Rao signed the contract in the presence of the President, National Bank of Pakistan Dr. Asif A. Brohi and senior executives of the bank.  Mr. Mahmood Siddique (Chief Information Officer) and Mr. Yasir Ansari (Deputy CIO) acknowledged the project to be a success for the future NBP services & increase customer satisfaction through highest availability and resiliency. This is one of its kind projects in the financial industry of Pakistan with latest equipment and technology and an IT milestone for the largest commercial bank of Pakistan.

Arif Bukhari calls on Chancellor Schroeder

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Arif Ali Shah Bukhari, Chancellor of KASBIT and Chairman of KASB Foundation, called on former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, on the sidelines of the recently held YPO-WPO Global Leadership Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.

Arif Bukhari apprised the German Chancellor about the successful implementation of the FATA Children Scholarship Programme that was run by the KASB Foundation with the support of the German Foreign Office to educate the children who were displaced because of the violence in the FATA region. 

Realizing the importance of Pakistan, which will serve as the transit point in the new business order of the world to connect the Middle East, Afghanistan and the former Soviet Bloc countries, East Asia and more importantly China with the rest of the world, Chancellor Schroeder looked forward to the timely development of infrastructure in Pakistan to meet the challenges that would have to be met for the prosperity of Pakistan in particular and the South Asian Region in general.

Arif Bukhari, who is also the Chairman of the Pakistan China Business, Cultural and Social Society, which serves to develop the social-cultural, economic and people to people contacts between Pakistan and China, invited Chancellor Schroeder on behalf of the society to visit Pakistan as a special guest speaker to inform its members about the vision he holds for the South Asian Region and the supportive role he could play on behalf of his country to which the Chancellor responded that he looked forward to do so whenever the right opportune allowed him to visit Pakistan.

The German Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Michael Koch, having taken very keen interest in the running of the FATA Children Scholarship Programme, was also appreciative of the KASB Foundation initiative.

Pak Railways promote 500 ticket examiners

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The General Manager Pakistan Railways, Junaid Qureshi, has promoted over 500 Special Ticket Examiners, Special Ticket Examiner Group Inspectors and Divisional Inspectors to the next grade.

He signed the summary of promotion of the Railways employees on March 1 and the notification in this regard was also issued later in the day, sending a wave of delight among the staff. 

As per notification the Grade 11 Special Ticket Examiners have been promoted to Grade 14, Grade 12 Special Ticket Examiners Group Inspectors to Grade 15 and Grade 14 Divisional Inspectors to Grade 16. 

It may be mentioned here that a Special Ticket Examiner Mohammed Suleman had moved to court a couple of years ago seeking promotions which was allowed by the court with the order for carrying out the required promotions. 

However, the implementation of the court order was delayed because of ongoing financial crisis in the railway which led to protests and strike by railway employees. 

Meanwhile the leaders of Railway’s Special Ticket Examiners Group Association, Shahabuddin Lakho, Haji Naimuddin Abbasi, Abdul Majeed Abbasi, Syed Asif Ali Shah and Al-haj Liaquat Ali Khilji have expressed their gratitude to the GM Railway, Junaid Qureshi, and other senior railway officials for issuance of notification of their promotions having described the issuance of notification the victory of righteousness.

Blair suggests study for education pattern suiting Pakistan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has suggested that a study be conducted to evaluate the type of education that would be effectively suited for Pakistan and an urgent action be taken to implement it.

He made the suggestion in a meeting with Arif Ali Shah Bukhari, Chancellor of KASBIT and Chairman of KASB Foundation, on the sidelines of the recently held YPO-WPO Global Leadership Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. 

Arif Bukhari, who attended the conference as Member MENA Regional Board of YPO-WPO, revealed that in the meeting with Tony Blair the geo-Political issues of Pakistan also came under discussion and he explained to the former British Prime Minister that there was great potential for improvement and modernization in Pakistan for which the way forward was through the prioritized provision of education to its masses through which the evils of illiteracy and violence would gradually be overcome. 

The former British Prime Minister agreed with the viewpoints of the KASBIT Chancellor having remarked there was also an urgent need to develop direct people to people contact for which finding of right partners between Pakistan and Britain was must to achieve real and sustainable growth. 

He also stated that the world’s growth and prosperity had always come through the private sector and that the government’s work was to give the right policies and to create conducive environments for educational growth. 

Tony Blair also informed Arif Bukhari that the British High Commission was trying its best to implement several programs that would directly benefit the people of Pakistan for which he look forward to the support of Pakistani business community to play a positive role for the realization of these programs.