Fashion & Style: Managed and run by two innovative women entrepreneurs

Innovative women entrepreneurs

Making Online Shopping in Pakistan Seamless and Enjoyable for Women and Kids oriented Brands The UK- and Pakistan-based company, Fashion & Style, has made online shopping a safe haven for more than 50,000 customers in Pakistan since 2017. Even during COVID 2020 they served 15,000+ customers. Whether one can travel to the UK/Europe or not, the company has made it possible for everyone to shop with brands like New Look, Mark & Spencer, George, Primark ,Next, Dorothy Perkins, Revolution, Disney , River Island and many more. The online store, managed and run by two innovative women entrepreneurs, Farheen (Farheen Yameen) and Shyle (Hussain Fatima), have made huge strides in the online retail industry by providing not only reasonably priced and good quality luxury items from the UK but also by achieving extraordinary levels of customer satisfaction by being proactive and loyal.

Fashion & Style’s parcel return ratio is less than 0.06% and their customer satisfaction ratio exceeds 98.77%. The duo at the growing company prides themselves for dealing with their customers themselves where these women are available themselves for any issues or feedback incorporation. This is the main reason for the company’s enhanced customer confidence and trust. Fashion&Style aims to hire and support underserved women in Pakistan. Their current team comprises of women who are not getting opportunities in big firms due to their family and personal issues. Currently, Fashion&Style supports women who are single mothers, divorced, differently abled etcetera. The employment opportunities are made accessible by offering full- time, part-time or remote positions. Fashion&Style achieved a milestone when their services did not stop during the pandemic, and regardless of the ongoing challenges the passionate duo did not stop serving their customers.

With a 100% rise in their customer base, the company continued to provide a one-stop-shop for all types of high-end fashion brands even during the pandemic. Co-founders Farheen and Shyle shared, “we started this journey with one aim in mind: customer satisfaction. We knew that traditionally online shopping has had its challenges in Pakistan; therefore, we made sure that we resolve all of them for our customers. We aim to provide all UK/EU brands in Pakistan at reasonable costs so everyone can afford it. Through our service, we are also making these products accessible for those individuals who cannot travel to Europe also at a very competitive price.” About Fashion&Style Fashion&Style is a UK- and Pakistan-based online one-stop-shop for all brands available in the UK for Pakistani consumers. The company provides a seamless shopping experience to its customers all over the country. The company has not stopped its services during the pandemic and follows all SOPs.

Raast: Pakistan’s first instant payment system

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched the country’s first instant payment system—Raast—to enable end-to-end digital payments among individuals, businesses and government entities instantaneously.

Addressing the ceremony, the Prime Minister termed the launch a major step forward by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) towards “Digital Pakistan”, adding it would help include the low income groups and make them part of the mainstream economy. He was optimist that it would go a long way in fighting poverty, particularly in rural areas.

Raast is part of Prime Minister Khan’s “Digital Pakistan” vision to include poor segments of society in formal economy. The faster payment system will be used not only to settle small-value retail payments in real time but will also provide cheap and universal access to all players in the financial industry, including banks and fin-techs.

Khan said the instant payment system would not only document the economy, but would also generate more taxes to help build the country.He regretted that only two million people in the country of 220 million used to pay taxes, which was not enough to build hospitals and schools, and provide other basic facilities of life to the common man. Only 3,000 of the tax payers paid 70 per cent of the tax, he added.

The Prime Minister said foreign remittances had been constantly on the rise for the past five months, and had helped stabilise the rupee. After a gap of 17 years, the country’s current account had gone into surplus, lowering pressure on the rupee and playing a key role in strengthening the national economy, he added.

Khan said with increase in revenue collection, the government would create extra space for spending on the human development—education, health and clean drinking water.

He said Pakistan was among the top countries with the highest growth rate in the region, but today it was left behind. He hoped a move towards “Digital Pakistan” would help put the country back on track.

He said the people in Pakistan were used to cash economy, however, now it was time to move forward, adding the programme would help give a boost to the Ehsaas Programme, particularly its mobile wallet, and extend its reach to the women in rural areas.

Khan said his government was working for the empowerment of rural womenfolk by including them in various economic activities.He extended gratitude to Queen Maxima of the Netherlands as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank for the launch of the programme.

Queen Maxima appreciated Pakistan on the launch of the instant payment system as well as for effective strategy to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Ehsaas Programme for women empowerment.

Speaking on the occasion, SBP Governor Reza Baqir said the government employees and pensioners would be able to get payment of salaries and pensions in seconds. Baqir said it would also help curb corrupt practices and provide simple, secure and transparent transactions.

He said under the Prime Minister’s directions, the Roshan Pakistan system had met with success, adding the banks were also extending support to the people, who desired to take loans for building homes.

According to the data available with the SBP, digital payments account for only 0.2 per cent of Pakistan’s 100 billion transactions today, whereas the share of digital transactions in the peer countries ranges from 1.5 per cent to 7 per cent.

Raast is designed to operate at a cost recovery model to make digital payments affordable to end users of all socio-economic backgrounds. It will allow all financial institutions to seamlessly connect to each other via a single link to the central infrastructure, making digital payments accessible across any channel to customers of any financial institution.

Raast will also introduce more secure payment types to ensure that each transaction is authorised by the payer, and offer enhanced data protection and fraud detection services.

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Free Punjab WiFi facility remains functional in Punjab & has not been shut down: Chairman PITB Azfar Manzoor

The facility of free Punjab Wi-Fi

installed for the convenience of citizens is active and functional. This was stated by Chairman PITB Azfar Manzoor. This facility is available in public buildings, hospitals, education institutes, parks, government offices, and markets etc.

Punjab government remains fully committed to the provision of free WiFi to the citizens and will expand the facility to the whole of Punjab as part of the Digital Punjab vision, stated Chairman PITB.

Pakistan’s First Ever Online Shopping Day On 19th May, 2017

Yayvo.com along with other e-commerce partners, have taken the initiative to celebrate Pakistan’s Own Shopping Day on 19th May, 2017. It’s going to be the first sales festive of its own kind in Pakistan, which will continue to happen every year, just before the Ramzan.

Now you can easily get rid of Eid & Ramzan Shopping hassle by doing online Shopping on this Shopping Day. Eid is an occasion of spreading joy and happiness. You buy a lot of apparels and accessories not only for yourself, but also for presenting them to your loved ones. For you guys, the e-commerce peers, are going to celebrate online Shopping Day on 19th May, 2017 where you can get all products that you wish for in super amazing discount prices!

Major Banks and Telecom Companies Offering Discounts!

Have you thought of getting extra discounts on online shopping excluding the ones that e-commerce websites offer you? If you haven’t, so now is the time to experience it. Different banks and telecommunication brands are offering amazing discounts on online Shopping Day!

To develop e-commerce industry, the big brands of banking industry and telecommunication industry are taking part in the online Shopping Day. The e-commerce industry has evolved with time and initiatives like this will contribute to its success in Pakistan. This is the first time ever that different banks are participating in the Pakistan Shopping Day by offering users great discounts. Payment with MCB card-30% discount, Payment with Meezan Bank Card-20% discount, Payment with UBL card-30% discount and Payment with Silk Bank Card-20% discount. Not only this, the virtual online payment systems are also there to support the first ever e-commerce Shopping Day, offering 15% discount on Easypaisa, and 10% JazzCash discount.. The sole aim of the Online Shopping day is to provide the customers great opportunity to prepare for Ramzan and Eid, and get the necessary products in amazing discounted prices.

7 things you should know about this Mega Shopping Day!

Pakistan Shopping Day comes with super exciting discount offer up to 75%. The exciting deals are totally irresistible, you simply can’t let go these outstanding discount offers. #RahaNaJae Let’s see the offerings of this Mega Shopping Day.

1. 80% OFF on Fashion Wardrobe

Eid is an occasion where everyone wants to look classy and different from others. For this look, you wish to get adorable outfit, footwear and accessories. That’s exactly what you need for Eid shopping! You will be pleased to hear that you will get incredible discount of 80% on Men’s apparel, Women’s apparel, Kids apparel, footwear and accessories. Some of the brands in this category include EdenRobe, Yellow, Xarasoft, Bata foot wear, Sana Safinaz apparels, Motifz, Lala and Regal Shoes… Amazing isn’t it??

2. Exciting Deals in Flash Deal

On 19th May, you can avail Flash deals, which will consist of different exciting deals offered in different time slots. You can buy all Ramzan products, including Iftar and Sehri items on this Shopping Day. Apart from this, you can find exciting deals on Eid products including men’s and women’s apparel, footwear, accessories and many more. Flash deal will be for limited time, so make sure you avail these outstanding deals!

3. Xiaomi Redmi 4X Launch on 19th May!

Xiaomi Redmi 4X is going to be launched on 19th May, 2017 and you guys can buy it from Yayvo.com on Shopping Day. Isn’t it exciting? Xiaomi manages to amaze people with its outstanding phones. Recently, In China on 11th November (Single’s Day), around 1 million Xiaomi Redmi 4A were sold in just 24 hours! This gives a good prediction that Xiaomi 4X is going to follow the footsteps of Xiaomi Redmi 4A.

4. iPhone 7 Red, Samsung S8 and Samsung S7 Edge on our Online Shelves at Best Price!

iPhone 7 Red has recently launched in Pakistan, and on Online Shopping day, you can buy it at the best lowest price online. iPhone has always managed to make itself as the biggest smartphone brand, the customers love it whole heartedly for its user-inter face, and performance.

Samsung Galaxy S8 outclasses others with its high memory storage of 4GB and 12 MP camera which captures excellent shots. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge with its 5.5” quad HD display and long battery life of 3600 mAh has marked itself as a powerful phone with great display. The Shopping Day gives you the chance to buy all these incredible phones at discounted prices! Believe it or not but it’s actually happening!!

5. Free Vouch365 App Registration

Vouch 365 app normally requires high cost for registration, but on this day, you can get free registration with every order placed above Rupees 1000. This is limited for only residents of Karachi and Lahore.

6. Lenovo/Motorola Smartphones in Discounted Price!

That’s not definitely the end. There is lot more to come on this super exciting shopping day. You will be able to buy Lenovo/Motorola smartphones, highly known for innovation and latest technology on this Shopping Day. There is a wide range of Lenovo/Motorola smart phones available on our online shelves. The amazing discounts offers are on these phones including Lenovo A7020 with 37% off, Lenovo A6020 with 18% off, Lenovo A6010 with 10% off, Lenovo Vibe P1 with 50% off and Lenovo Vibe S1 with 45% off.

7. 60% OFF on FILL HOME Furniture and Furniture Accessories!

Do you want to decorate your home before Eid? This is the best time to get the home furniture & accessories. FILLHOME furniture including bed room sets, Furniture, children beds, living room divider, center table, dining table, iron stand, tea trolley and wooden floor, is available on online Shopping Day at 60% discount! Give the best look to your house and make it shine before Eid.

This is the best opportunity for you guys to shop unlimited on 19th May for Ramzan and Eid conveniently by sitting at your home. You just think of a product and you will have it in the best lowest prices. Without any hassle, at the comfort of your home, you can buy all Ramzan and Eid products, be it grocery, Sehri and Iftar items, men and women apparel, footwear, accessories, smartphones, furniture and many more. Just visit http://yayvo.com/shopping-day here on 19th May, and enjoy unlimited shopping with mind blowing discount offers.

Pick the items, place the order and get them reach to you shortly with Yayvo’s superfast delivery partner TCS. Get ready and grab all that you can!!!

Pakistan IT Sector Offers Liberia Technical Assistance

While talking with the Minister for Education of Liberia, Mr. George Kronnisanyon, Pakistan’s Minister for Information Technology, Mrs. Anusha Rahman said that Pakistan is now known to be a top investment destination of Telecom and IT in South Asia. She was in Paris for attending the Mobile Learning Conference under the auspices of UNESCO, the agenda being to find new ways of tapping into the mobile learning potential for socio-economic development.

Mrs. Rahman said that Pakistan’s freelancers are in the No.4 position in the world and mentioned to the Liberian Minister about the accelerated digitalization programme to increase the socio-economic growth in the country. She spoke about the ICT for Girls Programme started recently which targets passing the benefits of ICT to this less privileged section of the marginalized society where girls from sections would be given training in coding and computing with Microsoft’s Partnership for improving their chances of employment.

Also, Pakistani government is putting billions of rupees for providing telecom and broadband facilities under the Universal Service Fund. And with CISCO and Microsoft, a complete IT education programme for ICT schools is under making. She also said that the recent telecom policy which was approved is appreciated by the industry and other stake-holders as a landmark.

The steps taken by the Government of Pakistan for socio-economic development by using the ICT effectively were much appreciated by Mr. George Kronnisanyon and wanted Paksitan’s expertise in the ICT field, The Ministry of ICT agreed to provide all support in the fields of ICT and education and promised to work the issues for a MoU between the two countries.
Ambassador of Pakistan to France and permanent delegate to UNESCO, Mr. Ghalib Iqbal, and Member HR Ministry of IT, Mr. Tahir Mushtaq were also present during the meeting.

Rs. 3 Billion Worth of New Projects in the Next Fiscal Year – MoIT

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT) came up with four new projects of the Special Communication Organization (SCO) under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2016-17, against a demand of Rs. 1146.8 million, according to documents, and an estimated cost of Rs. 2766.9 million.

A demand of Rs.1.333 billion for the 9 new schemes for 2016-17 was made by Ministry which includes:

IT Capacity Building of Federal Government Employees (NITB)-Rs 20 million
Replication of e-Health Services at Federally Administrative hospitals (NITB)-Rs 20 million
Research Studies and Updations for ICT Industry- Rs 51 million
IT Industry Support Programs (PSEB)-Rs 37.264 million
Expansion of Broadband Internet Services in AJ&K Phase-II (SCO)-Rs 44-4 million
Expansion of Broadband Internet Services in GB Phase-II (SCO)-Rs 32.5 million
Replacement of GSM Network of AJ&K (Project no. III/2011-2012)-Rs 580 million
Provision of Seamless GSM Coverage along KKH for Proposed Gawadar-Kashighar Economic Corridor in Gilgit-Baltistan (Project I/2014-2015) GB (SCO)-Rs 489 million
Feasibility Study and Consultancy for development of Information Technology (IT) Park at Karachi-Rs 58.287 million.

A proposal of Rs. 2457.832 million was put forward by the MoIT under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the year 2016-17 against the Rs. 922.804 marked for the current financial year. Also, two new projects for National Information Technology Board and one of Pakistan Software Development Board were proposed but none for MoITT IT wing and MoIT Telecom wing were proposed in the coming PSDP.

The PSDP for the coming fiscal year 2016-17 was prepared and sent to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology for consideration and recommendation with respect to MoIT and its connected departments, which is a mandate for discussion, proposals and passed by end March.

The proposed layout of PSDP for fiscal year 2016-17 is Rs 2457.832 million against 20 schemes relating to IT & Telecom sectors including 11 old/ongoing and nine new projects.

The government has earmarked Rs 922.804 million including Rs 722.804 million local component and Rs 150 million foreign component. However the data of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms shows that Rs 1342.549 million has so far been released to IT and Telecom ministry including Rs 1144.5 million foreign aid and Rs 198 million local component.

The Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms does not show the foreign component however, according to the Economic Affaires Division China has released Rs 1144.5 million for construction of cross- border optical fiber cable (OFC) system between China and Pakistan for international connectivity of voice / data traffic under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The government however released no amount against the replication of e-office (basic common applications) at 45 divisions of federal government, research & development unit (Islamabad) and technology parks development project at Islamabad projects.

After getting the passage from standing committee, the proposed PSDP would be presented before the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms for final consideration.

Wasif Ayub CEO of Serverless Technologies – A person from a remote area raised his palm towards success

Serverless Technologies is one of the leading names in Pakistan history. It is a platform that purpose to justify nation supporting them with latest technology features. The solutions is introduced by Mr. Wasif Ayub, claiming success not just in Pakistan but also world’s other parts.

A person from a remote area raised his palm towards success. He gave reality to his vision depending on small team and few resources. Mr. Wasif is launching different apps blending creative ideas to extend their comfort level with soothing services.

From where you get early education?

I completed my high school education from Govt City High School Bahawalnagar and then did FSC Govt College Bahawalnagar. Later in 2007 I was honored with Scholarship from National University (FAST) and paved his path of success.

What was your first project?

I started my first project during graduation named as TheSuffah, the purpose of this web portal was to give scholarship awareness to the remote areas people who wish to get better education but their limited resources don’t permit them to do so. But unfortunately it was rejected by Punjab Govt and after working 3 months it got closed.

Serverless Technologies signed a contract with Matyana Group of Industries

Did the failure affect your mission?

Not at all, in fact I learned a lot and meanwhile started another project lahoremandi.com, it was classified site for different Ads.

In the same time completed my graduation and started job in Northbay Solutions and later TABS Group International, it was an American platform who were developing a project named Americas ID and I also participated for the same.

Could you tell us about your project Serverless Technology?

Well its story of my failure that brought me to this project. During my job I worked on it and also started the documentation and final set up in 2015 with proper team.

My team build its roots in 46 stations including Bahawalnagar. We also participated for plan 9 and listed among the finalized 17 companies.

Optimaken and Serverless Technologies signed an MOU

Does your software useful for the backward areas?

Yes it is, we are working for many regions and remote areas a supporting person with knowledge and still process is on its way spreading to KPK, Punjab regions and AJK.

What is the Purpose of Smartcity?

The purpose of Smartcity is to assemble and centralize the data of the governance workflow, education, health sectors and small scale industries. Apart it includes the transport data.

Under this software we will support consumer rights, all systems will be regulated and corruption will be reduced in other way.

The Scope of Auto Governess?

It is very much concerned with governance specially judiciary, lawyers can register their evidences while registering cases. This is complete portal that has options to edit the info, person and reopen the file.

We have also introduced a portal for business owners so they can analyze their stock can compare the preceding years and following that implement in market.

We are also working for the health sector as we have created a portal that includes the patients’ complete details its previous history so the doctor can diagnose it easily.

The next we are planning to implement it in South Africa, Sri Lanka, Ghanna and Vietnam.

Canada interested in assisting Pakistan IT sector

Looking at the decrease in terror incidents in the country, Canada is looking at an interest in the upcoming Pakistan’s IT, power and energy sectors to improve commercial relations.

“Canada is keen to assist Pakistan in the business community. We encourage Canadian technology and service firms to invest in IT and telecoms, power and the agriculture sectors which would benefit Pakistan’s economy,” said Canada’s High Commissioner in Islamabad Heather Cruden.

Speaking at a reception at the Canadian Embassy while reproaching the terrorist attack at Bacha Khan University, which claimed 22 lives, she said that Canada and Pakistan were looking to remove the threat of terrorism which is claiming many innocents all over the globe.

She also mentioned to various areas where there is potential for the two sides to strengthen the bilateral ties and also encouraged the Canadian firms to invest in Pakistan’s IT, power and energy sectors for the combined benefit.

She said that the in the bilateral trade, more than 65% of Canada’s exports of pulses and other agricultural products were made to Pakistan and in 2014, Pakistan was Canada’s largest market for canola, accounting to 47% of Canadian exports to Pakistan.

The Canadian representative hopes for the improvement of trade in agricultural goods to continue. Canada is assisting in Pakistan’s attempt to empower women economically and supports organizations like CARE, KASHF Foundation and International Labour Organization for the training of above 172000 to be women entrepreneurs in the main areas of financial literacy business skills.

As part of Canada’s $250 million commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, it is providing $20m to UNICEF’s Polio Plus initiative in Pakistan.

Canada is also assisting Election Commission of Pakistan. It had helped the International Foundation for Electoral Systems to train over 243,000 staff of which 25 per were women for 2013 elections held in Pakistan.