Face Tape Trend On TikTok – No More Plastic Surgery?

Jul 15, 2022

The latest TikTok beauty trend, ‘Face Tape,’ has taken social media by storm. Nonetheless, it’s an answer to all those beauty worries which require you to go under the knife, i.e., plastic surgery. Truth be told, we have learned a fair share of beauty trends from TikTok. Meanwhile, the new IT trend has been swarming our social media feeds lately.

Face Tape Trend

The method is pretty straightforward; users apply tape to areas of the face where they wish to reduce the appearance of wrinkles or fine lines (mostly on their foreheads) and wear the tape overnight to prevent movement. When they wake up, users remove the tape and repeat the process for a week or more, recording the progress.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Makeup (@bebeautymood)

Whether placed near the eyes, on the jawline, or near your cheekbones, some forms of tape come attached to a small string that blends into your hair. Once pulled upward for the desired look, you can easily hide the magic string in a ponytail or amidst your tresses.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Citta Farenty (@cittaf)

Sometimes, the tape is worn during a makeup tutorial transformation video. While the internet is skeptical, the face tape trend is a temporary answer to the chiseled jaw, lifted brows, and saggy skin. It is an answer to getting smooth, wrinkle-free skin without having to invest in expensive treatments.

Is Face Taping Safe?

While a bit of Scotch tape probably won’t leave permanent scars, face taping can do more harm than good.

According to dermatologists, using a piece of tape, especially one that is ‘supposed’ to hold your skin down for a whole night, can damage the skin barrier when you take it off. This tape isn’t made to be safe on the skin and can cause redness, irritation, and acne breakouts. Often, the adhesive must be incredibly tight and, therefore, uncomfortable to use for an extended time to “hold” the muscles still.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad – Inspiring Positive Social Change

Rabia Hassan

Jul 15, 2022

Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad – Inspiring Positive Social Change — Image Source: Head Topics

The filmmaking duo Fizza Ali Mirza and Nabeel Qureshi, are best known for their socio comedies that deal with issues affecting people within our society. Namaaloom Afrad, Actor in Law and Load Wedding – their previous films – carried very strong moral lessons and QAZ is no different.

The film centers around Gulab (Fahad Mustafa) whose father (Qavi Khan plays the older version later in the film) is an honest police officer and teaches his son to refrain from dishonesty and fraud. He tells Gulab that our currency has Quaid’s image on it ‘takkay wo hum pay nazar rakh skien’ (so that he can watch us). As a child, Gulab learns that his father’s philosophies do not match his needs and desires. Hence, he grows up to become a corrupt policeman indulging shamelessly in illegal activities and accepting bribes.

The second half depicts his journey from bad to good cop. With spiritual awakening, he starts enforcing law and order and patriotic duties at his best. His love interest revolves around Mahira Khan who is a vet and also an animal rights activist. She drives a scooty and is dedicated to rescuing injured and abused street animals. Within the narrative of the film, her character represents kindness in contrast to corruption.

Both leading actors have played their part well. Fahad Mustafa in particular truly deserves to be applauded for he carries the weight of the entire film on his shoulders. Whether its romance tragedy, action or dance, he proves that he is here to stay for long. Mahira looks absolutely gorgeous and her costumes are lovely designed by none other than Nomi Ansari. There are some funny moments between the two and the chemistry is charged throughout, specially in the songs.

Watch the trailer here:

We also get to see Javed Sheikh as the sub-inspector and Gulab’s confidant who is ready to support his boss in both good and bad times. Javed Sheikh is one of our veteran actors who is extremely versatile and even though his role is small, the cinematic presence is incredible; especially with the auburn hair and mustache, which make him look very charming and fits perfectly in the skin of the Sindhi policeman.

Mehmood Aslam as Babar Jillani (Gulab’s boss) and Nayyer Ejaz as Rana Kamran the mischievous politician, play the lawbreaking agents who back up each other for their selfish means. There is one scene in the end when Rana Kamran is finally caught and amidst a police encounter, Gulab slaps him, a very poorly-timed, irrelevant, needless reaction that kills the seriousness of the scene.

QAZ is a definitive action-packed police film with a unique and original concept and fantastic music. Though some of the action sequences in the first half have been replicated from the Bollywood flick Singham resulting in severe backlash from the audience. However, the sequence shot in the plane is a must-watch and sets the bar high for future fight sequences in Lollywood films.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates!

Why Resumption Of The IMF Program Is A Lifeline For Pakistan’s Economy?

Abubakr Hussain

Jul 15, 2022

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan have reached a staff-level agreement for the conclusion of the combined seventh and eighth reviews of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The people who closely monitor Pakistan’s economy such as the stock market and have skin in the game are rejoicing.

The resumption of the program is expected to bring stability to Pakistan’s struggling economy, at least on a short-term basis. It depends on Pakistan’s economic managers how they use this short-term ease to put Pakistan’s economy on track. But historically, they have always failed to come out of an IMF program triumphant such as Thailand and Vietnam did in the past.

Pakistan’s economy has been struggling and there are several reasons. People with money in Pakistan tend to invest in unproductive places such as real estate when they should have been investing in the industry.

Real estate is a lucrative avenue to invest in Pakistan and the government has so far been unable to strike the right balance.

Despite low production in the country, the country has an appetite to consume because many manage to earn big bucks from unproductive sectors such as real estate and then they want to spend to improve their lifestyle. For that they create demand for goods that are not produced in the country, and since there is a demand for legitimate goods, the economic books say there has to be a supply. The demand is then catered by imports.

Imports for a country are not bad. In fact trade between countries is good since some countries are good at producing certain things and other countries have another set of certain things they have competitive advantage in.

However, the problem comes when imports are significantly higher than exports – three times more in Pakistan’s case. Remittances come handy but still Pakistan has a high current account deficit, which has reached $15.2 billion in the first 11 months (July-May) of fiscal year 2022.

The current account deficit puts pressure on foreign exchange reserves, which depleted to below $10 billion presently and barely covers two months of imports.

The falling reserves puts Pakistan’s sovereign credibility into question whether it could honor agreements of foreign payments.

The resumption of the IMF program means that the foreign exchange reserves will come out of the uncomfortable level as resumption of the IMF program also opens doors for other creditors such as for friendly Gulf countries and Asian Development Bank. Some experts say resumption of the IMF program would see forex reserves jumping to above $15 billion, which would stabilize the economy.

However, when the IMF extends its loan facility, it wants the country to take certain actions that are expected to make the country a going concern – meaning it is living within its means and can pay back its loan.

It asks the government to remove subsidies such as from fertilizer, fuel and electricity that jacks up inflation. It wants the government to increase interest rates in order to curtail demand. All these actions reduce employment and make things expensive.

But the problem is not in the IMF program. It’s in the fundamentals of Pakistan’s economy. To survive, Pakistan must industrialize and increase both agricultural and manufacturing output to reduce imports and increase exports. Otherwise, the IMF program may provide a year or two of relief only and we will again be standing in a similar but a bit more precarious situation.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

5 Security Tips To Prevent Phone Apps From Stealing Your Data

Lyza Rashid

Jul 15, 2022

Data security tips — Image Source: Panda Security

Knowledge of data security is one of the essential forms of experience we need to be equipped with today. We’re living in the times where data breach and stealing is what social media platforms thrive on. Noam Chomsky ousted politicians paying Facebook for data of its users to “manufacture consent.” On the other hand, Google is sued for billions for stealing data on Incognito mode. So what do you do to protect your data?

1. Do Your Homework

It is always a good idea to do research. Do a simple Google search on a company’s privacy and security policies. Find the third-party sites that are sharing their data. Determine whether you can delete your data from a website should you choose to. Companies may or may not adhere to regulations of data, but the consumer has the power to hold them accountable. Data security is often your responsibility.

2. Use End to End Encryption

End to end encryption (E2EE) is a form of securing your data. It encrypts your data while it’s being transferred from one device to another. In layman terms, it means that the third party will not be able to decipher what your data is. The data in such a method is encrypted in the user’s device, and only they can decrypt it.

Whatsapp uses end to end encryption, and Snapchat has finally introduced it too to ensure data security!

3. Check the Data Policy

Delete cookies — Image Source: Pros and Cons

We know no one sane ever used to read the data policy for apps, but now you don’t have a choice. It’s either that or you unknowingly consent to apps storing your data so you can’t sue them too. Read the policy no matter how long it is. Make sure you’re disabling cookies or not consenting to them.

Cookies are small files that contain the user’s data and store it onto the web servers. For instance, at a shopping site, if you enable cookies, they will remember what you liked last. Next time, they’ll show you relevant goods. While that sounds convenient, it can be dangerous for you in the long run. The data the site stores can be sold to third parties for various purposes.

4. Confidential Emails

Confidential Mode Enabling on Gmail — Image Source: Email Overload Solutions

Gmail has an option to send confidential emails to protect sensitive data being shared on email. This option equips the sender with the ability to set an expiry date or revoke access at any time. Moreover, the opportunities to forward, copy, print, and download are disabled for the recipient.

However, Gmail makes it clear that the recipient can still screenshot the email. Or if they have malicious software on their device, they can download it still.

5. Check Your Permissions

This one is especially for Android users. Every time you download a new app, phones often automatically enable some permissions in the settings. That is why you need to keep a regular check on your permissions in the settings. More often than not, the location option is enabled, which means your whereabouts are stored in the app, which is dangerous.

Snapchat introduced the location feature a while ago, which resulted in many people being harmed as their location was shown. However, soon after, everyone turned on the “ghost mode” to remain safe.

Have you been doing these? Let us know in the comments below!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

6 Entertainment Platforms In Pakistan You Should Definitely Subscribe To

Mehak Zehra

Jul 15, 2022

television entertainment platforms — Image Source: Broadband TV News

TV is still very much in our households but being restricted to a set schedule does not sit well with everybody. Everyone has different schedules that they have to adhere to. This why, having subscription platforms where you can choose to watch whatever you want from an entire selection sounds attractive. While some entertainment platforms are free like YouTube, some require subscription. But how to decide which platforms you should subscribe to? Well, worry not because we have you covered.

Here are all the entertainment platforms you can subscribe to.

1. Netflix

This goes without saying that Netflix shpuld defnitely be in your subscription list. It took quite some time for the platform to get to Pakistan but now that it has, you can choose from thousands and thousand of movies and videos in a nominal amount.

coming up with play something feature for android — Image Source: in.mashable.com

2. Urduflix

Of course, while Netflix is most people’s first choice, foreign shows are available mostly in dubbed English or in English subtitles. For people who want to view dubbed content, they are forced to choose the next best alteratnative, hindi dubbing. And that too is not for all content. Urduflix is then your go-to. Be it Arabic, Turkish, or even Korean shows, it will all be dubbed in Urdu.

3. Zee5

Zee5 has won our hearts through their Pakistani shows. Churails was a superhit project that they aired. After that, there were some other amazing web series that it released. Now, they are building the hype for a web series featuring our beloved Fawad Khan. And the idea is based on magical realism. Can you believe that? Hence, it is, hands down, one of the entertainment platforms you should have subscribed to.

State Bank decides to block Zee5 payment — Image Source: leonidstorm.com

4. Tapmad

From kids shows to tapmad originals and then some other foreign and across borders content, Tapmad is feasible when it comes to its subscription fee. In fact, given the plethora of content it lays on your feet, it is incredible.

tapmad Entertainment Platforms — Image Source: YouTube

5. Amazon Prime

Following Netflix, Amazon Prime has also entered the borders. It too has great content on it. In fact, some of the Amazon Prime originals are just too superb making it qualified to be on the list. That said, if there was a choice between this and Netflix, the latter would definitely win.

6. HBO Max

Little known fact (or maybe it was just me who didn’t know this yet) but HBO Max is also available in Pakistan. And it costs $14.99 (PKR 2,666) per month. If you get hooked to shows like Game of Thrones, you should definitely subscribe to it.

entertainment platforms — Image Source: Google Play

Considering I get a little too many shows in PKR 1,100 from Netflix, I’ll just stick to that though.

So what did you decide on?

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates!

Khushhali Microfinance Bank Has Provided House-Loans Worth Rs.10.9 Billion To 17,800 Customers

Web Desk

Jul 14, 2022

(Islamabad) July 14, 2022: Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited (KMBL) is a winner of Pakistan’s ‘Best Microfinance Bank Award’, with a vision for sustainable development, through professional excellence. In 2018, it pioneered the ‘Khushhali Home Plus loans facility, offering up to 01 Million Rupees for low-income individuals, who need affordable housing finance for the renovation and improvement of existing houses. This facility has already provided loans worth 08 billion Rupees, to more than 15,900 low-income individuals, to date, to accelerate socio-economic growth all over Pakistan.

The Government’s Markup- Subsidy Scheme introduced in July 2021, has further enriched KMBL’s high-ticket house-loan scheme to expand and enrich the bank’s portfolio. The Khushhali Apna Makaan (KAM) under the Government’s Subsidized Scheme has approved a total amount of over 3 Billion Rupees. It has serviced 1,400 rural-area individuals, by disbursing a cumulative amount of over 01.8 billion Rupees, while the total approved amount for this segment is 2.2 billion Rupees. Among these, more than 294 were female clients, who have been granted cumulative loans of 409 million Rupees, while the total amount approved for the female segment to date is 510 million Rupees.

The overall Housing Portfolio of KMBL comprises 17,800 low-income individuals, who have been serviced by disbursing a cumulative amount of 10.9 Billion Rupees, while the total amount approved for this portfolio is over 11 Billion Rupees. More than 13,000 Rural area customers have been serviced so far, by disbursing 08 Billion Rupees. A total of 2,515 Female clients have been serviced in this portfolio by providing loans worth 1.6 Billion Rupees.

The President and CEO of KMBL – Mr. Ghalib Nishtar stated that: “The overwhelming success of the ‘Apna Makaan’ House-Loan facility reflects the customer-centric approach and the resourceful performance of Khushhali Microfinance Bank. Improving the quality of accommodation to elevate the standard of living for the deprived masses is one of our key strategic objectives. This endeavor is also in sync with the bank’s inspirational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, aimed at improving: Financial-inclusion, poverty alleviation, empowerment, public health, education, and environmental protection.”

Standard Chartered Conducts Roadshow For NRPs In UAE

Web Desk

Jul 14, 2022

Standard Chartered donates USD 249,000 for flood relief — Image Source: acfcs.org

KARACHI, 15 July 2022 – Standard Chartered Bank conducted a roadshow for Non-Resident Pakistanis based in the UAE. This event was brought forth with the support of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The Standard Chartered network is a key enabler and gives the Bank a unique advantage in information, the ability to create synergies and unlock potential through seamlessly delivering the best products to its client base while keeping them abreast of the latest developments. The Pakistani diaspora has always been a core segment of the Standard Chartered UAE client base and regulatory initiatives like Roshan Digital have now integrated the diaspora into Pakistan’s economy. It is their commitment to the Standard Chartered brand that allows us to be a leading bank not only in the UAE and Pakistan but in countries across the world.

The event offered a unique opportunity to the diaspora to gain insights into the growth potential of Pakistan and the various initiatives and opportunities available to them while residing abroad. Key speakers included Governor SBP (A) Dr. Murtaza Syed, Rola Abu Manneh, CEO Standard Chartered UAE and Rehan Shaikh, CEO Standard Chartered Pakistan. A panel discussion also took place where pressing questions of clients related to the country’s current economic challenges and future outlook were addressed by Dr. Murtaza Syed and his colleagues from SBP Mr. Syed Irfan Ali and Mr. Ali Raza Syed.

Commenting at the occasion Mr. Rehan Shaikh, CEO Standard Chartered Pakistan said, “Non-resident Pakistanis continue to remain instrumental for the economic growth of our country, not only as a major source of foreign exchange sent across to their loved ones for sustenance but also a big source of investments. We are proud to facilitate these clients at both our locations. As the oldest, largest, and leading international bank in Pakistan, non-residents remain an integral part of our journey. This has only been possible on the back of a very progressive and forward-looking Regulator which has championed not only structural economic reforms, but also spearheaded modernization of the Banking industry with focus on digitisation, financial inclusion, and opening avenues for the NRPs.”

The Chief Guest Dr. Murtaza Syed, Governor SBP (A), “Measures taken by the Government and SBP took post covid, kept Pakistan’s economy alive and growing. We have challenges on the economic front but I am confident that things will stabilize in coming months as prudent steps are being taken to tackle the current challenge of international commodity inflation putting pressure on our forex reserves being a net importing nation.

As a progressive central bank, the State Bank of Pakistan continuously strives to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital financial landscape. SBP has been harnessing technology and innovation to promote digitization of payments for efficiencies in banking and overall economy. In line with this vision, we conceptualized the idea of providing digital banking services to millions of non-resident Pakistanis who have given so much to Pakistan and now we want to return something back. The key features of Roshan Digital Account (RDA) are convenience, efficiency, lifestyle banking products, better and attractive offerings, all in a presence-less environment. Currently, with 14 participating banks, RDA has become a unique proposition helping NRPs conduct essential banking transactions, invest in Government securities, stocks, donate to charities, and meet their financing needs for home or car. Due to efforts of all stakeholders and the overwhelming response of NRPs, around 425,000 RD accounts have been opened from 175 countries with total funds inflow crossing USD 4.5 billion.

Encouraged by the success of digital initiatives like RDA, we are endeavouring to position ourselves in the new era of digitation not only as a regulator but also as an enabler of the financial sector, where both our NRPs and resident Pakistanis can have full control of their finances in Pakistan and that too from the comfort of their homes.”
In a time marked with political and economic change, Standard Chartered firmly believes that Pakistan has a good economic story to tell. It was an honour for the Standard Chartered franchise to arrange an opportunity for its clients to listen to first-hand views from the esteemed SBP Panel.

Congratulations To Carlos Alcaraz, Who Wins The OPPO Breakthrough Inspiration Award At Wimbledon 2022

Web Desk

Jul 14, 2022

Congratulations To Carlos Alcaraz, Who Wins The OPPO Breakthrough Inspiration Award At Wimbledon 2022

14 July 2022, Pakistan: As this year’s Wimbledon has drawn to a close, The All England Lawn Tennis Club and OPPO (Wimbledon’s Global Partner for the fourth consecutive year) recognize the sporting excellence on show during the fortnight. Looking at those that inspire, not just the next generation of tennis stars, but also the fans in the stands and at home, unveiled today is the winner of the OPPO Breakthrough Inspiration Award – Carlos Alcaraz

The winner of the OPPO Breakthrough Inspiration Award at Wimbledon 2022– Carlos Alcaraz

Hailed as one of the most exciting young stars in tennis, the 19-year-old has won four ATP singles titles this year and is currently ranked at a career-high of No.6 in the world.

Tied to OPPO’s new brand proposition, Inspiration Ahead, this year’s award has rebranded to focus on recognizing the herculean efforts of tennis players at the peak of their talents. Competing against the best of the best comes with struggle and adversity, and the award champions those who have persevered and excelled with a positive outlook.

“Inspiration Ahead means showing confidence and poise when we are moving forward. It encourages us to remain resolved and graceful as we brave the storm and break the stagnation. Participating in sporting events is fantastic for OPPO to convey the mutually inspirational spirit and communicate OPPO’s technology innovation experience with our global users.” announced William Liu, OPPO’s Vice President and President of Global Marketing.

The finalists, chosen by a panel of Wimbledon’s broadcast correspondents, were selected from this year’s competing tennis stars at The Championships. In the running to be crowned the winner of the OPPO Breakthrough Inspiration Award for 2022 was eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz, along with Jannik Sinner, Tatjana Maria, and Harmony Tan. Fans around the world had the power to vote for the tennis player that inspired them the most throughout the competition, with the vote concluding on 8 July.

Breaking new ground and inspiring people worldwide is a key ethos at OPPO. The OPPO Breakthrough Inspiration Award exemplifies this ethos by acknowledging the tennis stars that live and breathe those values. Inspiring future tennis stars is key to continuing the eclectic 100-year legacy of Wimbledon’s Centre Court, marking it as one of the greatest sporting tournaments in the world.

realme 9 4G’s 108MP Ultra-Clear Camera & First-Ever HM6 Sensor – The Changing Face Of Smartphone Photography

Web Desk

Jul 14, 2022

Lahore – July 14, 2022: When purchasing devices in the mid-range, consumers have learnt to manage their expectations. Often times one would have to pick and choose between different smartphone options by making a compromise on certain features. This dilemma has become a concern of the past due to realme’s commitment to providing high quality options in the mid-range segment. realme’s drive to innovate has brought many successes in the past such as with the realme 8 Pro which was the tech democratizer’s first 108MP camera smartphone. The previous generation number series phone made waves in the minds of the public owing to its stellar camera setup.

In modern times, a smartphone’s main camera has become one of the most important features of your device. Whether you want to snap a picture for social media or video chat with your loved ones, the smartphone’s camera quality is of paramount importance. This is why realme is bringing a new and improved 108MP ProLight camera setup in the upcoming realme 9 4G. On the surface, it may seem like the camera setup is the same as the realme 8 Pro but beneath the surface, the realme 9 4G is the very first smartphone to come equipped with the brand new Samsung HM6 sensor allowing it to deliver superior results.

The realme 8 Pro came equipped with a previous generation HM2 sensor. The brand new HM6 sensor should deliver a 123% increase in light sensitivity for the realme 9 4G as compared to the realme 8 Pro’s HM2 sensor. Equipped with 108 million pixels as small as 0.64μm, the ISOCELL HM6 sensor has the ability to render your captured memories with stunning high-definition detail. The advanced sensor also supports 3x lossless zoom which allows you to capture smooth and accurate images no matter how close or far from the subject you are. Apart from all these revolutionary features, the ISOCELL HM6 sensor is the first to adopt the Nonapixel plus technology. This upgraded pixel binning technology has drastically improved the way it combines and utilizes light information allowing it to take bright and clear pictures even in extremely low light environments.

The products of merging nine pixels at once are 12MP images with a noise level comparable to a 1.92μm big pixel. Smart-ISO allows the ISOCELL HM6 to adjust to the lighting conditions by intelligently choosing High or Low ISO mode. In conditions of dim lighting, High ISO mode converts light to a signal with higher conversion gain to illuminate details in the shadows. The process of multisampling follows which combines High ISO and Low ISO shots to reduce noise by averaging multiple frames into one. The realme 9 4G’s ISOCELL HM6 sensor has four times more autofocusing agents than the previous 0.7㎛ 108MP ISOCELL model. With its higher autofocus pixel density, you can capture fast-moving objects easily with little to no loss of image clarity. The ISOCELL HM6 is not just great at capturing photos, it can capture highly detailed videos as well. With support for video recording at 8K 24FPS and 4K 120FPS, the high-tech sensor allows you to record moving images in both regular and slow-motion mode in incredible detail.

By introducing the HM6 sensor to the market via the realme 9 4G, realme is building on its legacy of facilitating access to the latest in the tech world for its loyal consumers. This first of its kind tech makes low-light photography a piece of cake. However, the realme 9 4G is much more than a glorified camera. The next-level handset also comes equipped with a Snapdragon 680 (6nm) processor, 90Hz Super AMOLED Display, Holographic Ripple Design, and so much more. So keep your eyes on store shelves for the realme 9 4G when it arrives starting Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Pubg Mobile’s First Virtual Concert And Blackpink’s Epic Live Return Set For July 23rd, As Part Of Version 2.1 Update

Web Desk

Jul 14, 2022

July 14^th, 2022 – PUBG MOBILE will release its new Version 2.1 Update, bringing K-pop sensation BLACKPINK into the virtual world with “The Virtual”, a fan experience like no other – PUBG MOBILE’s first-ever in-game concert! Alongside the world-first performances, BLACKPINK will also debut a Special Track and music video in PUBG MOBILE later this month.

Version Update 2.1 will also add a new themed game mode, Ancient Secret: Arise, add new content through Cycle 3 Season 7 and Royale Pass Month 13, and much more!

This month, world renowned K-Pop group BLACKPINK are making their epic and hotly anticipated return to PUBG MOBILE. Having already collaborated with the game in the past, BLACKPINK are ready to take things to the next level, performing at the first-ever PUBG MOBILE in-game concert. BLACKPINK and PUBG MOBILE fans will come together and help make history.

Fans will have two amazing opportunities to see BLACKPINK perform some of their classic chart-topping hits and experience their idols in this groundbreaking in-game event. The event will run from July 22nd to 23rd and July 29th to 30th in North & South America, and July 23rd to 24th and 30th to 31st across the rest of the world.

Having previously collaborated in 2020 to celebrate the launch of BLACKPINK’s record ‘The ALBUM’, one of the game’s most successful partnerships to date, PUBG MOBILE is now taking things to the next level, introducing an epic and dazzling collaboration that will give players and Blinks across the globe a completely unique experience.

Fans will live the true BLACKPINK experience, not only by coming to the concert, but also by obtaining the custom-made performance suits the group will be wearing during their performance. The outfits will be available for players to obtain beginning July 23rd through August 31st, the eye-catching outfits worn by Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa are sure to make players sparkle on the battlefield.

Players can secure their free tickets in-game starting July 15th, and preload the Concert Resource Pack the very next day, which is required to join the concert. From July 19th, players will be responsible for bringing the BLACKPINK energy to PUBG MOBILE. By gifting the artists in game, promotional material will begin to appear- the more gifts shared, the more promotional material! There are also special rewards to be won every day, from simply logging in to completing themed challenges.

But it won’t just be BLACKPINK’s current music on show. A Special Track and new music video, designed and created specifically for this collaboration with PUBG MOBILE, will be released very soon in the game and our social media channels! A true audio and visual extravaganza, make sure to stay tuned for more information!

Vincent Wang, Head of PUBG MOBILE Publishing at Tencent Games said, “PUBG MOBILE is honored to be partnering with BLACKPINK again as we continue to deepen the connection between their amazing music and our game. Our first ever in-game concert is set to be a groundbreaking event, expanding the ever-evolving world of PUBG MOBILE and setting the stage for a BLACKPINK comeback that will be remembered for years to come. We’re incredibly excited to be ushering in a new age of the battle royale – it’s an experience you won’t want to miss!”

YG Entertainment said, “It is pleased to hold an In-Game Concert as the second collaboration between the world best group BLACKPINK and PUBG MOBILE, the best mobile game in the battle royale genre. We also hope to increase the opportunity for artists and fans to interact closely beyond the borders and language barriers.” adding, “As it is a concert held in the virtual world, in addition to music and performances, various entertainments will provide fans with a special and interesting experience. We all can enjoy various aspects of BLACKPINK that would be different from the real world.”

Bright lights are soon replaced with dusty sandstorms, as the new Themed Game Mode, Ancient Secret: Arise is now available to play. Enter through Themed Maps on Ranked mode, in either Erangel, Miramar, or Livik, and experience the furious Sandstorm Zone that randomly blows at the start of every match. However, brave players who venture in will be rewarded with Scarab Charms, which can be used to return to the battlefield after being defeated, only once per match.

Players can also pass through the Quicksand Path to enter the Emperor’s Temple, move the Sand Giant and hop on the Ancient Secret to reveal the Pharaoh’s spoils. Loot the area or battle an ancient enemy to earn Primordial Water, allowing players to recover all health and energy.

Several Scarab Ruins and Jackal Ruins can also be found throughout the battlefield. Solving their puzzles or defeating the mummified guardian will earn players valuable crates. Desert Merchants can also be found, whose supplies with unbelievable discounts can be bought from random locations on the map. Finally, look out for Scorpion Crates across the map that are filled with supplies.

PUBG MOBILE’s Version 2.1 update also brings Cycle 3 Season 7, with a new set of Legendary items, a new Season Bonus Points Card and a Rating Protection Card, allowing players to earn extra points from matches and protect their current season rating. Players enjoying Ancient Secret: Arise can also complete themed story missions to unlock special titles.

New content has dropped for players as part of Royale Pass Month 13: Exo-Genesis, kicking off on July 19th, with rewards including new finishes for the Mini14 and M762. This Royale Pass Month players can also exchange a Wingman finish at a 90% discount and get a Moments cards, complete missions to buy RP points at a reduced price if they have reached RP Rank 50, and earn a free 60 UC Voucher.

A number of other improvements have been made to PUBG MOBILE, including visual improvements, UI upgrades and much more.

Uncertainty Looms Over Pakistan–Sri Lanka Series Amid ‘State Of Emergency’

Huzaifa Gaba

Jul 14, 2022

Pakistan cricket team is in Sri Lanka to play two-match Test series starting from July 16. However, clouds of uncertainty loom over the series, as ‘state of emergency’ was imposed in Sri Lanka yesterday following President Gotabaya Rajapakse’s fleeing from the country. Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, declared a countrywide emergency, while a curfew has been imposed on the western province.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in contact with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and closely monitoring the situation. As of now, the series will go as per the schedule but this may change if the situation goes out of hand.

Greenshirts celebrated Eid in Sri Lanka and played a warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI in the midst of the protests going across the country. Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, top scored with 88 runs in the first innings, while Agha Salman scored 55.

The Sri Lankan team is going through a tough phase amid protests across the country and COVID spread within the squad during the recent series against Australia. Despite all the troubles, the Sri Lankan team outclassed Australia in the second test at Galle on the back of Chandimal’s double hundred and debutant Prabath Jayasuriya’s 12 wickets. The series was leveled at 1-1.

Sri Lanka is also expecting to lose the hosting rights for the Asia Cup 2022 amid an economic crisis in the country. The Asia Cup is scheduled to be played from 27 August to 11 September. Bangladesh is likely to get hosting rights for the tournament.

5 Things To Do If Your Car Won’t Start!

Anusha Sachwani

Jul 14, 2022

It’s almost monsoon season in Pakistan and with the rainwater on the streets, and garage gushing out on the roads, it will definitely become challenging to drive.

Not just that, asides rainwater, several factors influence our car’s lifespan. This includes how well you maintain it, service it, how many KMs you drive, weather, accidents, and much more.

Imagine the frustration you go through when you are running late for a super important business meeting, a family dinner, or to catch a flight, and the car doesn’t start. There could be many reasons for these behaviors.

It could be engine failure, battery issues, blockage in the pipes, electrical wires burnt, etc. But, there are a few things you should try before you decided to start your car again.

1. Cycle The Key

If you hear a click sound, then you should switch on the dome light and try to turn on the engine. If you see the light go out, this is a sign that your car’s battery has died or is nearly dead. To reheat the battery, try essential cycling. However, if the dome lights don’t go out and stay on, you should try trick number two.

2. Tap Battery Terminals

Unfortunately, there is no possible way to clean eroded battery terminals to make them look as good as new. But, what you can do is that you can tap the terminals enough to make it seem a bit better than how it was.

3. Shift The Shifter

If you don’t hear a click when you turn the key, with your foot on the brake, try to move the shift lever into N or neutral position. Once you’ve done that, try to start your engine. If this doesn’t start the car, move the shifting gear into P or Park, and try again. By doing this, you reestablish electrical contact inside the transmission box.

4. Swap Relays

Turn the radio off if it’s on. Once that is done, turn the key into the ‘Run’ position and then listen if you can hear a buzzing sound, which would last just 2-3 seconds. If you don’t listen to it, the fuel pump may have some issues, and it may not be working. Find the location of the pump using your owner’s manual and swap it with a new one.

5. Unflood A Flooded Engine

If there is a strange gas smell, this means that the engine is possibly flooded. In such a case, you should press the accelerator pedal to the floor and hold it there while you crack the engine. This will help unflood it and get the fuel pumping regularly again.

If these tips don’t work out for you, be sure to visit a mechanic without wasting more time, as every minute can be costing you lots of money.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

6 Pakistani Dramas In Which Minal Khan Was Only Seen Crying

Web Desk

Jul 14, 2022

Minal Khan and Aiman Khan are the twin sisters who came to the industry together, and both of them became the queen of crying. Aside from a couple of shows where they may have deviated from the cliched mazloom heroine, they have always been the ghamzada protagonist. Today, we will be listing down all the Pakistani dramas where we saw Minal Khan crying.

1. Hasad

Hasad is the drama where the wife of the main lead’s brother-in-law doesn’t like her at all; she is jealous of her. Due to that jealousy, the lead, aka Minal Khan, was always crying, but that also became the reason why after becoming a widow, the lead ended up marrying that very brother-in-law.

2. Parchayee

She was crying just because her mommy is getting married before her. This is yet another story featuring Minal Khan, who keeps on crying because her mother did not get her married and that the person she likes is in love with someone else.

3. Dil Nawaz

She cried because the man she loves is now under the influence of a female jinn. In all honesty, I supported that relationship more.

4. Ki Jaana Main Kaun

Apparently, the fact that her foster parents loved her a lot, in fact like their own blood, did not matter much to her. The identity they gave her had no value just because they were not her biological parents. And that was grounds for crying.

5. Nand

Once again, pairing up with Shahroz Sabzwari, Minal Khan is the crying woman of the season.

6. Qismat

A story where for once, the heroine decides to fight for her right, for who to love. That decision that person is painted as the wrong one. And, surprise! She cries!

Of course, through Jalan, Minal Khan has shown the viewers as well as the drama makers that she is capable of much more than just crying. Hopefully, in the future, we will get to see more diverse content from Minal because her crying face is now imprinted on our minds.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates!

Why Are People Raving About The Nothing Phone (1)?

Dr. Rida Qamar

Jul 14, 2022

After weeks of hype, the Nothing Phone 1 has finally arrived. CEO and OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei announced the device today during a livestream.

Carl Pei co-founded smartphone maker OnePlus in 2013 and made it a rival to Apple and Samsung by offering premium features at half the price, and becoming the top seller in several countries including India.

Nothing Phone (1)

Nothing introduced Phone (1), its first smartphone and the gateway to its future connected and open product ecosystem. Featuring the innovative Glyph Interface, a 50 MP dual camera, refined Nothing OS, 120Hz OLED display and custom-built Qualcomm Snapdragon.

Meet Phone (1).

It's pure instinct. Formed as a machine. Told through beautiful symbols. Deeper interactions. And brave simplicity.

Discover more about the Glyph Interface and Nothing OS at https://t.co/WAZe9Avh0J pic.twitter.com/3OHNM5TxZh

— Nothing (@nothing) July 12, 2022

What Is Glyph Interface?

Nothing like you’ve seen before, the Glyph Interface is a new way of communicating to help minimise screen time. Unique light patterns made up of 900 LEDs indicate who’s calling and signals app notifications, charging status and more. Simply pair individual contacts to a ringtone, each with a unique Glyph pattern, to never miss what’s truly important.

For quieter focus, the Flip to Glyph feature triggers silent, lights-only notifications by placing Phone (1) with the Glyph Interface face up.

Features

Design that goes beyond the surface. Nothing Phone (1) features a transparent back with a unique design composed of over 400 components. Its 100% recycled aluminium frame makes it light and robust, while over 50% of the phone’s plastic components are made with bio-based or post-consumer recycled materials – an industry-leading percentage.

Dual-side Gorilla Glass 5 provides toughness, whilst advanced vibration motors make touch responses life-like. The symmetrical bezels and aluminium frame adds elegance, lightness and durability.

Every hue is powerfully true-to-life with a 6.55″ OLED display and HDR10+. Richer colour and deeper contrasts are tuned to each scene. An adaptive 120Hz refresh rate ensures irresistibly responsive interactions, while being reassuringly power-efficient.

Price & Variants

The Nothing Phone 1 comes in three variants:

8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage £399/€469
8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage £449/€499
12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage £499/€549

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

Why The WEF’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report Is Concerning

Lyza Rashid

Jul 14, 2022

World Economic Forum has released its 2022 Global Gender Gap report, which is surprising yet unsurprising at the same time. The annual report covers 146 countries and does its research based on four metrics which will be detailed in this article. Are you excited to know the most and the least gender-equal country in the world and how long it will take to have a 100% gender-equal world?

The Report and Its Findings

The annual report by WWF researches four main metrics of gender parity. These include economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. The more equality men and women have in these areas means a higher parity score for the country.

global gender gap report — Image Source: WEF

This year’s report brings us to 68.1% gender parity. The term it is spoken of in is that “the global gender gap has been closed by 68.1%”. The year before, it was 67.9%. Big change? Not really, but we make do with what we get.

The Most and Least Gender-Equal Countries

The country that closed its gender gap the most is Iceland. The country remains the only economy to have closed more than 90% of its gender gap. Besides Ireland, the highest scores are centered in North America and Europe.

It will not come as a surprise that out of 146 countries researched, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last two countries with the former being the country with the least closed gender gap in the world. Middle-East, North Africa, and South Asia are the regions with the biggest gender gap to close yet.

The Future Predictions

The report is also a depressing read on many ends. Last year, WEF predicted that it would take us 100 years to reach the point of 100% gender parity. That’s not the most hopeful thing to read, but it is somewhat digestible— we can do that in a century. Perhaps, we can reduce the time frame by accelerating growth.

However, this year’s report suggests that with the current progress rate and recent developments, it will take us 132 years. Conversely, the rate is declining for gender parity. Many reasons are credited for this decline ranging from Afghanistan’s political developments to COVID-19’s effects being experienced in a gender-biased manner.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

U Microfinance Bank Enters Into Strategic Partnership With TPL Corp Limited

Web Desk

Jul 14, 2022

U Microfinance Bank Enters Into Strategic Partnership With TPL Corp Limited

Karachi: Thursday, June 30^th, 2022- President & CEO U Microfinance Bank Limited (U Bank) Mr. Kabeer Naqvi and Mr. Ali Jameel, CEO, TPL Corp Limited, signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of a strategic partnership to promote synergic partnership between the two organizations.

This strategic partnership will create a platform for strengthening the capability of organizations to provide a comprehensive range of tailor-made solutions for the U Bank’s customer base.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Kabeer Naqvi, President & CEO, U Bank said: “We are pleased to partner with TPL to facilitate U Bank to expand the outreach and combine our strengths to create innovative products for our last mile customers. This alliance will contribute towards digitalization and customer care, offering an eco-system of products and solutions to U Bank clients. This coalition aims to explore new avenues of business to generate more benefits and accelerate business growth. He further added, this partnership will go a long way in providing innovative solutions to the consumer segments that seek quality financial security for themselves and their close ones”

The synergy will pave the way towards promoting financial inclusion in the country.

Mr. Ali Jameel, CEO, TPL Corp Limited, commented: “This partnership demonstrates our commitment to constantly innovate and provide seamless access to insurance products in Pakistan. We at TPL strive to lead in InsurTech and cater to Pakistan’s Life, Health, and General insurance needs by offering cutting-edge Insurance solutions.”

The ceremony was held at TPL Corp Head Office and was witnessed by the senior management of both institutions including Mr. Saad Nissar, CEO, TPL Life, Mr. Muhammad Aminuddin, CEO, TPL Insurance, Mr. Ali Zaidi, Chief Operating Officer, TPL Insurance, Mr. Kazim Hasan, Deputy Managing Director, TPL Life, Mr. Humayoon Asghar, Chief Strategy & Retail Officer, TPL Life, Ms. Mariam Pervaiz, Chief Commercial Officer & Chief of Staff, U Bank, Mr. Farooq Kamran, Chief Corporate & Investment Banking, U Bank, and Mr. Mohsin Aslam, Head Budgeting Planning & Corporate Finance, U Bank.

How To File A Complaint Against A Cyber Crime In Pakistan

Mehak Zehra

Jul 14, 2022

In Pakistan, most people don’t know what constitutes as Cyber Crime. This is why when people experience Cyber Crime, they don’t even realize that they can complain about it. Meanwhile, their rights as a citizen get trampled upon. So we are here not just to inform you what is included in it but also to navigate the situation where you are the victim.

Recognizing Cyber Crime

Before you can file a complaint, you need to be able to acknowledge cyber crimes. We have assembled a list of possible situations that can be defined as crimes. Take a look:

If you are a victim of online sexual harassment
If your email ID or social media account is hacked
Someone has a fake account in your name
Someone has your info or pictures
An unauthorized bank transfer initiated from your account
Someone is spreading racial hatred
If someone is defaming you online

All of these constitute crimes. So, you need to file a complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Ways of Filing Complaints

There are various ways of filing a complaint. One of them is to call the organization at 9911 or +92336 6006 060. Another way is to visit the nearest FIA unit to your location. They have offices in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Once there, the staff can guide you in detail about how to proceed.

If you are living in another city, in that case, you can also choose to complain by sending FIA a mail. The mail must include your complete credentials i.e., your name, address, CNIC, and contact number. You will then send this mail on the following address:

Director NR2C-FIA, National Police Foundation Building, 2nd Floor Mauve Area, G-10/4, Islamabad.

Alternatively, you can also email them at Helpdesk@Nr3c.Gov.Pk/ Again, don’t forget to add all your credentials.

They also offer the opportunity to file a complaint through their online form. It is available on their website.

Pointers

Your complaint can be in English or even in Urdu, whatever is convenient for you. Just provide details. Go into as many details as possible and highlight the maximum limit of offense you have been subjected to. Attach evidence to make the complaint understandable. These attachments can be the screenshots of conversations. If you are nominating someone to be the possible offender, name him/her and their contact details.

Remember, no one has the right to harass you or exploit you. Take a stand for yourself!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates!

The Abusive Use Of Animals As Props In Pakistani Weddings

Lyza Rashid

Jul 14, 2022

animals props wedding — Image Source: Brandsynario

In Pakistan, a new trend is emerging which is equal parts horrible and shameful. Lavish weddings are being taken a step further to exoticise themselves and fully make them the talk of the town. This is achieved through sad means which includes the use of animals. Here’s why it’s been growing and why it needs to be abolished thoroughly.

Why Are Animals Used?

The concept of “Big Fat Weddings” emerged in the south Asian culture and is also thriving as wealthy families throw the biggest possible weddings. In doing so, they scamper around to make their wedding as “different” as possible. After all, everyone with money can have beautiful decor, Sabyasachi clothes, and multiple food dishes. So, how does one stand out?

For many, the answer to this question has been through exotic animals. Yes, they resort to bringing animals to their weddings so everyone can wow at their money and might. Mostly, the targets of such families are lions and lion cubs as “Renting” them from people who own them is highly expensive.

The Animal Business

Lions can not be domesticated— they do not understand concepts of loyalty and it is in their nature to hunt for their food and enjoy the wilderness. However, in Pakistan, again to use their money somehow, many purchase lions while spending several lakhs. The result is a beautiful and mighty animal in so many chains, declawed, often abused, and mostly sedated.

When these animals are brought to weddings, they are kept sedated so they can not attack anyone. Moreover, they are most likely declawed which itself is a highly painful procedure. Additionally, loud music, so many people and especially so many humans while they are tied down can make them feel incredibly scared.

Have a Look At How Weddings Use These Animals:

@PunjabWildlife @OfficialDPRPP @fawadchaudhry @ImranKhanPTI this is a sedated lion cub being used as a prop in a wedding. Using such precious animals as props is painful yet violation of law as well. Where is concerned deptt or are they busy in stabbing poor only pic.twitter.com/zSKPC8c3cu

— Ace of Spades (@Ace1_of_Spades) March 7, 2021

Rich ppl:
Sedated animals as props for wedding photoshoots pic.twitter.com/dJ7OhpVwYK

— . (@Bhaloo_) March 6, 2021

@PunjabWildlife does your permit allow for a lion cub to be rented out for ceremonies?Look at this poor cub sedated and being used as a prop.This studio is in Lahore where this cub is being kept.Rescue him please pic.twitter.com/fMcqZnoRMd

— save the wild (@wildpakistan) March 7, 2021

How Can We End This?

The solution to this lies in stricter laws and greater taxes. If Imran Khan is taxing everything under the sun, the purchase of animals, especially exotic species, should be taxed incredibly high. This will make them more difficult to attain. Moreover, laws against using animals as props should be enforced. This way, those who bring them at weddings can be sued and punished.

When this was recently done, many animal lovers and animal rights activists joined forces to not only shame the couple whose wedding it was but also report them. This worked to the extent that the photographer took off the pictures and stopped publicizing them.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.

BARD Foundation Sponsors Aisam Ul Haq’s ‘Ace Academy’ For Tennis

Web Desk

Jul 13, 2022

13^th July, 2022 – Bilquis & Abdul Razak Dawood (BARD) Foundation has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Pakistan’s former Tennis Star – Aisam ul Haq Qureshi to sponsor his initiative – Ace Academy, with the aim to enrich the future of Tennis in Pakistan. The academy will be scouting young, talented sports people who can be groomed into outstanding athletes, while imparting best-in-class sports knowledge and training.

The MoU signing ceremony was graced by the Managing Trustee of BARD Foundation – Ms. Mehreen Dawood as the signatory of the agreement, along with Zain ul Haq Other guests included the Member Board of Governors – Taimur Dawood, along with a few members of Dawood family and some BARD team members, who appreciated this social-enrichment effort, while expressing their commitment to help the young tennis players elevate their quality of life, with more opportunities to earn fame and fortune.

The Ace Academy will offer a 12-months training program for tennis enthusiasts aged 18 years or younger selected from Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar. The program will be conducted by top coaches of national-repute, to provide customized training, fitness and nutrition plans, to nurture local talents. This whole regime is formulated with clear performance measures and goals for the participants. Each trainee’s progress is monitored and evaluated regularly, to adjust the methodology, till the 2 best athletes are selected, for their capability to compete well in international tournaments.

The selection process for this program will comprise of trials in Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Karachi that will continue for the initial 40 days, while athletes will be selected in two age groups Under-14 & Under-18 (2 boys and 2 girls from each age group will form a group of 4). The selected players will go through 2 hour-long sessions on Techniques: (drills, hitting, points) and Fitness: (endurance, agility, speed). One boy and one girl from each age group, per city, will be awarded the “Ace Mentorship”.

BARD Foundation is a human-development initiative, founded by the renowned industrialist & technocrat – Abdul Razak Dawood and his philanthropist wife – Ms. Bilquis Dawood. This resourceful foundation has the vision to support less-fortunate individuals for achieving their true potential, as champions in their professional or technical field, while also helping talented sportsmen in learning more skills to compete internationally.

Another initiative of BARD Foundation, Descon Technical Institute (DTI) imparts vocational skills to change the lives of impoverished families. Thus, the Dawood family is creating a conducive environment for professional development.

Alibaba.com Report Finds E-commerce Helped MSMEs Mitigate Pandemic Impact

Web Desk

Jul 13, 2022

Pakistan, 13 July 2022 – Global B2B e-commerce platform Alibaba.com and AliResearch Institute, Alibaba Group’s research arm, have co-published the report “Challenges, Responses, and Transformation of MSMEs in the Post-Pandemic Era”. The report takes a multi-focal look at how Micro- Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) fared during the pandemic to provide a better understanding of the action businesses took to survive, revealing key findings that include:

MSMEs are critical to the global economy, comprising 90% of businesses worldwide and contributing 70%+ of global employment and 50-60% of GDP.
MSMEs were hit hard by the pandemic, with micro-businesses suffering disproportionately: up to 70% of global MSMEs saw sales decline with two-thirds reporting their sales dropped by 40%.
MSMEs’ offline business has been severely disrupted by lack of demand while online sales have skyrocketed; digitalisation is an effective way for MSMEs to risk-proof their business: the survival rate of MSMEs is 7 percentage points higher in the regions with the highest e-commerce penetration than in those with the lowest.

The research finds that, of all MSMEs, the pandemic took the largest toll on smaller MSMEs. This was to be expected since many smaller businesses did not have the resources or infrastructure to roll with the punches of repeated shutdowns, local restrictions, shortages and other issues caused by the pandemic. Less than a quarter of MSMEs escaped the negative effects of the pandemic, with only 23.5% of them not suffering from a decline in sales. Two-thirds of MSMEs had business drop by 40%.

In Pakistan, there are 5 million SMEs which contribute 40% in GDP of Pakistan and 25% in overall exports, as per the estimates of Small & Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA). For some countries, business continuation would remain grim if lockdowns persisted – Close to 30% of Pakistani MSMEs in the survey indicated that they had to shut down their businesses completely during the pandemic. 30% of MSMEs that participated in the survey reported a huge loss of close to 50% because of the pandemic.

“We have to recognize that MSMEs are not only critical economic players but their health and prosperity are also critical to a full and sustainable global economic recovery. Consequently, we have released this report to help return MSMEs to the center stage and facilitate broader and more practical discussions about supporting MSMEs and equipping them for greater economic impact,” said Hongbin Gao, Vice-president of Alibaba Group, Head of AliResearch Institute.

The potential for market expansion remains huge for Asia-Pacific, nevertheless. For example, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, exports in Pakistan were 500 billion Pakistan Rupees in November’ 21compared to 421 billion PKR the year before. Digital transformation has proven to be a lifeline to many MSMEs during the pandemic, by reducing their costs, providing timely access to information, optimizing workflows, and helping them expand into new markets.

Unsurprisingly, the research revealed that the survival rate of MSMEs is 7 percentage points higher in the regions with the highest e-commerce penetration than in those with the lowest. In addition, the economic downturn was less severe in regions with higher e-commerce penetration rates.

Andrew Zheng, Vice-president of Alibaba.com, said, “The pandemic has changed global trade forever. There is no denying that businesses and individuals have suffered tremendously. However, the creativity and ingenuity that MSMEs have put into action to overcome the many hurdles created by the pandemic are nothing short of impressive. E-commerce may have served as a survival mechanism throughout the pandemic, but moving forward, it will remain a valuable tool for global trade. Social selling, live commerce, virtual trade shows, and request for quotation (RFQ) marketplaces allow sellers to get creative in how they reach their audiences and make it easier for them to connect with their ideal clients. Through digitalisation, MSMEs can also easily access insights related to internet traffic, demand forecasting, and other key analytics that empower them to make better decisions for their businesses.”

However, the report also revealed a significant gap in the adoption of digital strategies between smaller and larger enterprises. Smaller enterprises were found to have lower adoption of sophisticated digital technologies and tended to digitalise only general administration and marketing functions, neglecting aspects including enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, and big data, comparatively speaking.

This research report was led and drafted by Professor Gan Li, an economist at Texas A&M University, and his academic research team, based on key findings from a quantitative survey among MSMEs led by Alibaba.com and AliResearch, as well as studies through a wide variety of relevant public and academic information sources. The report is available in multiple languages and can be downloaded here.