JOVAGO.com WISHES PAKISTAN A HAPPY RAMADANBY LAUNCHING SPECIAL DISCOUNT PACKAGES

Jovago.com has launched amazing Ramadan deals for families planning on taking a summer vacation 

Jovago.com, Pakistan’s No.1 online hotel booking website,recently launched its summer and Ramadan discount program which is aimed to encourage people to travel within Pakistan.

The voucher code is very simple to use. All one has to do is visit our website, book your hotel and during check out you type in “RAMADAN” (to receive up to 15% off and free Sehri). It is a simple three step process, and an opportunity to sit back and relax while enjoying the fast. 

Commenting on this initiative Mrs. Nadine Malik Almani, the Country Manager Jovago said “The main aim of Jovago Pakistan is to encourage people to travel within Pakistan. Ramadan is generally a slow and dull month, so we want to keep the energy alive by providing our travelers with a discount package so they can enjoy their fasts with beautiful scenes. It is extremely hot right now, and we all deserve a break from the heat. By providing these discount vouchers, in hotels with free Sehri, we are really hoping to encourage travel within Pakistan during the summer season. So, go check out our website to find out more details.” 

Jovago.com is always promoting different hotels in different areas, and keep checking the website to stay updated.

The Hidden Jewels of Pakistan

Pakistan is bursting with natural beauty in not only one, but in all four of its provinces. When deciding where to travel, there are a plethora of options, thanks to our natural beauty. A lot of the beauty is hidden, therefore below is a list of places which are not mainstream, but are definitely worth a visit.

1. Hingol River :
   Hingol River is situated in the Makran region, in the Gwadar District of Southeastern Baluchistan. The river is a part of the Hingol valley, and together with the view of the mountains, the experience is very enjoyable.

1. Passu:
   Passu is a majestic village located on the Karakorum Highway, only 150 km away from Gilgit city. The scenic views of the Passu Glacier and the Batura Glacier are known to bedazzle their visitors. Another notable point of Passu is thelifestyle of the villagers – the work they do, the exteriors and interiors of their homes, their daily routines – these are all unique characteristics to people living in Passu.

1. PirGhaib:

Pir Ghaib is located on the Sibi road, approximately 70km away from Quetta. There is a beautiful waterfall here which is enclosed by palm trees. It flows down a rugged mountainside and makes its way through many streams – a sight worth seeing!

1. Banjosa lake:

Banjosa Lake is located 20 km from the city of Rawalakot in the District Poonch of Azad Kashmir.It is an artificial lake mounted at an altitude of 1,981 meters. The lake view is surrounded by a dense pine forest and mountains, creating a very endearing and romantic atmosphere.

1. Shigar:

Once called little Tibet, Shigar valley is located at an altitude of 2800 meters in Gilgit- Baltistan. It is a beautiful valley where nature lovers feel right at home. Here, you will find snow peaks, sand dunes, rivers and other picturesque views and perfect accommodations like PTDC Skardu Motel.

How to make your travel cozy in Ramadan:

That time to develop patience and practice abstinence is right around the corner. Although one is expected to practice patience and be calm throughout this month, I can say without water or food, the test is difficult. On the road, people who are driving are speeding and impatience levels are at an all-time high during this month. Traveling while fasting isn’t easy either, but sometimes one isn’t left with a choice. There are some tips that JovagoPakistan has come with to make sure the holy month is practiced in the way it is meant to be – with love, peace and patience.

1.   Know it all:

It is important to understand and acknowledge what Ramadan is all about. Ramadan is not about fasting a whole day and participating in nightly parties once you break the fast. Ramadan is a lunar month, dedicated to religious practices and kindness.  Fasting may become challenging, so it is important to fuel your body accordingly i.e. follow proper Seheri and Iftari schedules. The more informed you are about the month, and the nutrients your body requires for a good and patient fast, the more relaxed you will find yourself.

2.      Make your plans suitable for fasting:

Ramadan affects some people a lot, as it is hard to continue your daily routine without quenching your thirst or fueling your system. It is not a great time to travel, climb or trek, but if you have to do so, you should plan it properly. Once again, make sure you have a healthy Seheri if you have travel planned. Also, one is allowed to skip their fast, so if you feel your body won’t be able to handle traveling and fasting, make sure you think properly and realistically before deciding to keep (or not) a fast.  

3.      Keep yourself updated:

Try to keep yourself updated with the traveling conditions. The weather context, flights delays and cancellations may affect your plan badly. Keeping yourself in touch with such information saves you from any extra effort and worn-out situations.

4.      Make it early:

We would advise you to keep important meetings and commitments in the early hours of the morning, before the sun is in full swing. This will help you save some of your energy level, because sunny afternoons tend to drain us out.

5.      Stay away from traffic jams:

If you are commuting a lot by road during Ramadan, try avoiding areas with a lot of traffic. During Iftari time, traffic increases and chances of accidents are higher. It is good to find alternate times to travel.

ACCA strengthens partnership with K-Electric

 Karachi: ACCA held a ceremony at K-Electric’s Head Office in Karachi to recognize the outstanding finance talent working at K-Electric, a Gold level Approved Employer.

From K-Electric’s side, the ceremony was attended by Mr. Rizwan Dalia (Director Finance and Company Secretary) and Mr. Ahsan Anis (Deputy Director, Strategy). ACCA was represented by Mr. Stuart Dunlop, (Regional Director MENASA) and Mr. Sajjeed Aslam (Head of ACCA Pakistan).

Mr. Rizwan Dalia shared K-Electric’s training scheme for in-house ACCA talent through the implementation of ACCA’s Competency Framework, aimed at their career development. ACCA trainees working at K-Electric were also provided an interactive session with ACCA’s senior regional and national management team in an open house session. Certificates were awarded to ten outstanding finance teams members of K-Electric.

Mr. Rizwan Dalia commented, “The ACCA Competency Framework demonstrates how ACCAs are an asset to an organisation and work diligently in accordance with the performance objectives that are mapped to their roles in K-Electric. We would like to extend our support for implementation of Competency Framework within and outside Pakistan.”

Mr. Stuart Dunlop stated, “We are delighted to partner with K-Electric on training of ACCA finance talent and the implementation of ACCA’s Competency Framework in Pakistan. With this initiative, K-Electric becomes the first organisation globally to implement this programme. We would be happy to take up K-Electric’s use of Competency Framework across a wider pool of organisations in and outside Pakistan.”

ICI and Honda Atlas wins ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards 2015

The annual ACCA – WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards were held on the world environment day i.e. June 5, 2015 to recognise innovative and transparent corporate reporting. The event attracted representatives from various organisations including  CEOs, CFOs, ACCA members and other professionals from corporate, public sector and practice, NGOs and media.
The discussion forum was moderated by Arif Masud Mirza, regional head of policy MENASA, ACCA and the panelists included Professor Imran Ali, rector and dean, Karachi School for Business & Leadership, Nasim Beg, executive vice chairman, Arif Habib Group, Parvez Ghias, chief executive officer, Indus Motor Company Limited and Hammad Naqi Khan, director general, WWF-Pakistan.
The ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards 2015 ceremony also held on the same day recognised and awarded companies that report on corporate environmental, social and sustainability performance to a broad range of stakeholders.  The joint winners for 2015, ‘Best Sustainability Report’ were Atlas Honda Limited and ICI Pakistan Limited. The award for ‘Best Environmental Report’ was received by Hinopak Motors Limited and the runner up was awarded to K-Electric. ‘Citation for the first Integrated Report’ in Pakistan was awarded to Engro Corporation Limited and lastly the ‘Commendation Award for the Environmental Report (unlisted)’ was presented to Qarshi Industries Pvt Limited.
Speaking on the ACCA WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards 2015, Stuart Dunlop, Regional Director-MENASA, ACCA stated, “ACCA’s view, as long time advocates and promoters of sustainability reporting, is that sustainability reporting can and does instill good corporate behaviour. But this can only be done with consistent standards.”
Arif Masud Mirza, head of ACCA Pakistan said that businesses in the country are now making a conscious effort to report on the transparency of their businesses. He further added, “These awards are not about sustainable or environment performance rather they are about those enterprises that are bold enough to report honestly and imaginatively.”

Update: The joint winners for 2015, ‘Best Sustainability Report’ were Atlas Honda Limited and ICI Pakistan Limited. Hinopak Motors Limited received the award for ‘Best Environmental Report’ and runner up was Karachi Electric. Citation for first Integrated Report in Pakistan was awarded to Engro Corporation Limited and lastly Commendation Award for Environmental Report (unlisted) was presented to Qarshi Industries Pvt Limited. 

ACCA, CTMM HOST CORPORATE DINNER

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Colony Textile Mills based in Multan (CTMM) co-hosted a corporate dinner based on the theme ‘Accountant for Business’. The corporate dinner was aimed to enlighten the prestigious employers and educational institutes about the development plan of ACCA for the students and members through capacity building and its efforts in developing the finance profession in Pakistan by nurturing the best talent.

The dinner was attended by President MCCI, Mian Iqbal Hassan, the executive committee of MCCI, CEOs/CFOs from the corporate sector organisations of Multan as well as employer partners, prominent representatives from the academia and the British Council. President MCCI, Mian Iqbal Hassan commented at the dinner, “ It is a matter of great honor for me and my team to be here today with you at this outstanding event and on behalf of Multan Chamber I would like to thank ACCA and Colony Textile Mills for arranging this great event and bringing together leaders from educational and employment sector.”

Cricket comes home…six years later!

Cricket comes home...six years later!

 

2009, was an unfortunate year for our main sport, cricket. Sri Lanka’s cricket team was visiting Lahore, to play a few matches and during their visit there was a terrorist attack targeting them. This shocking event resulted in terminating the visits of any international team to Pakistan, as it endangered their lives. The news of the attack was heart-breaking and quite embarrassing. It left the diehard Cricket fans helpless as they were unable to contribute to the revival of international cricket in the country.

6 years later, on May 22^nd, the Zimbabwe cricket team decided to put the past aside and come to Pakistan to play the T20 innings. This was a great opportunity for Pakistani cricket fans as they finally had a chance to live the game moments with great zeal at the Lahore Gaddafi stadium. As it was the first home series being hosted by Pakistan after 6 years, the Government of Pakistan and PCB were extremely concerned about the security. Security was on high alert and other necessary safety measures were taken. For the security reasons the accommodation of the Zimbabwe team was done in one of the top 10 hotels of Pakistan. The tour consisted of a total of 5 matches; two 20 Matches and three of the One-Day International matches. All the matches were hosted by Lahore.

On May 22^nd, Gaddafi Stadium echoed with our national anthem, where we witnessed some great, historical moments.  The stadium was a full house for all the matches played, be it youngsters, kids, adults, or oldies, everyone was there encouraging both teams. In fact, the people of Lahore were hospitable and supportive to both the teams. There was huge round of applause at every single shot played by Zimbabweans. One of the best moments during the match was when the crowd chanted “Selfie! Selfie!” to Ahmed Shehzad and he posed for the crowd. The match was full of excitement with people cheering, dancing, chanting, and delivering a strong message of resilience, peace, and love across the globe.

The matches were played on May 22^nd (1^st T20), May 24^th (2^nd T20), May 26^th (1^st ODI), May 29^th (2^nd ODI) and May 31^st (3^rd ODI). All were won by Pakistan, except for the last ODI which was a draw. The Pakistani team performed very well, and records were made.  Players who grasped the limelight were Ahmed Shehzad and ShahidAfridi.

The series was also supported by the presence of numerous celebrities and political figures. People flew in from various parts of Pakistan, such as Karachi and Islamabad just to attend the matches. Those who couldn’t get tickets to the stadium, supported their team from the roofs of their homes orguest houses in Lahore. The way cricket fans came out to support the two teams and the game of cricket, sends a message that we are united, we have not forgotten how to laugh, and we are brave enough to defeat terrorists. With all our high spirits and enthusiasm, we are thankful to team Zimbabwe for coming and showing us that cricket can come home.

 

Top 5 honeymoon destinations in Pakistan

Muree is a perfect spot to visit for your honeymoon. It is located in Punjab district, about 8000 feet above sea level. There are gorgeous hill spots, waterfalls and lush green fields and top hotels to stay in Muree, as well as a plethora of things to do. The beautiful mall road has many different shops and restaurants, and is just nice enough for a couple to stroll and enjoy each other’s company. Close to Muree, one could find Patriata, NathiaGali, Ayubia and other touristy destinations where couples can take day trips to keep themselves busy. All these locations are breathtaking, and surrounded by mountains making them romantic destinations – perfect for a honeymoon.
Naran and Kaghan are both beautiful valleys, full of picturesque views. These valleys are famous tourist attractions because of their calm and serenity, which makes them popular honeymoon destinations as well. There are a lot of things to do around the areas as well, such as visit to Lake SaifulMalook, Lalazar, Shogran, Kunhar River and of course a famous trout meal. Couples who come here usually take tours around the area, so they can visit all the scenic destinations at once, while enjoying their romantic honeymoon.

Hunza is possibly one of the most relaxing and attractive places of Pakistan. Hunza is located near Rakaposhi Mountains, 2400 meters above the sea level. Although there is not much to do, the breathtaking views are just so engrossing that it is impossible to get bored. People in this area are very hospitable, and the culture is slightly different from the mainstream culture, which makes it a very interesting place to visit. Additionally, there are also lots of festivals that take place here so if honeymooners go at the right time, they can witness these festivals.

Skardu is located in Gilgit, another awe-striking destination. This gorgeous land is encircled with grey mountains, and a trio of beautiful lakes (upper Kachura Lake, lower Kachura Lake and Sadpara Lake). For couples who enjoy trekking this is an ideal place to visit as Skardu is popular for high altitude trekking, to   Baltoro Glacier, K2 Base Camp and Concordia.

The amazing and lovely Chitral is located in KyberPhaktunkhwa. Chitral is famous for Kalash Valley and Shandoor. The people of Kalash Valley are very hospitable, but due to the weather it is advisable to visit during the summer time. At Shandoor couples can watch a game of Pakistan’s famous sport, Polo. Chitral have many top and best hotels with really affordable rates for honeymoon couples. Chitral is home to the places such as Chitral fort, palace of Mehtar, Jami mosque which is famous for its architecture.
We hope you plan on visiting one of these places for your honeymoon. Jovago.com is constantly running different promotions and deals, which will also make your honeymoon affordable but alsomemorable

Ericsson congratulates Warid Telecom on 10th Anniversary

Seen in the picture, Victoria Strand, President Ericsson AB UAE and Vice President Customer Unit Gulf Countries and Pakistan while cutting the 10^th anniversary cake with Mr. Muneer Farooqui, CEO Warid Telecom. Victoria while commenting on Warid Telecom’s 10^th anniversary said“I congratulate Warid Telecom for completing its 10 years of service excellence in Pakistan. Not only Warid has thrived in all these years, it has also become the largest 4G LTE network in the countrywhich is another milestone company has achieved.

Being Warid’s business partner and technology provider we strongly believe in enabling change and change makers around the world and it’s connectivity  which is the starting point for new ways of innovating, collaborating and socializing and eventually  enhancing the lives in networked societies. We wish Warid Telecom great progress in years to come.”