Day: May 18, 2023

The private company that runs the Speedo Bus service announced its suspension due to the government’s non-payment, leaving Bahawalpur’s residents in distress. A letter to the Punjab Secretary of Transport announced the closure.

The government owes the company over Rs. 160 million, prompting this drastic decision. Due to financial difficulties, Speedo Bus operations have ceased, affecting thousands of commuters.

Twelve buses provided peak-hour public transportation in the city. Students and professionals relied on the service for reliable, affordable transportation to school and work.

This service’s abrupt discontinuation has left a gaping hole in Bahawalpur’s public transport network, raising concerns about public inconvenience and the city’s transportation system. To ensure that the public has affordable transportation, the systems need consistent financial support.

The transport crisis’s resolution depends on the government’s response to the allegations. The dwellers of Bahawalpur anxiously await a resolution, hoping the Speedo Bus service will be reinstated or a comparable alternative introduced.

Source: Pro Pakistani

Lahore is the world’s most polluted city by Air Quality Index (AQI) according to various sources. A report published by The Urban Unit reveals that vehicles are the biggest contributors to the rising pollution in Lahore.

The percentage of the transport sector contributing to pollution is significantly higher than any other contributing factor, the report adds. A snapshot of each contributing factor by percentage is as follows:

The report also highlights that the population of cars, bikes, buses, trucks, rickshaws, and other forms of mechanized transport is rising at an alarming rate in Punjab’s capital city.

It specifies that the vehicle population has risen threefold from 2.4 million in 2011 to a staggering 6.3 million in 2021. The toxic fumes of the rising vehicle population have also taken a toll on the air quality in Lahore.

Additionally, motorcycles and scooters are the biggest contributors to the worsening environment of Lahore. Next to that, are the cars and SUVs. The contribution of each form of transport to the pollution in Lahore is as follows:

The government is actively advocating the electrification of two-wheelers in Pakistan. It is also working on incentivizing both, electric bike manufacturers and buyers in order to expedite this paradigm shift.

Although, due to the limited number of bikes, reliability, and ownership concerns, people are still hesitant in accepting the new trend.

Source: Pro Pakistani

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is making significant strides in enhancing the recreational facilities for residents of the federal capital with the development of multiple modern parks.

According to official sources within the CDA, over the past decade, approximately 37 public parks have already been established, and the authority is actively working on a policy to further increase their number in the years to come.

The process of developing a new park typically takes around three to four months, considering the completion of necessary formalities.

Presently, the federal capital boasts six amusement parks, which are deemed sufficient to cater to the recreational needs of the residents.

However, the CDA has implemented a policy whereby the construction of an amusement park will accompany the development of new sectors.

This ensures that as the CDA progresses with the establishment of sectors such as I-11, I-12, I-14, I-15, I-16, D-12, and Park Enclave, model villages, and parks will be incorporated into these areas.

These new parks will be designed in accordance with the approved layout plan of the CDA to meet the growing demand and expectations of the general public.

By focusing on the development of these sectors and integrating well-planned parks and model villages within them, the CDA is determined to enhance the recreational landscape of the federal capital, providing residents with ample spaces to relax, engage in outdoor activities, and enjoy quality time with their families and friends.

Source: Pro Pakistani

In a continued effort to reclaim non-developed and under-developed residential sectors from encroachers, the enforcement wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) carried out a successful operation in Park Enclave Phase-I.

A total of 48 houses and over a dozen boundary walls were demolished during the operation.

The operation, aimed at clearing encroachments, highlights the CDA’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of its land. However, it also raises concerns about the civic body’s ability to keep the land mafia at bay, as repeated operations are necessary to remove encroachers.

Earlier this month, the Islamabad High Court ordered the CDA to conduct a comprehensive operation against occupants in Sector F-11.

In compliance with the court’s directives, the CDA demolished 30 illegally constructed houses, 15 shops, and 11 boundary walls on government land. The operation resulted in the recovery of government land worth billions of rupees.

In another significant operation, Member Estate and his team recently conducted a mega operation in Park Enclave Phase III. A total of 50 houses built on government land were demolished, and four individuals were apprehended for obstructing the operation.

These efforts reflect the CDA’s determination to maintain the sanctity of its land and ensure that encroachments are promptly addressed. The demolition of illegal structures and the recovery of government land demonstrate the authority’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting public assets.

Source: Pro Pakistani

The Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) has integrated its attestation portal with the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) database to provide better service and convenience for students. This direct verification system removes the need for students from the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) and BISE Lahore to provide sealed verification envelopes.

A meeting was recently held at BISE Peshawar to expand the reach of the IBCC’s attestation portal. The meeting was attended by IBCC Secretary Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, BISE Peshawar Chairman Nasrullah Khan Yousafzai, BISE Mardan Chairman Farid Ahmed Khattak, and representatives from all KPK BISEs. The goal of the meeting was to integrate the IBCC’s attestation portal with the BISEs across KPK.

The participants discussed the importance of streamlining the verification process for educational documents to benefit students and stakeholders. The proposed enhancement aims to speed up and improve verification procedures by connecting the IBCC’s attestation portal with the BISEs.

This new system will also help prevent the spread of fake documents and reinforce the authenticity of educational qualifications, according to an official statement.

Source: Pro Pakistani

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari introduced the ‘Share Pakistan Portal,’ a digital platform designed to enhance focused communication between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its 100+ diplomatic missions worldwide.

During the launch event, in partnership with the National Information Technology Board (NITB), the foreign minister expressed that this online standardized information system would gather and disseminate the outcomes of public diplomacy initiatives in line with the objectives of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

FM Bilawal highlighted his launch of the ‘Foreign Minister’s Change Management Initiative’ aimed at enhancing the Ministry’s capacity to efficiently fulfill its responsibilities through management reforms.

To implement this initiative, he stated that a group of experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions collaborated to generate ideas for reforms in various areas such as human resources, finance, logistics, communication, counseling, protocol, and community services. Their objective was to digitize processes and streamline rules, policies, and procedures to simplify operations.

He emphasized that his ‘Change Management Initiative’ aimed to foster a work culture that prioritizes results, productivity, and value innovation. The initiative also aimed to decentralize decision-making, bringing it closer to the operational level.

The foreign minister highlighted that the newly launched paperless digital tool, the first of its kind, integrates digital technologies into both public diplomacy’s strategic outreach efforts and the institution itself.

He stated, “It will be used in diplomacy for outreach decision support, drafting strategic communication, translating foreign policy, and analysis of latest trends.”

He extended his appreciation to the National Information Technology Board (NITB) and the Ministry of Information Technology for their collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in the development of the portal.

He acknowledged that this partnership would enhance the visibility of public diplomacy activities and aid in achieving the desired goals of foreign policy.

Source: Pro Pakistani

Amid the political turmoil, throttled internet access, inaccessible apps, a depreciating currency, payment delays, cash flow constraints, high borrowing costs, and brain drain to the Commonwealth realms, Pakistan’s advertising industry risks growth coming to a halt.

The current account deficit (CAD) crisis awoke the realization that the advertising industry hurt the nation by directing advertising expenditure (AdEx) towards foreign platforms and apps lacking a local financial office.

With advertisers getting a taste of advanced digital measurement methods, the mainstream media industry must play catch-up if it hopes to capture digital AdEx.

Despite significant increases in digital and e-commerce during Covid-19, digital spend on average is only 15% of the total AdEx, and for quite a few brands, spend on digital remains in single digits,” said Naveed Asghar, the CEO of GroupM Pakistan.

“In five years, I estimate that digital will constitute over 25% of the AdEx,” he added.

Media Industry Exodus

In a recent interview on the Talha Ahad podcast, Z2C chairman Raihan Merchant said that the reason TV channels fail to produce unique original content – akin to Ainak Wala Jinn – is that they are seeking guarantees on advertising before taking the leap of faith.

Meanwhile, the mass exodus in the broadcast media industry – due to the 2018 government curtailing government spending on TV advertising – was enough proof of the rent-seeking mindset of the broadcast media space.

Like most elite capture institutions in the country, the broadcast media industry expects the government to subsidize and keep them afloat using taxpayers’ funds. This creates a cycle of complacency and comfort with the status quo, whereas downturns incentivize new ideas and innovation for survival. Due to this reality, even regulators are asleep at the wheel.

The regulator issuing channel licenses should mandate internet protocol television,” said Farhan Khan, the CEO of Brainchild, which owns creative, media, and public affairs agencies representing the Publicis Groupe in Pakistan. “They should push for the hybrid approach, delivering broadcast TV over platforms like DTT, satellite, or cable, and on-demand and interactive content over broadband,” he said.

In the week that digital media apps were offline or inaccessible to most advertisers, broadcast media leaders were baffled to learn that none of those intended funds were redirected toward their inventory.

The root of the issue is that the broadcast media industry of Pakistan has failed to innovate or evolve to a point where it becomes a medium that has tracking and attribution akin to its digital counterpart.

“As long as you know how to package your proposition in a compelling manner and put it across the right platform and in the most effective and efficient way, you will get the best results. Having said this, the starting point has to be the right consumer insight upon which your proposition is built,” stated Asghar.

The Problem With Ads

The root of the consumer insight issue comes with the television audience measurement (TAM) methodology that the entire industry – advertisers, agencies, or media sellers – relies on as indisputable truth. Khan said that every advertising medium needs multiple measurement currencies instead of an existing monopoly. In the case of broadcast media, this usually refers to MediaLogic.

The sample size representation has to be enhanced, at least in Pakistan’s urban and semi-urban cities, with a tier-based representation, which is not there,” said Khan. “The private association of television and radio broadcasters in Pakistan should also enhance the adoption of emerging technologies and push for developing OTT branches,” he remarked.

He said that the Pakistan Advertisers Society should hold workshops and sprint sessions with its members to foresee the future of the media and advertising space, with speakers advocating for enhanced TAM and the adoption of internet protocol television and over-the-top (OTT) branches.

As audiences on owned OTT platforms grow or all channels consolidate digital streaming with a locally owned OTT, Khan insisted the industry can play a part in mitigating the CAD to ensure advertising expenditure dollars are not leaving the country.

“We need a representative body for the media agencies in Pakistan to debate the steps needed for the industry’s future, agree on a roadmap, and then advocate the supply side of the equation, including the regulators,” said Khan.

“Said body will commission studies to understand the Pakistan-specific issues covering brand safety and ad fraud; identity, data, consumer privacy; and ad experiences and measurement,’ he pointed out.

Solution and Way Forward

Khan said that advertisers need to identify vital media supply chain issues related to transactions and discuss how best to create the frameworks for brands, agencies, and publishers to engage directly with consumers in an increasingly fluid and measurement-constrained marketplace.

Amid the dominance of YouTube, capturing digital AdEx will require a locally created OTT media service that rivals YouTube and offers local broadcasters and content creators better revenue share.

While disparate examples exist, such as PTVflix, there isn’t a singular alternative OTT where all creators and broadcasters are present. For this to happen, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) would work with Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to mandate the creation of an OTT under a public-private partnership with an accelerator.

Advertising agencies would be directed to shift their AdEx to this OTT and mitigate the damage caused to the CAD by sending money to platforms owned by Google and Meta.

When broadcasters and content creators know deal flow will come from a presence on the locally owned OTT – with earnings transparency and better returns – industry sources told ProPakistani that two things will happen. The first is the surge in creators in the locally owned OTT supported by MoIB and PEMRA.

The second is that companies such as Google, Meta, Bytedance, and Snap Inc will take notice and initiate creator funds to attract or retain creators. They will also have to raise the revenue they share with creators and lock in agreements around guarantees.

These companies will also re-engage agency resellers and holding groups to offer better deals directing AdEx towards their platforms.

This is where regulators, trade bodies for agencies, and associations for advertisers will need to take a stand and only resume ads on foreign platforms if they set up local financial offices and invest in the country for more profound creator and media innovation.

They must align with a national agenda that directs more of the digital AdEx to the locally owned OTT than foreign platforms.

Such measures will usher in a new competitive landscape for the media and advertising industry, rewarding those that out-innovate and collaborate with their stakeholders.

Source: Pro Pakistani