Facts About Pakistan’s E-Commerce Industry That Every Pakistani Should Know

As technology spreads its wings across different parts of the world, it has revolutionized how industries worked. With the advent of internet amongst other technological advancements, the world has become a global village whereby connections and integrations are stronger between people and businesses.

Amidst this revolution, the corporate world has found its new mantra – Partnerships and compliances within and between different industries. Industries are busy finding new yet better ways to cash on this mantra to engage customers and address their needs in more meaningful ways.

One of the ways through which industries are able to go ahead with their plans of partnership and compliance is with the emergence of the e-commerce industry which has provided a new formula to integrate and to carry out transactions pertaining to different nature and categories.

Black Friday sales, independence day sales, and new year deals are some examples of why the e-commerce industry has great potential in the developing countries including Pakistan. Within a few years of its existence, the industry is seen surging its way with its double-digit growth rate.

Keeping in mind the potential that this market possesses, Jovago Pakistan brings you an exclusive article on the facts about Pakistan’s e-commerce industry that every Pakistani should know.

Revenue generator
With the positive outlook of the e-commerce industry in the country, it is predicted that it will cross the threshold of US$600 million by the year 2017. Although it is still in its introductory stage, the industry is already showing a green flag to its various stakeholders. The South Asian country will be among the ten economies that will inject approximately $4.3 billion to the global GDP in the next ten years according to a recent survey.

Increasing smartphone penetration
With the total population of Pakistan expected to reach over 195 million, it is predicted that the smartphone penetration will cross the mark of 40 million users in 2017.

Increasing Internet penetration
The e-commerce industry has proved to be a major hit because of the ever-increasing internet penetration in the country; which is an important gateway for Pakistan to become more connected to the world. With the introduction of 3G and 4G internet connections and the possible launch of the 5G internet in the coming years, it is believed that 28 percent (56 million) of the country’s population will have access to internet access over the next five years.

Payment method
Unlike the rest of the world where credit card is used as the widely used payment medium, Pakistanis seem to be reluctant to share their credit card details with other people and businesses. Therefore, cash on delivery is the most commonly used payment method in Pakistan. It is estimated that more than 95% of e-commerce users in Pakistan prefer cash on delivery (COD) payment model.

Shift in the hospitality sector due to technology

As the hospitality industry is associated with the quality of service that it provides to its customers, it needs to find ways to sustain and improve this experience. One of the ways through which the hospitality sector is changing its business model is by using technology.

The use of technology in the hospitality sector is vital because of the convenience and increased choices that it provides to the users. By just making a few clicks here and there, customers are able to order food and book a hotel room among other things. From the perspective of the various hospitality businesses, the technological advancement is a means to attract more customers towards the various services that it offers including travel and tourism and recreation.

There are a number of reasons why Jovago Pakistan believes that there is a shift in the hospitality sector due to technology.

Online website
With the online platform providing the opportunity to launch their businesses through a different medium other than the conventional brick and mortar store, several startups have successfully emerged on the e-commerce market in Pakistan. These businesses offer customized search engine options on their website which can further enhance the quality of experience of customers. Moreover, blogs and advisors by these startups also prove to be of great help in educating the customers on various topics.

Smartphone application
Technology has eased the lives of people all over the world who are associated with the hospitality sector. Not only can people order food from their favorite restaurants but they are able to reserve hotel rooms by just tapping on their smartphones. Apart from the websites, businesses have launched their apps to further facilitate the customers. Jovago Pakistan has also launched its hotel booking app, for both iOS and Android users, which customers can use to book a hotel room from an inventory of over 2000 hotels.

Extranet app
The modern day strategy rule revolves around ensuring that all the stakeholders are on the same page. This is because it helps in increasing customer satisfaction and adds value to the whole process. Therefore, to ensure that all of its hotels’ partners are on the same page, Jovago Pakistan launched it extranet app. This is basically a mobile application through which hotels can confirm new reservations, see and search through all reservations, change rates for any time period and change room availability for any time period.

These are some of the ways through which the hospitality

Female Leaders That Are Creating a History in Pakistan’s Corporate World

Over the years, women have been associated with words such as delicate and compassionate because of which they were confined to perform specific chores only within the four walls of their houses. But this no longer seems to be the situation.

With the power to not only bring life into this world after God but also to nurture and shape the future generation, women are capable of doing diverse things. With technology spreading its wings across various corners of the world, women are provided with a platform to learn, to speak up for themselves and even start their own business!

This has lead women to bring accolades in various different fields. They have definitely made Pakistan proud because working in a male dominant environment is tough and requires some serious guts. Keeping in mind the diverse contributions of Pakistani women, Jovago Pakistan has dedicated this article to all those corporate women out there.

Nadine Malik
According to a famous proverb, behind every successful man, there is a strong woman. In Jovago Pakistan’s case, there is a strong woman behind the success of the company. With an MBA degree from INSEAD and a passion for working in a challenging environment, which is a common element found in the e-commerce market, Nadine came back to Pakistan in order to launch the Rocket Internet’s online hotel booking venture in Pakistan. Over a journey of just more than two years, Jovago has emerged as the largest and the best hotel booking website in Pakistan with an inventory of more than 2000 hotels.

Sima Kamil
Appointed as the new CEO and President of UBL, Sima Kamil is the first female CEO of any major bank in Pakistan. With a banking career spanning over 25 years, Sima is an all rounded leader with positions including head of branch banking, director of asset management at HBL and Chair of the Board of Governors of Karachi Grammar School.

Maheen Rahman
Turning a loss —making asset management company into a profitable acquisition target, Maheen leads Alfalah GHP Investment Management Ltd as its CEO. A LUMS graduate, she is the only Pakistani woman to make it to the Fortune’s list of ‘40 under the 40s: top ten women CEOs’ and is also the youngest head of an asset management company.

Jehan Ara Pasha
With a 30-year-old career spanning in the fields of marketing, communications and interactive media, Jehan is many things combined. She is not only an entrepreneur but also a social activist and motivator. She is the President of Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES and the tech incubator NEST I/O and is an ardent supporter of legislation for cybercrime, and privacy and data protection.

Facts and Figures About Pakistan’s Hospitality Industry That Will Make You Awed

In the midst of the improved security conditions in the country and emergence of various travel websites that offer various hospitality related services, Pakistan is seeing an upsurge in the inbound tourism over the years.

More people are traveling to Pakistan to explore the various natural and man-made aspects of sheer beauty that this South Asian country possesses. Be it three of the world’s highest mountain ranges in the north or the widely stretched coastal belt in the south, one of the world’s largest necropolis at Makli to the stunning fresh water sources at various areas, Pakistan is home to many diverse tourist places that attract people from all walks of life.

To further allure tourists to visit the country, Jovago Pakistan is back with the second edition of Pakistan’s hospitality report for the year 2017. The best online hotel booking website brings you an exclusive article so that you can know and feel awed about various facts and figure from 2017’s hospitality industry report.

E-commerce industry
With a growing youth population that is tech savvy, cheap smartphones and 3G/ 4G services, the e-commerce industry in Pakistan has a huge potential to grow and become a major revenue injector to the GDP. This particular industry is expected to reach over US$600 million by 2017.

Internet projection
Amidst the better internet connection through the availability of 3G and 4G internet and affordable smartphones, there has been an increase in internet penetration which is currently over 30 million users today. It is projected that this increase in internet penetration will reach 56 million of Pakistan’s total population over the next five years.

Employment opportunity
The increasing inbound tourism has resulted in employment generation for the locals. From 1,429,500 jobs being created in the hospitality sector in 2015, it is projected that this figure will reach 1,760,000 jobs till 2025 i.e. an increase of 2.1% per annum over the next ten years.

Leading hotel chains
With the ongoing development in the country including the mega project of CPEC, the inbound tourism is projected to increase in Pakistan. Seeing the potential that Pakistan possesses in the hospitality sector, various hotel chains including Hashoo Group, Grand Hayatt, and Sheraton will be opening new hotels in various parts of the country over the next 5 years.

Exclusive Deals on Pakistan Day That You Should Not Miss Out

Amongst the various events that have shaped the history of Pakistan the Lahore resolution, which was later renamed as Pakistan resolution, is one event that laid the foundation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia. The event holds a special place in the hearts of Pakistanis because it marked the official start of the drive for a separate Muslim state.

Therefore, Pakistan resolution day is celebrated with utmost patriotism and fervor on 23rd March every year. As this date is just around the corner, there can be seen an upsurge in the patriotic feeling amongst Pakistanis.

To help all Pakistanis to make the most out of this special day, which molded the lives of millions of Muslims for the better, Jovago Pakistan has started a special campaign by the name of Safar e Pakistan that will highlight the various aspects of our beautiful motherland. As part of this campaign, this article is about the exclusive deals on Pakistan day that you should not miss out.

Daraz.pk
As part of its “Pakistan First” philosophy, Daraz.pk is all set to offer crazy discounts through its “Grand Green sale”. The sale will be live from 23rd March to 25th March 2017. With 23 mega sales and discounts up to 77 percent across various categories, Daraz is determined to help Pakistanis celebrate the 77th Pakistan day in style without straining their bank account.

Jovago.pk
With the mission to promote and increase tourism in Pakistan and to facilitate travelers though easy and best online hotel booking, Jovago Pakistan is ready to celebrate Pakistan day in style. With its Safar e Pakistan campaign, Jovago Pakistan will not only offer crazy discounts up to 60% on hotel booking but also provide special discounted tour packages for those who are planning to travel to different areas in the country. These deals are a perfect to enjoy your trip and make beautiful memories that you can later cherish upon without putting a dent in your bank account.

Foodpanda
Are you someone who believes that eating food is the best way to celebrate an event? If yes, then Foodpanda brings the perfect excuse to keep your tummy full and satiate your hunger cravings by offering discounts up to 60%. These crazy discounts will be live for the entire month of March.

Here’s How You Should Spend the Long Holiday Coming Up on 23rd March

As the month of March arrives, the feeling of patriotism surges to a new high among Pakistanis. Are you someone who is curious about this upsurge?

This feeling of freedom and patriotism is associated with the month of March for various reasons. Not only does it instill hope for a better future with the blooming flowers, which marks the arrival of the spring season, it is also cherished because of the historical significance that it has for Pakistan.

The most prominent day of the month is 23rd of March on which prominent leaders of the Muslim gathered in 1940, at the famous Minto Park in Lahore, to pass a resolution which revolved around the Muslims drive for a separate homeland within British India.

Therefore, the resolution is considered to be one of the major events that laid the foundation for Pakistan and is celebrated with utmost patriotism.

This article by Jovago Pakistan is a part of the online hotel booking website’s Safar e Pakistan campaign which is all about highlighting the beauty that Pakistan possesses. It includes the places that are a must-visit to celebrate 23rd March and remember the message that it brings about.

Minar e Pakistan
The celebration of this important milestone in Pakistan’s history will be incomplete without a visit to the Minar e Pakistan in Lahore, where the resolution for a separate Muslim homeland was passed. With an approximate height of 70 meters, this national monument was built to commemorate March 23, 1940. Situated in Iqbal park which is a major public attraction, the Minar e Pakistan is adjacent to the famous Badshahi masjid.

Pakistan Monument
The beautiful monument in constructed in the shape of a flower petal and is located on the Shakarparian Hills in Islamabad. With an area of 2.8 hectares, the monument symbolizes national unity. The adjoining museum is a major public attraction because it is home to wax monuments that depict important events that lead to Pakistan Movement.

Mazar e Quaid
This is the final resting place of the Father of the nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah who played a major role in the creation of a separate state for Muslims of South Asia. Situated in the largest city of Pakistan, the mausoleum is the largest of its kind in the country. It is built out of white marble and is a sight on its own. Important artifacts which are of historical significance are kept at the museum which is adjacent to the mausoleum.

Ziarat Residency
The beautiful valley of Ziarat in the province of Balochistan is famous for its serene environment which entranced the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah as he spent his final days there. The tourists are not only attracted by the historical significance of this place but the lush green lawns of the residency provide a spectacular view of the entire valley.

ACCA launches Research Report and Online certificates

20th March 2017: ACCA Pakistan held an exclusive event to reveal the key findings of its latest research report, 50 drivers of change in the public sector, published in December 2016.

To help professional accountants and leaders in the public sector prepare for an uncertain tomorrow, ACCA undertook a global study to explore which emerging drivers of change could have the biggest impact and to highlight the skills that will be required over the period to 2026.

At the event, ACCA has also launched its online Certificate in International Public Sector Accounting Standards (Cet. IPSAS). This qualification will be delivered in Pakistan in partnership with ICMA Pakistan using a blended (online and face-to-face) model. The face-to-face content has been specifically developed by ICMA Pakistan to help meet the challenges of implementing IPSAS from a local perspective.

There is an increasing demand for greater transparency and accountability for public funds. The public sector is evolving to deliver services in the most effective way within the constraints of available public finances and therefore it is important that finance professionals working in the public sector are proficient in the international public sector accounting standards and IPSAS will help improve the reporting and financial management in public sector

The event was attended by senior public sector officials and dignitaries from key development agencies.  Important representatives included, Helen Brand, ACCA’s Chief Executive, Muhammad Kamran Jamil, Executive Director, ICMA Pakistan, ACCA Council Members, Phoebe Hao Yu and Ayla Majid, Imran Iqbal, Additional Auditor General of Pakistan, Ahmed Taimoor Nasir, DG HRM, Auditor General of Pakistan, Tafakhar Ali Asadi, Director General (Policy), Auditor General Pakistan and Akram El-Shorbagi, Senior FM Specialist, The World Bank.