Karachi Faces Waste Management Crisis, Political Party Claims

Karachi, Tariq Chandiwala, the chief organizer of Karachi for the Pasban Democratic Party, has criticized the People’s Party for failing to effectively manage the city’s garbage and utilize it for commercial purposes. As per Chandiwala, despite the potential for generating revenue by selling waste to private entities, corruption and mismanagement have hampered efforts to address the city’s growing sanitation and health crises.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, the situation in Karachi has reached a critical point with improper waste disposal contributing to the outbreak of diseases such as malaria and dengue, exacerbated by the recent rains. Chandiwala argued that other cities globally have successfully converted waste into energy and other products, suggesting that privatization could benefit the Sindh government financially while improving public health standards.

The party’s press release pointed to systemic issues within local governance, accusing the People’s Party leaders of negligence and corruption, particularly in the allocation of funds for epidemic prevention such as mosquito spraying and medical supplies. The statement also emphasized the dire conditions in hospitals filled with patients suffering from vector-borne diseases, urging immediate action from Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab to mitigate the spread of infections.

Tehreek Nafaze Fiqhe Jafariya Marks International Day of Destruction of Jannatul Baqi with Global Protests

Rawalpindi, The Tehreek Nafaze Fiqhe Jafariya (TNFJ) in Pakistan commemorated the International Day of Destruction of Jannatul Baqi with protest mourning processions on the 8th of Shawwal Al Mukarram. This annual observance protests the historical destruction of the Jannatul Baqi and Jannatul Mali cemeteries, significant sites in Islamic history. Central Secretary General of TNFJ, Allama Raja Basharat Hussain Emami, expressed gratitude for the widespread support from various communities and the media, which he noted as showcasing unity and solidarity among the Muslim Ummah.

According to Tehreek Nafaze Fiqhe Jafariya, the processions aimed to highlight the shared grievances of the Muslim community over the destruction of these sacred sites and to foster unity among different Islamic schools of thought. Emami criticized certain national newspapers for ignoring the events, accusing them of showing enmity towards the Prophet Muhammad and his family by not covering the observance. He stressed that such actions demonstrate a disregard for the concerns of the Muslim Ummah.

The event also included addresses from other TNFJ leaders and a report on the global mourning processions by Syed Samarul Hasan Naqvi, Secretary of the TNFJ’s International Day of Destruction of Jannatul Baqi Committee. The day’s events across Pakistan and worldwide aimed to remind the Muslim community of their shared history and ongoing challenges, while also calling for renewed efforts toward unity and stability within the Ummah.

Tehreek-e-Insaf Leader Criticizes Internal Disarray Amid Party Crisis


Lahore, Musrat Jamshed Cheema, a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), criticized fellow party member Sher Afzal Marwat for damaging remarks amidst a challenging time for the party and its founding chairman. Cheema’s comments come in the wake of the assassination of the party’s founding chairman, marking a period of significant turmoil within PTI.



According to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Cheema expressed dismay over Marwat’s statements, which he deemed as highly irresponsible during a critical period for the party. He highlighted that Muhammad bin Salman was notably the first leader to express concern and inquire about the wellbeing of the party’s chairman following the attack. Cheema lamented the lack of discipline evident within party ranks and called for divine intervention to alleviate the challenges faced by the founding chairman, hoping for his swift recovery and return to lead the party.



Cheema’s remarks underscore the internal conflicts and leadership challenges within PTI as it navigates through this significant crisis.

Eid Family Festival Thrives with Cultural Events at Arts Council Karachi

Karachi, The Eid Family Festival at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi District Central, is continuing its successful run with a series of cultural events tailored for the festive occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. The festival includes an array of performances such as a public mushaira, Sufi music, and Mahfil Samaa, scheduled from April 18 through April 20.

According to Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, the festival kicked off with the “Family Theater” performance titled “Eidi Aadhi Aadhi” which saw a successful turnout. The play, written and directed by Adam Rathore, featured notable performances by artists including Ilyas Nadeem, Nasira Noor, and Benish, among others, earning widespread applause. The event not only highlighted the theatrical talents but also marked the first time such a play was staged at the Arts Council District Central.

The series of events will feature a mushaira on April 18, followed by Sufi music on April 19, and a Mahfil Samaa on April 20, showcasing famous Qawwali performances. Adam Rathore, director of the play and a pivotal figure in the local theater scene, emphasized the significance of the support from Muhammad Ahmad Shah, President of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, which he credited for the success of the festival.

The ongoing Eid Family Festival is seen as a vital addition to Karachi’s cultural landscape, providing a blend of traditional and contemporary entertainment to the local community and visitors alike.

EBC Financial Group Partners with United to Beat Malaria, a Campaign of the United Nations Foundation, to Protect Vulnerable Children and Their Families from Malaria

EBC Financial Group Amplifies Malaria Eradication Efforts, Supporting Critical Health Interventions and Community Empowerment

In Front of Capitol Hill
In Front of Capitol Hill

EBC with delegates of the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit at Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, EBC Financial Group (EBC) announced a new partnership with United to Beat Malaria (Beat Malaria), a campaign of the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation), aimed at protecting those most vulnerable from malaria – a mosquito-borne disease that claims over 600,000 lives every year.

This partnership provides support for the United to Beat Malaria campaign, which works to improve access to malaria prevention and essential health services in support of the UN Foundation’s goal of achieving a healthier and more equitable world. The UN Foundation brings together ideas, people, and resources to drive global progress and tackle humanity’s greatest challenges. The UN Foundation initiatives have collectively protected tens of millions of children from disease, formed partnerships to provide help and hope to refugees, and mobilised communities to take action towards the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

EBC is honoured to partner with the United to Beat Malaria campaign, joining forces to impactfully end malaria. This partnership reflects EBC’s dedication to corporate social responsibility and support to underprivileged children. EBC recognises the profound impact of malaria on the health and well-being of poverty-stricken regions, and the subsequent economic repercussions, particularly in exacerbating the disparity between developed and underprivileged regions. Malaria disproportionately impacts young children: over 75% of all malaria deaths are children under 5. A child dies nearly every minute from this preventable and treatable disease.

“Being invited to United to Beat Malaria’s 2024 Leadership Summit and witnessing the advocacy in action was not only a tremendous privilege but also an enlightening experience for me,” said David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd, the British entity of EBC. “Seeing firsthand the impact that EBC Group can have by actively engaging with organisations like United to Beat Malaria reaffirms our commitment to making a difference in the communities we serve.”

Collaborative Insights at the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit
Collaborative Insights at the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit

Dr. Sara Hendrix, a professor at the University of Alabama and Beat Malaria advocate, alongside CEO David Barrett of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd.

“Our partnership with EBC Group is built on a shared commitment to protect the world’s most vulnerable children and families from this deadly yet preventable disease,” said Margaret McDonnell, Beat Malaria’s Executive Director. “EBC’s support will enable our campaign to reach at-risk communities and deliver life-saving interventions in malaria endemic countries as to save and improve lives.”

Today, malaria is a disease of poverty and health inequity. It’s transmitted to people through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes, which carry the life-threatening disease caused by the blood parasite Plasmodium. The tools to prevent, diagnose, and treat malaria are highly cost-effective; but millions around the world lack access to these life-saving interventions. Half the world’s population remains at-risk of malaria, with over 240 million cases annually. Malaria is most prevalent in Africa, which carries 94% of all cases globally, and disproportionately impacts young children, pregnant women, displaced populations, and remote communities with limited access to healthcare.

The world has already made remarkable progress against this ancient disease, cutting the malaria mortality rate by approximately half. With continued funding, partnership, and political will, we can be the generation that ends malaria for good.

In addition to financial support, EBC also seeks to educate its employees about malaria and encourage them to get involved. Last month, Samuel Hertz, APAC Director of Operations at EBC Financial Group, alongside David Barrett, joined over 100 malaria advocates, experts, and leaders at United to Beat Malaria’s annual Leadership Summit in Washington DC. The 3-day event was a platform for learning, networking, and advocating for global leadership, emphasising the collective action needed to tackle this critical public health challenge. Also, EBC employees will participate in the upcoming Move Against Malaria 5K (April 25-May 5), a remote 5K run held worldwide to raise funds and awareness for malaria.

Move Against Malaria 5k Run 2024
Move Against Malaria 5k Run 2024

Between April 25 – May 5, 2024, join supporters around the world for Move Against Malaria, a virtual event to raise awareness and funds to support lifesaving malaria treatment tools and programs.

Samuel Hertz stated, “We, as a company, are committed to aiding children worldwide, recognising malaria as one of the most significant threats to their lives. At the summit, we gained insight into the progress made toward eradicating malaria globally. However, this endeavour requires extensive support from diverse partners, which is why we are thrilled to join this coalition. Although the journey ahead may be challenging and prolonged, we understand that meaningful change takes time and effort. As a global company, EBC acknowledges its responsibility to contribute to a better world.”

United for a Cause: EBC Financial Group at the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit

Looking ahead, EBC plans to forge deeper collaborations with UN-related charitable organisations and global partners to bolster health systems worldwide. Through these efforts and its commitment to corporate social responsibility, EBC aims to raise awareness about health disparities and promote inclusivity on a global scale.

For more information, visit ebc.com and beatmalaria.org.

About EBC Financial Group
Founded in the esteemed financial district of London, EBC Financial Group (EBC) is renowned for its comprehensive suite of services that includes financial brokerage, asset management, and comprehensive investment solutions. With offices strategically located in prominent financial centres, such as London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, the Cayman Islands, Bangkok, Limassol, and more, EBC caters to a diverse clientele of retail, professional, and institutional investors worldwide.

Recognised by multiple awards, EBC prides itself on adhering to the highest levels of ethical standards and international regulation. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd is regulated by Australia’s Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).

At the core of EBC Group are seasoned professionals with over 30 years of profound experience in major financial institutions, having adeptly navigated through significant economic cycles from the Plaza Accord to the 2015 Swiss franc crisis. EBC champions a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor engagement is treated with the utmost seriousness it deserves.

https://www.ebc.com/

About UN Foundation’s United to Beat Malaria
The UN Foundation is an independent charitable organization created to work closely with the United Nations to address humanity’s greatest challenges, build initiatives across sectors to solve problems at scale, and drive global progress. Learn more at www.unfoundation.org.

United for a Cause: EBC Financial Group at the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit

Advocates from EBC Financial Group stand united with global champions at the United to Beat Malaria Leadership Summit, showcasing a collective commitment to eradicating malaria and fostering global health equity.

The UN Foundation’s United to Beat Malaria campaign brings together key and diverse partners and supporters to take urgent action to end malaria and create a healthier, more equitable world. Since 2006, United to Beat Malaria has worked to equip and mobilize citizens across the U.S. and around the world to raise awareness, funds and voices. The campaign works with partners in endemic countries to channel life-saving resources to protect the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. By championing increased leadership, political will and resources from the U.S. and beyond, as well as more holistic, innovative tools and strategies, we can be the generation that ends malaria once and for all. Learn more at www.beatmalaria.org.

Media Contact:
Douglas Chew
douglas.chew@ebc.com

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Stevie® Awards Announce Winners in 18th Annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service

Winners Announced in 18th Annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service
The Stevie Awards

Winners in the 18th annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, recognized as the world’s top customer service awards and sales awards, were unveiled on April 12 during a gala ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada USA.

FAIRFAX, Va., April 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Winners in the 18th annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, recognized as the world’s top customer service awards and sales awards, were unveiled on Friday night at a gala ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada USA, attended by more than 400 executives from around the world.

The complete list of Stevie Winners by category is available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.

The 10 most-honored organizations in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service received Grand (“best in show”) Stevie Award trophies. Nominees were not able to apply for Grand Stevie Awards directly. Winners were determined by a points system based on the total number of awards won, as well as having the highest average score in selected categories.

DP DHL Worldwide, with 13 Gold, 18 Silver, and 14 Bronze Stevie Award wins, was the most honored organization this year, earning the top Grand Stevie Award trophy. In descending order, the organizations below were presented with Grand Stevie Award trophies in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service on behalf of themselves and/or clients. There was a ninth-place tie between Toco Warranty and Purpol Marketing Limited.

  1. DP DHL (Worldwide), 96 points
  2. IBM (Armonk, NY USA), 64 points
  3. Support Services Group, Inc. (Waco, TX USA), 49 points
  4. Allianz Services Pvt Ltd (Trivandrum, Kerala, India), 39 points
  5. Sales Partnerships, Inc. (Broomfield, CO USA), 38.5 points
  6. UPMC Health Plan (Pittsburgh, PA USA), 31 points
  7. Blackhawk Network (Pleasanton, CA USA), 26 points
  8. VIZIO Inc. (Irvine, CA USA), 22 points
  9. Toco Warranty ( Los Angeles, CA USA), 19 points
    Purpol Marketing Limited (Chippenham, United Kingdom), 19 points

Other notable winners with three Gold Stevie Awards include Alight Solutions (Lincolnshire, IL USA), Optum (Eden Prairie, MN USA), and WNS (Holdings) Limited (Mumbai, India).

Organizations winning a combination of five or more Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Awards include TransPerfect Translations, New York, NY USA (eight), VMWare (Broadcom) Palo Alto, CA USA (seven), Intuit, Toronto, Canada (seven), Avetta, Lehi, UT USA (seven), SAP, Worldwide (seven), ValueSelling Associates, Inc., Carlsbad, CA USA (six), Element Electronics, Winnsboro, SC USA (six), Voya Financial, New York, NY USA (six), CivicPlus, Manhattan, KS USA (five), Capital Rx, New York, NY USA (five), Datasite, Minneapolis, MN USA (five), Inspiro, Makati City, Philippines (five), Loveholidays, London, UK (five), OpenGov, San Francisco, CA USA (five), QNB Finansbank, Istanbul, Turkey (five), and Qualitest Group, Bridgewater, NJ USA (five).

More than 2,300 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were evaluated in this year’s competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 professionals worldwide in seven specialized judging committees.

Entries were considered in more than 60 categories for customer service and contact center achievements, including Contact Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service, and Customer Service Department of the Year; 60 categories for sales and business development achievements, ranging from Sales Director of the Year to Sales Training Practice of the Year, and Achievement in Sales Automation; and categories to recognize new products and services and solution providers, among others.

Winners in one special category, the Sales Partnerships Ethics in Sales Award, were also announced and recognized at the April 12 ceremony. This award recognizes organizations for best practices and achievements in demonstrating the highest ethical standards in the sales industry. Integrity Solutions of Nashville, TN USA is the Gold Stevie winner in this category. The Silver winners are Better Way Health (Kennesaw, GA USA), Stateside Affairs (Manasquan, NJ USA), and Desiderate (New South Wales, Australia). Bronze Stevie winners are Alright Retiree Health Solutions (Chicago, IL USA), Belkins (Dover, DE USA), Rootstack (Panama), Shell International Aviation (Makati, Philippines), TCN (St. George, UT USA), and Yuksekbilgili Egitim & Danismanli (Istanbul, Turkey).

Winners of the 2024 People’s Choice Stevie® Awards for Favorite Customer Service, announced on April 4, were also honored at the April 12 awards gala. People’s Choice Stevie Award winners receive the coveted crystal People’s Choice Stevie Award, which is determined by a worldwide public vote.

The presentations were broadcast live via Vimeo and are available to watch online.

Nominations for the 2025 edition of the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service will be accepted starting this July. The entry kit may be requested at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries annually from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Sponsors of the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service include Sales Partnerships, Inc. Support Services Group, Inc., and ValueSelling Associates, Inc.

Media Contact:
Nina Moore
+1 (703) 547-8389
Nina@StevieAwards.com

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