Contracts between public and private sectors operate with a ‘trust deficit’

ACCA’s global survey about public procurement reveals South Asia respondents want polices that give transparency to the public 

 

Governments around the world have faced challenges with public procurement due to the COVID-19 crisis, testing their ability and capacity to react quickly and efficiently to deliver life-saving goods and services to the public, asserts a new research report from ACCA (the Association of Chartered Accountants) New Models of Public Procurement: A Tool For Sustainable Recovery.

 

Surveying finance professionals from both the public and private sector in over 90 markets including South Asia, ACCA’s research identifies a trust deficit between public sector buyers and private sector suppliers. Globally, only 41 per cent of private sector respondents believe the public sector can be trusted to uphold its side of the deal, compared with 60 per cent of public sector respondents stating they trust their private sector counterparts.

 

According to the 136 respondents across South Asia, including Pakistan, the top three challenges faced are bribery and corruption (81 per cent); underdeveloped e-Procurement systems (45 per cent) and poor payment practices by government (41 per cent). Findings also reveal that just 22 per cent of South Asia respondents said the quality of public services was good, compared with 77 per cent in the Middle East and 65 per cent of respondents in North America and Europe.

 

When asked about policy objectives for evaluating public procurement, fair dealing with all bidders and suppliers was viewed as important (63 per cent), followed by transparency to the public (62 per cent) and promoting ethical practices (57 per cent).

 

And to cope with the post COVID-19 recovery, 62 per cent said that governments should introduce procurement strategies that increase transparency in the bid selection process, with 61 per cent saying better digital solutions are needed for the whole procurement cycle and 54 per cent want to see more innovative approaches to public service delivery. 

 

Sajjeed Aslam, head of ACCA Pakistan, says: ‘Our report calls for procurement modernisation, with audits commonplace in all public procurement procedures, beginning as early as possible in the bid process to reduce the likelihood of corruption, while ensuring that the auditors remain independent during the process. Due to COVID-19 turbulence, another key recommendation is to use public procurement as an opportunity to keep businesses – in particular, SMEs – afloat by publishing contracts early on centralised, open databases that are accessible to all.’

 

Rachel Bleetman, ACCA’s Public Sector Policy and Research Manager, and co-author of the report says: ‘There’s a growing need to ensure that public spending during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic is not only made more efficient and cost-effective, but that it’s used as an opportunity to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time - environmental catastrophe, rising social inequalities, ending corruption and meeting the needs for life-saving procurement.’

 

Alex Metcalfe, ACCA’s Head of Public Sector and report co-author adds: ‘Corruption costs the public sector significant sums of money every year and can create feelings of mistrust towards governments. So the role for finance professionals in helping to make, monitor and evaluate these changes is significant and, as this report demonstrates, the global finance profession is needed now more than ever to help transform how the public sector responds to the crisis.’

 

Rachel Bleetman concludes: ‘Across South Asia and on the global stage, there’s room for optimism here as the reforms we recommend around eliminating bribery and corruption, competition and the buyer–supplier relationship, modernisation and COVID-19 and the public procurement ‘need for speed’ will all make for stronger public procurement, which is an essential part of public sector spending that, until now, has received relatively little attention. Now’s the time for change, as history has long taught us that, out of crises, new opportunities can emerge.’

Huawei's Mate series elevates the flagship smartphone segment

With constant evolutions in design, performance and videography that are depicted in the new HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro

 

Huawei’s Mate series has a reputation in the smartphone industry for being amongst the ones that constantly step up what smartphones can and are supposed to do. The newly launched HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro continues down this path bringing to the table innovative features and striking design elements that elevate the user experience. With a strong focus on 5G performance, trend-setting design ethos and smartphone videography, the HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro encompasses the spirit of Huawei innovative streak and commitment to provide users with everything they would want and more. All of this is powered by its large scale investments in R&D, 15.3% of total revenue in 2019 alone to be exact.

 

Huawei is a force in the field of 5G, heavily investing in developing the technology. Further attributing to this is the fact that Huawei currently holds more than 20% of all 5G standard-essential patents and more than 21,000 contributions, the highest in the industry. The newly launched HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro is an example of this, evident by the Kirin 9000 5G SoC that it houses. The world’s first 5nm 5G chipset, the Kirin 9000 is an embodiment of Huawei’s 5G prowess, boasting to be one of the most sophisticated chipsets available for powerful and efficient performance along with enhanced graphics and smart AI capabilities.

 

Another area of Huawei’s expertise has always been in smartphone design, with each iteration simply looking better. The HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro continues with this trend thanks to its iconic Space Ring design with its unique colorways of Mystic Silver and Black. This is then complemented upfront with the ultra-curved HUAWEI Horizon Display, which curves at 88 degrees allowing for a completely borderless and futuristic viewing experience. By curving the display to this extent, Huawei also gives users the option to use the volume rockers either with the physical buttons or virtual ones that can be customized.

 

The HUAWEI Mate series has seen every iteration be favorites among users when it comes to videography or photography and this aspect continues with the HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro: its Ultra Vision Cine Camera Setup it paves the way when it comes to videography for some truly innovative features, such as real time HDR videos, Steady shots, Tracking shots, Story Mode and more, each designed to give a videographer all the tools they would need to shoot. On the other hand, the front cameras is perfect for the digital content creators and vloggers in today’s social media era, giving them options of 4K video recording with XD Fusion HDR along with a dual 100-degree field of view.

 

The HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro also makes a quantum leap in terms of charging speeds, with 66W wired HUAWEI SuperCharge and 50W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge. It also comes with a 4400mAh battery which promises top-notch power efficiency and long-lasting 5G performance.

 

The new flagship plays role in the brand’s Seamless AI Life strategy under the 1+8+n concept to act as the entry point to the ecosystem. This concept revolves around collaborative innovations and aims to deliver more connected hardware and software experiences. This enables features like Multi-Screen Collaboration where users can operate multiple devices at once, for a more connected experience with PCs and smartphones. Users can also run up to three different apps at the same time with floating windows thanks to the Multi-Window feature to further enhance the productivity experience.

 

The HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro is equipped with the Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) for a smarter, richer, more convenient and secure smartphone experience. It is also preinstalled with HUAWEI AppGallery and the Petal Search widget that acts as a gateway to over a million apps. Additionally, smart interaction features revolutionizing how users interact with their smartphone by swiping their hand in the air or hovering their hand over the phone to control it.

 

Evolution along a smartphone lineup boils down to a never-ending commitment for innovation and to deliver the very best to consumers, be it in terms of performance, design or even videography. Huawei heavily builds on this across its product lineup and the HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro, is no exception to this ideal.

ACCA publishes its commitments to delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN Secretary General declared 2020 to be the year to mobilise for a “decade of action” to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Today, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) announces its contribution to this global ambition by publishing its own commitments to the delivery of the SDGs.

 

ACCA recognises the importance of all 17 interconnected SDGs, and asserts that its commitments demonstrate that ACCA and its community can make the most significant contribution towards nine of them. These include offering access to a quality finance and accountancy education that is free from artificial barriers, becoming Net Zero by 2030, and working in partnership to build an inclusive global profession that supports the development of ethical, sustainable and successful businesses and economies.

 

Helen Brand OBE, chief executive of ACCA says: ‘Setting out our commitments is an important and necessary step in ensuring ACCA and its community plays a key role in the transformational change business and society needs to see over the next decade. Publishing them brings transparency and accountability to our work and is a logical progression for an organisation that has a proud history of championing sustainability. Our purpose, values and strategy to 2025 already align closely to the SDGs, and this latest development shows our whole-hearted commitment to delivering on them, reporting on them annually and engaging with appropriate partners to help us do this.’

 

Jimmy Greer, head of ACCA sustainability adds: ‘We have a clear rationale for each commitment, with a framework of measures to drive the delivery of our commitments. This measurement is important, and it complements our ongoing advocacy in this critically important area. We plan to keep “walking the talk” when it comes to sustainability. Our commitments are a work in progress, which we can build, evolve and unite around. Finally, we recognise that delivering the SDGS cannot be done alone. It is a massive global effort and ACCA is intent on continuing to play its part.’

 

ACCA’s commitments and the relevant SDGS are:

Commitment UN SDG link

Commitment	UN SDG link
We will offer access to a quality finance and accountancy education that is free from artificial barriers.	UN SDG 4: Quality education
We will promote gender equality across our global community and achieve gender equality across our employee population.	UN SDG 5: Gender equality
We will support our community to progress in their careers so they can actively contribute to sustainable economic growth.	UN SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
We will empower our community so they can support organisations to be ethical, sustainable, successful and able to participate in the global economy.	UN SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
We will advocate for inclusion, diversity and social mobility within, and on behalf of, our community, and ensure ACCA is a fair and inclusive place to work.	UN SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
We will promote sustainable practices and reporting, working with our community and our employees to reduce the consumption of resources.	UN SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
We will embed green finance in our qualifications and learning products to improve capability across the profession for climate action. We will advise and support governments and regulators to develop and adopt the regulations and reporting practices needed to transition to a Net Zero carbon economy. At ACCA, we’re committing to becoming Net Zero by 2030.	UN SDG 13: Climate action
We will promote and adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and ethics.	UN SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
We will work in partnership to build an inclusive global profession that supports the development of ethical, sustainable and successful businesses and economies.	UN SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

HUAWEI Nova 7i and HUAWEI Y9a Come with a HUAWEI Band 4 Exclusively on the Blessed Friday Sale Online

  

To buy now, visit the Huawei Flagship Store at Daraz.pk and avail this amazing package during the Blessed Friday Sale

Fitness and smartness go hand-in-hand, which is why Huawei has brought an amazing Blessed Friday Sale. This exclusive sale is bringing Huawei’s bestsellers HUAWEI Nova 7i and HUAWEI Y9a to Daraz.pk where people can get a HUAWEI Band 4 along with the purchase of any of the two phones. The Blessed Friday Sale runs from 26 November to 30 November, 2020 on the Huawei Flagship Store on Daraz.pk, so head over there to buy this amazing deal.

This year’s hottest seller, the HUAWEI Nova 7i is available on Daraz.pk at the new price tag of PKR 41,999/- along with the HUAWEI Band 4. Moreover, the HUAWEI Y9a will be sold on Daraz.pk at an irresistible price of PKR 43,999/- coupled with a free HUAWEI Band 4.

HUAWEI Nova 7i was the Midrange King since its launch, enriched with a few innovative firsts in its price segment. It boasted the best-in-class Hi-Silicon Kirin 810 (7nm) Octa Core processor, 40W blazing-fast HUAWEI SuperCharge and a spectacular AI Quad Camera with a 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP setup. These ground-breaking features ensure swift multi-tasking and immersive gaming, while its powerful camera coupled with a 16MP front camera provides greater opportunities for creative expressions, remarkable imaging and videos. A vivid 6.3 inch display and a massive 8GB + 128GB memory makes it the best choice in this price range powered by a 4,200mAh battery.

HUAWEI Y9a is also one of the best devices in this category, enriched with the ‘Petal Search’ feature to offer more than a million apps straight to the device. It delivers fascinating experiences for consumers and flagship specs like; 64MP Hi-Res Quad-Camera, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and a 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge.

The revolutionary camera on HUAWEI Y9a captures with vivid clarity with EIS anti-shake technology and countless other features. A selfie pop-up camera on the front has an enhanced 16MP lens, while the 6.63 inch HUAWEI Ultra FullView Display allows no visual distractions. It enables unmatched multi-tasking, video-browsing and high performance, with immersive gaming experiences. The 4,200mAh battery gets 70% charge-up with only a 30-minutes charging session.

Both these devices come with the HUAWEI AppGallery for fascinating functionality, promising easier access to a whole new world of digital solutions to multiply your productivity.

The Blessed Friday Sale kicks off from 26 November exclusively on the Huawei Flagship Store on Daraz.pk, inspiring the same excitement amongst consumers that is truly synonymous with Huawei.

For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/2V1td0l

ACCA celebrates 20-year success of its dual qualification with Oxford Brookes University

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is celebrating 20 years of its dual qualification with Oxford Brookes University, which enables students to gain a globally recognised BSc (Hons) Applied Accounting degree and the ACCA qualification together.

 

ACCA and Oxford Brookes University jointly designed this unique programme, which can be achieved entirely remotely, to meet both the requirements of a degree and a professional qualification.  

 

Marking the 20-year anniversary of the partnership, Helen Brand, ACCA chief executive said, ‘ACCA is proud of our long-standing partnership with Oxford Brookes that equips our students for brilliant careers in accounting and finance. Our partnership not only enables our students to demonstrate to potential or existing employers that they possess all the relevant graduate skills, but that these have been gained from a university that has a reputation for excellence.

 

‘The impact of Covid-19 may have raised anxiety about career opportunities, but a degree and a professional accountancy qualification remain a powerful combination, boosting employability and enhancing job prospects. Over the past two decades, this long-established distance learning option has helped thousands of students achieve their dreams of success.’

 

ACCA students in Pakistan can easily apply for the degree once they have completed the Knowledge and Skills papers of the ACCA's professional examinations, and the Ethics and Professional Skills module.

 

Globally, over 33,500 students have graduated from the programme to date.

 

“Not everyone has the opportunity of having a professional qualification and an Oxford Brookes University degree at the same time. For those who want to achieve it, I think this is a great opportunity.” - Abdul Manan, ACCA student

 

Professor Tim Vorley, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Oxford Brookes Business School said “We are extremely proud of our longstanding partnership with ACCA which helps people all over the world who are studying their way to a better future.

 

“The success of the programme is down to the shared vision of Oxford Brookes and ACCA of widening access to education, while ensuring rigorous standards of teaching and assessment. Over the coming years I am looking forward to the partnership with the ACCA continuing to grow as we seek to embark on new initiatives together, with more exciting times ahead!”

 

“Having the ACCA qualification and the BSc, both being internationally recognised, it gives you a great platform to work anywhere.” - Felicia Dumenil, ACCA student

Quad camera for poster-level photography and a massive storage! – The HUAWEI Y7a is Here to Stay

 Here are five reasons why we think you should get this Midrange Powerhouse

 

Have you ever thought how having a smartphone with incredible charging speed, long lasting battery and a stellar Quad camera setup feels? Especially one that does not break the bank. Huawei announced the launch of a new smartphone to its popular and loved entry-level HUAWEI Y series, the HUAWEI Y7a. This latest iteration comes with an array of cool features that make your daily life so much fun. The HUAWEI Y7a is up for grabs at a starting price of PKR 35,999/- only!

 

Long lasting power with HUAWEI SuperCharge

Worried your phone is going to run out of battery power when you are out and about? The HUAWEI Y7a has a massive 5000 mAh battery that can last for a long time even when using the camera or gaming or web browsing. But hold on, what if you have to be stuck at home charging this massive battery? Never mind that, because you can swiftly charge it back up with the 22.5W HUAWEI SuperCharge technology, With just 10 minutes of charging, it can last for a remarkable two hours of uninterrupted video playback . Moreover, Coupled with Huawei’s AI power saving technology, the HUAWEI Y7a intelligently manages power ensuring you always have power for all your gameplay, movies and more!

 

Explore your artistic side with the 48MP AI Quad Camera

The HUAWEI Y7a comes with an AI Quad Camera setup, which comprises of a 48MP Main Camera for taking clear photos and recording brisk and limpid videos anytime of the day. An 8MP 120o Ultra-Wide Angle Camera for taking group photos without having to leave anyone out of the photo frame or beautiful landscape shots while picnicking. A 2MP Macro Camera for capturing tiny details from up-close and a 2MP Depth Camera that adds artistic Bokeh effects to your photos. Each camera is designed for a specific function, but together, they work seamlessly to deliver standout results in various shooting scenarios for poster-like quality! The HUAWEI Y7a does not only excel in daylight but it also produces some magnificent night shots, thanks to its high sensitivity sensor and AI capability. Under Night mode, the smartphone uses AI algorithms to achieve multi-frame noise reduction that produces bright photos in improved clarity.

 

HUAWEI Y7a helps you discover your unique beauty and record treasured moments in clear detail thanks to the 8MP selfie camera with AI beauty support. If you happen to be out camping with your family at night, the Circular Flash will be activated automatically which provides better lighting for stunning selfies/groupfies.

 

A shimmering display that attracts the eyes

The HUAWEI Y7a dazzles you at first sight from the 6.67-inh FHD+ display to its overall body and colours. This brilliant display has a resolution of 2400 x 1080 and a screen-to-body-ratio of 90%. Everything you watch on the HUAWEI Y7a will be an immersive experience whether you are watching the latest episode of your favourite show, or your favourite team taking on their rivals in a local derby match or even playing your preferred game. The HUAWEI Y7a will also catch the attention of those who see it with its three eye-catching colour variants: Crush Green, Blush Gold and Midnight Black

 

Enough space for all you media, entertainment and gaming

Lots of memories to save, loads of moments to cherish! All the videos, photos, games, and apps you are going to download, run and store need ample space - we know that! The HUAWEI Y7a comes with 4GB RAM for smooth processing plus a large 128GB internal storage, which can be extended up to 512GB with an external Micro SD Card for silky smooth gaming.

 

HUAWEI Y7a runs on EMUI 10.1, which is based on Android 10. The user interface comes with a bunch of innovative features such as an upgraded Game assistant, which provides you with an enhanced gaming experience. In addition to Knuckle Screenshot gestures, Smart Puzzle, Histen 6.1 and more!

 

If you are looking for your favourite Apps to download you can get them on Huawei’s official app marketplace, HUAWEI AppGallery - the third largest app marketplace in the world. The HUAWEI AppGallery lets users download a wide selection of global and local apps, as well as quality entertainment media on HUAWEI Video, HUAWEI Music and HUAWEI Reader. You can choose to download your favourite apps from Petal Search, a new search tool that is available for download via HUAWEI AppGallery. This new search tool offers Huawei users an open gateway to a million apps, a place where you can get all the apps you are looking for!

 

Available in three natural colour variations: Crush Green, Blush Gold and Midnight Black, HUAWEI Y7a is currently available for PKR 35,999/- only. For more information, please visit: https://consumer.huawei.com/pk/phones/y7a/

Pakistani student scores world’s highest marks in an ACCA exam

Muhammad Abdullah, a young Pakistani student from Lahore has been declared the global prize winner by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) for scoring the highest marks among all ACCA students globally who appeared in its Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) paper in September 2020 exam session.  

 

ACCA has a strong global presence with over 527,000 students in 179 countries currently pursuing its qualifications that rigorously test the skills, abilities and competencies that a modern-day accountant needs, with a firm grounding in ethics and professionalism. The ACCA Qualification prepares students for a rewarding global career as a qualified and ethical finance professional.

 

The excellent exam performance of Pakistani youth in ACCA’s competitive exams is another reminder that with right support and a platform, Pakistan’s youth can truly put the country on the global map for talent, innovation and professional excellence.

 

It’s also an indication that the country is fast becoming a global source for future-ready business professionals who can compete with professionals around the world, build rewarding careers overseas or help realise Pakistan’s potential of becoming a preferred destination for global outsourcing encouraging global businesses to invest in setting up their back office operations in Pakistan and create employment opportunities for our youth who have global qualifications and repute.    

 

Muhammad Abdullah is a resident of Lahore’s Rajgarh locality and has done all his early schooling from Lahore’s Saint Anthony’s School. He then took admission at the famous Government College University Lahore and passed his FSc – Pre-engineering with an impressive overall score of 92%.

 

His father is also a professional accountant and is happy to see his son following in his footsteps and pursuing a career in accounting and finance. His mother, who played a key role in infusing the spirit of a fighter in him, has a master’s degree in English Literature.

 

Talking about his journey, Abdullah shared, ‘I come from a middle-class family. The middle-class has its own struggles and challenges. There is constant pressure to perform to be competitive and to survive. I feel that this pressure has motivated me to step out of my comfort zone. As a professional in the future, I aim to bring a positive change in the society and work towards empowering youth from underprivileged backgrounds. Having the ACCA qualification will provide me with the necessary skills and vision to do exactly that.’

 

Currently Muhammad Abdullah is studying an ACCA embedded BSc Accounting and Finance programme at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). The ACCA embedded programme at LUMS offers BSc Accounting and Finance students the opportunity to complete the ACCA exams during the course of their undergraduate degree.

 

ACCA has similar programmes at leading universities in Pakistan, such as National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, and Institute of Business Management (IoBM), allowing students to gain two qualifications at the same, i.e. university degree and ACCA’s professional qualification.

 

Discussing the disruption caused by Covid-19, Abdullah said, ‘Quarantine period due to Covid-19 gave me time to focus solely on my studies and exam preparation. Had the pandemic not happened, I don’t think I would have been able to achieve this milestone. What I mean to say is that every challenge we face in our lives brings a new set of opportunities for us that when taken with both hands can help us to stand out and achieve extraordinarily.’

 

‘My message for the country’s youth is to never underestimate or limit your potential. With dedication we can achieve anything and compete against everyone. And I see this success as just a beginning of a great career journey that awaits everyone with ambition, talent and courage!’

 

‘Accountancy is a great career to be in, a professional accountant can thrive in any sector or industry, and with ACCA’s global recognition, it’s your global passport to build a rewarding international career. For youngsters like me, ACCA has opened access to world-class qualification that we can complete without travelling abroad.’

 

In addition to global acclaim and exciting career prospects, all ACCA’s global position holders will also receive a certificate and cash prize from ACCA.