ACCA, IFAC release a global guide on public financial management reforms

        Professionalisation of the workforce is one of the most important steps in achieving a step change in public sector financial management

A new joint guide by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) released at the World Congress of Accountants (WCOA) aims to boost PFM reforms across the globe by defining for the first time the idea of professionalisation specifically in the context of public sector finance.

The guide also features case studies of good practice from Tanzania, the UK, Cyprus, the Philippines, Pakistan, Malaysia and Wales.

A global guide for professionalisation in public sector finance provides a definition of what professionalisation means in public sector finance, sets out the benefits of professionalisation, and offers a high-level roadmap to support global good practice in professionalisation.

Discussing the global guide ahead of a panel discussion at WCOA, Joseph Owolabi, ACCA president, said: “Professionalisation brings credibility, trust and confidence in public finances by supplementing the systems and public finance processes with the right skills for accountability, transparency, good governance and external scrutiny. A professionalised workforce within a finance function supplies more than accounting information. It brings wide value to public sector finances – providing improved revenue collection, effective budgetary controls, and the data required to support policy decision making.”

Kevin Dancey, IFAC CEO, said: “We are looking to rebalance the focus so that it is not only on the process, but also on the people. The value of the accountancy profession, whether in the public or private sectors, comes from the experience, skills, judgement and ethical behaviour of its people. By increasing the number of professional accountants working in the public sector, we will no doubt add to the credibility and effectiveness of PFM, and reinforce trust in public services and spending.”

Achieving professionalisation brings multiple benefits to the economy, governments and individuals. It means greater financial credibility for economies, improved financial management discipline for governments, and greater access to diverse career options for individuals.

Alex Metcalfe, ACCA’s head of public sector, said: “Political leadership and commitment for professionalisation is the most important factor for sustaining PFM reforms over time. In some countries, there is a lack of recognition that change is needed at all. In other countries, PFM reforms have concentrated on moving from cash-based to accrual-based accounting. But now more effort is urgently required to professionalise public finance staff and provide opportunities for training for professional qualifications.”

Access the global guide here.

 

BARD Foundation takes the lead to ensure high quality science education in collaboration with Roshni homes trust

          

BARD Foundation is funding Roshni Homes Trust x Sciencefuse programme, which aims to teach high-quality science education in a creative way to children of Roshni Homes first, then across the 'Golden Triangle' (Sialkot, Gujrat and Gujranwala). Sciencefuse is a social enterprise working to improve the quality of science education among 3- to 14-year-old students.

This is an after-school program that not only teaches children about science in a dynamic way but also trains the trainers. The program will focus on the training of RHT educators and will broaden its scope to select 20-25 teachers in Gujranwala through community partnerships with various schools and orphanages.

Talking about the collaboration, Ms. Mehreen Dawood said, “Bard Foundation is delighted to be a vital part of this social enterprise that not only aims to educate the students but also look forward to train the trainers to make students excel in scientific understanding development. We look forward to broaden the horizon of this joint venture with Roshni Homes Trust to instill creativity and ensure advanced science education to students in other cities like Gujrat, Sialkot and Gujranwala. Through this targeted initiative, students will be able to develop critical learning and research skills that will foster their scientific comprehension in practical fields.

Science instils a sense of intrigue and enables students to develop understanding and form questions based both on the knowledge they already have and the insight they wish to gain in the future. Students who excel in science lessons are likely to develop a strong ability to think critically.

Science stimulates the natural curiosity that drives learners and inspires them to discover the mysteries of the world around them. BARD Foundation comes forward to be the lead support for young children to assist them in their sensory explorations of outer world. Through this initiative we aim to inspire the youth to dream big and achieve even bigger.

Shaheen Afridi & Shoaib Malik join Babar Azam & Shadab Khan to debut inside the world's biggest game

          

Free Fire has announced Pakistani cricket icons Shaheen Afridi and Shoaib Malik are set to join the stage with Babar Azam and Shadab Khan as the official brand ambassadors for Free Fire in Pakistan. Free Fire is the world’s leading mobile battle royale game with over 1 Billion downloads and has been at the forefront of the esports revolution in Pakistan.

This is Pakistan's first-ever collaboration with cricket players, who will introduce their own style through cricket bundles inside the world’s most popular battle royale game. Users will have a chance to claim and play with bundles of their cricketing heroes in their favourite game.

Each cricketer worked on their bundle designs and came up with vibrant & unique designs which are bound to attract. This is great news for cricket fans as they will be able to see their favorite cricketers collaborating with the leading mobile game as they introduce their cricket bundles for the first-time ever.

Shaheen Shah Afridi commented on the occasion, “I'm glad to join my team mate and captain as Free Fire's brand ambassador. This is an incredibly popular game that has helped establish professional esports in Pakistan. I am thrilled to have my bundle feature in their game and will hold on to this memory.”

Free Fire is dedicated to providing players with a variety of fresh and interesting content and unique experiences to keep them engaged.

Discovering diverse stories around the world; Infinix X Discovery Global Vlog Challenge is now live!

  

     #DiscoverYourOwnStoryfromZERO is here to inspire smartphone users to showcase the best of their content 

Infinix today announced the launch of the Infinix X Discovery Global Vlog Challenge, which aims to build an ecosystem of mobile videography captured by Infinix users. The campaign aims to inspire users of passion mobile photography thereby expressing it through creative short videos on various social media channels.

With the penetration of smartphones technology users and increased use of mobile based applications, users all around the world are  using short-form videos and vlogs as a way of expressing themselves on social media. Keeping thisneed in mind, Infinix recently announced ZERO 20, featuring an impressive world-first 60MP OIS + EIS based front camera, an excellent Auto-Focus function, and a 108MP high-definition three-lens camera for a cutting-edge photographic experience. Ultra-high resolution paired with OIS lets the user shoot photos and video footage with ultra-realistic clarity at all hours of the day. When it comes to videography, capturing high-quality footage with the OIS and EIS is now easier than ever with the Steady Shot feature.

Infinix Senior Product Director, Manfred Hong explained the usability of Infinix ZERO 20 camera by: ‘Infinix X Discovery Global Mobile Vlog Challenge will create a community and shared platform for global users to interpret themselves through mobile Videography, share their lives and stories as content creator, and interact with the greater community as well. The strategy effectively delivers the brand philosophy to inspire users to express themselves, document their lives, and explore the intricacies of their cultures.’

A True Passion for Content Creation

Sharing a shared passion for exploration, the core values of both Discovery and Infinix are remarkably similar. While the ZERO 20 explores itself using mobile content creation, Discovery leads human exploration in the natural world, showcasing the very best of Mother Nature. Infinix & Discovery will initiate the Global Mobile Vlog Challenge 2022 –‘DiscoverYourOwnStoryfromZERO’ – which will encourage users to pick up their smartphones and explore the world around them. The video taken on smartphones will display stunning content from all around the world as the individual perspective of the user or content creator.

 The Awards will be evaluated by the Infinix expert jury, who will assess the photography entries based on the strength of creativity, quality and professional expertise. In addition, the campaign will introduce six distinct categories including, Exploration, Outdoor Sports, Travel, Fashion, Beauty, and Food. Each category will select the top three submissions and the works of the award-winning content creator will be displayed on Infinix’s global landing page. The final collection of artistic works will display multiple perspectives examining diversity and the beauty of life.

 This exciting campaign is open to multiple platform engagements, including Meta/Facebook, TikTok and Xclub starting from   Nov 2022. All users participating in the campaign are to post the creative content to their respective social media accounts and to tag  @infinixmobile account, with the handles, #DiscoverYourOwnStoryfromZERO and #INFINIX.

 Vlogging With Infinix ZERO 20

The newly launched ZERO 20 encapsulates the spirit of the Infinix & Discovery Global Vlog Challenge. Adopting a world-first 60MP OIS Front Camera and crisp 108MP Rear Camera, the ZERO 20 reflects an era when anyone can access the technology needed to become a mobile photographer & vlogger. The ZERO 20 gives users exactly what they need to capture the world around them, and themselves in stunning detail at a moment's notice.

Showcasing impressive technology packaged in a stylish body, the world-class 60MP front camera, OIS+EIS anti-shake and stability features powerful auto focusing capabilities, and Super Night Selfie Mode, which provides consumers with a sublime selfie and videography experience.

 The powerful front camera is complimented by a robust 108MP rear camera supporting a multi-style creation mode, offering creators more exciting possibilities for content creation. Additionally, the ZERO 20 is powered by MediaTek’s Helio G99 6nm processor offering a silky-smooth shooting experience to content creators that use multiple apps and put their device under a heavy load.

Committed To The User

According to App Annie’s 2022 Mobile Market Report, the data for 2021 indicates that, for every 10 minutes of mobile device use time, 7 minutes were spent on social media applications such as YouTube and Tiktok. An increase of time spent on photo and video applications demonstrates that social communication is still the dominant type of smartphone use. From this study, it would be a fair conclusion to state that mobile photography and video have become an important way for people to share their lives, express their feelings and interact with others.

Infinix X Discovery #DiscoverYourOwnStoryfromZERO depicts the ease of use and camera power to record or capture using through a smartphone only.  In order to take part in the Infinix X Discovery Global Vlog Challenge, users can post their creative content onto their social media platforms and use all relevant hashtags as well. If the content reflects the essence of exploration combines with creativity in true meaning then participants can also win the creative most Infinix Discovery IP boxes to continue their journey of content creation further! 

CTO Lahore visited Kalma Chowk Underpass Remodeling and CBD Boulevard project.

    

CTO Lahore Dr. Asad Malhi visited the CBD Punjab Boulevard Kalma Chowk Underpass Remodeling project site and met the official contractor NLC  and  Punjab Central Business District Development Authority 's  Project Director of the CBD Punjab Boulevard project to ensure uninterrupted flow of traffic. 

He said that this project is under the vision of infrastructure development of the government. During the construction work, there will be traffic pressure in Kalma Chowk and adjacent areas, to control the traffic congestion CBD Punjab administration and city traffic police have identified alternative routes and placed traffic diversion signboards for the uninterrupted flow of traffic. CEO of CBD Punjab Imran Amin has also directed to take all possible steps to ensure an uninterrupted flow of traffic.

Why Everyone demands a High-Quality Camera Phone in today’s era?

     

The days of needing a professional camera for photography are long gone, thanks to the advancement of smartphones' remarkable camera setups. More than 10 billion people use smartphones to click pictures each year, which has increased consumer expectations for smartphones with good cameras altogether. Precisely it is because of smartphone photography that the way we comprehend and interact with external world has now changed, its significance in the modern world cannot be emphasized enough.

People require a good reliable device with good OIS enabled camera which fits their daily requirements at best. To connect with the moments that are documented in our phones and enjoy the experiences later in life, smartphone users need a reliable cameras setup with a strong OIS. Keeping in mind what users require in 2022 specifically, Infinix came up with the perfect device this year Infinix ZERO 20 to cope with the daily needs of photography devotees. Housing world’s first 60 MP OIS+EIS based front camera it leaves no room for unstable camera outputs altogether.

The new Infinix ZERO 20 meets all the videography and photography needs within a blink of eye! With a 60 MP front camera and "Super Steady" OIS, the new Infinix ZERO 20 features the first of its kind camera in the world. It provides Dual Image Stabilization offering both hardware based OIS and EIS which automatically makes the camera output ultra-clear.   With the help of this unique function, one can record the most crystal-clear films with the most seamless transitions while being on the go. Its front camera has an autofocus AF feature, allowing it to consistently and swiftly focus on things. Users may take sharp, detailed selfies because of this exclusive feature. Additionally, it has a super night mode that accurately captures the precise outline of things even in dim lighting.

Not only the camera setup but Infinix ZERO 20 operates on Pakistan’s first ever 6NM based processor i.e. MediaTek Helio G99 which powers the smartphone which significantly powers the smartphone like  no other.   The Infinix ZERO 20 will help capture moments with ease and stability that users won't need to look any further.  It’s better to get hold Get hold of Infinix ZERO 20 right away as it is available nationwide and also online on Xpark for Rs 56,999 only!

Pakistan’s Ayla Majid elected vice president of ACCA

     

§  Joseph Owolabi elected ACCA president, first-ever from Africa to lead world’s leading professional accountancy body

§  Pakistan’s Ayla Majid also makes history for being appointed vice president, first South Asian to hold this position in a 118-year history of ACCA

 

Joseph was confirmed in his new role at the annual council meeting after ACCA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 10 November 2022. Ronnie Patton, formerly senior lecturer at Ulster University, Northern Ireland, was appointed deputy president and Ayla Majid from Pakistan, founder and CEO of Planetive – a clean energy and sustainability advisory practice – became vice president.

Ayla joined ACCA in 2006 and has been serving on ACCA’s global council since 2014. She is the first person from Pakistan and South Asia to be elected the global vice president in a 118-year history of ACCA. 

Ayla is an international speaker and is a strong advocate of sustainability and energy transition; takes part in contributing to important themes: Digital Transformation, Climate Finance, Future of Work, Future of Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure. She sits on the Boards of various public and private entities in Pakistan in the areas of energy, pharmaceutical and not for profit sectors. In her various roles she focuses and advises on the adoption of the SDGs across different industries. Ayla is Eisenhower Fellow, and is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. She sits on the Global Future Council of Energy Transition of the World Economic Forum.

‘Being a finance professional has equipped me with the tools and connected me with people who are working towards creating action-oriented solutions for a sustainable world,’ she said.

For Ayla promoting the role of women in governance is something she is very passionate about. She said: ‘It is the need of today’s forward-looking organisation.’ Ayla is a champion of board diversity and actively engages in promoting women on boards. She was the first female to sit on the board of any stock exchange in Pakistan. Thanks to pioneers like her, the influence and impact of women is changing the face of Pakistan.

Ayla is also proud that ACCA plays a major role in offering young Pakistanis a promising career path full of growth and opportunities while creating a positive global impact. ‘ACCA is a wonderful qualification, with high quality standards, up to speed with addressing global needs and provides flexibility, and therefore fits really well with the requirements of a diverse audience. It’s particularly a very attractive career choice for women in all parts of the world including developing countries,’ she said.

The newly elected ACCA president, Joseph Owolabi, grew up and studied in Nigeria, has lived and worked in Africa, North America and the UK, and now is an adoptive Australian. He will bring his knowledge of being a global citizen to his time as ACCA president and will draw on his experience of finding a home and a family with ACCA wherever he has lived and worked.

He became an ACCA member in 2011 and has served on ACCA’s International Assembly 2014-2015 and has been a Global Council member since 2015.

Joseph said: ‘If you had told me as a child growing up that I would one day be the first African leading the largest, truly global accounting body, I would not have believed you. ACCA is an inclusive open and global community for members, future members and partners. Wherever in the world I have found myself, ACCA has given me a home and a family.

‘I am passionate about connecting our community and inspiring the accountants of tomorrow. Great things happen when we collaborate across jurisdictions and national divides.

‘The challenges of today and the complexities of tomorrow will demand continuous learning, courage, sound judgment and a resolve to stay ahead of the curve. The accountancy profession has a key role to play in creating a better world.’

Joseph brings a wealth of experience to the role. He is founder of Rubicola which works in Australia, Africa and North America advising clients on risk, non-financial reporting and sustainable business strategies. His previous experience includes roles at Deloitte, EY and PwC.