Day: September 15, 2022

SIFI TO PRESENT NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA AND LAUNCH A NEW INTRAOCULAR LENS DURING THE 40TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CATARACT AND REFRACTIVE SURGEONS

CATANIA, Italy, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — SIFI, a leading international ophthalmic company, announces 3 scientific presentations on its latest innovations during the upcoming Congress of The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) which will take place from 16th to 20th  September in Milan (Italy). These presentations will feature the results of studies evaluating SIFI’s advanced solutions for cataract refractive surgery.

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SIFI also announces the launch of Evolux™, a novel extended monofocal intraocular lens (IOL), based on a hydrophobic material and a non-diffractive profile, designed to provide better intermediate vision and equivalent distance vision when compared to a standard monofocal IOL. Evolux® was developed on a patented technology platform, pioneering the extension of the depth of focus through wavefront engineering.

On Monday 19th September, the Free Paper “Visual Performance Of The Extended Depth Of Focus (Edof) Well Fusion® Optical System: Mini Well® On The Dominant Eye And Mini Well Proxa® On The Non-Dominant Eye After Cataract Surgery” (presenter: Dr. Victor Caparas) will showcase clinical results of SIFI’s first-in-kind unique solution to treat presbyopia.

The E-poster “Evolux, The New Standard Of Care With Extended Depth Of Focus In Monofocal Intraocular Lenses”. (E-poster number: PO192) will feature preclinical results evaluating the optical performance of SIFI’s new IOL Evolux™.

On Monday 19th September, the Satellite Symposium “Advanced solutions for targeting quantitative and qualitative outcomes in cataract refractive surgery: more possibilities for more patients” (presenters: Prof. Gerd U. Auffarth, Prof. Béatrice Cochener, Prof. Rita Mencucci, Prof. Emilio Pedrotti, Dr. Victor Caparas, Dr. Dorin Nicula), will feature six presentations addressing the role of quantity and quality of vision in cataract refractive surgery, the clinical results of trials on the Well Fusion® optical system, the new extended monofocal IOL Evolux™ and the management of postoperative treatment after cataract surgery with Netildex® gel, a twice-a-day, preservative-free fixed combination of dexamethasone 0.1% and netilmicin 0.3%.

SIFI’s team looks forward to welcoming ophthalmologists at Booth B28 to discuss benefits and characteristics of the above products, as well as of Ecbirio™ and Amiriox™, two glaucoma drugs recently launched in selected European markets.

ABOUT WELL FUSION®
The WELL FUSION® system, through the combination of the Mini Well® and the Mini WELL PROXA® intraocular lenses, offer a novel solution that provides cataract patients the option to treat presbyopia with spectacle-free uninterrupted high-quality vision at all distances and in all lighting conditions.

ABOUT EVOLUX™
Evolux™ is an extended monofocal IOL, based on a hydrophobic material and a non-diffractive profile designed to provide better intermediate vision and equivalent distance vision when compared to a standard monofocal IOL.

ABOUT AMIRIOX™ and ECBIRIO™
Amiriox™ (bimatoprost 0.3 mg/ml) and Ecbirio™ (bimatoprost 0.3 mg/ml + timolol 5 mg/ml) are, respectively, the new monotherapy and fixed combination eye drops approved for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in chronic open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension patients. Amiriox™ and Ecbirio™ are available in a multi-dose preservative free presentation that helps to protect the ocular surface and ensures a longer in-use stability (up to 90 days).

ABOUT SIFI
SIFI is a leading international ophthalmic company, headquartered in Italy, focusing on eye care since 1935. SIFI develops, manufactures, and markets innovative therapeutic solutions for patients with ophthalmic conditions. SIFI is fully committed through its R&D to improving the quality of life of patients, exporting treatments to more than 20 countries worldwide with a direct presence in Italy, Spain, France, Romania, Mexico, and Turkey.

Contacts: Sabrina Zappia
press@sifigroup.com
+393336999669

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1337809/SIFI_Logo.jpg

Concave Agri, U Microfinance Bank Partner to Improve Farmers’ Access to Financial Services

Islamabad, September 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Concave Agri, a Lakson Group initiative, has partnered with U Microfinance Bank Ltd. (U Bank) to increase availability and ease of access to loans and insurance to small and medium-scale farmers across Pakistan through their Kissan Dukan vertical.

These loans comprise two packages created by U Microfinance Bank. The first one is the Zarai Qarza loan – a smaller loan aimed at extending life and health insurance to farmers and financing the basic needs of the agriculture sector. The second package is the Agri Pass Book loan which will offer complimentary crop and life insurance and optional health insurance, and is aimed at meeting all of the needs of the agriculture sector, such as purchasing fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, and agricultural machinery and equipment.

Concave Agri has worked with U Bank to make these packages available as products on their Kissan Dukan platform. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this partnership was signed by Ambreen Malik, Chief Business and Chief Digital Officer – U Microfinance Bank, and Muhammad Ali Iqbal, President – Concave Agri, while the signing ceremony was presided over by Kabeer Naqvi, President and CEO – U Microfinance Bank and Ather Imran, CEO – Sybrid (Pvt.) Ltd.

Muhammad Ali Iqbal, the President of Concave Agri, stated: “The small and medium farmers of Pakistan make up the backbone of the country’s agriculture sector and, in turn, it’s economy. This segment stands to benefit the most from access to financial services which can then help them massively improve production through appropriate crop inputs and new technologies.”

“Since small and medium farmers make up most of the agriculture sector, increased accessibility will also boost agricultural productivity overall. Through our partnership with U Bank, Concave Agri, through Kissan Dukan, is aiming to turn this vision into an achievable reality!” he added.

Kabeer Naqvi, President and CEO – U Microfinance Bank commented, “At U Bank our endeavour is to empower the agricultural sector by bringing them into the banking net. This access will help the farmers have better control over their finances, living standards, and livelihoods. This will also enable the economy to benefit from higher yields and superior agri products’ quality.”

“As we continue to innovate and adapt to newer digital solutions to further our vision, we are delighted to have partnered with Concave Agri to play our part in bringing banking to farmers who are a very critical player in our ecosystem,” he added.

Kissan Dukan is a platform that offers climate adaptive inputs, IPM (Integrated Pest Management) solutions, modern precision agriculture technologies, and financial services such as loans and agri-insurance. This partnership is an impactful step in ensuring that small and medium-scale farmers have access to relevant financial services through an easy and optimized experience.

With Concave Agri’s farmer-first approach, Concave Agri recently launched their physical shop of Kissan Dukan in Mathra, Peshawar District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan to establish an on-ground interface with farmers. As part of Kissan Dukan’s contribution to the flood relief effort, a truck full of silage (livestock feed) was supplied and distributed free of cost to farmers that had been displaced by the floods.

For more information, contact:
Head Office,
U Microfinance Bank Limited (U Bank)
2nd Floor, 13-B, Jinnah Super Market,
F-7, Islamabad, Pakistan
UAN: +92-51-111-182-265
Fax: +92-51-2275923
Email: complaints@ubank.com.pk
Website: http://ubank.com.pk/

The post Concave Agri, U Microfinance Bank Partner to Improve Farmers’ Access to Financial Services appeared first on Business News Pakistan.

MMBL Launches Programs to Empower Women Entrepreneurs and Farmers

Islamabad, September 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) has launched three major microfinance initiatives to financially empower women entrepreneurs and support small and medium-sized farmers in the country. The initiatives were formally launched by VEON Group CEO, Kaan Terzioglu, during his recent visit to Pakistan.

As part of the first initiative, MMBL has launched low-cost 4G handsets for customers, especially female entrepreneurs, aimed at driving participation in the digital economy among marginalized groups within the population.

The discounted Digit 4G handsets will be available across Mobilink Microfinance Bank’s vast branch network and will come pre-loaded with the bank’s digital banking application, MMBL DOST, that will enable customers to obtain quick financial assistance, pay bills, make money transfers and use a vast array of digital banking services. Going forward, Mobilink Microfinance Bank will be offering these subsidized 4G handsets as part of its loan portfolio.

Under the second initiative, MMBL has collaborated with Daraz to help incentivize and upskill female entrepreneurs with brick-and-mortar stores to go digital and expand their customer outreach across the country. Under the partnership, female customers will be charged 0% commission for the first three months of their onboarding, giving them ample time to set up their businesses on the digital platform. Moreover, female sellers using Daraz will be able to open accounts digitally and apply for Mobilink Microfinance Bank loans at concessional rates.

“As a digital operator, VEON is focused on providing high-quality connectivity while building a digital services ecosystem to meet customers’ needs and transform their lives. These initiatives will accelerate financial inclusion in Pakistan, drive economic growth, and play an important role in the digitalization of the local microfinance industry,” states Kaan Terzioglu, VEON Group CEO.

The third initiative sees Mobilink Microfinance Bank provide digital agriculture advisory services for farmers, delivered through a partnership with Pakistan’s leading AgriTech Company BaKhabar Kissan.

Along with financial assistance from the bank, farmers will also have access to personalized instructions for planting profitable crops, monitoring weather and land conditions, tips for effective livestock management, and tracking key agriculture and environment-related indicators to boost income and agricultural produce.

“For over 10 years, Mobilink Microfinance Bank has been playing a game-changing role in empowering marginalized and underserved communities in Pakistan. Through these initiatives, we are aiming to build a digital infrastructure that will help further the economic upliftment and financial empowerment of women business owners and small and medium-sized farmers in the country,” said Ghazanfar Azzam, President and CEO of Mobilink Microfinance.

VEON Group CEO previously met senior representatives of the government including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque, and Minister for Finance, Miftah Ismail.

For more information, contact:
Head Office,
Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL)
3-A/2 F-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone: +92-51-2817070-77
Email: info@mobilinkbank.com
Website: https://www.mobilinkbank.com/

The post MMBL Launches Programs to Empower Women Entrepreneurs and Farmers appeared first on Business News Pakistan.

KCCI appeals government to allow agricultural imports from Wagha Border

Karachi, September 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala and President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Muhammad Idrees have appealed the government to immediately allow imports of raw cotton and food items including vegetables, fruits, grains and other essential products from India through Wagha border as Pakistan faces severe shortages of all these products because of the devastation caused by flash floods which completely washed away all the agricultural crops.

According to a statement issued, Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala pointed out that in addition to the devastation caused and losses of up to billions of rupees suffered, food crises have also triggered as the agricultural crops, livestock, and agricultural land have been completed damaged and remain inundated to date.

“As raw cotton, dates, chilies, cauliflower, onions, and other fruits and vegetables in Sindh and Balochistan have been destroyed, therefore, it has become inevitable to open up the Wagha border and allow imports of agricultural crops from India so that our country’s food needs and also the industry’s agricultural input requirements could immediately be surmounted by importing food supplies within the shortest possible time at competitive rates from our neighbouring country”, he added.

He stressed that the government has to act promptly and sensibly in this regard to avert food crises as according to estimates, 65 percent of Pakistan’s main food crops including 80 percent of its wheat, rice and raw cotton etc. have been completely swept away during floods, and more than 3 million livestock have also died.

“In this scenario, the wisest move would be to go for importing all these products from India with lower logistic cost and time instead of other countries with heavy logistics expenses and a lot of time. Importing from India will have a bearable impact on the country’s balance of payment as compared to others hence, the lawmakers must take this important step in the larger interest of the country”, he said.

Chairman BMG warned that Pakistan’s recovery from the damages caused to the agricultural crops could take several months and if the raw cotton imports from India were not allowed on time, the textile exports would go down due to lower production as raw cotton was the basic and most important raw material of textile production. “Reduced textile exports would worsen the situation for the already ailing and overburdened economy.”

President KCCI Muhammad Idrees stated that Pakistan heavily relies on the local production of agricultural products but now it was obvious that wheat, rice, raw cotton, grains and vegetables etc. have to be imported so it was better to import from India which produces plenty of these agricultural products and also the livestock.

He was of the opinion that the prices of vegetables and other commodities have risen sharply in the local markets, making them unaffordable and beyond the reach of poor segment of society hence, the government without wasting any time must immediately allow agricultural imports from India so that prices could stabilize and the countrymen could be saved from hunger and starvation.

For more information, contact:
Director Press/Electronic Media and Public Relations
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)
Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road, Off Shahrah-e-Liaquat,
Karachi-74000
Phone: +92-21-99218001-09
Fax: +92-21-99218040
Email: info@kcci.com.pk, secretary@kcci.com.pk
Website: www.kcci.com.pk

The post KCCI appeals government to allow agricultural imports from Wagha Border appeared first on Business News Pakistan.

Government to provide all possible support to marble sector: Syed Murtaza Mahmud

Islamabad, September 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Syed Murtaza Mahmood, Federal Minister for Industries and Production said that the government would go all out to provide all possible support to the marble sector so that it could grow better and play a more effective role in the economic development of the country. He said that the marble sector’s exports of USD 37 million were much below its actual potential and stressed to take them to at least USD 370 million. He emphasized that the marble sector should focus on better marketing of its products to increase their trade and exports.

He said this while addressing as Chief Guest an Awareness Seminar on Marble and Granite Sector Development organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with Pakistan Stones Development Company. Iftikhar Ali Shallwani Federal Secretary Ministry of Housing and Works, H.E. Khazar Farhadov Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mohamed Karmoune Dean of African Corps and Ambassador of Morocco, Ambassador of Indonesia H.E. Adam M. Tugio, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan, Deputy Head of Mission of Kazakashan and representatives of Turkish and UAE embassies were also present at the occasion.

Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, Federal Minister for Housing and Works said that Pakistan was mostly exporting raw marble and stressed that the marble sector should focus on value addition and branding of its products to improve their exports. He said that promoting brands was important to compete in the international market. Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan has huge potential to promote the exports of marble and granite products, but the government was not providing any support to this sector.

He said that over 200,000 marble units were working in the country and the government should facilitate the introduction of the latest technology and machinery in this sector to produce valued added products and increase their exports. He said that the government should arrange railway cargo service from mines to ports that would reduce transportation cost and help improve their exports.

Ms. Shamama Tul Amber Arbab, Chairperson, Pakistan Stone Development Company said that holding an awareness seminar on marble and granite sector was a new beginning and a series of such seminars would be conducted with the stakeholders to promote this sector. She said that the government should help in introducing the latest cutting and finishing machinery in the marble sector to improve exports of this sector. She said that the government should also set up an apex body for the development of the marble sector in coordination with provinces.

H.E. Mohamed Karmoune, Dean of African Corps and Ambassador of Morocco highlighted the potential of marble exports to the African market. Brig. (Retd) Babar Miraj Shami, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Stone Development Company highlighted the initiatives of his company for the development and growth of marble and granite sector in the country.

For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-2250526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +92-51-2252950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk, info@icci.com.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk

The post Government to provide all possible support to marble sector: Syed Murtaza Mahmud appeared first on Business News Pakistan.

Old rivalry claims one more life near Shikarpur

SHIKARPUR: A villager was shot dead by his enemy group men near Lodra on Shikarpur-Jacobabad National Highway within the jurisdiction of Sultankot police station on Thursday.

According to a report, elderly person identified as Hakeem Dad Kalar, aged 60, village Othi Peer, was going to the court for hearing when he was gunned down by a group of unidentified armed men riding a motorcycle. The armed men fled to unknown destination after swift operation.

Soon after the incident, the relatives of deceased blocked the Shikarpur-Jacobabad road for hours while keeping the body. The road was reopened for vehicular traffic after assurance of the area police for arrest of the culprits at earliest.

The cause behind the murder was said to be an ongoing old dispute between two rival groups of Kalar communities over Karo-Kari killing some two years ago. About seven precious lives of both the parties have so far been lost. Neither FIR was registered nor any arrest of culprit was reported till late evening of Thursday.

Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh’s Urs begins in Lahore

LAHORE: The three-day Urs of great saint Syed Ali Abul Hasan bin Usman Hajveri, popularly known as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA), began in Lahore on Thursday.

Special food stalls have been set up at designated places of the shrine for the general public attending the Urs celebrations. Food would be doled out round-the-clock among the visitors and devotees during the three-day celebrations.

However, the Lahore police have put in place strict security arrangements for the annual Urs. The police personnel have been deployed on nearby rooftops to keep an eye on any suspicious activity and the vehicles of Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit would conduct patrolling in areas nearby to deal with any untoward incident. The devotees would be allowed to enter the shrine through walk through gates and their checking by metal detectors at the entry points.