As the time for the holy month of Ramzan rolls around, things seem to be slowing down just a little. But the week did have its highlights, with continuing inflation front and center of conversations of and around Pakistan’s business and economics Twitterverse, and State Bank Governor Reza Baqir’s interview on CNN had people responding with thoughts aplenty.
For this week’s social media round up, we look at whether or not the State Bank of Pakistan is providing a healthy environment for fintechs to thrive in a country desperate to accelerate digitization of the economy. The PIA’s woes are discussed by Abbas Nasir, with some more general conversations about what the right way to reject someone for a job is and where the money that gets cut in lieu of Zakat every Ramzan. Profit’s Ariba Shahid looks at all this and more.
A forward thinking regulator that is doing all in its capacity to build a digital ecosystem in the country. In my opinion, Pakistan can be a great place to incubate fintech. The potential is immense. https://t.co/veJggjRbxt
— Osman Mohiuddin (@im_osmaan) April 10, 2021
Osman Mohiuddin, ex banker and a startup founder comments on how the SBP is providing the right environment for fintechs. While commenting on the SBP Governor Reza Baqir’s interview with Julie Chatterley, he says the potential is immense. As per Baqir, the SBP is studying opportunities regarding Central Bank Digital Currency which is exciting news that can help Pakistan counter money laundering, counterterrorism and can help boost financial inclusion.
I have bought flour in Rs 35 per kg just before we ended up in “Naya Pakistan”. Now it is more than double. Imran Khan is our new Double Shah. pic.twitter.com/1hgAcN2PT0
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) April 10, 2021
Naya Pakistan is a term used to describe the Pakistan made by the PTI government. Murtaza Solangi, a journalist, comments on how the price of flour has more than doubled throughout the tenure of the PTI government. After the title of Captain, Solangi gives out a new title, Double Shah – a nod to the infamous ponzi scheme merchant that made headlines back in 2007 and eventually came to an inglorious end. Foreshadowing? We’ll find out eventually.
Foreign airlines are making a killing flying passengers to UK before the April 9 UK Covid deadline. Tragic that PIA could not gain from the extra business; destroyed by a joker of an Aviation Minister who continues to sound like he has scored a big win.
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) April 8, 2021
When other airlines are making a killing in earnings after international travel has opened up again, PIA’s performance has been underwhelming. You know what they say, you snooze, you lose. Abbas Nasir bemoans the state of the national airline and its continued failure to do very basic things that aren’t that complicated.
I dont get this life coaches and motivational speakers dhanda. Sab fraud ha. 5 ways to this, 10 habits for that. Aisay ni hota kuch bhe. Generational wealth ho to you will be rich even if you wake up at 2pm and na ho to kaam kero Chup kar k, dont listen to these speakers.
— Mubashir (@xmubashir) April 8, 2021
The 5 AM club might sound nice to some, but for this reporter, it sounds like a nightmare. However, Mubashir is right when he says that you don’t need certain habits to make money. There are no fixed habits that can make you a millionaire, however if you already have a couple grand that makes it much easier.
Also is it true that on the first of Ramzan banks in Pakistan automatically deduct Zakat?
From savings accounts and not current accounts?— Mahim Maher (@MahimMaher) April 8, 2021
With Ramzan, right around the corner, Mahim Maher, Editor of Samaa Digitial, asks an important question about Zakat deductions from accounts. For all you that do not know, yes, Zakat is deductible from your savings accounts unless you’ve submitted the CZ 50 affidavit, regardless of whether it is an individual or corporate account. And yes, sometimes in the case of some banks you may have to submit the affidavit every year. Perhaps another question we may want to ask is what is then done with the money that has been deducted? Ideally, it should be for charitable purposes, but is there any way to trace where exactly this amount is going?
a white woman lying thru her teeth in a vlog is clearly not the best tourism strategy – someone may have to do more https://t.co/wXQIaw49Je
— ya gurl sannu (@allahsfav) April 7, 2021
Ammar habib, a regular in our twitter feed compilations, comments on Pakistan’s low tourism growth rates. @Allahsfav however feels that using white women bloggers to lie about Pakistan may not be the right strategy at getting things done. Even if it is the right strategy, we would argue that simply for reasons of annoyingness, cringe-inducing content, and nauseating pandering these bloggers should still be avoided. It serves no purpose other than making the days of twitter users sour.
No one likes rejections. However, it looks like if said in the right way, you can say no to an applicant without hurting their feelings or demoralizing them. The right corporate strategy and tone can help. Careem manages to do so in the form of their rejection email. For anyone in the position of accepting or rejecting someone in a professional setting, we would urge compassion. It never hurts for the world to be a place that is a little nicer than it is now.
On a lighter note, with every other person posting their wins on LinkedIn, one cant help but feel like they are underperforming. However, with fun posts like this, this reporter thinks that she can also post her “wins.”
