Tue, 21-Oct-2025

SoftBank is placed between China and the US with its face recognition firm

SoftBank

Japan Computer Vision is owned by SoftBank Group’s wireless unit. Faces risks as the facial-scanning system it offers to Mastercard and Visa uses technology from SenseTime Group. SenseTime has been blacklisted by the US over human rights concerns. Washington accuses SenseTime of developing facial-recognition technology that can be used to identify ethnic Uyghurs. A SoftBank-claimed … Read more

Banks approve Rs180 billion in low-cost housing loans

Banks In Pakistan To Observe Normal Working Hours From Today

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday said that the banks have approved Rs180 billion as loan for the low-cost housing. Building upon the current momentum, the banks have shown strong progress in approving and disbursing the financing under Mera Pakistan Mera Ghar Scheme against the manifold increase in applications by the borrowers … Read more

WWF-Pakistan, Novumpack sign deal for environment awareness drives

WWF-Pakistan

LAHORE: WWF-Pakistan and Novumpack have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at collaboration for corporate sustainability and environmental awareness campaigns, a statement said. As a non-profit organisation working in environmental and nature conservation in Pakistan, WWF-Pakistan works to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people … Read more

Power portfolio

Thal Limited

Thal Limited was incorporated on January 31, 1966 as a public company limited by shares under the Companies Act, 1913 (now the Companies Act, 2017). The company is engaged in the manufacturing of jute goods, engineering goods, papersack and laminate sheets. The company’s engineering segment is comprised of the thermal and engine components business and … Read more

Saudi holdings of US Treasuries drop to four-year low in October

Saudi

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US Treasuries fell to the lowest level in about four years in October, Arab News reported. The kingdom’s stocks of US government debt fell by $8 billion, the most in a year, to $116.5 billion, the lowest level in four years, according to US Treasury Department data. Saudi Arabia was the biggest … Read more

The government plans to sell 20% of its stake in PAKRI through the PSX

PAKRI

The Pakistani government wants to sell 60,000,000 (20 percent) shares of Pakistan Reinsurance Company Limited (PAKRI or “the Company”) via a Secondary Public Offering using the 100 percent Book Building Method through the Privatization Commission.

The shares will be offered through 100% Book Building, according to the draft prospectus. 75 percent of the Offer size (45 million shares) will be distributed to successful bidders, while 25% of the overall transaction (15 million shares) will be released to the general public.

Unsubscribed shares from the general public part will be distributed pro-rata to succeeding bidders.

Because PAKRI is a publicly-traded company, the Offer’s Floor Price will be revealed shortly after Book Building begins.

The Floor Price will be announced on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Habib Bank Limited, and Next Capital Limited websites after approval by the Privatization Commission Board and the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP).

PAKRI is Pakistan’s only reinsurance firm, having been established as a public limited corporation in 2000. In order to promote the local insurance business, it took over all of the assets and liabilities of the former Pakistan Insurance Corporation (PIC), which was established under the PIC Act, 1952. It is a public sector firm that operates as an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Commerce of the Pakistani government, with the primary goal of developing the insurance and reinsurance industry in the country.

In view of the treaty and facultative business, it acts as the national reinsurer, providing reinsurance protection to the local insurance industry.

PAKRI improves the country’s foreign exchange retention capacity by providing reinsurance services locally. In the sphere of reinsurance, it also collaborates and participates with its foreign counterparts.

This is being done under the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), with the goal of minimizing foreign exchange outflows and raising the level of insurance and reinsurance services in the region. PAKRI is a founding member of the Federation of Afro-Asian Insurers and Reins.

Through the Ministry of Commerce, the Pakistani government owns around 45 percent of the Company’s shares.

The retail portion of this Offer does not require guaranteeing because it is being made through 100% book building with a 25% allocation to retail investors.

If the Offer remains unsubscribed, the unsubscribed shares will be distributed pro-rata to the successful bidders. The successful bidders have previously agreed to subscribe on a pro-rata basis to any unsubscribed shares.

The growth of the non-life insurance market, which is primarily driven by economic growth, is PAKRI’s primary revenue generator. As commercial activity grows, so does the demand for insurance, which leads to increased demand for the reinsurance company.

PAKRI’s primary revenue generator is the growth of the non-life insurance market, which is predominantly driven by economic growth. As the business expands, so does the demand for insurance, resulting in greater demand for the reinsurance company.

As businesses succeed, the demand for insurance will grow, ultimately increasing the demand for reinsurance. Being the only domestic reinsurance company, PAKRI is well-positioned to capture any anticipated growth in the insurance industry.

PAKRI’s gross premium has risen to Rs. 17-18 billion in recent years, up from Rs. 8-10 billion in 2014-18. This massive increase can mostly be attributed to new power projects that were reinsured over the period.

More projects under the CPEC program are likely to be constructed, providing the Company with a potential revenue stream. In addition, in 2018, the Company launched its Retakaful business, insuring Rs. 424.8 million in 2019 and Rs. 603 million in 2020.

There are three general takaful companies with 22 window takaful activities, according to the Insurance Association of Pakistan (IAP) Yearbook 2019-20. PAKRI has yet to capture the full market, which will boost the retakaful window’s contribution.

PAKRI has a well-diversified portfolio that includes debt, equity, mutual funds, and investment property. Except for mutual funds, which are outsourced to prominent asset management firms, it maintains these investments in-house.

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Wealthfront, a financial services firm, now offers BTC and ETH exposure

Wealthfront

Wealthfront has revealed that it has added Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and Ethereum Trust to its current investing portfolio (ETHE). Over $25 billion in assets are currently managed by the automated investment service firm.

As a result, the company is now the first of its kind to offer bitcoin services as part of a broad portfolio. Tax-sensitive rebalancing, intelligent dividend reinvestment, and tax-loss harvesting are among the company’s automated features.

Customers may now gain exposure to the top two digital assets without the hassles, according to Wealthfront. “It takes time and effort to research all of the options, set up a wallet, and monitor an additional account. That’s why we’ve made it easy to get exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum right in your Wealthfront portfolio, no wallets required. Instead of buying coins yourself, you can invest in GBTC and ETHE,” the announcement stated.

Grayscale’s GBTC and ETHE trusts will now be eligible to receive up to 10% of their total portfolio allocation. The 10% allocation rule, according to Wealthfront, is in clients’ best interests. “best interests at all times, and these investments can be riskier and more volatile than most ETFs.”

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