August 30, 1999

Gillette to close manufacturing facility at HUB

Gillette Pakistan Limited announced that it will close its 7 O'Clock double edge manufacturing facility at Hub, Balochistan. The closing is part of a reorganisation and realignment initiative of worldwide manufacturing operations for The Gillette Company announced in September 1998. The closing will result in the loss of 87 manufacturing, technical and support jobs in Pakistan. Gillette management notified employees about the decision.

All affected products will now be supplied by Gillette affiliates in other overseas countries. Maintaining its commercial operations in Pakistan, Gillette will continue to employ more than 70 people in sales, marketing, distribution and administrative functions. All affected employees will receive a termination settlement that far exceeds legal requirements.

Gillette Pakistan Limited is a subsidiary of The Gillette Company, Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

 

Arif M. Ali Appointed Chief Country Officer Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank announced that Arif M. Ali will become Chief Country Officer of Deutsche Bank in Pakistan. Mr. Ali will take up this new position in September. In this position, he will be responsible for the operations of the Bank's three branches in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. He will report to Javad Shirazi, Regional Country Head of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Mr. Ali joins Deutsche Bank from ANZ Grindlays, where he was Regional Executive of the Corporate Bank. At ANZ Grindlays he was responsible for Corporate Banking for the southern region of Pakistan, covering major multinational and blue chip local corporates.

Mr. Ali will succeed Mr. Mohammed Younas Khan who will retire in September following an eleven-year career with Deutsche Bank in Pakistan.

Deutsche Bank offers a full range of corporate, investment, and private and personal banking services in Pakistan through its three branches. Deutsche Bank is the leading bank in the Euro-region and the largest bank in the world in terms of assets. In the Asia Pacific region, Deutsche Bank employs over 6,000 staff and is represented in 16 countries.

 

Eli-Lilly performs formal launch of Evista

Eli-Lilly Pakistan Limited formally launched its internationally acclaimed product "Evista" (Raloxifene HCI) at an impressive ceremony held at its head-office in Karachi, recently.

Keith Watson, Managing Director of Eli-Lilly Pakistan cut a scrumptious cake to launch the availability of Evista. The product, however, is already available at all the major medical stores of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad from 2nd August 1999. The senior management of Eli-Lilly was also present on the occasion.

Evista is a revolutionary drug, belongs to a new drug class called SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator); and has a tailored estrogenic agonist and antagonist activity. The drug is showing highly promising in reversing the process of bone resorption through building bones. Although the product is primarily indicated against crippling disease of osteoporosis, but it also improves women's cholesterol profile. In a recently published medical journal, Evista has shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer in clinical trials; but it still needs further investigation to establish the fact.

Speaking on the occasion Keith Watson said, "The Evista launch is yet another manifestation of Eli-Lilly's commitment to deliver innovative pharmaceutical-based health care solution that enable people to live longer, healthier and more active lives The awareness and availability of Evista in Pakistan is a major breakthrough and will help women address their postmenopausal health challenges."

An Evista communication notice board, exclusively created for Evista by Asiatic Public Relations Network (APR) was handed over and subsequently inaugurated by the Managing Director of Eli-Lilly Pakistan at the end of the ceremony. Anjum Fahim, Director Select Business Unit; Imtiaz Ahmed, Product Manager; Muhammad Shahbaz, Asst. Manager, Eli-Lilly and Menin Rodrigues, Executive Vice President of APR were also present on the occasion.

Eli-Lilly has been serving the country with health care professionals for the last many decades by providing highly innovative health care solutions. Eli-Lilly Pakistan has contributed in the growth and environment of the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan.

 

Caption

United Bank Limited, Nursery Branch held a Car handing over ceremony for the winner of the 9th draw of its CarAmaad Scheme. Seen in picture are Aftab Bachani, Regional Chief, UBL Karachi Northern presenting the Car keys and documents to the lucky winner Akhtar Hameed. Also seen in picture are Javed Iqbal, Head - Premier Consuma Banking, UBL and Razzak Kharadi, Chief Core Consumer Banking, South Region, UBL, among other bank executives and guests.

Keith Watson, Managing Director of Eli-Lilly Pakistan Limited, along with Menin Rodrigues, Executive Vice President of Asiatic Public Relations Network (APR) and senior management staff of the Company at the formal launching ceremony of Evista (Raloxifene HCL) and the Evista Communication Notice Board at the Lilly head office.

 

Shell and British High Commission support Child's Rights Education

Shell Pakistan Limited and the British High Commission have jointly agreed to support a social and environmental rights education programme undertaken by a local NGO, the Human Rights Education Programme (HREP).

The funding will cover the production and broadcast of a children's television programme titled 'Kahani Corner' aimed at promoting positive human rights and social values to pre-school and primary aged children. It is envisaged that 13 programmes will be telecast during 2000.

The funding will also include producing a comprehensive to accompany the series for use in schools.

This is the second time that Shell Pakistan and the British High Commission have supported this particular NGO working in the field of human rights education.

An agreement was signed at the Shell House between Mr. David Weston, Managing Director, Shell Pakistan Limited Mr. David Merry British deputy High Commissioner and Mr. Zulfiqar Ali, Director of the Human Rights Education Programme.

Support for this human rights project falls in line with Shell's commitment to society and the community. This is stated clearly in the Shell Group's General Business Principles.

To conduct business as a responsible corporate member of society;

To observe the laws of Pakistan;

To express support for fundamental human rights in line with legitimate role of business;

To give proper regard to health, safety and the environment consistent with its commitment to contribute to sustainable development

 

Pakistan Steel

Chairman Pakistan Steel Abu Shamim M. Ariff has said that efforts are being made to streamline the production of Pakistan Steel and revamping of Sintering Plant of Pakistan Steel is an important step in this direction which has made a saving of Rs. 200 million per annum possible. He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the completion of the revamping of sintering plant held at the premises of the plant at Bin Qasim. The ceremony was attended by Carl de Colle Trade Commissioner of Austria, Ramble Bour Vice President of M/s Volst Alpine the Austrian enterprise who were assigned the major part of revamping, Managing Director Pakistan Steel Lt Col (Retd} M. Afzal Khan, the directors and senior officer of the corporation. Appreciating that all the dismantling, erection and installation work during the revamping process was done by the engineers and technicians of Pakistan Steel. Chairman, Pakistan Steel said that this was another addition to the achievements made by the efficient and dedicated workforce of Pakistan Steel. Abu Shamim M. Ariff told that the revamping of Sintering Plant had ensured regular supply of sinter to the Blast furnaces of Pakistan Steel, cutting down time for maintenance and substantial saving in terms of consumption of raw material. Earlier, Lt Col (Retd) M. Afzal Khan, Managing Director, Pakistan Steel in his welcome address told that after revamping the ratio of Sinter at Blast Furnace was consistently being maintained at 75 per cent as compared to 64 percent before revamping, which is a great technical and economical achievement. He also told that the area of the Sintering Machine had been extended from 76 to 90 square meter and a sophisticated automotive technology had been introduced, along with a modern weighing system. Ramble Bour, Vice President Volst Alpine in his address told that by revamping the Sintering Plant, Pakistan Steel had come at par with the world class steel makers in this field. He admired the performance and learning skill of the workforce of Pakistan Steel describing it as unique in the world.

 

10th Draw of BOP Prize saving scheme

Mr. M.H. Hanafi, Chairman/Managing Director, the Bank of Punjab has said that it was of vital importance to promote the habit of saving among the people to ensure progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 10th draw of the BOP Prize Saving Scheme in Lahore. The SEVP/General Manager (Administration) Dr. Asif Hafeez Shaikh, Journalists and large number of certificate holders were present on the occasion.

Mr. Hanafi said that as per the instructions of SBP balloting of the Prize Saving Scheme will continue till December 31, 1999. He said developed country like USA, Japan, and Korea have strengthened their economies by promoting the habit of saving.

The strength of Pakistan's economy lies in encouraging savings and spendthrift. This will have far reaching results. He further said the people of Pakistan will have to work very hard if they are keen to achieve rapid development. It is by creating more wealth that we can usher in an era of prosperity.

Speaking on this occasion Kh. Muhammad Iqtidar, G.M. (Opns) informed that up till now 121 prizes has been distributing which include 115 motorcycles and 6 gold bars of 100 gm for ladies. The Chairman congratulated the lucky winners who include Abdul Ghaffar (Madina Town, Fbd) Rasheed Ashraf (Sarai Alamgir), Basit Akhter (Mozang Chungi, Lhr), Muhammad Saqib (Landa Bz, Lhr), M. Islam (Main Br. Rawalpindi), Zahid Sultan (Kashmir Road, RwpO, Javed Mehmood (Railway Rd. Skp), Attaullah Butt (Circular Rd. Sialkot), Allah Nawaz Khan Durrani (Main Br. Multan), Abdul Majid (Wah cantt), M. Iqbal (T.T. Singh), Muhammad Ilyas (Mirpur. A.J.K.), Altaf Ahmad (Ahmadpur East), Sh. Akhtar Ali (Khushab), M.Anzu Wahjee (Saddar Bz. Lhr).