The HBL Pakistan Super League 6 anthem, Groove Mera has been launched today. The anthem will be playing on leading TV channels and will also be available on HBL PSL digital platforms throughout the 2021 edition of the most popular Pakistani cricket event of the calendar. Continuing the rich tradition of entertaining HBL PSL fans with a new anthem for each season, “Groove Mera” refers to the swing and feel of the movements of cricketers. It refers to moments of finesse that one finds in the heart of every cricket match. This year’s anthem also reflects the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic. As majority of the fans will be watching Pakistan’s biggest sporting event remotely, this anthem cheers both players on the field and their fans at home as they celebrate their groove! The anthem is a celebration of Pakistan’s musical diversity. The mix of artists is particularly exciting as it represents artists from opposite ends of Pakistan’s musical spectrum. The anthem brings together voices from Pakistan’s rich musical landscape: regional folk and urban sounds of pop and hip-hop. Singer Naseebo Lal is an industry veteran and cultural icon, whose grasp over regional tradition is acknowledged by fans and music critics across the country. Aima Baig is considered the pop symbol of this generation, having voiced some of Pakistan’s biggest hits in the past few years. Alongside these two powerhouse female artists, the HBL PSL 6 anthem features hip-hop superstars, Young Stunners, who with their grounded voice and social outlook have gained an unprecedented online following. Must Read: Facebook hosts virtual briefing session on Fighting Misinformation The video, directed by FidaMoin, includes six leading cricketers who would be featuring for their respective franchises in the tournament, the players are Shadab Khan (Islamabad United) Shan Masood (Multan Sultans), Sarfraz Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators), Babar Azam (Karachi Kings), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lahore Qalandars) and Wahab Riaz (Peshawar Zalmi). Director Commercial PCB Babar Hamid: “The HBL Pakistan Super League 6 anthem ‘Groove Mera’ is the latest addition to the blockbuster anthems that the league has produced over the years. Each year wehave endeavoured to produce top-quality HBL PSL anthems and all our previous anthems have made a big impact and have been received very well by our fans in Pakistan and abroad. “This year’s anthem has been sung by the legendary Naseebo Lal and features the hugely popular star Aima Baig along with the young sensation Young Stunners. We are confident that the fans will appreciate the anthem and it will make them groove like the anthems of the past did. “Meanwhile, we are fully focused and as always working around-the-clock with the sole intention of delivering another exciting and world-class edition of the HBL PSL which will once again provide rich entertainment through quality cricket with some of the biggest T20 stars in the world plying their trade at the National Stadium and Gaddafi Stadium. “The fans in Karachi and Lahore that will be re-entering the stadiums after a year-long gap, will have a lot to look forward to both with in terms of the on-field action and ‘Groove Mera’ entertaining them in the stands!” Naseebo Lal: “It feels great to be a part of the anthem because I have never done a song like this where I have enjoyed myself so much.” Aima Baig: “I feel overwhelmed – it’s been an amazing journey and I’m really thankful for the opportunity. The vibe of the anthem is very street and urban with elements of festival EDM.” Young Stunners, Talha Younis: “I’m honoured to be a part of the HBL PSL 6 anthem and it’s been an excellent experience. This time the HBL PSL has tried something different and out-of-the-box and I feel like
Karandaaz launches first-of-its-kind Study on Warehouse Receipt Financing
Karandaaz Pakistan,a Section 42 company working to promote access to finance for small businesses and financial inclusion in the country has launched a study on Warehouse Receipt (WHR)financing in Pakistan. WHR financing is a form of institutional credit that is extended by banks to farmers and traders against physical commodities stored in licensed warehouses. The study assesses the current status of uptake of WHR financing in Pakistan through in-depth interviews with current and potential users, suppliers and regulators of the scheme including the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), provincial food departments in Sindh and Punjab, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Habib Bank Ltd. (HBL) and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd. (ZTBL). In addition, the study provides important insights on how WHR financing, through a well-developed ecosystem and strong institutional linkages between borrowers, banks, warehouses, and service providers, reduces post-harvest losses of agricultural commodities and enables growers to command better prices for their produce by avoiding distress sales immediately after harvest. A comprehensive analysis of the price trend of major agricultural commodities over the last five years reveals that WHR financing could be a viable source of credit for wheat, rice, cotton and maize farmers in Pakistan. These commodities are storable and their post-harvest price trends over the last four to five years justify delayed marketing.It is worth noting that the majority of farmers in Pakistan have small landholdings – over 72 percent hold less than 8 acres of land. Once the system is strongly established, small farmers will also be able to benefit from WHR financing. Sharing his thoughts, CEO Karandaaz Pakistan, Mr. Ali Sarfraz said,“WHR financing ecosystem is still a new concept. Pakistan has no licensed warehouse currently and there are no proper procedures in place for licensing and operating warehouses. In absence of proper information and data about the existing warehouses, the uptake of WHR financing will not be possible.Recent regulations by the SECP will enable the formation of collateral management companies and this will in turn have positive impact on this this mode of financing.” In terms of recommendations, key areas that need further development for the implementation of a successful and effective system of WHR financing are establishment of collateral management companies that will license and ensure quality control of warehouses; establishment of a warehouse and storage network for agricultural produce; creation of a database on storage facilities; development of a commodity exchange market; and raising awareness of farmers. The complete study can be accessed on theKarandaaz websi Karandaaz Pakistan is a not-for-profit development finance company established in 2014 and registered with the SECP. The organization promotes access to finance for small businesses through commercially directed investments, and financial inclusion for individuals by employing technology-enabled digital solutions. Karandaaz Pakistan has financial and institutional support from leading international development finance institutions; principally the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
