ISLAMABAD: Telenor Pakistan through its emergency response partner, Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), has contributed Rs10 million to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan, a press release said on Monday.

PRCS will use the contribution to provide clean drinking water by setting up water filtration plants along with hygienic sanitation to around 15,000 individuals.

PTCL, Askari Bank ink MoU

KARACHI: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Askari Bank’s Islamic Banking Services Division to provide Ijarah and Musharaka facilities to PTCL employees at specially designed rates, said a press release.

Ufone wins call centre leader award

KARACHI: Ufone has won the ‘Call Centre Leader of the Year’ award organised by the International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC), said a press release on Monday.

With representation from more than 20 countries, encompassing 37 companies, only 12 contenders made it to the final round. Around 1,500 professionals attended the event, held in Nevada, USA.

Philips to step up overhaul of lighting unit

AMSTERDAM: Philips is speeding up the transformation of its lighting unit as more customers switch to its energy efficient LED products at the cost of traditional light bulbs, the Dutch group said on Monday.

As a result Philips will increase the amount it expects to spend on the overhaul, which may include scaling back production or even closing factories making traditional lightbulbs, to 170 million euros ($229.96m) in the second half of the year from 100m.

The move comes weeks after the company, which has recently undergone a major revamp to put healthcare at its core along with lighting, announced plans to combine its light-emitting diode (LED) and automotive lighting businesses in a stand-alone company.

The Dutch group blamed falling prices for LEDs and a drop in sales of traditional light bulbs during the second quarter.

Philips’ LED sales rose 43 per cent in the second quarter and represented 36pc of total lighting sales, up from 25pc last year. Sales of traditional lighting dropped by a mid-single digit percentage.

The market for LEDs is booming as the world switches from incandescent light bulbs — banned in most countries — to more efficient and durable lights.

But a price war for LED bulbs is eating into its profit, leaving Philips and German rival Osram — spun off from its parent company Siemens last July — scrambling to develop new technology and seek out new markets.—Reuters

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2014