JazzCash unveils Visa debit card

KARACHI: JazzCash has launched Visa debit card for its mobile account customers. Customers will be able to make purchases at more than 49,000 merchants that accept Visa cards across the country, said a press release.

Alibaba’s revenue to jump 45-48pc this year

NAIROBI: China’s Alibaba expects its revenue to expand by 45 to 48 per cent in its fiscal year from April as more small businesses join its online community in search of sales, Executive Chairman Jack Ma said on Thursday.

Alibaba had revenue of $22.99 billion in its year to the end of March.

“Our revenue this year, we will still have 45-48pc growth, the money comes from solving problems for others,” Ma told hundreds of senior executives who filled a large ballroom in a five-star hotel to listen to him on his first visit to Africa. Ma, who founded the Hangzhou-based e-commerce firm, said he would consider investing in Kenya after meeting young entrepreneurs and being impressed by the East African nation’s broadband infrastructure.–Reuters

Unilever first half profits soar 22.4pc

THE HAGUE: Food and consumer products giant Unilever said on Thursday profits soared in the first half of 2017, raking in 3.3 billion euros after the Anglo-Dutch firm spurned a takeover bid by US rival Kraft Heinz.

The 22.4pc hike in the first six months compared to the same period last year showed “a substantial step-up in profitability despite the persisting volatile global trading environment,” chief executive Paul Polman said.

“The transformation of Unilever into a more resilient, more competitive and more profitable business is accelerating,” he added in a statement.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2017