Latest news with #AliRaza
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
SMC Healthcare CFO on upcoming retail IPO after pricing at top end
In this special interview with the CFO of SMC Healthcare on The Riyal Deal Plus, Tom Burges Watson asks Hani Charani about the next steps for the healthcare provider and what investors can expect - from doubling capacity to expanding specialized care - as the IPO is 64.7 times oversubscribed ahead of the retail offering from June 15 to 16. Ali Raza, the strategic advisor to the Saudi Arabia Holding Company breaks down the IPO trend in the Kingdom. Guests: Hani Charani, SMC Healthcare CFO
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Inside Islamabad's thriving farmers market, where nature meets community
ISLAMABAD: Every Saturday morning, a quiet corner of Pakistan's capital comes alive with the earthy scent of fresh produce, the hum of friendly chatter and the unmistakable feel of community. This is the Islamabad Farmers Market, now more than a decade old and having grown from a humble initiative into a thriving hub of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and local connection. Launched in 2013 with just six vendors, the market now hosts 79 approved seller, each selected through a rigorous vetting process that includes soil and water testing as well as on-site visits to farms. The aim? To keep the food chain clean, ethical, and transparent. 'The main goal was to eliminate the middleman and help small-scale farmers and producers connect directly with customers,' said Ali Raza, a representative of the market. 'Today, we have created a trusted space for clean, organic, and ethical products.' Each stall at the market tells a different story. Beneath canopies strung with fairy lights and shaded by leafy trees, you'll find everything from heirloom tomatoes and farm-fresh eggs to artisan sourdough and wild honey from the mountains. Among the market's earliest supporters is Naghma, a 70-year-old anthropologist and environmentalist who only gave her first name. A regular since its inception, she now sells her homemade hummus and baba ghanoush, an Arab eggplant dip, prepared with hand-ground tahini, alongside a variety of other organic spreads. 'I come here every Saturday with three bags and go back with five or six,' she laughed. 'I buy all my raw materials here.' For Naghma, organic eating is more than a preference, it's a lifelong passion rooted in gardening and the rhythms of the seasons. 'I follow seasons because organic by definition is seasonal,' she said. 'So, I make French Boursin cheese. My products, I call them 'Les Deli De Naghma,' so there's a definite French touch.' The Farmers Market has also become a vital platform for small-scale growers not just from Islamabad, but also more remote northern areas of the country such as northern Gilgit-Baltistan. Sherazam, the founder of Hunza Organic, is one such vendor who has been displaying at the market for over a decade. On his table: ruby-red dried cherries, sun-cured apricot oil, and jars of thick wild honey, all harvested by hand and brought straight from the mountains. 'Our clientele knows that our products are pure. Many others also source their raw materials from us,' he told Arab News. Sherazam said his business model was deeply community-driven. 'In Hunza, everyone farms. The women in my village produce these items, and we handle the packaging in Islamabad,' he added. 'RELIABLE, FRESH, FAMILY-FRIENDLY' New entrepreneurs are also finding their footing at the Islamabad Farmer's market. Waleed Noor Malik, representing 'Guy Knows Food,' a popular kimchi brand, said the market had helped launch their business and acted as an accelerator. 'We started selling kimchi here because we couldn't find a brand in Pakistan that matched our taste,' he said. 'Sampling at the market really helps build our brand. People try it here and often follow up on social media.' Engineer-turned-farmer, who manages 300 beehives and a young olive orchard near Taxila, shared a similar experience. His small-batch raw honey and extra virgin olive oil are bottled with care and sold directly to those who seek quality over mass production. 'It's not easy to compete with bulk commercial sellers, but here, people appreciate authenticity,' he said. Raza, the curator of the market, said many of its vendors had started small, with just a few pots or a home kitchen and now had full storefronts. 'Many people in and around Islamabad, from Chak Shehzad and Barakahu, were producing and running small-scale farms but they didn't have a platform to sell their fruits and vegetables. So, the main aim was to provide them with a platform,' he added. Much of the market's success hinges on its rigorous commitment to quality. Vendors undergo lengthy screening processes, including environmental checks and farm inspections. 'We look for the soil test, water test, and then we do a site visit,' said Raza. 'We make sure that no insecticides, pesticides, or urea are used.' This transparency has earned the market a loyal following. Dr. Shanza Khan, a dentist and long-time visitor, summed it up simply: 'The vendors are reliable, and their products are fresh. It's a very family-friendly environment.' More than a market, this is clearly a community garden in motion, where each bag of microgreens or bottle of honey is part of a larger story of connection and care for the land. And with the launch of an online platform, the market has extended its reach beyond Saturdays, giving customers access to their favorite organic products throughout the week. For vendors, this means steadier sales and greater visibility in a growing wellness economy. Another attraction lies at the far end of the market, where food and coffee stalls beckon with the smell of sourdough sandwiches, artisanal cheese, and specialty brews. Some mornings, live music plays in the background, or a spontaneous art therapy session spills onto the grassy space beside the Dino Park. Children run through the park's dino sculptures while parents sip cappuccinos under the trees. Mahnoor Omer, a lawyer and regular visitor, has made coming here a weekly ritual. 'Coffee, sourdough, cheese sandwiches, and sometimes, spontaneous catch-ups with friends,' she said, smiling. 'It's a great outlet for home-based growers and vendors from northern areas to bring their produce straight to our kitchens.'
Toronto Sun
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Toronto Sun
More than 100 inmates escape Pakistan prison after earthquake evacuation
They were temporarily moved out of their cells following mild earthquake tremors, officials said Published Jun 03, 2025 • 1 minute read Police officers examine a damaged area inside the premises of the district Malir prison from where more than 100 inmates escaped overnight, in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Photo by Ali Raza / AP KARACHI, Pakistan — More than 100 inmates escaped from a prison and at least one was killed in a shootout in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi overnight after they were temporarily moved out of their cells following mild earthquake tremors, officials said Tuesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Kashif Abbasi, a senior police official, said 216 inmates fled the prison in the capital of Sindh province before dawn. Of those, 78 had been recaptured. No one convicted or facing trial as a militant is among those who fled, he said. One prisoner was killed and three security officials were wounded in the ensuing shootout, but the situation has been brought under control, Abbasi said, adding that police are conducting raids to capture the remaining escapees. Ziaul Hassan, the home minister of Sindh province, said the jailbreak occurred after prisoners were evacuated from their cells for safety during the earthquake. The inmates were still outside of the cells when a group suddenly attacked guards, seized their weapons, opened fire and fled. Though prisoners have escaped while being transported to court for trial, prison beaks are not common in Pakistan, where authorities have enhanced security since 2013 when the Pakistani Taliban freed more than 200 inmates in an attack on a prison in the northwestern district of Dera Ismail Khan. Karachi has experienced several mild and shallow earthquakes in the past 24 hours, ranging from 2.6 to 3.4 in magnitude, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Center. Columnists Sunshine Girls Olympics Technology Sunshine Girls
Al Arabiya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Key metrics to watch in Saudi and US economies after Trump's Middle East visit
In this episode of The Riyal Deal, Tom Burges Watson speaks with the CEO and President of the US-Saudi Business Council, Charles Hallab, who played a key role at the historic summit in Riyadh which spotlighted Saudi-US ties during President Donald Trump's visit and billions of dollars in agreements. Naif Alghaith, the Chief Economist at Riyad Bank, and Ali Raza, Strategic Advisor at the Saudi Arabia Holding Company, discuss the key metrics to watch as the Saudi-US agreements take shape and translate into real-world impact. And AI in focus as Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched 'HUMAIN' – a global artificial intelligence company, backed by the PIF.
See - Sada Elbalad
09-05-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Pakistan Stock Exchange Halts Trading for One Hour after Decline in KSE30
Taarek Refaat Pakistan's stock market halted trading for an hour this morning, following a decline in the Karachi 30 index (KSE30), according to a statement on the exchange's website. The move was part of an automatic stop-loss mechanism that is activated when the index falls by 5% or more during a trading session. After trading resumed, the index continued its decline, falling 6.19% amid heavy selling pressure. The decline comes amid waning investor sentiment following escalating military tensions with neighboring India following a militant attack last month in disputed Kashmir that left 26 people dead. Yesterday, India carried out targeted military strikes against Pakistan, which claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif described the incident in a television interview as "not hostile acts, we are just defending our territory." "Reports of the downing of Indian drones in Pakistan indicate an escalation," Ali Raza, head of global equities trading at BMA Capital Management in Karachi, told Bloomberg. "Unless there is a ceasefire or a diplomatic shift, tensions will remain high, which will weigh on investor sentiment," he added. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
