Infrastructure Development in Pakistan

[Omar1984]

Restaurant chain: Fatburger decides to taste the local market

Fatburger – Santa Monica, California-based fast-food chain – is the latest one to announce its intentions to take a bite out of the local food market.


KARACHI: The fast-food and restaurant market in Pakistan has reached a threshold where it may be recognised as a driving force for new investments. The billion dollar market of Pakistan isn’t only seeing growth of local food outlets but also attracting international food chains.

Fatburger – Santa Monica, California-based fast-food chain – is the latest one to announce its intentions to take a bite out of the local food market. One of fastest growing food chains around the world, Fatburger will be introduced in Pakistan soon by BIL Foods Ltd, a subsidiary of Dubai-based BIL Investments that owns a chain of restaurants and a chemical company.

Fatburger will join the likes of McDonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC, Hardee’s and OPTP that are already operating in the country. Not to mention hundreds of local restaurants and fast-food outlets opening each year to meet the growing demand.

According to industry sources, around 50 new food outlets were due to be operational during the last couple of months in Defence and Clifton areas of Karachi alone. Of those 50 some places, many have already opened while others are in the pipeline, sources said.

The list does not only include restaurants and fast-food chains but also cafes, bakeries and specialty food outlets, the source added.

The growth of the food business has even created a secondary market for young entrepreneurs as many online food portals have opened up and are doing well financially.

While there is no official data available about the size of this market, a conservative study of some 25,000 food centres by Food Connection Pakistan – an online food portal – found that Pakistanis spend at least Rs90 billion ($1 billion) on dining out every year.
“I believe, food is the only entertainment in Pakistan so far,” BIL Foods CEO Samiullah Mohabbat said while sharing his views about international food chains’ interest in Pakistan – in an email to The Express Tribune.

There is still a huge gap for international food chains to enter in the Pakistani market, Mohabbat said.

Referring to the benefits of doing business in Pakistan, the CEO said Pakistan has a strong human resource; English speaking workforce, cost-effective managers and technical workers. Besides, he added, it has a large and growing domestic market.

There are about 180 million consumers with rising incomes, he said, and a growing middle-class moving to sophisticated consumption habits – making it a strong emerging market.

Explaining what attracted BIL Investments towards Pakistan, he said good quality telecommunications and IT services, comprehensive road, rail and sea links, long-standing corporate culture in Pakistan make the country an attractive market for investment.
He further said that Pakistan’s strategic location makes it a regional hub and principal gateway to the Central Asia republics. The country has a long-standing link with the Middle East and South Asia and provides comprehensive duty-free facilities to the investors.

Excited about launching Fatburger’s first franchise in the country, Mohabbat hinted for more investments in the local food market.

“We are passionate about international franchising and seeing as there are flourishing opportunities present in the country,” Mohabbat said. “BIL Foods is striving to bring the highest quality of international brands to Pakistan and you will witness more of our endeavours in the near future,” he added.

BIL Foods will be opening five restaurants in three years, according to Mohabbat, and further development agreement would be signed after that period. Fatburger will follow Hardee’s example and open its first franchise on MM Alam Road, Lahore followed by Dolmen City Mall, Karachi. Mohabbat did not mention any exact dates.

Fatburger has over 95 locations in the US. In addition to its California roots, Fatburger has a strong presence across America.
The fast-food chain has its franchises in Canada, Dubai, Hong Kong, Macao, Beijing, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jakarta. Pakistan will be the latest addition to its portfolio.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2012


Restaurant chain: Fatburger decides to taste the local market – The Express Tribune

 

[Omar1984]

Dolmen City, Karachi

More pictures of Dolmen City:

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[Omar1984]

NINE WEST LAUNCHES IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Karachi, June 15th 2012: Nine West is a fashion wholesale and retail company best known for quickly translating runway trends into styles attainable by mass consumers. Initially founded as a fashion footwear brand, Nine West has since expanded into handbags, sunglasses, leg wear, outerwear, jewelry, belts, watches, cold weather accessories, hats, scarves/ wraps, and eyewear.

Named for its founding location in the Solow Building at 9 West 57th St in New York City, Nine West opened its first specialty retail store in 1983 in Stamford, Connecticut. It has since become an internationally-recognized brand located in over 800 global locations in 61 countries.

A top designer and marketer of fashionable women’s shoes, the group sells footwear (casual, career, and dress), apparel (dresses, suits, denim), and accessories, through more than 500 Nine West and Easy Spirit specialty and outlet stores all around the world. It also distributes its footwear and accessories, including sunglasses, through department, specialty, and independent shoe stores, as well as online. Manufacturers in Brazil, China, and Italy make the company’s shoes and boots. Nine West is finally now come to Pakistan and is the 61st country around the globe to have a Nine West store. Nine West Pakistan has been brought by Burj Fashion, Project Manager Faisal Jamil and CEO Ayesha Ahmed.

The Event was managed and produced by Catwalk productions. Guests had a chance to see a fashion presentation where the models were strutting this seasons latest Nine West collection. The models of the event were; Areeba, Maroosh, Nadia Baloch, Saba Sikander, Sadaf, and Sana Khan.

The event was attended by large number of people including socialites and Fashionistas. The Chief Guest for the show was the American Counsel General.

 

[Omar1984]

Dolmen Mall, Karachi, Pakistan

SNOG in Dolmen Mall, Karachi, Pakistan

 

[Omar1984]

Dolmen Mall: Now a Free Wi-Fi Hotspot

Free wireless is everywhere these days – from hotels to the chain coffee stores. Now? It’s gotten monumental.

Dolmen Mall officials announced this afternoon that the Dolmen Mall now has more than 50 active hubs, which will help create a free wireless network on the Dolmen Mall. The estimated range of the network will cover all floor of the mall and establishes an even wider span of coverage for the Tariq Road wireless-reliant citizens and tourists. The new hotspots will extend the reach of “Free Wifi” to all visitors of the mall.

Increasing number of shopping malls in Karachi are thinking of installing the capability. "If you look at malls in general, you are really seeing owners bring in things that allow for more people to come do a variety of things at the center," Dolmen official said. "The mall has become more than a place to shop."

Dolmen Mall, Karachi, Pakistan

Cinnabon Landed in Karachi

Cinnabon, the American chain of baked goods kiosks has landed in Karachi by opening its first kiosk at Dolmen City Mall with another franchise due to open in a few weeks at the Atrium Mall. The company's signature item is a large cinnamon roll originates from Seattle USA.

Cinnabon chose Lahore as the location for its first franchise in Pakistan in 2010. At present, it has two outlets in Punjab’s capital. “We were planning to open one in Karachi for a few months but just had to work out all the details,” the CEO for Cinnaworld, Yasser Khawaja, told The MediaXpress. “It is just a great brand, its unique taste, in my opinion, is very well suited for our taste buds.”

But there were some mothers who were cautious about feeding their children ‘too much sugar’. “It is definitely very tasty but not something I would let my son have every day without fear of him developing a sugar problem,” mused guest Mrs Iftikhar.

On the menu, Cinnabon offers three flavours of its specialised rolls, classic smothered with cream-cheese icing, chocolate and pecan. Other items include mini-cinnamon rolls, lattes, cinnamon sticks and iced beverages (slushies). A single cinnamon roll costs between Rs250 and Rs310, depending on the flavour of your choice. A box of six costs Rs1,320. A mini roll is priced between Rs175 and Rs230 while a pack of nine will cost Rs1,510.

 

[Omar1984]

Debenhams among British invasion of Karachi's high street

British high street stores are flocking to the sprawling, chaotic megacity of Karachi eager to cash in on a growing middle class with money to spend, according to ministers and business leaders.

The rewards more than make up for the risks, according to Yasin Paracha, the man behind Team A Ventures, which is the franchisee for five British stores which have already opened their doors. Photo: ALAMY

By Rob Crilly, Islamabad 8:30PM BST 22 Jun 2012


Debenhams is the latest household name to enter the market and will become Pakistan's first international department store when it opens next month.

It means braving a city notorious for corruption, power cuts, strikes, extortion rackets and repeated bouts of bitter ethnic violence.

The rewards more than make up for the risks, according to Yasin Paracha, the man behind Team A Ventures, which is the franchisee for five British stores which have already opened their doors.

"British brands have a great name in Pakistan," he said reeling off some of the recent successes. "Mothercare and Next already have tremendous awareness here."

He added that Karachi was home to a rich jet set suspicious of Pakistani stores and who shopped instead in London, Paris or Dubai.

The British invasion is being backed by David Cameron's government, which is committed to increasing trade between Pakistan and the UK to £2.5bn each year by 2015.

Ministers have flitted back and forth emphasising the close historical ties between the two countries, the one million-strong Pakistani community in Britain and an opportunity for struggling brands such as Mothercare – which announced a £103m annual loss last month – to find areas of growth while high streets at home remain in the doldrums.

Although Karachi's 18 million population and its status as Pakistan's commercial capital make it an attractive destination for British companies, the city's volatile mix of ethnic, criminal and political rivalries also leads to frequent violent convulsions.

In April, hundreds of families fled the densely populated area of Lyari as security forces conducted a sweep of drug dealers and criminal gangs, turning the area into an urban battlefield.

More than 20 people died in four days.

The city is also thought to Mr Paracha said he worked with expats and the British High Commission to give advice to companies thinking of opening in Pakistan.

"We can't deny that there's a security situation here but life does continue," he said.

Lord Green, the Trade and Investment minister, visited the city earlier this year as part of a push to encourage British companies to invest.

He said businesses had to shed their prejudices about Pakistan and remember that emerging markets all brought their own risks – and potential profits.

"This is a large market and a growing market," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"There's a burgeoning middle class. One hundred million people have mobile phones here and there is all of the obvious appetite for branded retail goods that you see in every other emerging market here too, so there's a lot to work on."

The new stores – including Crabtree and Evelyn which opened in March – are clustered together in Dolmen City Mall, offering a haven of air-conditioned Britishness away from the hurly-burly of the Karachi streets.

A spokeswoman for Debenhams said the company had done extensive market research before deciding to open in Karachi.

"International brands in Pakistan in general are performing strongly and we have no current security concerns," she said.


Debenhams among British invasion of Karachi's high street - Telegraph

 

[SHAMK9]

70 Riviera Karachi

 

[Omar1984]

 

[SHAMK9]

 

[SHAMK9]

Ocean Tower Karachi update

MoU to be signed for Karachi’s development
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for bringing investment for the development of Karachi is about to be signed in London in collaboration with the UK government under the leadership of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan.

Informed sources in the MQM exclusively told The News on Sunday that the Sindh governor, KMC administrator, commissioner Karachi, KWSB MD had left for London.

The development of Karachi is the basic agenda of Muttahida, the MQM sources said.

The MQM sources said that these officials would sign a MoU as officials always dealt with such tasks.

The MQM sources said that this was being done because the development of Karachi had been completely ignored despite the MQM being in the coalition government. The MQM sources said that the development of Karachi had been marred after the former city Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal left the office.

IT Minister Sindh Raza Haroon and senior education minister Pir Mazharul Haq are already in London for the signing of the MoU.

 

[W.11]

for investment, security peace and stability is essential, no investor will invest until the following conditions are meet

 

[SHAMK9]

Making flyovers for BRT in Lahore

 

[Jako]

Has the left most spire like structure of the Centaurus been cancelled?
It was 4 towers right,not 3?
That structure added a lot to its glamour,hope its not cancelled.

 

[SHAMK9]

Applications sought for bus rapid transit project Islamabad
Taking first practical step towards materialising the long-standing demand of a decent transport facility of the commuters travelling within Islamabad, the Capital Development Authority has invited expression of interest (EoI) for operation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project Islamabad.

City managers have sought expression of interest for construction, operation, development and maintenance of the BRT project from firms of national/international repute.

The interested firms have also been asked to submit their corporate details, financial and technical profiles along with EOI document.

Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF) and Cities Development Initiative for Asia’s (CDIA), a subsidiary of Asian Development Bank (ADB), have already been undertaking the feasibility study on the BRT Project of Islamabad.

Chairman CDA Engineer Farkhand Iqbal is confident of the timely completion of this much-needed project.

Talking to TheNation Iqbal said, “IPDF and CDIA have almost completed the feasibility study on the BRT project. ADB has carried out this work free of cost and within a week they would submit their report with the CDA.”

He said as per Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules the interested firms would ensure submission of EOI document with CDA within 45-day.

To run the affairs of BRT project, an independent Islamabad Transport Company would be established. A CDA officer of grade-20 would head this transport company.

The company would be responsible for negotiations, contracts, and agreements regarding transport services for capital city, besides regulating other relevant affairs.

The CDA had already specified around 20 acres of land in sector I-11 for bus stations and it would be under company’s purview to use the land for generation of revenue, Chairman CDA said. For the fiscal year 2012-13, the CDA has allocated Rs400 million for this project.

A PPP leader and former head of PM’s Task Force Faisal Sakhi ****, whose utmost efforts in this regard have finally bore fruit, while sharing the details of the project said, “In first phase, the transport will be operated on Bhara Kahu, Golra Sharif, Pak Secretariat and Blue Area routes, which would be extended further to other parts of the city in second phase.”

The former head of the task force was once quoted as saying, “The Company will be empowered either to lease out land to other transport companies for bus stations or raise multi-storey buildings there for commercial use.

The company will also be empowered to commercialise all bus stops across Islamabad using them for branding.”

According to a recent survey conducted by National Transport Research Centre, around 23,688 people travel from Faizabad to Pak Secretariat daily, 18,517 from Faizabad to sector G-10, some 17,310 from I-10 to Secretariat and 8,270 from Abpara to Bhara Kahu.

Has the left most spire like structure of the Centaurus been cancelled?
It was 4 towers right,not 3?
That structure added a lot to its glamour,hope its not cancelled.

they just finished the piling work so we will see it coming up in a few months

Safa Mall Islamabad

 

[Jako]

Applications sought for bus rapid transit project Islamabad
Taking first practical step towards materialising the long-standing demand of a decent transport facility of the commuters travelling within Islamabad, the Capital Development Authority has invited expression of interest (EoI) for operation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project Islamabad.

City managers have sought expression of interest for construction, operation, development and maintenance of the BRT project from firms of national/international repute.

The interested firms have also been asked to submit their corporate details, financial and technical profiles along with EOI document.

Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF) and Cities Development Initiative for Asia’s (CDIA), a subsidiary of Asian Development Bank (ADB), have already been undertaking the feasibility study on the BRT Project of Islamabad.

Chairman CDA Engineer Farkhand Iqbal is confident of the timely completion of this much-needed project.

Talking to TheNation Iqbal said, “IPDF and CDIA have almost completed the feasibility study on the BRT project. ADB has carried out this work free of cost and within a week they would submit their report with the CDA.”

He said as per Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules the interested firms would ensure submission of EOI document with CDA within 45-day.

To run the affairs of BRT project, an independent Islamabad Transport Company would be established. A CDA officer of grade-20 would head this transport company.

The company would be responsible for negotiations, contracts, and agreements regarding transport services for capital city, besides regulating other relevant affairs.

The CDA had already specified around 20 acres of land in sector I-11 for bus stations and it would be under company’s purview to use the land for generation of revenue, Chairman CDA said. For the fiscal year 2012-13, the CDA has allocated Rs400 million for this project.

A PPP leader and former head of PM’s Task Force Faisal Sakhi ****, whose utmost efforts in this regard have finally bore fruit, while sharing the details of the project said, “In first phase, the transport will be operated on Bhara Kahu, Golra Sharif, Pak Secretariat and Blue Area routes, which would be extended further to other parts of the city in second phase.”

The former head of the task force was once quoted as saying, “The Company will be empowered either to lease out land to other transport companies for bus stations or raise multi-storey buildings there for commercial use.

The company will also be empowered to commercialise all bus stops across Islamabad using them for branding.”

According to a recent survey conducted by National Transport Research Centre, around 23,688 people travel from Faizabad to Pak Secretariat daily, 18,517 from Faizabad to sector G-10, some 17,310 from I-10 to Secretariat and 8,270 from Abpara to Bhara Kahu.

they just finished the piling work so we will see it coming up in a few months

But it is to be inaugurated this year right?
Building it after commercial operations are started may bring a dusty feel in a whole.
Anways,love that building.Its pure AWESOME!