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Easypaisa to part ways with Telenor Pakistan
Telenor Pakistan launched Easypaisa in 2009 with the approval of the State Bank of Pakistan. ProPakistani reported that Easypaisa, which is Telenor Pakistan’s Mobile Financial Services Division, will be transferred to Tameer Microfinance Bank. Telenor Group wholly acquired Tameer Bank last year. At that time, it was announced that Telenor Pakistan will transfer the management of Easypaisa to Tameer.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Floating Hospitals Treat Those Impacted by Rising Seas
In parts of Bangladesh, flooding makes it impossible to build permanent hospitals. But that doesn’t mean people can’t get healthcare.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Pakistan banks embark on financial inclusion
The Pakistani banking sector, which has already been highly profitable, is on track to expand further with millions of new customers set to enter its fold owing to financial inclusion initiatives. The priority target of the Financial Inclusion Plan (FIP) is to raise the number of customers with access to bank accounts and services to 50 per cent of the adult population. The number was 23 per cent in 2015 and 12 per cent in 2008.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Pakistan government to launch $130m financial inclusion project
The government is embarking on the Pakistan Financial Inclusion and Infrastructure Project aimed at increasing access to financial services for households and businesses by improving usage of digital payments in the country. Two World Bank institutions — International Bank for the Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association — will jointly provide $130 million finance for the project.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Startup Investment Is Making a Comeback in North Africa
African startups raised more than $129 million last year, according to a report from Disrupt Africa, a blog on technology and entrepreneurship on the continent. South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya were the most popular destinations, with north African countries catching up.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
- Tags
- impact investing
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Mastercard helps expand financial inclusion in Pakistan by optimizing National ID cards with e-payment functionality
Mastercard, a leading technology company in the global payments industry, announced a strategic collaboration with Pakistan’s NADRA Technologies to optimize National ID cards with electronic payments functionality. The move will allow Pakistani citizens to carry out financial transactions and receive government disbursements by utilizing the unique 13-digit identification number of their identity card.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Lack of money forces closure of 11 UN health clinics in Sudan
Eleven health facilities in Sudan, funded by the UN and serving people displaced by conflict in the region, have been forced to close due to lack of money. Funding shortfalls also threaten the closure of a further 49 clinics in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, with $7m (£5.69m) required to keep the facilities open for another year, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
- Tags
- public health
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Gaza is attracting the attention of Silicon Valley as young tech entrepreneurs push to solve problems themselves
Tech gurus from Uber, Google, SoundCloud, Microsoft and 500 Startups have visited Gaza on their own dime as volunteers to mentor startups.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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