Business

Upon attaining the age of superannuation, the Federal Board of Revenue’s Member (Legal & Accounting Customs), Mr. Saeed Akram, has retired from government service today. Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Akram served with unwavering dedication and professionalism. Having joined the Pakistan Customs Service in 1996, he accumulated extensive experience in various field formations, particularly in the Appraisement Karachi. Over the …

Stonegate Group, owner of the Slug & Lettuce and Be At One chains, has opened preliminary talks with advisers about a disposal of part of its estate, according to industry sources. The move comes as the company struggles with more than £3 billion of debt built up largely through its £3 billion takeover of rival Ei in 2019. The pubs …

Former chancellor George Osborne has been shortlisted as a shock candidate to become the next chairman of HSBC Holdings, one of the most powerful and prestigious roles in global banking, according to reports. Sky News revealed that Osborne — who served as chancellor from 2010 to 2016 — was approached over the summer as part of HSBC’s year-long search to …

John Chipponeri is a retired Chevron executive, coach, and endurance athlete whose career has been defined by leadership, resilience, growth and service. Raised in Ceres, a small town in Central California, he grew up in a large Sicilian family where hard work and community values shaped his outlook. Excelling in both academics and sport, he graduated as valedictorian of his …

Leading employment experts and major employers have said there is “nothing to fear” from the Government’s Employment Rights Bill, arguing that the reforms will support fairer workplaces, boost productivity and bring the UK closer in line with international employment standards. The comments came during a roundtable held in Parliament on Tuesday 11 November — the same day new figures revealed …

Almost half of UK SMEs are optimistic about the year ahead, but cost pressures remain the biggest obstacle to growth, according to new research from Simply Asset Finance released ahead of the Autumn Budget. The study shows SME confidence is climbing: 49% of decision makers feel positive about the next 12 months, up from 43% a year ago. Notably, 19% …

Karachi, Pakistan Dr. Naveed Yousuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB), has been appointed Vice President of the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) — a leading global organization that advances quality, innovation, and best practices in educational assessment worldwide. Dr Yousuf’s two-year term as Vice President will begin on July 1, 2025. This appointment …

The Government has confirmed that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will be scrapped, with ministers claiming the move will save at least £100 million that can instead be channelled into frontline policing, artificial intelligence and cybercrime capability. The announcement forms part of a wide-reaching overhaul of policing in England and Wales aimed at raising national standards, improving performance monitoring and …

Aviva chief executive Dame Amanda Blanc has urged the chancellor to rethink plans for a major clampdown on salary sacrifice schemes, warning that the move would penalise both employers and workers while damaging long-term pension saving across the UK. Speaking ahead of Rachel Reeves’ 26 November budget, Blanc said Aviva was “very concerned” about the Treasury’s intention to cap the …

More than 100 senior business leaders gathered in London this week as B Lab UK — the organisation behind the B Corp certification — marked ten years of the UK B Corp movement with a high-profile breakfast summit. The event, Take 10: The Future of Better Business, unveiled findings from B Lab UK’s first 10-year impact report, which shows B …