Showing posts with label Banks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Banks. Show all posts

Sunday, April 7, 2013

MCB Lite Visa Debit Card - How to Get, Details, Charges and Features


MCB Lite Visa Debit Card

MCB Lite Card
MCB Bank has announced its new Prepaid Visa Debit Card, MCB Lite. It is a payments solution, for those who don't have Credit Card or Debit Card, to enjoy services of VISA and to save money and time. There are neither monthly charges nor charges on making payments and transactions, however annual charges are applicable.

You can deposit and withdraw money at any MCB Bank Branch, also withdraw money from ATM. MCB Lite can be used to purchase mobile air time, fund transfers, utility bills payment, pay money on POS stores, to withdraw money internationally and pay online.

Bank account with MCB is not necessary to get this card.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Investment Opportunities in Pakistan for Public

Savings of Common Pakistanis

Many people are seeking advice on what are some good investment opportunities in Pakistan. Some of them soon or later deposit their hard earned money in bank or put it in some type of saving schemes e.g National Saving Schemes, Prize Bonds or Insurance Policies. Though all of these looks very attractive at first but have not much real potential. These saving schemes shows big numbers in terms of profits but when you take into account the decrease rate in the Pakistani Currency Value you will find that you will only get big figures but less value. 

Moreover banks and most of other financial organizations works on interest system (سودی نظام) and give profits gained from interests / mark-up which is not allowed to Muslims. So always try to find investment options which are safe and permitted in Islam.

This post is written for general public; an employee, a housewife, a retired government servant, a small business owner or other common people and not for business tycoons and big investors. These common men intends to invest their savings in such a way that can not only give them reliable and stable profits but also must be safe because they don't want to loose their money in the greed of profit. 

Investment Opportunities in Pakistan
Investment Opportunities in Pakistan

Investment Opportunities in Pakistan for Public

So the question is if Saving Schemes and Bank Profits are not as much advantageous as they seem then what is the right way to invest your money. Below we will state some investment options. Though we will give you only hints and will not elaborate these in details. If you are interested in any of these, you have to further learn its basics and pro/ cons on your own. You can search internet to read further details about any of these. Please also note that none of these options is 100% safe and we can not guarantee of any of these. Investments also have risks.

Some investments are long term and some are short term. Long Term Investments are profitable and beneficial only if done for longer periods of time while short term  investments can give you profits in shorter times generally.

Following are the opportunities in Pakistan. We tried to list only those investment ideas which are Halal.
  1. Real Estate and Property
  2. Buying and Selling of Gold (as the rate is continuously increasing from many decades)
  3. Mutual Funds
  4. Shares (These are risky for a newbie.   So please learn alot before investing in Stock Exchange. It is also worth mentioning that some religious scholars also forbid trading bank shares.)
  5. Commodity Trading (buying and selling of gold, silver, crude oil, rice, sugar, wheat and other products). It usually involves a third party which manages trading on behalf of you.
  6. Buying and Selling of Vehicles and Bikes after refurbishing and maintenance
  7. Investing in a local business which requires investments but ensure written agreement with owner.
  8. Another option is to support someone preferably one of your unemployed friends or relatives to establish business. You will act as sleeping partner or investor while the other will be working partner. In this business model, you will not only help others to earn their livelihoods but will also earn an handsome amount as profit. But agreement is also necessary for this.


Give Your Feedback

Please give your feedback if you like any of the above business idea or if you have any suggestion or recommendation please share via your comments.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Benazir ATM Smart Cards for BISP Beneficiaries

BISP - Benazir Income Support Program
Federal Government of Pakistan gives cash grant of Rs.1000 per month to poor and needy families in all provinces and territories of Pakistan; Punjab, KPK, Sindh, Baluchistan, Azad Jammu Kashmir, FATA and ICT (Islamabad Capital Territory). 


Benazir ATM Smart Card
Benazir ATM Smart Cards are being issued to facilitate "Benazir Income Support Program Beneficiaries". Benazir Smart Cards will take place of previous method of distributing money via Money Order by Postal Service. These smart cards are being dispatched through various banks in all over Pakistan. Benazir Smart Cards Distribution Centres are established at Tehsil Level in more than 120 districts of Pakistan. Previously these cards were launched as pilot project only in few districts of Pakistan.

This new technology is adopted due to complaints in delivery mechanism of BISP benefits to beneficiaries. It is hoped that this new technology will make this program more transparent and accessible.

Benazir Card can be obtained from your nearest centre by showing your CNIC card and letter issued by BISP. These cards are free of cost so never give any money or fees to get ATM card. Also never disclose your 4 digit PIN Code to anyone.

BSC (Benazir Smart Cards) are planned to be used not only for cash grants but also for other benefits of Benazir Income Support Program like Health Insurance.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

How to Get A Credit Card in Pakistan?

How to Get A Credit Card in Pakistan?

Credit Cards are also called as plastic money. It is widely used in western world but it is used in Pakistan too. The interest rate of loans taking through credit cards is much higher than any other bank loan.

Eligibility Criteria in Pakistan to Get A Credit Card
In Pakistan, different banks offers credit cards so the eligibility criteria may be different from bank to bank. But generally the banks requirements to its customer are as under:
  • He should be Pakistani resident.
  • His age should be at least 21 years.
  • Minimum verifiable income is Rs. 20,000.
  • Six months bank statement of customer's bank account.
  • NADRA's issued CNIC
  • Two references
  • One landline number
It is not necessary for a person to be an account holder of the same bank before applying for a credit card.

Banks That Offers Credit Cards in Pakistan
Following Banks offered credit cards in Pakistan. Type of credit card(s) which are offered by a bank are mentioned against the bank name.
Citi Bank - Master Card + Visa Card
RSB (Royal Bank of Scotland) - Master Card
Standard Chartered Bank - American Express Card + Visa Card
Askari Bank - Master Card
Bank Al-Falah - Visa Card
Allied Bank - Master Card
MCB Bank - Visa Card
UBL Bank - Visa Card