After the 18th February elections, Pakistan is now going to go through the by-election (bye-election or bi-election as some call it) will be held on the 26th of June 2008. While countless number of national and international news media is going to cover to the even, for those who would want to check out the results, analysis and the party position, post by-elections, online should check out for these online resources.

1.    GEO.tv election cell
2.    Dawn news election cell
3.    Elections.com.pk
4.    Election commission of Pakistan (official results)

I will keep adding resources as I get to know of them. You can email me if you want your resource to be added.

I just registered for the mobile commerce conference being held on 2nd of April at Sheraton Karachi. If you are interested please register here for free.

https://www.amaana.com/beta/event/total/getTotal.do

agenda is as follows:

• 08:45 Registration
• 09:00 Opening Session
• 10:15 Tea Break
• 10:35 From Hype to Reality
• 11:05 Beyond Mobile Banking – Trust Networks for Bridging the Payment Divide
• 11:30 Enabling Mobile Commerce Environment
• 11:50 Mobile Commerce in the 21st Century – The Need: Mobile Service Delivery Platform
• 12:10 Mobile Commerce – The Future Frontier
• 12:30 Role of Telcos in Implementing Mobile Commerce in Pakistan
• 12:50 Q&A + Lunch
• 13:30 Securing Mobile Transactions
• 13:50 Transforming Utilities into Customer Centric Organizations
• 14:05 Risk Management in Electronic Banking
• 14:20 Challenges for Offering a New Transaction Paradigm
• 14:40 Opportunities for Mobile Technologies in Microfinance
• 14:55 Q&A + Closing

The MITCEF Pakistan’s Business Acceleration Program BAP 2008 is launched. Last evening I attended the training workshop for BAP 2008 program. I plan to participate in it this year and I highly recommend it all IT companies in Pakistan. From what I see, BAP 2008 gives an unparalleled exposure in redefining your business goals and strategies to take your company to the next level. It’s almost free to participate and you get to talk and network with global business leaders and thought leaders in Pakistan and in the US.

read more details on their website

If your target market resides outside Pakistan and you are not able to open a US Bank Account and apply to become an online merchant, you can use 2checkout popularly known as 2co to accept online payments in US Dollars. 2checkout works as an alternative to your own merchant account and comes pretty helpful to setup an online store and start accepting payments immediately with little paper work.
Why Use 2Checkout?

• gives you instant ability to accept online payments
• you dont have worry about credit card fraud, as 2checkout deploys its own fraud detection
• you can accept payments in multiple currencies
• you don’t need to have a physical presence in the US

Why not use 2checkout?

• your customers will see 2checkout as the reseller on not your business name in their credit card statements
• 2checkout charges a per transaction fee
• refunds payments to your customers if complaints are filed, usually giving the customer an advantage in case of a dispute
• can seize or block your payments in case of violation of terms

Get an account with any local bank as a merchant and have them deliver you a credit charging machine. You will have to go through a tedious process of approval before you get your credit card charging machine. Once you have the machine in hand, you can deploy an SSL certificate on your ordering page and get your customers to provide their credit card information online. You can then, manually charge their credit card for the amount.


An alternate to this is to use GPRS based credit charging machine, and have your sales and delivery staff charge payments at the time of product delivery.

If you are an online merchant, planning to setup a store in Pakistan and accept payments from your customers online, UBL Internet Banking now provides you the facility to accept payments in Pak Rupees. UBL Net Banking is not a regular online payment acceptance facility where customers having credit cards can just sign-up and pay the required amount. UBL Net Baking is technically the online version of inter-branch connectivity. Putting it simply, if you integrate UBL Net Banking on your website, you will be able to accept payments from people having accounts in UBL only.

How to setup UBL Net Banking on Your Website
You will have to apply by contacting UBL sales team. They will ask you to provide details of your online business. If you are approved, you will be required to sign formal contracts and agree on transaction percentage that UBL will charge from you to provide this service. You will also be required to open an account in UBL

How does It Work for Your Customers

1. The customer arrives on your website
2. Logs in to his/her net banking account and chooses to go to the “Pay Bills and Prepaid Screen”
3. Under Merchant Payments tab; your merchant name would be visible. The customer will click your merchant name / logo and will click pay
4. On clicking Pay, the customer will be forwarded to the “Payment Detail Screen.” On this screen, the customer will see the following:
   • Selects your account from which payment is to be made.
   • Enter your correct bill amount.
   • Enter the Order Number issued by Merchant and then click Pay.
5. On clicking Pay, the customer will be sent to the “Confirmation Screen”. On this screen, he/she will enter the PIN in order to confirm this transaction.
6. Final thanks and confirmation screen will be shown.

If You Are Not Approved
In case your application is declined, you can still open up an account in UBL and accept payments by asking your customers to deposit amount in your bank account number and notify you by calling or emailing. It works just fine that way too!

About UBL
UBL is one of the largest local banks in Pakistan and has an existing branch customer-base of 3.5 million and a vast reach of 1100 branches all over Pakistan.

Features and Benefits of UBL Net Banking

• Manage Multiple Accounts
• Real-Time Account Balance & Summary
• Inter-Portfolio Transfers
• Third Party Funds Transfers
• Door Step Cheque Delivery
• Bills Payment
• Online Shopping
• Scheduling the recurring or one-off payments
• Customized Alerts
• Multi-Level Security with Advances Security Features
• In today busy life consumers don’t have time to go out for purchases.
• For Online purchases the consumer either have to withdraw cash or use credit card on delivery.

Benefits to Your Customer
• e-Merchant aim to revolutionize the whole payment mechanism by turning the fatigue into luxury

• e-Merchant shall allow consumers to enjoy faster and efficient modes of payment with the ease and luxury of their homes and offices

• e-Merchant shall make it possible for consumers to make bill payments from anywhere at anytime 24 hours a day through multiple payment channels

• With eMerchant, payments shall become a privilege.

Benefits to Online Merchant
• Automated email alert will be generated after every 10 minutes with agreed upon details of each transaction as per the payment process.
• Real time transfer of funds to Master Collection Account (MCA).
• Online Access to MCA to check payments
• Customized Reconciliation reports as per agreed upon format on the same day for all transactions processed by 5:00 PM
• Transfer of funds to MOA (Merchant Account) on 2nd day!
• No risk of delivery against fraudulent transaction. Because delivery will be made on alerts or verification of transaction from UBOnline.
• No risk of carrying cash by the delivery person.
• Automated email alert will be generated after every 10 minutes with agreed upon details of each transaction as per the payment process.

website: https://www.ubl.com.pk

In this series, we will review all available alternative ways accept payments online in Pakistan. so keep checking back often or bookmark this page.

1. Using UBL Net Banking to Accept Online Payments – Read Review
2. Receiving payments via credit card in Pakistan – an alternate approach
3. Receiving payments via MCB Virtual Online Banking
4. 2checkout or 2CO as your Payment Processor

1. Women Entrepreneurs Information Network – WIN
2. Pakistani Women In Technology – WIT
3. SMEDA’s Women Entrepreneurship Development Cell

Wishing more power and liberty!