The Financial Daily International enters 11th year of journey

Manzar Naqvi

The Financial Daily International started its journey in 2006 and is the first Analytical English Language business daily being published simultaneously from Karachi and Lahore for the last 10 years. It has now entered 11th year of its continuous publication.

Amir Abbas Ashary had started the process for this newspaper in 2006 with the new idea about a Niche English daily with analytical presentation, especially on the stock market, for the awareness of investors because various investors of stock exchanges lost their life-long earnings due to lake of proper knowledge about trading of shares and selecting a wrong time for buying/selling in a volatile Stock market.

Daily Stock Review

Keeping in mind the stock market investors, Amir Ashary got a declaration for an English daily titled: "Stock Review" in 2006 under the umbrella of Data Research and Communication (DRC). Ismat Sabir, renowned lady journalist of commerce, was the first editor of this Daily. In addition to printing daily dummies of this newspaper a proper first issue was published on 6th October 2006 on the special demand of Pakistan Business Council (PBC) Dubai for distribution at an annual gathering of PBC (UAE) in October 2006.

Amir Ashary also set up the first ever independent Research House under the guidance of renowned Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs) and appointed a huge team of MBA analysts for this Research House which was the backbone of this first analytical business newspaper. Various national and international brokerage houses and world renowned news agencies were also among the clients of this Research House.

Daily "Stock Review" started its regular publication from February 20, 2007 simultaneously from Karachi and Lahore. The newspaper was welcomed and appreciated from all business circles like Stock Exchanges, Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Chambers, Trade bodies and especially from business schools.

In the initial phase of publication of Daily "Stock Review", various suggestions and requests were received from readers and investors for more coverage in addition to comprehensive analytical coverage of Financial Markets like sports, city activities, national and international general coverage while special pages on Islamic Banking, Mutual Funds, Insurance, Technology, Health, Tourism etc. were also demanded.

The Financial Daily International

Keeping in mind investors' suggestion, Amir Ashary entertained all advices from all quarters and changed the declaration of this Daily "Stock Review" to "The Financial Daily International" From Karachi and Lahore w.e.f. August 2, 2007.

After changing the name of Daily "Stock Review" to "The Financial Daily International", 

Daily "Stock Review" was converted into Urdu weekly magazine for Stock Investors which was largely appreciated. 

Visits of Federal & Provincial Information Ministers to TFD Offices

In 2008 Nisar Memon, the then Federal Minister for Information and in 2009 Shazia Marri also visited TFD offices and appreciated independent and unbiased policy of the newspaper and lauded its services in promoting Pakistan's economy.

Various other publications

Data Research & Communication also started various magazines in addition to regular publication of "The Financial Daily International" like "Monthly Mutual Funds", "Monthly Investors Guide", "Monthly Giving Life" and "Monthly TV Guide".

Pakistan Dawning Metaphor

On behalf of DRC, Amir Ashary also published a detailed book "Pakistan Dawning Metaphor" in close collaboration with the Karachi Stock Exchange and Central Depository Company of Pakistan (CDC) on the record performances of the Capital Market of Pakistan from 2002 to 2007. In this era of Pervez Musharraf, the Capital Market rose up to 750 percent. This book was launched in 2009 at DHA Golf Club Karachi at a prestigious ceremony. Dr Salman Shah, former Finance Minister was the Chief Guest on that occasion while Mustafa Kamal, the then City Nazim of Karachi presided over the Launching Ceremony.

TFD Excellence Award for Mutual Funds 

"The Financial Daily International" also launched first ever transparent and excellence awards in 2009 for Mutual Fund sectors of Pakistan. An independent Jury for selecting awards was found from amongst the renowned experts and dignitaries. Criteria of Awards were also published in the publication of DRC before the announcements of winner to keep transparency and fair selection of award winners.

The prestigious ceremony of the First TFD Excellence Awards for Mutual Funds was organised at DHA Golf Club Karachi. 

Tariq Iqbal Khan, Chairman National Investment Trust Ltd (NITL) and renowned Broker and Chairman AKD Group, Aqeel Karim Dhedhi and various other renowned personalities of Mutual Funds participated in this Award ceremony and lauded the initiatives of first ever transparent awards for the Mutual Funds Companies.

When Amir Ashary shifted to USA in 2011, the DRC shifted the publishership of this newspaper to Shakil Jafri who is continuously the Editor of this newspaper since 2007. Shakil Jafri kept the vision of Amir Ashary for an independent newspaper and reorganization of different sectors alive through transparent awards, going.

TFD Excellence Awards for Food Industry of Pakistan

In June 2014, the DRC once again organized an independent TFD Excellence Awards for Food Industry of Pakistan. This prestigious ceremony was organised at Marriott Karachi. An Independent Jury headed by Hameed Haroon of Dawn Group was found comprising various renowned Chefs and experts of the Industry. Due to transparency in awards it was largely acclaimed in the circles concerned.

PSX, KSE-100 Index Fundamental Guide

"The Financial Daily International" is also publishing KSE-100 Index Fundamental Guide carrying 5 years financial data of 100 index companies of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). Seventh edition of this book was published in 2016. 

Nadeem Naqvi, Managing Director PSX has always extended his full cooperation for compiling this book every year. He always extended valuable suggestions to improve the contents of the book and also wrote articles in the book for awareness of investors.

Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, Arif Habib, Nasim Beg are among those various other well-wishers who always supported TFD.

Acknowledgement

I must acknowledge the voluntary services of various professionals like Munawar Naqvi, the senior most journalist of Pakistan in English language media. He started his professional carrier from Daily "The Sun" in 1969 and remained associated with various leading newspapers of Pakistan. He extended his best cooperation to us since the inception of "The Financial Daily International".

Services rendered by Naeem Awan for "The Financial Daily International" since before the launching of the newspaper are commendable. Naeem always served and supported TFD without any self-interest and on voluntary basis just to boost our Publishing group in reward of our friendship. He never took any benefit or regular appointment despite various offers we made to him. He rightly claims that TFD is his own newspaper and he did everything for the survival of TFD at breakeven level for the last seven years.

Likewise, Aneel who always helped us in resolving IT issues with zeal and zest and was always available on a single call.

In addition, Muhammad Arif, Director retired from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) serving a lot, especially Islamic Banking side and he also contributing a lot by writing weekly full page articles on different current issues.

Ahmad Omer also boosted "The Financial Daily International" by his meritorious services on every side for this newspaper without any self-interest for the last eight years and is committed to make this publication fly high.

Riaz-ul-Hasnain, who always supported us, in any manner we need, to achieve our targets amicably.

I am thankful to Azfar Ashary for his valued guidance in improving the contents of "The Financial Daily International" and supports to staff of the TFD in any manner.

TFD enters second decade of its Publication

"The Financial Daily International" has entered the second decade of its publication this year with its independent vision in journalism. Now its own independent Research House comprising FCAs, CFAs and highly qualified Research Analysts, and an honorary Advisory Board containing renowned professionals are serving the daily. That's why "The Financial Daily International" is the 2nd largest selling newspaper in business community of Pakistan and its popularity is sharply growing day by day. It provides news, breaking stories, exclusive coverage of national and international issues, latest updates, stock  review,  technical articles, analyses, economic indicators, comments, high profile interviews, company reports, money, forex, commodities, and investment plans for readers so that they can take smart investment-related decisions. No other newspaper covers Pakistan economy the way "The Financial Daily International" does.

Readership is above 80,000 and mostly consists of policy makers, investors, brokers, bankers, business executives, shareholders and general public as well as a large number of professionals, educationists and students of Commerce, Economics, and Finance. 

Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) Ministry of Information, Government of Pakistan has certified net sale of 42,000 for "The Financial Daily International", Karachi and Lahore, in major cities of Pakistan. 

The complete E-paper of TFD is also available globally on the web at: www.thefinancialdaily.com

Thanks to Many

I am thankful to all of our advertisers and well-wishers who supported us throughout in our journey. At the end, I must appreciate with thanks continued services of staff, especially Mohammed Arifeen who is continuously writing valuable articles and editorial on daily basis since long and other staff members i.e. Aqeel, Zeshan, Mansoor Ahmed, Abdul Raees Sheikh, Ghulam Raza, Mohsin Rajani, Ahmed Siddique, Mohammad Ibrahim, Nawaz, Ali Shabbar, Sher Abbas, Zain Omer, Syed Danish Abbas, Imran Zakir, and various others who are serving with us since long with full dedication and honesty, are the main force behind the success of "The Financial Daily International". 

I am also thankful to all previous staff members, especially Aqeel Razzak, who is the founder of independent Research House of The Financial Daily.