Business

‘All-female-led’ Pakistani startup raises $2.7m in funding round

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

In a groundbreaking achievement for Pakistan’s startup landscape, Sehat Kahani, a female-led health-tech startup, has successfully closed a historic Series A funding round after raising $2.7 million.

“This landmark positions Sehat Kahani as the first all-female-led company in Pakistan to secure Series A funding,” a statement from the company noted.

Amaanah Circle, a Singapore-based health tech fund led by Dr Razi Yousuf, spearheads the funding, joined by key investors including Epic Angels, a female-only investor collective, Cross Fund, USAID Investment Promotion Activity (IPA), Augmentor, Impact Investment Exchange(IIX), and the Elahi group of companies.

Dr Razi said: “Sehat Kahani is an incredible health-tech story led by Dr Sara Saeed Khurram and Dr Iffat Zafar Aga. Amaanah Circle is proud to contribute to the subject matter expertise, and in upscaling regionally and globally to the overall vision of Sehat Kahani in the future of digital health and preventive healthcare.”

Founded by medical doctors Dr Khurram and Dr Aga, Sehat Kahani’s innovative technology ensures a seamless virtual connection between doctors and patients within 60 seconds.

The platform offers on-demand at-home or on-premise laboratory services and online medicine delivery, catering to a diverse nationwide patient base, including B2B clients, B2C consumers, and the underserved population in rural areas.

The unwavering support from USAID has been pivotal in Sehat Kahani’s growth, fueling innovation and enabling impactful expansion in the dynamic Pakistani digital health landscape.

This support fosters a future where accessible healthcare solutions thrive.

Dr Khurram said: “This funding infusion marks a pivotal moment for Sehat Kahani. It will enable us to develop advanced features, including decision support systems, precision medicine tools, and predictive AI models to help our patients live fully by knowing their disease better.

“Grateful to our investors and programs such as Weraise for supporting our mission and championing female founders, setting a powerful example,” she added.

Sehat Kahani extends its corporate application into a comprehensive OPD management solution, providing corporate employees and their families 24/7 hassle-free and cashless access to specialists, online medicine delivery, and efficient claims management.

The holistic 360-degree well-being program for corporations emphasises health promotion and preventative care.

The consumer application, operational in over 310 cities and towns across Pakistan, integrates seamlessly into prominent banking and lifestyle platforms, ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare

Dr Aga said: “Sehat Kahani has shown a significant average year on year growth of 141% in the last 3 years, overcoming the myth that telemedicine was only beneficial during covid as we have seen 5x cumulative growth in the number of consultations in the post-COVID era.”

“This gives us the confidence to expand operations to other countries and take Sehat Kahani global as our next move for expansion,” Dr Aga noted.

Sehat Kahani, known for empowering women doctors, has a global network of 7,500+ healthcare professionals, serving 800+ corporations, and 62 e-health clinics nationwide.

With 2.6 million consultations to date, the new funding aims to accelerate their mission, bridging healthcare gaps, empowering women in medicine, and expanding global impact.

Maaike from Epic Angels, the largest female-only investor collective in the APAC region, stated: “Sehat Kahani embodies what we seek in investments: strong potential for success and impactful innovation.”

“We fully believe in Dr Sara and Dr Iffat’s leadership, envisioning Sehat Kahani as a beacon of innovation and a model for future healthcare solutions.”

Business

With its second-largest surge ever, PSX approaches 114,000 points.

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

Driven by renewed activity from both private and government financial institutions, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw its second-largest rally in history on Monday.

The market regained many important levels in a single trading session as it rose with previously unheard-of momentum.

Intraday trading saw a top increase of 4,676 points, and the PSX’s benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 4,411 points to settle at 113,924 points. This impressive rebound demonstrated significant investor confidence by reestablishing the 100,000, 111,000, 112,000, and 113,000-point levels.

The market also saw the 114,000-point limit reestablished during the trading session.

The positive tendency was reflected when the market’s heavyweight shares touched its upper circuits. Among the most busiest trading sessions in recent memory, an astounding 85.78 billion shares worth a total of Rs55 billion were exchanged.

Experts credited the spike to heightened institutional investor activity and hope for macroeconomic recovery. Considered a major market recovery, the rally demonstrated the market’s tenacity and development potential.

Business

In interbank trade, the Pakistani rupee beats the US dollar.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

In the international exchange market, the US dollar has continued to weaken in relation to the Pakistani rupee.

The dollar fell to Rs278.10 from Rs278.17 at the beginning of interbank trading, according to currency dealers, a seven paisa loss.

In the meantime, there was a lot of turbulence in the stock market, but it recovered and moved into the positive zone. The KSE-100 index recovered momentum and reached 116,000 points after soaring 1,300 points.

Both currency and stock market swings, according to analysts, are a reflection of ongoing market adjustments and economic uncertainty.

Business

Phase II of CPEC: China-Pakistan Partnership Enters a New Era

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

The cornerstone of economic cooperation between the two brothers and all-weather friends is still the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the initiative’s flagship project.

In contrast to reports of a slowdown, recent events indicate a renewed vigour and strategic emphasis on pushing the second phase of CPEC, known as CPEC Phase-2, according to the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.

According to the statement, this crucial stage seeks to reshape the foundation of bilateral ties via increased cooperation, cutting-edge technology transfer, and revolutionary socioeconomic initiatives.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal is leading Pakistan’s participation in a number of high-profile gatherings in China, such as the 3rd Forum on China-Indian Ocean Region Development Cooperation in Kunming and the High-Level Seminar on CPEC-2 in Beijing.

His involvement demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to reviving CPEC, resolving outstanding concerns, and developing a strong phase-2 roadmap that considers both countries’ long-term prosperity.

At the core of these interactions is China’s steadfast determination to turn CPEC into a strategic alliance that promotes development, progress, and connectivity.

Instead of being marginalised, CPEC is developing into a multifaceted framework with five main thematic corridors: the Opening-Up/Regional Connectivity Corridor, the Innovation Corridor, the Green Corridor, the Growth Corridor, and the Livelihood-Enhancing Corridor.

With the help of projects like these, the two countries will fortify their partnership, and CPEC phase-2 will become a model of global economic integration and collaboration that benefits not just China and Pakistan but the entire region.