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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)

Former Federal Minister for Trade and Interior, Dr. Gohar Ejaz, has emphasized the urgent need for new housing projects in Pakistan, highlighting that a significant portion of the population still lacks homeownership and lives in rented accommodations. During a recent visit to the Din Gardens site in Faisalabad, Dr. Ejaz, who is also the CEO of Lake City Holdings, was briefed on the project’s progress. Director of Din Properties, S.M. Nabeel, along with the project administration, provided Dr. Ejaz with a detailed tour of the site. The briefing included insights from Qasim Nadeem, GM Sales; Mr. Jahangir, GM Project; and Colonel Ashfaq, Chief Engineer. S.M. Nabeel stated that Din Properties is committed to making investments in Din Gardens a valuable decision. The society offers 5, 7, and 10 Marla and 1 Kanal residential plots, available with a 20% down payment and the remaining amount payable in easy installments over 3 years. Dr. Ejaz praised the rapid development of Din Gardens and provided expert advice for future success. Din Gardens is notable for being Faisalabad’s first master-planned project, featuring a 500-kanal park and sustainable green living solutions. Located at the intersection of Sahianwala Motorway Interchange and Faisalabad Expressway, the project includes luxurious amenities such as green spaces, wide roads, underground electricity, theme parks, community centers, sewage systems, gas, solar streetlights, 24/7 security, a gated community, hospitals, shopping malls, fiber-optic internet, schools, and international food chains. Din Properties, a new venture of Din Industries, aims to deliver standard residential facilities at affordable prices and has announced upcoming projects in various cities. With a strong background in business, Din Properties has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate sector.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)

The 25th edition of ITCN Asia, Pakistan’s biggest IT and
telecom expo and conference, will take place on August 27–29 at the
Expo Center in Karachi. This event is set to focus significant goals
of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to facilitate
investors, exporters, and entrepreneurs of the IT industry, making
Pakistan an emerging tech hub in the world.

ITCN Asia is expected to generate over $500 million in investments and
business, making it a significant contributor to Pakistan’s economy.
The event will also host the 2nd edition of the World CIO 200 Summit,
a global event held in 55 countries, further solidifying Pakistan’s
position in the global tech landscape.

State Minister for IT & Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja will inaugurate
the event as the chief guest, and Federal Minister of Commerce Jam
Kamal will also be the chief guest for the Agritech Conference at the
three-day trade fair.  Leading global and local brands are
participating in the event such as Google, TikTok, Microsoft, Odoo,
Huawei, PTCL, Easypaisa, including 750 companies.

The event will host more than 300 speakers and 70,000 visitors from
the tech sector, including 350 foreign delegates from 17 countries,
including Saudi Arabia, China, Singapore, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iran,
Egypt, UAE, etc. Several knowledge sessions will be held, such as
Digital Transformation Conference, Investors Summit, Digital Banking
Conference, Information Security Conference, Cloud and Datacenter
Conference, Startup Conference, E-commerce Conference, Gaming and
Animation Summit, Startup Conference, Blockchain Conference, and The
World CIO 200 Summit, etc.

Event Director ITCN Asia Umair Nizam said Pakistan’s IT sector is
flourishing by leaps and bounds with its consistent growth of exports
and expansion of local companies to different countries. Global
companies are enhancing their footprint and partnerships in Pakistan,
paving the way for technological transfer to local industries and
individuals.

The country is revamping its economy and governance systems on
technological milestones through a digital transformation due to the
vision of the government and relevant authorities, he said and added.
Every year, ITCN Asia provides a platform for all stakeholders, from
policymakers to global and local tech giants, professionals, and
thinkers, to set a direction for a country toward innovation,
development, and economic growth.

25th ITCN Asia will be presented by Tech destination Pakistan and
supported by the Ministry of IT and Telecom, the Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Pakistan Software Export Board
(PSEB), the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries
(FPCCI), Ignite, CISO Global Forum, and the Pakistan IT Industry
Association (P@SHA).

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)

Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s star athlete and Olympic gold medalist in men’s javelin throw, was celebrated for his historic achievement at a special ceremony held at Meezan House, the headquarters of Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank.

Amidst a backdrop of enthusiastic applause from Meezan Bank employees, Arshad Nadeem received the cheque from the Bank’s Founding President and CEO, Mr. Irfan Siddiqui. He was also honored with a commemorative plaque and medal from Syed Amir Ali, DCEO of Meezan Bank, celebrating his historic achievement.

Arshad Nadeem captured the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics with an exceptional throw of 92.97 meters, marking Pakistan’s first Olympic gold in 40 years that defined his Olympics journey. The cash reward of Rs. 9,297,000 given by Meezan Bank represents Rs. 100,000 for every meter of his Gold-medal-winning throw.

The ceremony, attended by distinguished guests and media representatives, underscored the nation’s pride in Arshad Nadeem’s accomplishment. Irfan Siddiqui, Founding President and CEO of Meezan Bank, presented Arshad Nadeem with the cash reward, highlighting the bank’s commitment to supporting Pakistani athletes who bring honor to the country.

Additionally, Syed Amir Ali, Deputy CEO of Meezan Bank, bestowed upon Arshad Nadeem a commemorative plaque and medal, symbolizing his remarkable journey and contribution to Pakistani sports history.

“It is a monumental achievement for Pakistan, and Arshad Nadeem has brought immense pride to our nation,” stated Mr. Irfan Siddiqui during the event. “His dedication, perseverance, and exemplary sportsmanship serve as an inspiration to millions of Pakistanis, proving that determination leads to extraordinary success.

“Syed Amir Ali, DCEO Meezan Bank Limited echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing Arshad Nadeem’s role in uniting the nation through his sporting excellence. “Arshad Nadeem’s achievement has not only bolstered Pakistan’s international standing but also inspired our youth to pursue their dreams with unwavering dedication,” he remarked.

“We applaud his resilience and commitment to excellence.” Meezan Bank reaffirms its commitment to nurturing talent and promoting sportsmanship across Pakistan, aiming to inspire future generations to achieve greatness on both national and global stages.

‘Revisiting Narratives: Nationhood, Public Memory, Urbanity and Labouring Lives’ – IBA-SSLA organizes 1^st Departmental Conference.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  Department of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts (SSLA), at the School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS), in collaboration with the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER), Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, organized its first departmental conference titled ‘Revisiting Narratives: Nationhood, Public Memory, Urbanity and Labouring Lives’ at IBA Main Campus.

The conference brought together seasoned and emerging scholars, field practitioners, government representatives, and university students to initiate a dialogue on revisiting global and local narratives that shape our lives today. Panelists and participants were invited from across Pakistan and the globe.

Chairperson SSLA, Dr. Laila Sohail Farooq, gave opening remarks and welcomed honourable guests and attendees to the conference. Dr. Ravi Ahuja, Scholar of Modern Indian History based at Georg-August University Gottingen, delivered the keynote lecture titled ‘Labour as a Political Category: Twentieth Century Trajectories in South Asia’, in which he traced the evolution of the conceptual category of ‘labour’ and examined its potential as a political category in India and elsewhere in South Asia. He emphasized the need to expand the concept considering current socio-political and economic realities to reach and affect labouring lives both ideologically and materially.

The panel titled ‘The Lens of ‘Labor’ in the Context of Pakistan’ looked at the analytical categories relevant to the legal and scholarly discourse around labour and identified the role of the state and political movements in creating the differentiation of labour and the outcomes of such a differentiation.

The student panel later in the day, titled ‘Thinking about the Korean Wave through Fandom(s) and Feminism(s)’, invited four final-year students writing their theses on ways to approach and appreciate the Korean entertainment industry critically. The panel generated an enthusiastic discussion on the phenomenon of K-pop, a topic garnering significant attention both within the academy and outside it.

The last panel of the day, titled ‘The Claims of Pakistaniat: Citizenship Dilemmas and Their Implications’, undertook a close examination of the Pakistani national identity, from the viewpoint of citizenship rights and religious plurality. Dr. Nilofar Bakhtiar’s perspective of the notion from the point of view of governing bodies was a much-welcome addition to the panel.

A highlight of the conference was the showcase of student work in the IBA Alumni Students’ Centre. The showcase included research and practice-based projects carried out by SSLA students in their courses: ‘Critical Media Practice’, ‘Visual Methods in Urban Research’, and ‘Calligraphy’, in addition to final year students’ theses. Executive Director IBA, Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, appreciated student effort and encouraged all guests in attendance to pay a visit.

 

 

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)

Imran Amin, CEO of the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), chaired a high-level meeting to assess the progress of the Walton Road Upgradation Project. Following the meeting, he conducted an on-site visit to Pakistan’s premier and largest IT hub, CBD NSIT City, to review the ongoing construction of the Celestia IT Tower and associated roadworks. The progress review meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including Executive Director Technical CBD Punjab Riaz Hussain, Director Construction CBD Punjab Asif Babar, Project Director NLC Brigadier (R) Umar Farooqi, senior officials from NLC, NESPAK, and the official contractors. During the meeting, CEO Imran Amin was briefed on the status of projects.Significant advancements have been made to the Walton Road Upgradation Project. The completion of the ADA Nullah connection with the newly constructed ADA Nullah has resulted in a significant drop in the water level, reducing it by 4 feet. The shuttering for the major Ishaq Shaheed Flyover has been successfully removed, and the water-bound on both carriageways has reached 70% completion. The asphalt work on the junction of CBD Route 47 and Walton Road is set to commence shortly. In CBD NSIT City, the construction of the Celestia IT Tower is progressing at a steady pace. Excavation work has reached a depth of 50 feet, and ground lean work is currently underway. Road and infrastructure developments around the tower are also in full swing. Commenting on the progress of the projects, CEO Imran Amin stated, “Both the Walton Road Upgradation and Celestia IT Tower projects hold immense significance for the infrastructure development of Lahore. We are committed to ensuring their timely completion in accordance with the directives of Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz. These projects are will play a pivotal role in transforming the urban landscape of the city.” The Punjab Central Business District Development Authority remains dedicated to enhancing Punjab’s infrastructure, positioning it as a leading province for business, technology, and innovation in Pakistan. The Walton Road Upgradation and Celestia IT Tower projects are key components of this vision, promising to elevate the standards of urban development in the region.