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Pakistan’s leading advertising and marketing company Synergy Group celebrates its Silver Jubilee Anniversary.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Synergy Group, a leader in the integrated marketing communication (IMC) industry, celebrated its 25^th Anniversary recently.

Founded in 1999 by Ahmed Kapadia, Synergy Group began its journey with a clear mission of fostering a work culture where teamwork, experimentation, and knowledge-sharing are paramount. The Group’s 25^th Anniversary was marked by celebrations of its achievements, collaborative culture, and continuous growth.

“Synergy Group’s success over the years is a testament to our unflinching belief in the power of collaboration, innovation and limitless potential,” said Kapadia, Chairman of Synergy Group.

“From our humble beginnings, we have always encouraged our team to dare to dream big, experiment, learn, and grow together. It is this spirit of unity, teamwork and the challenger mindset that has driven us to achieve remarkable milestones over the past 25 years.”

Understanding the challenges and the opportunities that the world of IMC offers in Pakistan, Synergy Group remained ahead of the curve and established brands and companies that are involved in BTL marketing, digital media, public relations, media buying, publications, and activation campaigns.

The Group now stands tall in the country, having established 12 companies and brands namely Synergy Advertising for advertising and communication solutions, Synite Digital for digital media solutions, Synchronize Media for media buying, Syntax Communications for public relations, Synergy Marketing for event and BTL marketing, Syntinel for data lab and analytics solutions, Syndicate – the Synergy Group’s Content Hub, and the not-for-profit Latif Kapadia Memorial Welfare Trust (LKMWT) which is aimed at helping the poor and the needy.

With four offices in Pakistan’s three main cities – Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, and nearly 300 employees at its disposal, Synergy Group has expanded its reach to all the regions of the country, catering to 75+ clients across a wide range of industries.

Synergy Group’s crowning moment came when it won its first international award at Abby Awards and was officially lauded with two Silver Awards at iCOM for the Asia Pacific region. In total, it has won more than 200 awards including 25 Awards at PDA, 11 Effie Awards (six of which came this year), two PAS Awards, 10 APNS Awards, 17 PAA Awards, and one win each at Dragons of Asia and Dragons of Pakistan.

Synergy Group remains committed to its core values of collaboration, innovation, and learning. With plans to expand its services and explore new markets, the Group is poised to continue its legacy of excellence and drive forward with the same passion and dedication that marked its inception.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)

Signaling a new era of economic and technological advancement, the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), has made history by signing 16 MoUs in one day for CBD NSIT City. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, witnessed CBD Punjab forging crucial alliances with 12 leading Chinese companies, 3 prominent Turkish firms, and a notable Pakistani IT enterprise. The historic signings were executed by COO of CBD Punjab, Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua, alongside officials from the partnering companies. Distinguished attendees included Federal Minister for IT Sheza Fatima, Provincial Minister for Information Punjab Azma Bukhari, Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman, CEO of CBD Punjab Imran Amin, foreign diplomats, members of the Punjab Cabinet, and various officials from CBD Punjab. Among the prestigious companies entering MoUs with CBD NSIT City are global giants like Huawei, CMEC, STDC, Hainan Jinxin Technology, Tang Chinese Education, Shenzen Caiu Investment, and Uni International from China. The Turkish firms include Tumas Turk Engineering and Hayat Kimya, along with Silk Coat Paints. Additionally, from Pakistan prominent name from IT PITB has also joined hands in this monumental venture. Imran Amin, CEO of CBD Punjab, remarked on the significance of these partnerships, stating, “These MoUs are not just agreements they are a testament to the trust and confidence that the international business, IT, and education sectors have in the potential of NSIT City. We are committed to fostering a conducive environment that will fast-track the establishment and growth of Pakistan’s premier and biggest IT hub.” The MoUs signed are anticipated to be the cornerstone in accelerating the development of NSIT City, envisioned to be Pakistan’s leading IT hub with designated districts for technology, education, and the creative industries, including a film city. This strategic development is poised to transform Punjab into a nexus of innovation, knowledge, and industry. The presence of high-level government officials and foreign diplomats at the signing ceremony underscored the international and national importance of this initiative. The strategic alliances formed through these MoUs are expected to bring in substantial foreign investment, cutting-edge technology, and advanced educational resources, setting a new benchmark for development projects in Pakistan. As CBD Punjab continues to chart a path towards economic revitalization and technological supremacy, the successful signing of these 16 MoUs marks a pivotal moment in the region’s journey towards a brighter, more prosperous future. The establishment of NSIT City will undoubtedly serve as a beacon of progress, driving forward the vision of a technologically advanced and economically vibrant Punjab.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  Raqami Islamic Digital Bank Ltd. (RIDBL), one of five aspirants to the digital retail bank license under the Licensing and Regulatory Framework for Digital Banks, 2022 is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with 1LINK, Pakistan’s largest Payment Service Provider / Payment Service Operator. The signing ceremony took place at the 1LINK Office in Park Towers, Karachi and was attended by the senior management of both organizations, symbolizing their dedication to innovation with excellence.

The leadership present at the occasion were Umair Aijaz, CEO RIDBL; Nadeem Hussain, Coach RIDBL; Mr. Najeeb Agrawalla, CEO 1LINK; Mr. Bashir Khan, COO 1LINK; Mr. Suleman Hasan, CCO & Company Secretary 1LINK; Mr. Javaid Sher Ali, Head of Engineering at RIDBL and Syed Abid Raza Rizvi, Head of Product and Pricing at RIDBL, along with other team members.

A distinguishing feature of RIDBL will be its status as a Shariah compliant and purely digital entity, eschewing traditional brick-and-mortar branches in favor of a streamlined, mobile-first approach. Among the services set to be offered to RIDBL customers through this partnership are Interbank Funds Transfer (1IBFT) and 1BILL. In future, PayPak will also be added as part of the offering to customers. The collaboration will enable RIDBL customers to seamlessly transfer funds to over 32 banks and make payments to over 2,500 companies nationwide.

Commenting on the partnership, Umair Aijaz, CEO RIDBL, said, “We are excited to partner with 1LINK and bring cutting-edge digital financial services to our customers. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to redefine the customer journey and truly empower users of RIDBL’s banking services with efficient and seamless multi-channel payment options.”

Reiterating the same vision Nadeem Hussain, Coach RIDBL, said, “The collaboration between RIDBL and 1LINK underscores the vital importance of advancing digital banking solutions. Together, we can leverage our respective expertise to drive innovation, enhance accessibility, and ultimately empower customers with unparalleled financial services.”

Mr. Najeeb Agrawalla, CEO 1LINK, commented, “The collaboration between 1LINK and Raqami Islamic Digital Bank represents a strategic alliance providing customized financial solutions to a wide range of customer segments. This strategic alliance marks the dawn of a new era of innovation and accessibility in Islamic banking, catering to the unique needs and preferences of our discerning clientele.”

Mr. Bashir Khan, COO 1LINK, commented, “This partnership represents a pivotal achievement in the banking sector, enabling Raqami Bank to pioneer innovation and deliver customized products and services to its customer segments utilizing 1LINK rails. It further highlights 1LINK’s steadfast dedication to ongoing innovation, positioning it as the preferred partner for financial institutions aiming to elevate their digital solutions.”

As RIDBL embarks on its journey to redefine the banking experience, it does so with a commitment to establishing a fully shariah compliant digital bank with innovation and customer-centricity at its core.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)

JS Investments announces the remarkable success of the JS Momentum Factor ETF, Pakistan’s first Smart Beta ETF. Launched in 2021, the JS Momentum Factor ETF represents a groundbreaking advancement in investment strategies. It employs a rules-based methodology to select stocks based on their momentum scores, thereby reducing the influence of human bias.

The JS Momentum Factor ETF has demonstrated outstanding performance, consistently outperforming the KSE All-Share index by six percent annually from 2001 to 2021. This confirms the strategy’s effectiveness in Pakistan’s market.

The JS Momentum Factor ETF has outperformed major indices, stock funds, and ETFs, delivering exceptional returns to investors. As of May 17th, 2024, it has provided a remarkable return of 129%+, showcasing its ability to generate substantial value even in volatile market conditions.

Ms. Iffat Mankani, CEO of JS Investments, affirms, “In a market landscape often perceived as skewed in favor of large investors and marked by manipulations, the exceptional performance of the JS Momentum Factor ETF stands as a testament to our robust investment strategy. Our approach has consistently disproven the notion that financial markets are complex and unpredictable, often to the disadvantage of the average investor. By leveraging a meticulously crafted single-factor strategy focusing on momentum, we have not only competed but excelled, outpacing traditional market benchmarks and offering substantial returns to our investors. This success underscores our unwavering commitment to democratizing investment opportunities in Pakistan, making it clear that with the right strategy and professional guidance, even small investors can achieve significant financial growth and security.”

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Mashreq Pakistan, a part of Mashreq which is the leading financial institution in the MENA region, have signed an agreement for provisioning of primary data center colocation services at PTCL’s Tier-III Data Center facility.

In the esteemed presence of Mohamed Abdel Razek, Group Head of Technology, Transformation and Information, Mashreq, Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad, CEO, Mashreq Pakistan, and Umar Farooqi, Group Director Enterprise PTCL, Mashreq Pakistan’s Chief Information Officer, Khurram Abid, and PTCL’s Group Chief Business Services Officer, Zarrar Hasham Khan signed the agreement at a special ceremony recently held at PTCL Data Center II, Karachi.

PTCL is providing Mashreq Pakistan with its state-of-the-art infrastructure and platform solutions that are equipped with latest technology & managed security. Mashreq is actively progressing towards acquiring a restricted license from the State Bank of Pakistan to initiate pilot digital retail banking operations in Pakistan.

On the occasion, Mohamed Abdel Razek, Group Head of Technology, Transformation and Information, Mashreq, said, “We are pleased to sign this agreement with PTCL as our trusted partner for infrastructure and platform hosting as part of the Bank’s digital transformation strategy. This partnership signifies a transformative step forward in the Bank’s approach to infrastructure, platforms and data management. By leveraging PTCL’s data center and telecommunications expertise, Mashreq aims to achieve an enhanced and reliable operating leverage, and reduced time-to-market of products and services.”

Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad, CEO, Mashreq Pakistan, said, “Mashreq’s digital initiatives and partnerships are designed to not just meet but exceed customer and partner expectations, to drive digital transformation and foster financial inclusion across Pakistan. Our partnership with PTCL showcases our commitment to Mashreq’s agile operating model, enabling us to be ready to meet the changing demands of the market and our customers.”

During the signing ceremony, Zarrar Hasham Khan, Group Chief Business Solutions Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G, said, “We are pleased to sign an agreement with Mashreq Pakistan to support them in fulfilling their business needs. PTCL, being a national company, is leading the digitalization effort across the country. Through such partnerships, PTCL continues to play its key role in the development of telecom infrastructure by providing innovative and secure solutions to the corporate sector that will further contribute towards the overall economic growth of the country.”

PTCL endeavors to provide best-in-class services to its corporate customers across various industries in Pakistan. This agreement is part of the growth momentum in the diverse areas of ICT and Security Solutions, which is key to a digital banking eco-system in Pakistan.