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SAP Supports Digital Pakistan’s Nationwide Transformation and Digital Job Creation

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Prime Minister Imran Khan Meets with SAP Co-CEO Christian Klein

to Discuss SAP “Building in Pakistan, for Pakistan” at

World Economic Forum

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  SAP has underscored its Pakistan investment plan to support Digital Pakistan’s nationwide digital transformation, diversified economic growth, and digital job creation, following a meeting between the Prime Minister His Excellency Imran Khan and SAP Co-CEO Christian Klein at the World Economic Forum.

Pakistan’s economy is rapidly growing at 5.8 percent, with strong investment in the digital sector, according to the World Economy Forum. Industry experts agree that Pakistan can leverage the Fourth Industrial Revolution with new and emerging technologies to digitally transform industry verticals. The following step will be to develop the future-ready workforce.

On the sidelines of the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Christian Klein praised the Pakistan government’s digital transformation. He also highlighted SAP’s long association with Pakistan for more than 20 years, along with its commitment to train young software engineers to take on digital careers.

“Public-private partnerships are vital for enabling Digital Pakistan’s goals of an inclusive and high-growth digital economy,” said Saquib Ahmad, Managing Director, SAP Pakistan. “SAP’s long-term investment and support for Digital Pakistan is building in Pakistan for Pakistan. We are supporting customer co-innovation, channel partner ecosystem, and training Pakistani talent for new skills and jobs.”

In Pakistan, SAP co-innovates across industry verticals including government and public sector, agriculture, automotive, banking and finance, fast moving consumer goods, telecommunications, and textiles.

Recently, SAP launched its Service Hub, the company’s channel partner implementation arm, to ensure the successful digital transformation of Pakistan’s organizations.

SAP continues to train Pakistan’s workforce of the future. For example, the Training and Development Institute’s Young Professional Program, a 3-month-long course in technical and soft skills, has seen 5 cohorts totaling 130 participants graduate as SAP Associate Consultants. Worldwide, 99% of Young Professional Program graduates have successfully secured work placement.

Among SAP’s Pakistan workforce, 50 percent of the members come from the SAP Academy, which provides a world-class training experience for participants seeking roles in Sales, Presales, or Commercial Sales.

Visit the SAP News Center.Follow SAP on Twitter: @SAPMENA and @sapnews.

1 million Pakistani Students Will Be Trained By Finland on Disruptive-Technologies

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University and ICT Research & Development Hub from Finland to train 1 million Pakistani students on Disruptive-Technologies
Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) The Federal Minister of Planning & Development – Asad Umar, chaired the signing ceremony of a historic MoU between the Kajaani University of Applied Sciences and Pakistan, to launch an initiative to train 1 million students on disruptive technologies like; Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IOT), Gaming-Tech, Health-Tech, etc. This is the first and the largest ‘Mass IT Education Program’ in collaboration with a Government university and ICT research hub of Finland. It will be managed by prestigious institutions like the “Kajaani University of Applied Sciences”, Finland, “Allied ICT”, Finland and the Virtual University (VU) Pakistan, while also engaging regional and  local partner – Vendor Junction and Integration Xperts (IX), in Pakistan to provide technical expertise.
The former Federal Minister of Information-Technology – Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui (MNA) also graced the occasion, accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of IT & Telecom, CEO of Kajaani University Matti Saren, Rector of VU-Mr. Naeem Tariq, Delegates of Allied ICT Finland and Global Alliance, etc., while the CEO of Vendor Junction – Sayed Jawed also witnessed the signing ceremony, along with Mr. Umair Azam – Managing Director of Integration Xperts (Representative in Pakistan). All these stakeholders have been working hard for the last one year, to make this venture a reality.
Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui thanked the Kajaani University and Allied ICT Finland  for their support and stated that: “This valuable initiative reflects Pakistan government’s commitment to enrich the economy with an additional qualified workforce of one million youngsters, educated on European professional standards, to learn special skill-sets. It will enable them to capitalize on the latest trends evolving in Information-Technology. With their globally recognized certifications, these fresh human-resources will strengthen Pakistan’s IT industry, by nurturing a wide range of technology start-ups. Pakistan will thus gain competitive-advantage in the global free-lance work-space, to become an attractive destination for international companies searching for qualified technology experts.”
The President & CEO of Kajaani University and Member ICT Finland – Matti Saren, said: The Economist Intelligence Report has declared Finland as the best country in the world for future skills-education, while the PISA research by OECD also ranks Finland as the best higher-education & training system in the world. Since Last year, Vendor Junction and Integration Xperts have been exploring ways to access the highest quality of mass-education, technologies and ideas. By following the proven system of Finland, millions of Pakistanis will now become highly-rated experts in the global business environment. The European enterprises are also being engaged to identify investment opportunities in this region, which promises great talents for building innovative businesses.
Anas Al Natsheh – Director of International Education Cooperation at Kajaani University said: Resourceful international collaborations and digital technologies are enabling accessibility to quality education across the globe, nurture innovations, new ideas and products. These collaborations serve as great platforms for knowledge-exchange, teaching and learning. Rapid advancement promises accelerated progress, especially for developing countries.
Jarmo Jarvenpaa, member of Allied ICT Finland and CEO of iSTOC stated: Digitalization is creating a whole new world of possibilities for growth. Partnerships are enabling new ways to attract investments and achieve agility for success. Working research institutes and local healthcare partners, Allied ICT has already executed a successful infectious-diseases program in Pakistan. Now we are implementing this international training program for nurses and healthcare workers, through mHealth education.
The experts involved in this initiative recognize that; AI, IoT, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Digital Networking, Gaming and Drone Technology, are essential skills for success in the global ICT market. Investing on quality incubation and commercialization centres with accredited certifications are needed to nurture local talent, start-ups, based on research, that can impact, sustainability and lives in society as a whole.

 

Meezan Bank and Amreli Steels Limited join hands for Transaction Banking Collection Services

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s first and largest Islamic bank and Amreli Steels Limited, a pioneer in steel industry have recently joined hands to streamline collections for Amreli Steels. Under this transaction banking agreement, Meezan Bank, through the provision of its state-of-the-art online banking solution, named eBiz+, will enable Amreli Steels to fully automate its dealer collections. The partnership will further create value for Amreli Steels by serving as an end-to-end transaction banking solution delivering standardized reporting, greater safety and efficiency.

The agreement was signed by Mr. M. Saqib Ashraf – Head of Transaction Banking, Meezan Bank and Mr. Taha Umer – Financial Controller, Amreli Steels Limited. Also present at the occasion were Senior Executives of both organizations including Mr. Abdullah Ahmed – Group Head, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Meezan Bank, Mr. Amanullah Shaikh – General Manager South, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Meezan Bank, Mr. Shayan Akberali – CEO, Amreli Steels Limited and Mr. Fazal Ahmed – CFO & COO, Amreli Steels Limited.

Mr. Abdullah Ahmed, while speaking at the occasion said, “It is a pleasure to on-board Amreli Steels as a Transaction Banking customer. Meezan Bank has always been a futuristic institution that aims to create even more attractive offerings to facilitate its customers. At Meezan, we realize that corporations of all sizes need creative cash management strategies to support their operations and we are glad that Amreli Steels has taken this initiative.”

Mr. Shayan Akberali also commended the Bank for successfully launching cash management services and bringing forth operational efficiency in their collections process.

SECMC, IUCN launches first ever Fauna-Flora survey of Tharparkar

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Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Aiming at long-term biodiversity conservation in an ecologically rich region of Thar, the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) through Thar Foundation and Pakistan’s top environmental body International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has launched a first ever survey of the fauna and flora of Tharparkar.

The survey will assess the existing state of biodiversity and produce a fauna and flora inventory of the target area with occurrence, distribution, relative abundance and diversity of species along with their conservation status. The survey will also cover birds, reptiles, amphibians, small and large mammals, insects and vegetation. The data collected will lead to the identification and GIS-based mapping of wildlife hotspots and ecologically sensitive areas.

The partnership agreement was signed in a ceremony which was attended by the representatives of IUCN Pakistan, Planning and Development Department, Sindh Wildlife Department, elected representatives from Thar, SECMC, Thar Foundation and Baanhn Beli

Speaking on the occasion, Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SECMC and Thar Foundation highlighted the importance of such a survey and linked it to the ongoing conservation efforts currently underway through a SECMC-IUCN partnership in Thar. “The data gathering activities about the fauna and flora will immensely benefit in assessment of the animal and plant species for appropriate action,” he hoped.

Providing the overview, Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, IUCN Country Representative the survey would assess the existing state of biodiversity and produce a fauna and flora inventory of the target area with occurrence, distribution, relative abundance and diversity of species along with their conservation status. It will cover birds, reptiles, amphibians, small and large mammals, insects and vegetation. The data collected will lead to the identification and GIS-based mapping of wildlife hotspots and ecologically sensitive areas, he added.

MPA from Tharparkar Muhammad Qasim Soomro highlighted the need for such initiatives, which contributed to the sustainable development of Thar. He appreciated the role SECMC was playing in Thar and assured the company of any support requited. He said that Tharparkar is historically been home to rich biodiversity, made of fertile dryland swathes, sand dunes and sandy tracts, mountains where communities had been practicing rain fed agriculture and livestock rearing. 

Former Senator Javed Jabbar appreciated the initiative and highlighted social diversity of Tharparkar which is a hallmark of communal harmony in Pakistan. He emphasized on engaging local communities to benefit from their folk knowledge about biodiversity of the region. Renowned ecologist Z B Mirza explained through his presentation that each habitat and landform in the desert ecosystem support distinctive plants and animals and the food chain for human survival. Tharparkar’s ecosystem is home to a variety of physical, biological and cultural resources that have significant conservation value for the national and international community, he added.

Javed Mahar, Chief Conservator, Sindh Wildlife Department said that to assess the fauna population and species diversity on such a scale, robust methods are required for each habitat type. He added that to ensure that any future development is responsible, ecological aspects must be factored into such developmental planning at early stages. It is therefore imperative, he added, that a comprehensive Ecological Baseline of Thar’s flora and fauna be carried out, with a view to providing strong basis for long-term developmental planning.

Huawei enters top 10 list of most valuable brands for the first time

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  Huawei has been named as one of the top 10 most valuable brands for the first time ever in the reputed Brand Finance Global 500 2020 report. The report estimates that Huawei’s brand value is now worth over USD$65 billion, which is up 4.5% year on year. According to Brand Finance, the global transition to 5G connectivity beginning in 2019 saw fierce competition amongst technology companies. In this environment, Huawei successfully expanded into markets traditionally covered by Western providers, and despite some controversy in the US, the company made clear headway. Overall, the report notes that global consumers continue to hold the tech sector in high regard.
 
The recognition from Brand Finance follows Huawei overtaking Apple to become the world’s second bestselling smartphone brand in 2019, according to reports from Strategy Analytics, Counterpoint Research, and Canalys. Its smart phone business shipped 240 million units globally throughout 2019. Huawei also remains the world’s leading maker of telecom networking equipment in addition to providing end-to-end solutions in computing and device technologies. The company is an active member of more than 400 standards organizations, industry alliances, and open source communities, and last year ranked fifth on the 2019 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard as one of the biggest investors in research and development worldwide.

This focus on innovation enabled Huawei to expand its solutions portfolio across enterprise and consumer segments in 2019. Dominance in the 5G space was bolstered by new AI capabilities and chipsets. Huawei brought many of these capabilities to the Middle East as a partner of choice to telecom operators, governments, and enterprises. Globally, more than 700 cities and 228 Fortune Global 500 companies have chosen Huawei as their digital transformation partner.

The Institute of Business Administration Karachi organized a distinguished lecture

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Distinguished Lecture on ‘The strategic importance of Economic Diplomacy for Pakistan in the 21st century’ by Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi organized a distinguished lecture on The strategic importance of Economic Diplomacy for Pakistan in the 21st century by Honourable Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, at the IBA Main Campus. Attendees included members from the academia, media, consul generals, corporate sector, the IBA faculty, students and alumni.

Director Alumni Corporate Relations and Communications Department (ACRC) Malahat Awan invited Mr. Qureshi and Associate Deans IBA Dr. Sayeed Ghani and Dr. Huma Baqai to the stage. Following this, Dr. Baqai introduced the Foreign Minister to the audience and invited him to deliver his lecture.

Mr. Qureshi commenced his lecture by thanking the IBA for inviting him and applauded the Institute for its continuous strive for excellence. He then described how the 21st century is different from the old times. He said “Borders have become fluid. Communication is instantaneous and free flowing. There are a multiplicity of actors and interests within the State, interacting constantly with actors and interests outside of it.” Emphasizing the importance of economic diplomacy, he said in one word it is ‘opportunity’.

He also discussed about the economic challenges of the current account deficit and falling exports that Pakistan’s economy is facing. He said that his office has made a conscious determination to place Economic Diplomacy in front and center of Pakistan’s diplomatic agenda. According to him, the foreign ministry has made concerted efforts to reorient diplomatic efforts towards addressing national needs. During the lecture, he mentioned that Pakistan secured over US$10 billion to overcome balance of payments crisis, and secure oil supplies on deferred payment basis.

He also mentioned that Pakistan will no longer fight wars for other countries and will maintain its stance for peace which is why even to India’s aggression, Pakistan reacted with responsibility and restraint, but also resolve. While talking about the future, he said that Pakistan must climb up the global value chains by upgrading technology, leveraging young talent, and by capitalizing on the export related opportunities that CPEC will create.

Following the lecture, a Q&A session between Mr. Qureshi and the audience ensued. Concluding the event, Dr. Ghani thanked the distinguished guest for his time and presented a memento to Mr. Qureshi as a token of thanks.

Junaid Khan joins Indus Hospital’s Cause as Goodwill Ambassador

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Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Film and TV actor and singer Junaid Khan visited has joined hands with the charity institute Indus Hospital Karachi and decided to take up the role of the Goodwill Ambassador for their cause to work towards a healthier Pakistan.

The actor has previously visited the institute numerous times and shown his commitment towards their cause to serve the people and work towards a Pakistan with better healthcare. He is now associated with the charity institute as their brand ambassador for the noble purpose of providing medical treatment free of cost.

The talented star on this announcement said, “I visited the Indus Hospital a few days ago and left the place inspired and full of hope. I am honored to join their cause.” The star also shared the news on his Instagram in a heartfelt post and said, “If I am able to do something good during the course of my life and when I will be presented in front of the Lord Almighty, I will be relieved to some extent that I made use of my existence.”

Junaid Khan spent this World Cancer Day with patients at Indus Hospital Karachi interacting with the young kids battling cancer bravely. Currently garnering praise for his unconventional role in Mohabbat Na Kariyo, the renowned star has managed to excel in every project he dabbles in. He is also going to make his big-screen debut this year with Kamran Bari’s “Kahay Dil Jidhar.”

Facebook Issues online safety tips for teenagers

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Online safety is an important conversation that you can share with your teenaged kids, where both parents and teenagers have roles to play

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Facebook, the world’s famous social networking platform, has released tips for online safety addressing its one of the vibrant audiences, teenagers, in order to provide them safe user environment without any complication.

Online safety is an important conversation that user can share with your teenaged kids, where both parents and teenagers have roles to play.

For parents, it’s a good idea to set limits for teenagers on how much time they can spend online – not least because there’s a lot of good fun activity that’s important to their development, like sports, music and play. But even with their online limits agreed, one still has to be sure that it’s time spent well and viewing content that’s interesting, engaging and most importantly, safe.

Some of the steps from Facebook’s Parent’s portal on ensuring your teenager’s online safety have been provided that parents can take to ensure their teenager’s online experiences are positive ones.

Parents should discuss the online safety with their teenaged kids at a early stage: Teenagers are growing up in an online world. Take the time to introduce them to privacy and security protocols so that from an early age they know what’s safe and what’s not

Teenagers are curious by nature and will start to explore as they get older. Parental controls can be installed on phones, tablets and laptops as well as your broadband connection. They can block or filter content but also control how much time is spent online. So, parents must keep a hand on the controls.

Set boundaries. Let teenagers know the time they can spend online and the websites, apps and activities they can engage with. Boundaries should cover behavior when gaming, chatting or messaging too. ‘Don’t do anything online that you wouldn’t do in person is a basic rule. It can be useful to remind teens that potential employers and colleges often check social media profiles and online content can be hard to remove.

The Internet is an amazing resource for education and learning. Encourage your teenagers to show you the websites they like and what they do there. Be positive

And realistic: Acknowledging that sometimes teenagers might come across inappropriate content by accident will make them feel comfortable bringing it to your attention.

Make a deal: Find the right time to deliver your advice and set your ground rules. The day your teenager gets their first phone or tablet can be the day you draw up some easy-to-follow guidelines for online activity that you can stick by.

It’s your responsibility: It’s your parental responsibility to protect them wherever they are, and that includes online. When old enough, make sure a parent friend them or follow them on other social media. You may face resistance, but make it one of the conditions for allowing them access.

Be consistent: Try and follow the same rules. That might mean no devices at the breakfast or dinner table or no texting after a certain hour. Or at least explain why some of the rules are different for adults.

High Demand Of CarFirst

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HIGH DEMAND OF CARFIRST SALES CENTER

FRANCHISE AMONG USED CAR DEALERS 

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) In line with their commitment to revolutionize the used car industry in Pakistan, CarFirst, Pakistan’s most trusted used car trading platform, under their CarFirst Sales Center business introduced a complete franchising business solution for used car dealers and traders. After multiple successful launches in Lahore, a high demand for the franchise came in from used car traders and dealers from cities across Pakistan, and thus, CarFirst Sales Center Franchise is now available nationwide. 

All CarFirst Sales Center franchisees enjoy exclusive access to arguably the largest inventory of used cars in Pakistan at the best prices, as well as the standard online marketplace, easing the buying and selling of cars, as well as marketing and branding support. The Franchising services provide full support to used car dealerships and traders and helps them in increasing their revenue and profitability. The franchises also enable ease of access to CarFirst Sales Center customer base and digital operations.

Commenting on this Shanawar Khan, Head of Operations,  at CarFirst Sales Center said, “ Our innovative franchising business solutions helps increase brand value, with franchisees receiving an increasing number of customers at their locations, with our dedicated Call Center generating leads and redirecting them to their dealerships. Our regular Gala events exclusively allow franchisees in their city to showcase their stock to a wide range of potential buyers. The Franchise Support Executives present at franchises helps improve customer service experience. We also help in generating additional income by providing our Franchise owners’ customers with many value added services under one roof, like Insurance, Takaful, Financing, Tracker, Auto service and many more.”

Commenting on this Sheikh Rehan Ahmed, Owner of Car Boulevard, a CarFirst Sales Center Franchise said,“Working with CarFirst Sales Center has increased my customers and I have been able to multiply the scale of my business. It has taught me the benefit of bringing my business online, with more information on prices and varieties of cars.  By owning a CarFirst Sales Center Franchise I get exclusive access to inventory as well as 10 free OLX featured Ads that really help in getting attraction. Marketing and branding support to maximize lead generation and people who are helpful in managing operations is another bonus. The tech element of inspected cars in an online inventory has helped increase the speed of operations. I have had a very good experience so far and Insha Allah it will become even better. I recommend this exceptional service to my peers in the used car auto industry.”

Effie Awards 2020: 2nd Jury Round concludes

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Effie Awards 2020: 2nd Jury Round concludes

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The final jury round for Effie Awards Pakistan was held on 7th February 2020 in Karachi. The annual program organized by Pakistan Advertisers Society (PAS) honors marketing ideas that demonstrate exceptional creativity and ‘reward ideas that work’. Effie Awards are regarded as one of the most prestigious accolades in the advertising industry across the world.  

This year’s competition, the second one to be held under the Effie Pakistan banner, was initiated in September 2019. The first jury round was held on 17th and 18th January where 214 entries were scored by a 76 member jury. At the final round 56 individuals including veterans and experienced professionals from a wide range of industries came together to evaluate 87 shortlisted entries. The jury sessions were sponsored by Kantar Pakistan.

Addressing the jurors, Tariq Ikram, Jury Chair for Effie Awards 2020 and one of the founding members of PAS appreciated the commitment and zeal shown by all members of the respected fraternity.

Brands from a diverse range of industries submitted their best marketing campaigns to compete against one another for the coveted prize. Each of the entries is evaluated based on 4 key areas, i.e. challenge and objectives, insights and strategic idea, creative execution, and results. The jury members score written briefs along with visual reels to determine a collective score for each campaign.

The awards show will be held on 11th April 2020 where the winners of Gold, Silver and Bronze categories in the 2nd Effie Awards Pakistan will be honored at a ceremony attended by journalists, senior executives of major organizations, media agencies and other respected professionals from their respective industries. Effie Pakistan finalists and winners will also have the opportunity to feature on the Global Effie Index which is one of the most comprehensive global ranking of marketing effectiveness.

Effie Pakistan is part of a global award program which includes 50 national, 4 regional and 1 global award program. It aims to highlight the most innovative and breakthrough practitioners of marketing effectiveness and is a symbol of achievement that is widely respected worldwide.