Category: Business

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) In order to promote inclusivity and diversity in sports in the country, the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) presented a cheque of Rs. 1.5 million to Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC). Mr. Rehmat Ali Hasnie, President (A) presented the cheque to Mr. Salman Tariq Bukhari, Director Operations, PBCC. Ms. Naushaba Shahzad, EVP & (A) Group Head, Inclusive Development Group and Mr. Mirza Babur Baig EVP & Divisional Head CSR also graced the occasion.

Pakistan Blind Cricket Council is the governing body of blind cricket in Pakistan and is a founding member of the World Blind Cricket Council. Since its establishment in 1997, the Council has been actively organizing national and international tours for talented and visually impaired cricketers in the country.

Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, Mr. Rehmat Ali Hasnie said ‘NBP, as the Nation’s Bank, has always believed in reaching out and supporting talent across all segments of society, including differently-abled athletes. We are proud of our 12-year association with the T-20 Blind Cricket Tournament in Pakistan which has brought out some of the best-talented sportsmen. It is quite admirable that PBCC is now focusing on team creation for female players. We are optimistic that other organizations will also step forward and help differently-abled players to play a positive role in society and set an example for all.’

Thanking NBP for the support, Salman Tariq Bukhari said ‘We are grateful to NBP for the constant and regular backing over the years. Our recent 12th Edition of Blind Cricket Tournament T-20 was a national success with participation by about 250 visually impaired players.’

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) BankIslami, Pakistan’s first Islamic commercial bank, proudly partnered with College of Business Management Model United Nations (CBMUN) event as a Ruby Sponsor. Organised by the Literary and Public Speaking Society at Institute of Business Management, the event took place on July 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

In its sixth instalment, CBMUN opened its doors to a national audience of over 600 delegates with an aim to educate participants on aspects that have an impact on the world such as international relations, world affairs, globalization as well as civic sense. The participants were encouraged to make use of their intellectual abilities and derive solutions to world problems.

Commenting on the event, BankIslami representative said, “We believe in encouraging the youth to develop an understanding of world affairs and want to play our role in helping to produce the leaders of tomorrow. BankIslami shares the vision of promoting authentic and innovative voices in their commitment to excellence. I congratulate the management of CBMUN for ensuring a highly professional and stimulating experience for the participants from across Pakistan”.

Also commenting on this development, Gohar Irfan, Conference Manager, CBMUN shared, “We plan to create awareness of the current world issues by allowing active engagement from participants of all institutions regardless of their background. We are grateful for the partnership with such a valuable sponsor, BankIslami, in executing a dream conference and, in turn, becoming one of the leading Model United Nation conferences in the country”.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Engro Polymer & Chemicals (EPCL), a subsidiary of Engro Corporation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the prestigious University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore, to strengthen industry-academia linkage through cooperation in research and innovation along with professional development opportunities for students.

The MoU was signed by Jahangir Piracha (CEO of EPCL) and Professor Dr. Syed Mansoor Sarwar (Vice Chancellor, UET Lahore), in the presence of officials of both institutions, and Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association representatives Haroon Ali Khan (Sr. Vice Chairman) and Abrar Ahmed (Vice President).

Under the agreement, EPCL and UET will jointly undertake research and development initiatives at the well-equipped testing facilities of the institute’s Polymer & Process engineering faculty. This partnership will enable quantitative advancements to EPCL’s PVC production process and the Quality function. It will also enhance the  knowledge base and availability of technical experts for EPCL’s Techno-Commercial functions. Using these facilities, EPCL may also provide technical and management consultancy, and advisory services, to PVC finished goods manufacturers for optimized performance and innovative solutions.

For capability enhancement of UET students and faculty, EPCL will also assist students with pragmatic final year projects, will collaborate with the UET to develop and improve its curriculum, including subject matter specific to polymer industries, to ensure its alignment with the industry needs.

According to Jahangir Piracha, CEO of EPCL, “We are continuously striving to introduce new market development and awareness initiatives that enhance sustainability in the construction sector. This strategic alliance with the UET has been envisioned to promote research and development in Pakistan so that the polymer sector can evolve with innovation. Moreover, we aspire to enhance the skills of our talented youth, support their learning and development, and make them more marketable for the industry.”

Professor Dr. Syed Mansoor Sarwar, Vice Chancellor, UET Lahore, added that, “The students and faculty of UET are very excited about this partnership with EPCL. With our focus on research at the UET, I am confident that the industry will also benefit from our modern testing labs to support new product development. I hope that other players in the chemical industry also step up their efforts to bridge the industry-academia gap in Pakistan.”

As part of a Sustainable Development Initiative, the UET students will also be able to participate in EPCL’s community impact projects and gain valuable experience by solving real-world problems.

Telenor Pakistan, Tabadlab and the GSMA jointly unveil the report to carve out the future of agriculture in the country

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Advancing its ambition to further innovation and empower the agriculture sector, Telenor Pakistan, in collaboration with Tabadlab and the GSMA, has unveiled a report, ‘AgriTech: Crafting Pakistan’s Journey to Impact’. The report identifies existing challenges to the sector and evaluates the impact that AgriTech will have on accelerating growth. The authors find that adopting modern agricultural techniques and targeted AgriTech interventions can boost national outputs and improve socioeconomic outcomes.

The report launch event was held at Telenor Pakistan’s 345 Campus in Islamabad. Mr Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning and Development, attended the event as the chief guest, while management and participants from Telenor Pakistan, the GSMA and Tabadlab were also present.

The AgriTech report combines study and insights from the GSMA and Tabadlab’s Centre for Digital Transformation to carve the ideal path forward for Pakistan’s agricultural sector. It highlights how technology and digitalisation boost the nation’s crop yields. The report highlights the importance of aligning public and private sector approaches towards agritech for increased adoption. In addition, the report shows how agritech operates at the intersection of the technology and agriculture ecosystems, making it essential to understand and analyse drivers and trends of digital technologies as means to unpack agritech in Pakistan.

Delivering his keynote at the launch, Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning and Development, commented, “In this age, technology and innovation are the most significant game-changers that are redefining the dynamics of the agriculture sector. Technology enables farmers to become more knowledgeable and competitive, transforming Pakistan’s agricultural landscape. This report will further empower the farmers of Pakistan in breaking barriers and revolutionising the Agri sector. Telenor Pakistan is a critical stakeholder in bringing innovation and learning on digitalisation from Norway, and I look forward to its talented workforce playing a pivotal role in a brighter Pakistan”.

Speaking at the report launch, Telenor Pakistan CEO Irfan Wahab Khan stated, “The report presents the blueprint for a better-performing agriculture sector that can result in higher yields for farmers and have an impact of up to USD 10 billion on the nation’s GDP. We know there is an eagerness to make the digital shift, thanks to the immense success of Khushaal Zamindaar in guiding farmers with data-driven best practices in farming. There is also an opportunity for agritech services to become entry points for farmers to become financially included, given that currently, they constitute less than 30%. So, the next step should be to further improve Agritech adoption throughout the county and fortify an industry that employs 40% of the nation’s labour force.”

Umar Nadeem, a founding partner at Tabadlab, said: “To meet the needs of the agriculture sector, Agritech services must grow. Despite positive trends, significant opportunities exist for the ecosystem to grow and support existing and new entrants. The private sector has been a crucial player in expanding Pakistan’s AgriTech footprint and integrating technology into the farmer’s everyday life, but to successfully address challenges in the agriculture value chain through technology, private agriculture solutions need to be cultivated through increased capital, government support, and innovation cycles.”

Agriculture is a crucial sector for Pakistan’s economy as the highest employer of the labour force, with approximately 25 million Pakistanis earning their livelihoods from it. However, the country’s crop yields are lower than comparable international benchmarks despite a quarter of Pakistan’s landmass being cultivated and used for agricultural production. This has presented the right opportunity to focus on the sector’s digital transformation through connectivity, data, artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, and innovation. Agritech holds the potential to produce efficient farming mechanisms while enhancing livelihoods and giving farmers greater control over their yields.

Since 2015, Telenor Pakistan has been empowering Pakistani farmers to push forward the agriculture industry with digitalisation solutions. Through interventions like Khushaal Zamindaar and Khushaal Angaan, the portfolio has also targeted tailored solutions for women farmers, which has been a source of socioeconomic uplift for millions of Pakistani agricultural communities.

Bank Alfalah to offer more cardholders e-commerce capabilities through solution powered by Mastercard Payment Gateway Services.

 Collaboration will connect more consumers and merchants to the digital economy.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  Mastercard has announced a strategic partnership with Bank Alfalah, which will see the bank’s online payment gateway infrastructure accept a wider array of cards, including the ability to make China Union Pay online payments in the market for the first time.

The technology leader will power more than 13 million cards across Pakistan through the capabilities of its Mastercard Payment Gateway Services.

The collaboration between Mastercard and Bank Alfalah, one of the largest private banks in Pakistan, will offer enhanced value for merchants and consumers, and provide greater opportunities for people across Pakistan to benefit from the digital economy.
 
J.K. Khalil, Cluster General Manager, MENA East, Mastercard, said: “We are committed to driving financial inclusion by harnessing the power of technology. Mastercard Payment Gateway Services connects more people and merchants to the endless possibilities offered by the digital economy. We are delighted to build on our longstanding partnership with Bank Alfalah to accelerate Pakistan’s digital journey and create a more connected world as we unlock the potential of online payments for millions of people.”

According to Statista, the e-commerce market in Pakistan is expected to reach $7.6 billion in 2022 and should reach $9.1 billion by 2025.
 
Mehreen Ahmed, Group Head Retail Banking at Bank Alfalah commented on the occasion, "Online payments are vital for building the payment ecosystem in the country. We are delighted to be partnering with MasterCard to create yet another avenue for accelerating e-commerce in Pakistan. This initiative will not only add convenience to consumers for conducting e-commerce transactions, but more importantly, enlarge the market for SME and large merchants through acceptance of another form of payment.”

Mastercard continues to partner and innovate as part of its quest to build a growing digital economy that works for everyone, everywhere. The company has made a worldwide commitment to financial inclusion to bring a total of 1 billion people, and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Easypaisa, Pakistan’s leading digital payments app, has partnered with the Bank of Khyber to ensure seamless distribution of funds to beneficiaries in KPK under the Insaf Food Programme.

Through the strategic partnership, beneficiaries of the programme will be able to receive PKR 2100 every month in their Easypaisa mobile wallet or collect cash from any Easypaisa agent to meet their essential food related needs. The programme shall benefit more than five million people in the province, costing PKR 25.5 billion annually.

The agreement was signed by M. Mudassar Aqil, CEO, Easypaisa/ Telenor Microfinance Bank and Mohammad Ali Gulfaraz, Managing Director and CEO, Bank of Khyber.

1. Mudassar Aqil, CEO, Easypaisa/ Telenor Microfinance Bank commented on the occasion, “We are extremely proud to be joining hands with the Bank of Khyber to facilitate the people of KPK by providing convenient access to funds under the Insaf Food Programme. This is not only in line with our mission of a financially inclusive Pakistan but would also enable us to bring ease into the lives of the ordinary citizens during these testing times.”

Also present at the occasion, Managing Director/ CEO Bank of Khyber, Mr. Mohammad Ali Gulfaraz commented, “‘Bank of Khyber is proud to be chosen by the Government of KP to implement the Insaf Food Card project aiming to distribute Rs 25.5 billion annually to 1 million low-income households in the form of monthly cash support to help them cope with inflation. Our partnership with Easypaisa will enable convenient access to funds to the beneficiaries by leveraging their extensive network across KP.”

With more than 10 million customers using the Easypaisa App in the last 30-days across the Android and iOS platforms, Easypaisa is the most used Pakistani App across all categories and remains committed to transforming Pakistan into a cashless and financially inclusive society through the power of collaboration & technology.

Population Services International, Pakistan in collaboration with National Incubation Center, Karachi hosted its second iteration of the Make Space Hackathon

Karachi (Nut Desk) The Make Space Hackathon is a virtual competition aimed at empowering change-makers in creating tech-enabled solutions that are addressing Pakistan’s pressing population crisis. With over 600 applications from across the country, the enthusiasm and drive to create innovative solutions was palpable before the competition kicked off.

In the run up to the hackathon, PSI Pakistan Country Director Ayesha Leghari stressed the urgency of addressing the population crisis, “This is an uphill battle that can only be won if we use out of the box ideas and innovations that breakthrough the barriers of accessibility and cultural restrictions.” 

Over the course of the 3 day hackathon, 60 teams went head to head in creating solutions that were both viable and sustainable. At the end of the 3 days, 11 teams were chosen for the finale that took place on the 30th of June at the NICK Auditorium at NED University.

The finalists were then tasked with pitching their solution in front of industry experts from the startup world as well as the family planning space. After hearing some excellent pitches, the judges for the finale Ayesha Leghari, Omar Abedin, Habibullah Khan, Shamim Rajani, Faizan Laghari, Dr.Sara Shahzad and Adnan Siraj chose team Caliber as the first prize winner and teams WoKahani and Humrah as the runner ups. The winner took home 1 million rupees as prize money, while the runner ups took home 100,000 rupees each.

Omar Abedin, Project Director at NICK expressed his delight at being able to collaborate with PSI Pakistan, “The work that PSI Pakistan does is vital for the economic security of the country and that coincides with our goals as an incubator that is a part of a large public-private partnership network.”

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Meta, in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), has launched an educational series, ‘Chai Chats’ to create awareness among young Pakistani Facebook users on digital literacy and social cohesion through improved digital experiences.  The series features a close-knit group of university friends encountering difficult online situations which they overcome with grace, friendship, and humour to inspire and persuade youth to adopt a positive and responsible online behaviour.

The program aims to reach millions of young Pakistanis online through the web series, as well as 180 secondary school teachers and over 1,000 secondary school students through local community training , which will also train educators in at-risk communities to handle these topics with at-risk communities.

The webisode series ‘Chai Chats’ is centred on the day-to-day online experiences of five university friends and the way they help each other navigate both their online and offline lives, while their different socio-cultural and behavioural dispositions also come into play. The characters and their stories are expected to serve as role models by resonating well with the young audiences.

Commenting on the initiative, Chairman PTA, Maj. Gen (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa, applauded Meta’s efforts. “This initiative will enhance Pakistani youth’s ability to make positive, productive and legitimate use of social media platforms for personal and collective well-being. Meta has been at the forefront of promoting digital literacy through improved digital experiences.” He further said, “The Government of Pakistan is committed to leveraging digital technology to accelerate socio-economic development nationwide and I hope this initiative will  prove to be an important stepping stone in this regard.”

Also sharing his thoughts, Ruici Tio, Policy Program Manager, APAC- Meta said,: “The initiative furthers Meta’s long-term commitment to fostering digital literacy in Pakistan and supporting all users to harness the benefits of technological innovation for their growth and socioeconomic advancement. This series aims to engage young Pakistanis in the important discourse of being responsible digital citizens through creative messages to ultimately enable them to use social media platforms for learning and growth. We’re especially grateful to PTA for partnering with us on this important initiative.”

There will be six weekly episodes, with two focusing on each key area, including ‘Think before you act’, ‘Women’s experience online’, ‘Critical Discussions’, and ‘Empathy’. Each episode addresses real problems that people face online every day and are expected to highlight useful ways to overcome difficult online situations. The series will be available at (https://www.facebook.com/chaichatspk/) 

The Chai Chats program is also collaborating on a teachers’ training program on digital literacy and empowered behaviours in partnership with Meta’s program partner, Shaoor Foundation. Under Shaoor’s School Program, the curriculum will include Facebook’s existing ‘We Think Digital’ modules and Chai Chats Webisodes. The training will take place in 6 Districts across Pakistan, including Rajanpur, Dera Gazi Khan, and Multan in Southern Punjab and Kohat, Swat, and Banu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It aims to reach 180 teachers and over 1,000 students in these communities to enhance their digital and critical thinking skills.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) NdcTech, Pakistan’s leading IT & Consulting company, has joined hands with CaterpillHERs to provide remote based education to female freelancers looking to kickstart their career from scratch.

Under this CSR initiative, the selected women who are seeking to head start their career or business will be placed in a 12-week acceleration cohort. These participants will get one-on-one mentorship and professional guidance from seasoned IT professionals, allowing them to potentially transform their skillset and have successful and sustainable careers.

NdcTech is a forward-looking organization with one of its missions to support Women in Technology by creating equal learning and growth opportunities for them. Therefore, as a part of its CSR initiatives, the company has collaborated with CaterpillHers encouraging female freelancers to excel & unlock their potential.

“NdcTech believes in empowering women and fostering their talent. Through CaterpillHers online program, we aim to harness the capabilities of women and create a supportive environment for them to thrive” said Ammara Masood, CEO & President of NdcTech and winner of the Women in Technology Leadership Award.

When speaking to the media, Hira Saeed, Founder of CaterpillHERs said, “I am so thankful for companies like NdcTech who are supporting us in our mission to transform the lives of females in Pakistan. Through this program, we aim to reach out to women in all parts of the country and hope to ignite the passion in females to make a mark in the society”.