Karachi (Nut Desk) ZEM Builders, a renowned real estate company, held the groundbreaking ceremony of one of their premium commercial projects located on GT road known as ZEM Insignia on 22nd April 2022. The ceremony was attended by the CEO of ZEM Builders, Zeeshan Akram Qureshi along with the business elite, distinguished members of society, clients and employees of ZEM Builders.

ZEM Insignia is set to be one of its kind commercial hub that will create opportunities for startups and SMEs. It is expected to deliver high functionality through contemporary design and high-end amenities in its retail stores, office spaces and food outlets.

Speaking on the occasion, Zeeshan Akram Qureshi, the CEO of ZEM Builders spoke about the significance of the project and how it will open up gates for novel businesses and commercial ventures. He further remarked on his vision of bringing cutting edge concept buildings to Pakistan and creating employment opportunities through the real estate industry.

ZEM Builders is one of the leading real estate companies in Pakistan over the years. It is known for introducing novel dynamics to the real estate industry by bringing cutting-edge designs, unique construction approaches and sustainable development. ZEM Builders has recently bagged “RCCI Brand of the Year Award 2021” for its remarkable endeavors in the real estate industry and for upholding its core brand values of innovation, quality and delivery.

Karachi (Nut Desk) Pakistan’s First Asset Management Company NITL has signed up with Hysab Kytab to provide end users/customers access to its family of funds within the consumer application.

This collaboration will empower customers to make informed decisions leading to a financially secure future. With the help of National Investment Trust Limited (NITL), Hysab Kytab users will now have access to diverse investment options for their savings.

“We are committed to creating awareness about mutual funds and promoting the culture of savings and investments in Pakistan while facilitating our customers in the best possible way. NITL has always been the preferred choice of investors and with Hysab Kytab we will be able to provide their customer base an opportunity to invest in NITL funds,” said Managing Director NITL, Mr. Adnan Afridi.

“We are excited to be partnering with NITL. Initially we were focused on helping our customers manage their finances better and now we are moving towards the next phase of sharing with them the best available investment opportunities. Our customers will now be able view multiple investment options and put their hard-earned savings into funds that will help their wealth grow.” said Yasir Ilyas – Head of Hysab Kytab.

Karachi (Nut Desk) The Department of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS), Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, organised a session titled ‘Muslim Devotional Poetry of South Asia’, at the IBA Main Campus. Paying tribute to the holy month of Ramzan, the event featured recitation of naats written in Urdu, Persian, Sindhi, and Punjabi. The IBA faculty and students recited devotional verses of renowned Sindhi poet Maulvi Ahmad Mallah and famous Urdu and Persian poets including Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib.

The highlight of the event was a special guest appearance by naat-khwaan Zara Madani, who is well-known for her regular singing appearances in Coke Studio Pakistan and the film ‘Khuda Ke Liye’. The audience was moved to hear Ms Madani’s qirat of Surah Rahman and appreciated her hauntingly beautiful original compositions and recitation of the famous Urdu devotional verses, ‘Lauh Bhi Tu Qalam Bhi Tu’ and ‘Taazim Se Leta Hai Khuda Naam-i Muhammad’ by Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Khwaja Muhammad Akbar Warsi respectively, and Punjabi verses ‘Main Lajpaalaan De Lar Lagiyaan’ by Abd us-Sattar Niyazi.

Some other Urdu poets whose naatiyah verses were recited at the event include ‘Nushur’ Wahidi, Kunwar Mahendra Singh Bedi ‘Sahar’, and Najmunnisa Munawwar Ali Bukhari ‘Najm’. IBA students Hamraj Singh, Muhammad Ahmad, and Syed Ghazi Haider Zaidi also recited naats in Sindhi, Arabic, Persian, Braj Bhasha, and Urdu.

Keeping with the spirit of honouring original contributions to the field of devotional poetry in praise of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Lecturer SESS, IBA and poet, Syed Muhammad Baqar Mehdi Rizvi, who teaches Urdu Literature and Psychology, presented examples of his own naatiyah shaairi. His work was acclaimed by the audience, as well as by Ms. Madani, who then took the stage and expressed appreciation for Mr. Rizvi and his fine contributions to the field of Urdu poetry as a young poet in Karachi. Adding to the creative spirit of the evening, Lecturer SESS, IBA and literary translator, Ms. Zahra Sabri, who had organised the event, presented her own English translation and recital of Ghalib’s famous Persian naat ‘Haq Jalwah-gar zi Tarz-i Bayan-i Muhammad Ast’ and commented on how the devotional poetry of literary giants like Ghalib and Mir is often overlooked by enthusiasts who tend to be familiar only with their mainstream ghazals.

Ms. Sabri, who teaches Indo-Islamic History and Urdu Literature at IBA, also discussed the importance of Muslim women poets in the domain of South Asian devotional poetry. She spoke about how the long-standing tradition of women’s milads inside private homes has historically offered a training ground for the recital and appreciation of devotional poetry, and how naats and hamds penned and composed by women in such settings form important material for literary research, forming some of the earliest examples of women’s contribution to the field of Urdu literature.

The literary session honoured the spirit of the holy month and concluded with iftar for the attendees.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) On April 22 over 1 billion people in 193 countries celebrate Earth Day to mark the anniversary of the modern environmental moment that started in 1970. Lahore Central Business District Development Authority (LCBDDA) also known as Central Business District (CBD Punjab) has played an important role in making the environment nature friendly, that is why most of the initiatives taken by CBD Punjab are ecofriendly. The Team of CBD Punjab celebrated Earth Day at CBD House Punjab by switching off the lights and air conditioners of CBD Punjab house for 60 minutes as a gesture of energy-saving and curbing the amount of CFC gases that are released into the air.

CBD Punjab has always taken dynamic steps to contribute to a healthy environment and save nature as much as it is possible. Previously CBD Punjab has planted 5000+ trees and relocated many trees instead of cutting them down during the construction of the parking plaza and main boulevard of CBD Punjab.

A provisioning of 12,000 tree has already been given to PHA, to be planted in Lahore. On this occasion Executive Director Commercial LCBDDA, Mohammad Omer said that “preserving the environment and contributing to saving mother earth is the core responsibility of everyone. We here at CBD Punjab ensure environmentally safe and eco-friendly initiatives in our development and construction projects.

CBD Punjab has pledged to dynamically contribute to making the environment clean and green. I will request each and every individual to do small bits like tree plantation, energy saving, minimal usage of plastic, and recycling to make our environment green and breathable for our future generations”.

Whether it is marking 100% growth of trees, proposing of LNG-based power plant, or usage of treated and filtered sewerage water for horticulture every step taken by CBD Punjab is a patent that authority is actively taking part in preserving the environment and making mother earth clean and green.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Fatima Fertilizer is pleased to announce that Rabel Sadozai, a seasoned marketing professional, has been recently promoted to lead the Sales and Marketing function within the organization. Rabel has become the first-ever female within Pakistan’s agriculture and fertilizer sector to have claimed such a high ranking position. This comes as a bright futuristic prospect since Rabel is a true representation of 22 million empowered women, directly or indirectly associated with the Agriculture sector of Pakistan.  

In line with the new role, Rabel will utilize her 22 years of earned experience to set even higher standards within her work domain. Having been associated with Fatima Fertilizer for over 9 years, she was able to effectively lead the functions related to marketing communications. Her most significant achievement is related to steering the effort of introducing Pakistan’s first-ever Kissan Day on December 18, 2019, which was duly recognized by the Federal Government and has been adopted as an annual event ever since by all Government and industry stakeholders. In addition, she has also been instrumental in promoting farmer-focused communication across traditional and digital media to highlight their ongoing challenges and promote solutions to uplift their economic and social status.

Chairman of Fatima Group, Mr. Fawad Ahmed Mukhtar has also time and again stressed on the need for innovative and insight based marketing to reach out to the farmers of Pakistan and help them increase their yield and productivity. Sarsabz Fertilizer’s disruptive marketing strategy based on the brand promise of 10% greater yield has been a game changer not just for the company but farmers livelihood and Pakistan’s prosperity at large. He also added that he and his team are working hard to promote equal opportunity within the company and believe in promoting a culture where women feel valued and empowered.

Pakistan has a lot of potential for growth but undeniably, one of the biggest untapped potential is its enormous women population that still awaits inclusion in the national economy. Women participation in Pakistan’s labour force currently stands at 25 percent as against a staggering 82 percent of men. Within this paltry number of working women, 90 percent take up extremely low-paid unskilled jobs in the traditional agriculture and informal sectors.  The situation is equally grim in the civil sector where women mostly occupy low to middle-ranking positions, while the corporate sector only accounts for 5 percent of women holding senior managerial positions. Fortunately, there is growing realization with regards to the underrepresentation of women in the formal economy and it has led to encouraging policy reforms and on-ground action to foster inclusion of women across all fields of life.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) This Earth Day, global social media company Meta is announcing simple, yet impactful ways that people can learn more about climate change and take action. The company is also rolling out a suite of specially designed Earth Day stickers and features across their platforms where people can express their commitment to the environment.

Climate change awareness on the rise

According to Global Climate Risk Index (GCRI) 2021, Pakistan is the 8^th most vulnerable country to the negative impacts of climate change. That is why, interest in climate change is on the rise and people are finding more ways to show up for the environment. More than 1M people in Pakistan are part of at least one Facebook groups dedicated to the discovery, protection and appreciation of the earth and our environment, and there are now more than 2500 eco-friendly businesses on Instagram.

 “Every day, thousands across our platforms rally together to connect and take action on climate change, whether it is engaging in a Facebook Group, starting or purchasing from an eco-friendly business on Instagram, or practising sustainable tips from a creator. I’m heartened to see that this is no exception in Pakistan, and hope to see more conversations happen with our new stickers, features and initiatives. Earth Day is a vital reminder that all actions, both big and small, can make a difference in protecting our planet,” said Meta spokesperson.

 New Earth Day sticker pack and effects on Messenger and Instagram

With rising interest, people can look forward to more ways to connect on climate issues. Meta has partnered with renowned illustrators to release custom stickers on Messenger and Instagram starting this week. An Earth-friendly version of Ellen DeGeneres’ mobile game, Heads Up!, will come to video calling on Messenger and Instagram. Users can also create their own word effects and 3D Avatar stickers to show off their support for climate action. 

Meta’s commitment to the environment

Meta’s global operations are now 100% supported by renewable energy, and has set an ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions across its value chain and be water positive by 2030.

 The company is furthering its commitment to the environment through several new initiatives. It is continuing its work in tackling climate misinformation through its $1 million Climate Misinformation grant program, as well as expanding their annual Climate Change Opinion Survey – conducted in partnership with the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication – to share information about public views on climate change across more than 180 countries. 

Karachi (Nut Desk) The Board of Directors of Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL) announced the first quarter results for the company on 21st April.  The company posted a profit after tax of PKR 2,079 million compared to the profit of PKR 1,948 million made in the same period last year.

The encouraging turnaround is mainly driven by improved business performance focusing on strategic priorities such as differentiated fuels and lubricants, the positive change in pricing formula to Platts indexes by the government, and safe and efficient fuel operations. 

During this period, the Mobility business launched three new sites which will help deliver increased volume.  There has been encouraging development in the company’s advocacy with OGRA which will enable expansion of our network in Punjab.  Furthermore, Shell Tameer entered into an agreement with the Institute of Business Management (IOBM) Shahjehan S Karim Incubation Center to promote youth entrepreneurship in Pakistan. Through this partnership both institutes will work together to inculcate entrepreneurial skills through trainings, mentoring and business incubation services to create opportunities for young Pakistani start-ups. 

The organisation continues to be at the forefront of the industry in Pakistan in ensuring safe operations across the business and focuses on inculcating a culture of safety through workshops and dialogue with staff, business partners, and industry partners.

Shell Pakistan will continue to actively work to minimize impact of current challenges and endeavor to capture opportunities to ensure the company plays a key role in developing Pakistan’s energy future.

Zong Sustainability Report 2021 Highlights Transformation of Over 10 Million Lives

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Zong, Pakistan’s cellular and digital services frontrunner, has launched its Sustainability Report 2021, highlighting the powerful impact that the company made last year on over 10 million lives across 9 cities of Pakistan through diversified social initiatives.

Staying true to the sustainability commitment, the environmental friendly report was printed on recyclable paper. More in more, through an industry-first initiative, the company also shared seed papers to take forward its pledge toward a clean and green Pakistan.

According to Zong, the year 2021 was yet another successful year where it maintained its position as the digital and sustainability leader, with values of accountability and integrity inculcated in its culture and the company making strides to create an impactful change in Pakistan.

The thematic focus of Zong’s social endeavours in 2021 was on critical areas including e-health, e-education, environmental stewardship, civic responsibility, and gender & social inclusion. A special focus on gender inclusion with equality at work has also been highlighted as a key priority for Zong.

Impact On E-Health

Zong made a massive impact on e-health reaching 125,500 beneficiaries (114,740 females and 10,760 males). Some of the initiatives on this front included yoga and fitness session for special children, a partnership with Sehat Kahani to provide free e-consultations during the Covid-19 pandemic, digital anti-tobacco and Covid awareness sessions by SKMC, a breast cancer awareness drive, and more.

Impact On E-Education 

Through its e-education initiatives, Zong reached over 22,250 beneficiaries (15,400 females, 6,850 males). Some of the major steps Zong took included setting up digital labs at Pak-China Friendship School (Gwadar), Maulvi Abdul Haq School (Karachi), The Star School (Okara), and more. Zong volunteers also extended their support to SOS Village (Sialkot), among other measures.

Zong’s Environmental Stewardship

Zong’s efforts on the environment front reached a total of 10,000 beneficiaries (8,000 males, 2,000 females). Some key steps here included a tree plantation drive in Karachi in collaboration with HANDS, a ration distribution drive in Karachi, support for law enforcement agencies in the fight for covid-19, and continuation of the employee volunteer program ‘A New Hope’, among others.

 “People are at the heart of everything we do. We have given utmost importance to customers’ needs, together with providing them with a seamless digital experience,” shares Wang Hua, Chairman & CEO, Zong, in the report.

“In line with our ambition of being the digital partner of each and every Pakistani, we created innovative services and solutions to provide for our customers’ digital lifestyles. While capitalizing on our strength as the widest network of the country, we have remained committed to our values and adhere to the growing needs of society,” he adds.

The Way Forward

Stepping in 2022, Zong aims to continue to work with its vision to ‘Lead the Digital Innovation’ in the country while making strides through sustainable endeavours. The company says its major focus in 2022 will remain on gender and social inclusivity.

Through its connectivity penetration and goal to reach a greater number of people, Zong promises to expand the scope of its operations and social responsibility to make bigger impacts and help the dream of #LetsGetDigital materialize into Digital Pakistan.

Schneider Electric Introduces Easy Micro Data Centers – Delivering Affordability, Reliability and Speed at the Edge

• Available for standard IT and commercial environments.

• Easy to order and install.

• Easy to manage and monitor securely with Network Management and EcoStruxure™ IT software options.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) – Schneider Electric™, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced it has expanded its Micro Data Center solutions portfolio with the introduction of the Easy Micro Data Center Series for standard IT and commercial environments. Available in Pakistan Easy Micro Data Centers are designed to contain and deliver all compute, storage and necessary infrastructure to support edge computing applications, combining speed, reliability, and affordability. Furthermore, Easy Micro Data Centers are network enabled for web-based remote monitoring and include add-on options for Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure™ IT software, delivering secure, real-time intelligence and visibility from anywhere.

Schneider Electric Easy Micro Data Centers are standardised on its recently launched Easy Racks and Enclosures. Pre-integrated at the factory-level and shipped direct to site, they come complete with Schneider Electric’s Easy UPS range of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), Easy Power Distribution Units (PDU), environmental sensing and cooling. Their high-level of pre-integration and testing simplifies the design and deployment phases, enabling IT solutions providers, systems integrators and value-added resellers (VARs) to specify and deliver Easy Micro Data Centers to site within 2-to-4 weeks, making them ideal for fast deployment by organisations who prize flexibility, reliability, cost and speed of response.

Precision engineered, reliable edge computing

Given their size and integrated design, Easy Micro Data Centers can be deployed cost-effectively in any edge computing or distributed IT location. Studies detailed in Schneider Electric White Paper #223 found that micro data centers represent cost savings of between 42%-48% over a traditional centralised facility. The Easy Micro Data Center C-Series models come in contained enclosures for deployment in semi-controlled, commercial environments such as a standard office or business premises. While the Easy Micro Data Center S-Series includes ventilated enclosures for trouble-free integration into standard IT environments such as network closets and server rooms.

“Today resilience, efficiency and speed of deployment are fundamental considerations for deploying physical infrastructure at the edge,” said Rob McKernan, Senior Vice President, Secure Power Europe, Schneider Electric. “The ability to deploy IT resources at any location offers businesses great flexibility, but it must come with the peace of mind that solutions will be delivered reliably, to specification, and on budget. With built-in management software allowing remote monitoring via the cloud, Easy Micro Data Centers offer increased intelligence for streamlined management across multiple edge sites, providing customers with the optimum combination of reliability, affordability, and agility.”  

Key benefits of the range include :

• Fast, reliable, and affordable: Available within 2-4 weeks, Easy Micro Data Centers are integrated with power and cooling infrastructure components and can be deployed rapidly with up to 48% less cost.
• Flexible, agile and easy to install: Easy Micro Data Centers provide the perfect fit for low-latency applications in Banking and Finance, Retail, Local Government, Healthcare, Hospitality and Education.
• Software and Digital Services: Offer supports remote monitoring and management made easy with Schneider Electric’s award-winning EcoStruxure IT, cloud-based software suite as an optional configuration.
• Additional security features: Easy Micro Data Centers come complete with environmental sensing and physical security to help safeguard against tampering and unauthorised access.

To learn more about Schneider Electric’s Data Center solutions portfolio visit the EcoStruxure Data Center Solutions page here.

Lahore (Nut Desk) Nestlé Pakistan posted a revenue of PKR 37.8 billion for the first quarter of the year, with a growth of 16.8% compared to the same period last year, continuing its journey of recovery.

The results were announced during a board meeting at the Company’s Head Office.

The Company attributed the growth in revenue to relaxation of COVID 19-related restrictions and normalization of economic activities along with portfolio and pricing management. The boost to the operating profit was helped by a favorable product mix, tighter control on fixed costs and better absorption of overheads.

The Company further stated that the continuous rise in commodity and energy prices have resulted in significant increase in input costs, which has been further aggravated by the recent devaluation of the currency. The Company is doing everything necessary to ensure delivery of Nutrition, Health and Wellness products to consumers and remains cautiously optimistic about sustaining the growth.