Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) As part of its ‘Let’s Go Digital’ mission, Pakistan’s cellular and digital services giant, Zong 4G, has partnered with Molvi Abdul Haq School, Karachi to construct a digital lab there. The digital lab was inaugurated by the Honorable Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque on Saturday, 11th December 2021 in the presence of the top management of Zong 4G. Leading the digital transformation in the country, Zong has set up a computer lab at the school for digital and curriculum learning. There is presently a computer curriculum and teachers at the school, but no computers through which students can practice and gain experience. Zong’s digital lab will bridge the digital divide, enabling young children and their teachers to access digital education and letting them keep up with the rest of the world in terms of modern education. Speaking at the occasion, Honorable Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque said, “Pakistan is moving towards its mission of digital and social inclusion. Even more encouraging and promising is how the country’s ICT sector is serving as the primary vehicle in that uphill journey. By establishing this digital lab, we are deepening digital inclusion and I am thankful to Zong 4G for working hand-in-hand with the Government of Pakistan to accelerate the journey towards Digital Pakistan, a goal that is finally starting to take shape.

Commenting on the partnership, Spokesperson of Zong 4G Said, “The digital lab at Molvi Abdul Haq School strive to bridge the digital divide that still exists in Pakistani society, particularly among the country’s neglected sections. The program is in line with Pakistan’s Digital Pakistan agenda, in which Zong plays a key role. This is just one of the many efforts we’ve made and will continue to make to digitally empower Pakistanis and create opportunities for them.” In Pakistan, Zong has recently boosted its efforts to promote digital education. The company recently teamed up with the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) to create “How to E-lance,” an online course. Through these efforts, Zong aims to expand the scope of digital learning and aid even more young people, both men and women, in becoming digitally connected and capable of tapping into the immense opportunities that exist in the digital world.

Abacus Consulting is proud to partner with Zaman Textile Mills to carry out the implementation of SAP S/4 HANA

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Abacus Consulting and Zaman Textile Mills (ZTM) held a formal signing ceremony for the implementation of SAP S/4 HANA at ZTM’s head office in Karachi. Khurram Qazi, Vice President and Head of IGS at Abacus Consulting explained that the firm has played an instrumental role in creating awareness about the importance of digital transformation in streamlining business processes in the textile sector. The signatories for the ceremony were Khurram Iqbal Qazi, Vice President Abacus Consulting, Ebrahim Qassim, Chairman Premier Group and Jamil Qassim CEO Zaman Textile Mills Pvt Ltd.

Bilal Qassim, Director of Zaman Textile Mills Ltd. pointed out, “Zaman Textile is recognized as one of the few vertically integrated textile manufacturing units in Pakistan. Aligning various operations in our supply chain and business is essential for informed decision-making. We are growing and expanding at an accelerated pace therefore, it is important for us to find the right partner to help us through this technological transformation. We have chosen Abacus Consulting because of their experience in the textile industry and awareness of its complexities”.

Textile continues to be the leading industrial sector of Pakistan. For long business owners resisted making the necessary investments in digital upgrades. However, there is now growing acceptance that to compete globally the textile sector needs to strengthen its digital footprint too. The same sentiments were mirrored by Fatima Asad Said, CEO of Abacus Consulting, “Your supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link. With us around, we cannot let digital gaffes be our industries’ Achilles Heel.” 

realme Announces a GT 2 Series Special Event to Introduce Three World-First Innovations on Dec. 20

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The world’s fastest-growing smartphone brand realme has revealed plans to introduce three world-premiere innovation-forward technologies at a special event being held for realme GT 2 Series on Monday, December 20, 2021. Since realme GT 2 series is the most premium flagship ever, realme aims to push into the high-end global market and pursue leading innovations.

Making cutting-edge technologies and trendsetting designs more accessible to young customers has helped realme become the youngest smartphone brand in the global Top 06, and maintain strong momentum in its international expansion. As the first high-end flagship phone for realme, the brand wants to make a good first impression for young users in terms of technology and innovation. realme will introduce three world-first technologies in GT 2 series in this event, including materials, photography and communication.

For more information on realme GT 2 series, please stay tuned.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Fatima Fertilizer became the first company within the global fertilizer industry to have clocked 60,220,000 safe man-hours, which the highest accomplishment within the Global fertilizer industry. This landmark achievement was only made possible by demonstrating the highest safety performance through the implementation of world class safety standards and industry best practices.

As the world’s unrivalled authority on record-breaking achievements, the role of Guinness World Record remains to celebrate the world’s very best and inspire others in pursuing the same path to attain global recognition and distinction. This recent achievement by Fatima Fertilizer is testament to the fact that its work operations and quality standards are truly world class, while maintaining a consistent focus on continuous quality improvement.

While speaking about the achievement, Rabel Sadozai, National Marketing Manager at Fatima Fertilizer said, “We are extremely delighted at earning this global distinction which projects our utmost priority towards safe guarding the health and safety of our employees and protecting the environment. We also proud of our Pakistani roots and the fact that this achievement helps to positively impact the soft image of Pakistan within the global arena and positions it amongst the World’s leading industrial players.”

Fatima Fertilizer remains committed to becoming an industry benchmark by achieving excellence in achieving a recognized Quality Management System (QMS) and maintaining accreditations of ISO’s Health, Safety and Environment protection standards which help to ensure process safety management and promote a culture of extending responsible care and a behavior based approach to adopting workplace safety.

Telenor Pakistan equips Rescue 1122 with customized digital solution to ensure efficient emergency response

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Telenor Pakistan has developed a customized‘ E-Rescue Solution’ for Rescue 1122 Punjab Emergency Services. Telenor Pakistan’s call management, dispatch, vehicle tracking,and communication system will equip Punjab Emergency Services to ensure swift and effective response towards emergencies. This E-Rescue solution will also enable monitoring and evaluation of control rooms and field staff.

The 360-solution developed by Telenor Pakistan equips Rescue 1122 staff with fully digitalized set of solutions including live location, call recording and identification of closest emergency vehicle to the area of incident. In case of an emergency, the user has a one-click option to dial 1122, which will show their live location on the call screen to the Rescue 1122 staff.The system will then notify and mobilize the closest response team to the emergency location, saving critical time and increasing efficiency.Additionally, it also provides a smartphone application for citizens to allow quick access to rescue and emergency services and provide feedback with the tap of a button. 

Irfan Wahab Khan, Chief Executive OfficerTelenor Pakistan said, “At Telenor Pakistan, we aim to ensure technological and digital interventions for businesses and enterprises of all sizes to ensure they are ready to tackle the needs and demands of the future. This latest digital intervention, especially designed for Rescue 1122, is a step towards enabling state-of-the-art emergency services whiledeploying the latest technologies for rapid response. With Rescue 1122’s needs at the core of design, the E-Rescue solution will digitalise customer servicing through automation and allow increased efficiency and control to Punjab Emergency Services.”

Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Director General Rescue 1122, said, “The E-Rescue Solution is a milestone for Rescue 1122 towards digitalising its systems and processes to ensure efficient and timely response to our citizens. Response teams can save lives even more efficiently with the added benefit of real-time tracking, and users at home can have the reassurance that if needed, they are in good hands. It is a great pleasure to know that our frontline teams can now rely on this latest technological solution made by Telenor Pakistan that enables them to continue serving our citizens even better.”

The E-Rescue solution, which will be deployed in 36 districts in Punjab, also offers improved performance management visibility and efficiency enhancement via monthly emergency response mileage reports and geo-fencing alerts. Telenor Pakistan has been enabling businesses across industries with its latest technological interventions including data analytics, self-servicing platform for corporate clients, IoT and customized enterprise solutions. In the past, it has also made customized solutions for fleet management, hospitality industry, and educational sector.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Bank Alfalah, the country’s leading financial institution with extensive digital banking offering, continues to enhance value for its customers. For the first time in Pakistan, the Bank has introduced a Buy Now Pay Later Facility Which offers the opportunity for customers to scan and pay in installments through QR codes at retail facilities with Alfa while availing 0% markup on various products.

Alfa’s newly launched Buy Now Pay Later on QR feature offers physical product verification before purchase, instant availability and a simple installment booking process. With no markup and a swift installment process, customers can enjoy convenient shopping on 0% installment plans of up to 1 year, at retail outlets nationwide.

Commenting on the development, Bank Alfalah DBG Head Muhammad Yahya Khan, stated; “We take pride in being industry’s first in offering Buy Now Pay Later on Retail via QR payment options. We want to keep our customers in front and centre of everything we do. We believe this financing feature at 0% additional charges would allow our customers to continue to buy the things they need on installments.”

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) TECNO revealed the new Spark 8 Pro on Daraz 12.12 sale exclusively with a discounted price of PKR 24,000 whereas the original price is PKR 25,000. The new Spark phone comes with high-tech features and the latest technology.

TECNO produces value for money devices under its Spark family which brings the latest tech features to its users at a competitive price. The new Spark 8 Pro comes with the G85 Gaming Processor, 33W Fast Charger, and a 6.8-inch FHD+ 1080P display. Moreover, it supports a 48MP AI Triple Camera with Ultra Sensing and Low-light imaging, 4+64GB Storage, and a 5000mAh battery.

The phone comes with not just amazing features but a great body design. Available in two colors – Turquoise Cyan and Interstellar Black, the Spark 8 pro embeds a “STOP AT NOTHING” logo on the back. The stylish back is a new chic design by TECNO for the Spark series. The logo embedding is usually done for premium phones, but TECNO brings this experience for its users at a competitive price segment.

Kelvin Zeng, CEO of TECNO Mobile Pakistan shared his views saying,

“We have always focused on the quality of our product. The Spark Phones are our value for money devices where we bring the latest technology at competitive prices. the new Spark 8 Pro will prove to be a valuable device with such great specs and a cool stylish design. The body design has been focused in this series as we wanted to bring a premium feel for our mid-range users as well.”

The Daraz 12.12 sale is live from December 12 till December 22, 2021. The phone shall be available in the offline markets from December 20, 2021. Furthermore, TECNO is also offering price cuts on its Camon 18 Series and POVA 2 phones as well.

So hurry and get your latest phones from Daraz asap! For more, visit TECNO’s official website and social media pages.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Committed to the aim to expand its portfolio of clean energy, KE has allied with Sindh Energy Department (SED) and the World Bank to develop a solar park with an aggregate capacity of 350 MW under the ambit of the ‘Sindh Solar Energy Project’ (SSEP). The objective of SSEP is to increase solar power generation and access to electricity in Sindh Province. The purpose of this tripartite arrangement – formalized today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – is to develop and implement sustainable, cost-effective, and competitive utility-scale IPPsin Karachi under a competitive bidding structure. Through this collaboration, an additional 700 GWh of clean energy will be added to KE’s electricity supply mix that should offset carbon emissions by 300-350 kilotons per annum.

This is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s aim, as stipulated in the Alternative and Renewable Energy (ARE) Policy 2019, of increasing the share of renewables (excluding hydel) as a share of the country’s power generation capacity to 30% by 2030. The MoU was signed between Secretary, Energy Department, Government of Sindh, Abu Bakar Ahmed Madani, CEO K-Electric, Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi, and World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, Najy Benhassine who joined via video from Islamabad. This tri-partite collaboration is being supported by the World Bank through development financing to the Government of Sindh for the implementation of SSEP. SED will be responsible for conducting relevant project-related studies, implementation of the competitive bidding process, and construction of any public sector infrastructure that is required.

The solar IPPs would be constructed and owned by competitively selected private sector developers. Once complete, the power from the project (s) would be inducted into KE’s grid via power off-take agreements, enhancing its ability to serve the current and evolving needs of its growing consumer base of 3.2 million. Speaking at the occasion, the Sindh Minister for Energy, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh commented, “This project has been in the works for some time and is being achieved with close collaboration and support of the stakeholders. The Sindh Energy Department is committed to making a meaningful contribution in the effort towards Pakistan’s cleaner and greener energy future, and we hope to share our learnings and experience at the national and international level to expand the scale of the impact.” CEO K-Electric Moonis Alvi also mentioned, “We appreciate the Sindh Energy Department and the World Bank for coming together on this historic event, which demonstrates our collective commitment towards the sustainable growth and future of Karachi and the Province of Sindh at large.

At KE, environment and sustainability are integral parts of our strategy, focused on mitigating the impact of carbon and increasing KE’s footprint of clean energy. We follow Environment and Sustainability Management Systems (ESMS) to ensure our business activities have a minimal harmful impact on our surroundings. As the only vertically integrated power utility company in Karachi, it is of utmost importance for us to ensure the availability of clean, reliable, and low-cost electricity for our consumers which will promote economic growth for Pakistan.” Joining remotely, Country Director for the World Bank Pakistan, Najy Benhassine said, “Transitioning to renewable energy offers Pakistan the potential to reduce its generation costs, diversify away from imported fossil fuels, and realize climate change, air pollution, and water conservation benefits. Sindh Province is key to increasing the share of renewable energy generation in Pakistan and developing new ways of providing electricity access. This engagement between the World Bank, K-Electric, and the Sindh Energy Department, under the auspices of the Sindh Solar Energy Project, could provide a replicable model for expanding renewable energy and access to electricity in Sindh Province and Pakistan.”

The inclusion of 350 MW solar power would result in the diversification of KE’s fuel mix and would increase the share of low-cost solar power generation in the system.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team, Babar Azam visited Bank Alfalah today to meet the President and senior management of the institution. Bank Alfalah has recently signed Babar Azam as a brand ambassador to support the Bank in promoting various initiatives.

Pakistan is a cricket loving nation. Bank Alfalah, with an objective to create a strong connection with young fans of the sport, has brought Babar Azam on board as its brand ambassador. Babar Azam is a Pakistani international cricketer who captains the national team in all formats. His passion and zeal personifies an ideal role model for the youth and he resonates with the values of Bank Alfalah.

Bank Alfalah is evolving rapidly with growing global outreach, emerging digital platforms and expanding branch network. Consumers today prefer convenience and expect faster services and Bank Alfalah is taking initiatives to take innovative solutions to consumers.

To celebrate this new partnership, a Meet & Greet Session was hosted for the captain of the national team, where he met Mr. Atif Bajwa- President and CEO Bank Alfalah, Mr. Saad ur Rehman, Group Head – Corporate, Investment Banking and International Business as well as other senior members of the Bank.

From ride-hailing services to grocery delivery, and financial services such as buy-now-pay-later to microfinancing, super-apps development in the Pakistan, Middle East and Africa is emerging fast as the region proves to be a potentially fertile ground for its growth.

In a study commissioned by Mastercard and carried out by Economist Impact titled ‘From online bazaar to one stop shop: The rise of super-apps in the Middle East and Africa’, the paper examines how population growth, digital access, connectivity, a diverse demographic, increasing trust, and affordability is contributing to the rapid progress of super-apps in the region.

The study also draws parallels between the ecosystems that drove the rapid rise of super-apps such as WeChat, Meituan or AliPay in China a decade ago to the Middle East and Africa region currently where the super-app model is showing early promise. Emerging players are seeking to emulate the Chinese-born concept and create regional success stories of their own.

While multi-function apps have been popular in Asia for some time, cut-through elsewhere in the world has been slower. Consumers in western and MEA including Pakistan markets have largely messaged, hailed taxis, summoned food and paid for things with different apps. But more recently firms including Spotify, Uber and Revolut have raced to bundle ever more features into their apps.

“With the Middle East and Africa region projected to become the most populous area in the world, with a forecast population of 3.4 billion by 2050, this expanded market presents a wealth of customer data, which regional players could leverage to add value for all stakeholders. Mastercard, with its digital-first approach, can be that single technology provider of choice to connect diverse players such as telcos, digital e-tailers and fintechs to become super-apps by providing technology solutions, platforms and propositions that enable a superior digital experience and drive greater inclusion for people across MEA,” said Ngozi Megwa, Senior Vice President, Digital Partnerships, Middle East and Africa.

While delving into the MEA region, the study found specific highlights that will enable the rapid growth of super-apps. Key findings include:

• Locally active super-apps are proliferating across the MEA region, but larger cross-regional players remain few.
• The prevalence of low-end mobile phones, as well as high internet costs in the MEA, make super-apps an attractive product.
• Super-apps can be drivers for financial inclusion in the MEA.
• The harmonization of national policies remains the biggest challenge to the scaling-up of super-app presence in the MEA region.

“Our study clearly reflects that the development and future trajectory of super-apps is highly contextual to the geography and location in which they develop. Some of the ripe sectors in MEA who could throw up players to become super-apps are insurance across the GCC, the second-hand car market, online property brokers in the UAE, and digital remittances across Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Walter Pasquarelli, Research Manager, Tech & Society, Economist Impact.

 The report also threw the spotlight on governments’ role. As the biggest spenders in the region, government choices over which direction to orient industrial and data policies will be key. Beyond the policies of individual governments, the harmonization of policies across the region is expected be the core strategic choice that will determine the future of super-apps.