METRO DONATES ESSENTIAL FOOD ITEMS WORTH Rs 11. MILLION

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METRO DONATES ESSENTIAL FOOD ITEMS WORTH Rs 11. MILLION TO PAKISTAN RED CRESENT SOCIETY FOR FLOOD AFFECTEES

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)  METRO Pakistan, supported by its parent company METRO AG, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) for delivering essential food supplies worth PKR 11 million to flood affectees. The MoU was signed by the Director Corporate Affairs Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar, representing METRO Pakistan and Dr. Adeel Nawaz, Secretary General representing PRCS, in the presence of the Chairman PRCS Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari, Mr. Philipp Deichmann, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany and Representative of the German Red Cross Ms. Munazza Fatima.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar said, “As part of our ‘METRO Care & Share’ initiative, we feel contented to be part of relief operations after the devastating floods. The donation of food essentials will be enough for approximately 15000 people for a month.” The food supplies will be routed through the channels of Pakistan Red Crescent Society to reach the people of the areas where it is most needed. “We have always been at forefront of community welfare during national disasters like floods of 2010 and covid-19 pandemic and will continue to give back to the society through our CSR initiatives” He further added.

While expressing his views, Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari thanked METRO for standing with the people of Pakistan in these testing times. “The unprecedented floods have played havoc across the country, causing loss of property and life. We need joint efforts for alleviating the suffering of the vulnerable people”. He further said that this generous donation by METRO is indeed inestimable and will increase our humanitarian capacity to bring ease to the flood victims.

METRO was the first corporate enterprise from the wholesale/retail industry in Pakistan to initiate its relief supply provisions right at the beginning of the floods and in the first instance handed over food, drinks, and other edible items worth PKR 1.2 million for the flood affectees.

Meezan Bank wins the ‘Best Company in Financial Category’ award at MAP

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Meezan Bank wins the ‘Best Company in Financial Category’ award at MAP 37th Corporate Excellence Awards

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank has been conferred with the top honour in the Financial Sector category at the Management Association of Pakistan’s (MAP) 37th Corporate Excellence Awards ceremony held recently, at Movenpick Hotel, Karachi. The Award recognizes Meezan Bank for its outstanding performance and demonstrating progress and enlightened management practices.

Founding President & CEO of Meezan Bank, Mr. Irfan Siddiqui received the award on behalf of the Bank at the ceremony which brought together senior management, dignitaries, business leaders and eminent personalities from the corporate sector of Pakistan. Also present at the occasion were Meezan Bank’s Senior Management including the Deputy CEO, Mr. Ariful Islam. 

This award is a testament to Meezan Bank’s continued leadership in the banking sector. This win also coincides with the Bank’s 25 Year anniversary of providing unparalleled Islamic banking services in the country.

Commenting at the occasion Mr. Irfan Siddiqui expressed his gratitude to Allah (SWT) for His blessings on the entire Bank and thanked the organizers for conferring the Bank with the ‘Best Company in Financial Category’ award. He said, “Since inception to date, Meezan Bank remains one of the fastest growing banks of the country. Throughout this period our teams have remained agile, decisive and innovative in providing Shariah-compliant financial solutions to our customers in a simple and seamless manner. Our approach and commitment towards our Vision of establishing ‘Islamic banking as banking of first choice…’ will further our drive in the journey to make Pakistan Riba-free, InshaAllah.”

The Corporate Excellence Awards were instituted by MAP in 1982 and are divided into Industrial and Financial categories, and Not-For-Profit organizations. Short-listed companies are evaluated on the basis of a detailed financial evaluation and management practices criteria. It is worth mentioning that the financial evaluation covers the period of preceding three years in order to absorb the effects of fluctuations and also to recognize the impact of long-term policies and strategic decisions.

FrieslandCampina Pakistan and WWF partner to regenerate the environment

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Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  FrieslandCampina is partnering with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Pakistan) on a tree plantation initiative to increase local resilience to the impact of climate change and increase tree cover.

The collaboration will focus on the plantation of indigenous trees to help combat pollution, deforestation, and urban flooding. Under the partnership, FCEPL team planted mangrove saplings at the WWF Wetland Center in Karachi. Additionally, WWF held a training for FCEPL’s employees to educate them on plantation techniques and post-care.

Highlighting the partnership, Sania Sattar Head of Sustainability, FrieslandCampina Pakistan, stated: “Regeneration is a core pillar of FCEPL’s local sustainability strategy. There is a pressing need to address the ongoing effects of climate change, and only through a cohesive, concentrated and collaborative effort can we hope to mitigate them.”
Speaking on the occasion, Faisal Razi, Director Marketing at FCEPL said, “We remain committed to nourishing Pakistan sustainably while working in balance with nature. All of us have collective responsibility towards our planet and we must leave a better one for the generations to come.”

Emphasizing the need for climate action, Hammad Naqi, Director General of WWF-Pakistan said: From heat waves to forest fires and the worst floods in recent memory, Pakistan is facing a climate catastrophe. It is therefore imperative that we come together; governments, businesses, and non-profit and development organizations; to work towards climate adaptation. Mangrove plantation is a part of this solution. As the first line of defense against cyclones, strong surges, tsunamis and other natural calamities impacting the coast and deltaic region, mangroves support a healthy and productive ecosystem that benefits not only our communities, but biodiversity as well.  

As part of its ongoing efforts for environmental conservation, FCEPL has been driving tree plantation in and around its facilities and partner farms in Sukkur and Sahiwal. By training the farmers on energy and water conservation, helping them switch to solar power at farms, and encouraging them to plant trees at their premises, FCEPL continues to seed environmental considerations amongst the farmers of Pakistan.

Committed to Nourishing Pakistan, FCEPL is focusing its sustainability efforts under the pillars of Better Nutrition, Better Living for Farmers, and Better Nature. 

GameBird x Red Bull presents “Red Bull Campus Clutch 2022”

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Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)  GameBird, Telenor Pakistan’s official Esports platform, and Red Bull Pakistan have joined hands for the second edition of the Red Bull Campus Clutch.

Spanning across 50 countries and nearly 400 events, Red Bull Campus Clutch is the world’s biggest and most prominent Valorant tournament exclusively tailored for university students. The competition provides an exciting opportunity for gaming enthusiasts as well as pro-level players to face off against the cream of the crop of Valorant on the international stage.

From Pakistan, the four winning qualifier teams Salt Esports, Team Snakes, PPeeks and Team Genesis will move to the national finals, which will be exclusively broadcast on GameBird’s platform and YouTube channel on October 9, 2022. 

 The winners of the Red Bull Campus Clutch Pakistan national finals will have the opportunity to represent Pakistan and compete against 14 other countries in December this year at the World Finals of Red Bull Campus Clutch in Brazil.

GameBird is bringing Pakistan’s gaming and Esports communities the unique opportunity to experience a one-stop gaming platform by signing up and competing for their choice of titles. It hopes to provide the untapped talent in Pakistan with opportunities in the international arena through the platform. 

 

 

 

Ministry of Education signs agreement with Federal Government education institutions to promote STEAM education

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Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) While transitioning from the exam-centred to learning based approach, the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training’s (MoFEPT) STEAM Pakistan program is focused on improving conceptual understanding and analytical skills of school children across the country, with a specific focus on girls’ education.Launched in early 2022, the program has already started its interventions in middle and high schools in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

As part of the program, MoFEPT signed a Letter of Understanding (LoU) today with the Federal Government Educational Institutions (FGEI) for a roll-out of STEAM interventions across all of its high schools.

FGEI’s Director General, Major General Muhammad Asghar, HI (M), stated that “STEAM Pakistan project will complement the various measures taken by FGEI to attain the objective of quality education and promote the conceptual learning and development of soft skills in youth”.

The LoU intends to support FGEI’s efforts on targeting students in middle schools across its network, with MoFEPT providing technical support for systems, teacher training, and STEAM content.

Additional Secretary Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry at the signing ceremony remarked, “It is important that we focus on our children’s learning, and today is a great opportunity for the Ministry of Federal Education to collaborate with another Ministry for this purpose. The Ministry looks forward to providing similar technical support to provinces on STEAM”.

FGEI currently manages 190 high schools in 45 districts across all provinces and AJ&K, and a total of 311 schools (including 13 higher secondary schools) and 47 colleges across Pakistan with over 8,000 teachers and 200,000 students. FGEI operates under the aegis of Ministry of Defence.

STEAM Pakistan is a collaborative project through which Malala Fund and partners are providing support to the Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training to advance secondary school-aged girls’ access to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics education in Pakistan.

Cellular connectivity key to tackle surging electricity demand, says Ericsson report

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  • Demand for electricity expected to grow at a 2% CAGR for the next
    two decades, largely driven by industrial motors, space cooling, appliances
    and electric vehicles.
  •  Renewable energy sources are shifting the energy value chain,
    allowing for “prosumers” to feed energy into the grid while simultaneously
    consuming it.
      Ericsson is partnering with several utility industry players to
    bring business value and digitalization through cellular connectivity. 
    Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) today released a Connected Energy Utilities report
    <https://www.ericsson.com/en/enterprise/reports/connected-energy-utility>
    in partnership with Arthur D. Little, highlighting the significance of
    cellular technology in the digitalization of the energy sector.

As energy costs and demand for electricity rise, the report explores a
vision of the near future in which the utility sector harnesses cellular
connectivity to mitigate the increasing complexities of meeting the needs of
a rapidly evolving electric grid and consumer demand profiles – enabling
utility providers to expand capacity, optimize utilization of
infrastructure, increase grid reliability, and boost operational efficiency
through a secure and reliable network.

In addition to growing demand and an ever-evolving mix of energy sources,
the utility sector is also facing growing challenges in cost control and
cybersecurity. With the demand for electricity growing at an expected 2%
compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next two decades, the report
notes that utility providers need to make investments in new technologies in
order to meet these demands and best serve consumers. Ericsson technology
provides management services for private networks, public mission-critical
infrastructure and IoT deployments.

Also highlighted in the report are changes in the energy value chain. As
renewable energy sources continue to become more available and viable,
consumers are becoming “prosumers,” feeding energy back into the grid –
through solutions such as residential rooftop solar PV – while
simultaneously consuming it, shifting the value chain from traditional
one-way electricity flow to being circular in nature. 4G LTE technologies in
particular will prove to be crucial over the next decade and beyond in
handling the bi-directional energy flow from prosumers and increased
fluctuations in power production stemming from renewable energy sources,
with 5G connectivity expected to come into play in the future.

Koustuv Ghoshal, Vice President & Head of Utilities, Ericsson, says,
“Cellular connectivity is helping to accelerate the digital transformation
of utilities. Electrical infrastructure has an operational lifetime of up to
five decades. So for utilities, connectivity technology is a worthwhile
investment as it will continue to provide extensive business value for years
to come. As power generation methods expand to include renewables and the
demands on transmission/distribution grids become more complex, it is vital
for the utility sector to evolve along with it through continued integration
of advanced cellular technology.”

Several benefits of this technology have already been proven, supporting
internal communications, worker safety, automation, user experience and
insight-driven innovation, bringing digitalization to the forefront of
efficient business operations.

While still evolving, cellular technology also already presents use cases of real time data exchange, automatic grid fault detection, distribution automation, connected electric vehicle charging, and building energy management
<https://www.ericsson.com/en/enterprise/reports/connected-buildings>  and
optimization. Ericsson’s report also highlights future use cases in
partnership with enterprises across the globe such as Thales, Chungwa
Telecom, Southern Linc, and Blue Corner, from remote site drone inspections
and a digitally-enabled workforce to modernization of legacy communications
and predictive maintenance.

TECNO Mobile Joins Fashion Industry through collaboration with BTW

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) TECNO Mobile Pakistan is doing an exciting fashion-style collaboration with BTW Pakistan. BTW is a fashion-forward brand, popular for chic western and Ethnic clothing.   The Mondrian variant is the inspirational muse for this style collaboration between the two leading brands. The handset becomes an instant hit from its launch and was on trending on Twitter with #ColorChangingMobile.

BTW’s renowned designer Hamza Vaince has designed Mondrian art-inspired costumes for this amazing design collaboration. The brand will feature Five exclusive winter collection shirts based on the Mondrain art theme. All articles will be on display soon and available for sale in all BTW outlets. These designer shirts will be in vogue with the incredible fashion shoot of popular names like Sachal Afzal, Zahib Malik, Laiba Khan, and Momina Tariq. All these artists are known for their high-end style statements.

Camon 19 Pro Mondrian itself is a style statement with the industry’s slimmest bezel and sleek design. Combining “sunshine drawing” technology with aesthetic design, the phone’s back produces a multicolored glow when exposed to sunlight. This first-ever color-changing handset has recently won two global design awards, the 2022 MUSE Design Award from the US and the A’ Design Award from Italy, for its superb workmanship and creative aesthetic appeal.

Kelvin Zheng, the CEO of TECNO Mobile Pakistan stated, “We are excited to announce this fashion collab with BTW which will give a new dimension to art and style in Pakistan. Camon 19 Pro has been praised globally for its amazing design and style. We are optimistic that our customers will surely love these designer merchandises available on all BTW outlets in Pakistan.”

Hamza Vaince, the designer of BTW Pakistan too shares his thought on this occasion: “One of the best things about this collaboration is that our brand ideologies synchronize at so many points, either it is to push the boundaries bringing out the innovative design or a fabric or a cut for the resilient youth, the artists as well as a person who likes to vibe and slay in his own signature look.”

TECNO’s Camon 19 Pro Mondrian will be the smart choice for people who adore art, fashion, and visual art. Pakistani consumers can purchase the phone for PKR 51,999 in both online and retail stores.

 

50 women graduate from Tech Hub in RYK

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50 women graduate from Tech Hub in RYK launched by Unilever Pakistan and CIRCLE Women Association

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) A graduation ceremony for 50 women who have been trained in digital skills at Unilever Pakistan and CIRCLE Women Association’s Technology Hub was organized in Rahim Yar Khan on Monday, 3rd October 2022. This tech hub was initiated by the two organizations to promote women’s digital literacy and inclusion in the city of Rahim Yar Khan.

The organization behind the program, CIRCLE Women Association (CWA) is a tech non-profit working on imparting digital and financial literacy and startup support to women startups, including micro and small enterprises.

During the two-month long program, 50 female students aged between 18-30 received training on core digital concepts, platforms and tools such as Google Suite, Canva, and social media marketing as part of an effort to increase their employability.

Unilever Pakistan and CIRCLE’s vision behind this program is to promote financial inclusion and bridge the growing gender gap in the country by empowering young women in Rahim Yar Khan. In the next stage of the program, Unilever Pakistan and CIRCLE have pledged to train 400 more women in 2023.

Amir Paracha, Chairman & CEO, Unilever Pakistan congratulated the students on completion of the training and said, “The city of Rahim Yar Khan has so much to offer to Pakistan’s future. I am certain that the skills these young women have learned here are going to play a crucial role in their professional careers and help in accelerating gender equity and diversity in Pakistan’s workforce. We will continue to support such programs and partnerships that help future proof our talent and enable women to earn a respectable and dignified income that empowers them and supports the economy of Pakistan”.

Arif Surti, Works Director RYK, Unilever Pakistan shared, “We are proud of these young women who not only completed their digital training but have also kick started their careers through freelancing. We are proud to announce that some of these women will be working on data analytics assignments for us and we are excited for the future of this partnership with CIRCLE”.

Sadaffe Abid, CEO of CIRCLE Women Association, addressing the participants said, “The young women in Rahim Yar Khan have proven that there is nothing they cannot do if given the right opportunity. Digital literacy and digital skills offer tremendous potential to boost financial growth and it is critical for stakeholders to invest in ensuring access for women and girls. I would like to extend our gratitude to Unilever Pakistan for partnering with us on this empowering initiative. I am eagerly waiting for the next batch to start in the Rahim Yar Khan Tech Hub and meet the young, bright minds of the future who will contribute to Pakistan’s economy!”.

Chaudhary Iqbal Hafiz, President of the Business Chambers, Rahim Yar Khan applauded the candidates for their hard work and enthusiasm and ensured continued support for such initiatives.

Unilever Pakistan is the country’s largest FMCG, present in Pakistan since 1948. The company has over 30 brands spanning Home Care, Personal Care, Foods, Beverages, and Ice Cream with over 97% local production, through 4 factories and 5 co packers.

CIRCLE is committed to women’s empowerment and leadership development through advocacy, research, technology and innovative entrepreneurship labs combined with impactful leadership programs to grow women in leadership. CIRCLE provides digital skills from basic digital literacy for women at grassroots level to coding, digital marketing, entrepreneurship and more.

PCB-Bank Alfalah enter school cricket partnership

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  • “So many of our superstars of the 70s, and 80s were products of school cricket. This partnership with Bank Alfalah will develop and groom the superstars of tomorrow. In the last one year, we have made unprecedented investment in pathway and grassroots cricket,” says Ramiz Raja.
  •  “Bank Alfalah stands proud of its longstanding partnership with PCB and together we’ve continued to support the shared passion for cricket in all these years working in collaboration,” says President and CEO of Bank Alfalah Atif Bajwa.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  In order to revive school cricket across the country, the Pakistan Cricket Board and Bank Alfalah have entered a four-year partnership. The signing ceremony between the two parties was held today at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. As per the partnership agreement, the PCB and Bank Alfalah will jointly organise a school tournament each year in which 120 schools (to be shortlisted by the PCB) will participate.

The PCB and Bank Alfalah will conduct nationwide school drives for making program-based interventions to harness & nurture youth with a strong passion for cricket.

With the growth of the partnership over the four-year period, the school participation will increase to 900 schools across the country as part of PCB’s grand plan of developing and sustaining a quality schools competition that will not only identify but will also nurture and groom future cricket stars.

A total of 105 PCB designated and approved grounds will be used for school cricket tournaments in this four-year period.

 PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja: “We have entered another exciting partnership for the development of cricket. School cricket was one of our strengths in the years gone by but unfortunately we were not able to sustain organised and effective cricket systems in schools in recent years.

“As such, this partnership is monumental for us and I want to thank Bank Alfalah for aligning with us in the much needed initiative. Our aim is not only to revive school cricket but also to develop and sustain it for a long period hence we have launched this initiative with Bank Alfalah.

“So many of our superstars of the 70s, and 80s were products of school cricket. This partnership will develop and groom the superstars of tomorrow. In the last one year, we have made unprecedented investment in pathway and grassroots cricket and this investment will surely benefit Pakistan cricket for the next decade or two.”

President and CEO Bank Alfalah Atif Bajwa: “Bank Alfalah stands proud of its longstanding partnership with PCB and together we’ve continued to support the shared passion for cricket in all these years working in collaboration.

“The current performance of the cricket team is a testament to the devotion and determination of Pakistanis taking the sport to newer heights. At the heart of our partnership lies the idea to help build future cricketers and provide them with the opportunities to shine at the national as well as international level.”

Nine Passionate Pakistani Runners Ran the London Marathon to Fundraise for the Citizens Foundation

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Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) On an exciting Sunday morning, nine Pakistani athletes participated in the London Marathon to fundraise for The Citizens Foundation (TCF) Flood Relief Appeal.

A large number of London Marathon runners raise money and awareness for a particular charity each year. The nine runners that backed the TCF Flood Relief Appeal include Adnan Gandhi, Kaukab Sarwar, Hira Diwan, Muhammad Affan, Nadir Shera, Shanzé Shah, Fahd Mukhtar, Salman Khan, and Ahmed Mustafa Khan. All runners were spotted wearing TCF t-shirts during the race.

The TCF team finished the race in less than 6 hours. Together, these socially responsible London Marathon participants were able to raise over PKR 2 Million from supporters globally for the TCF Flood Relief Appeal.

The TCF Flood Relief Appeal aims to provide 5 million meals and assist in the reconstruction of 9000 homes for flood-affected families in Pakistan once the flood waters recede. TCF is assisting communities in several ways to help stop school dropouts. After the floods, many communities have become displaced and lost their source of income, making it likely that the number of out-of-school children in Pakistan will increase. Others can join the cause and support TCF in its mission to support flood-affected communities by donating to the TCF Flood Relief Appeal.