News Update Times

The closing ceremony saw participating startups pitch their unique digital solutions to the program’s corporate engagement partners.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Microsoft for Startups, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), graduated 21 startups from the second GrowthX Accelerator program during a Demo Day on Tuesday, 28 June in Abu Dhabi. The ceremony was attended by startup founders, corporate partners, investors, government officials and other stakeholders from the regional startup ecosystem.

During the 12-week program, startups worked closely with Microsoft’s corporate engagement partners DHL, EY, Koç Holding and PwC to co-create technology solutions that address real challenges facing corporations in MENA. Participating founders pitched their solutions during the Demo Day to a panel of corporate partners, who shared their insights and feedback.

Eng. Abdulla Abdul Aziz AlShamsi, Acting Director General at ADIO, said “Startups are an essential driver of innovation and job creation, so it is crucial that we increase opportunities for them to access the tools and resources they need to drive impact. That’s why we launched the GrowthX Accelerator in partnership with Microsoft, so we could help businesses grow and scale, while supporting the private sector in accessing unique innovations. We congratulate the startups who graduated from the second GrowthX Accelerator and look forward to seeing them leverage the solutions created during the program to drive further impact in the UAE and the region.”

“It has truly been incredible to see the growth of these entrepreneurs over the course of the program. We’ve seen them leverage every opportunity to enhance their skillset, develop their solutions and embrace the learnings available to support them in growing and scaling their businesses,” said Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE.

“The GrowthX Accelerator is unique in that it is specially curated to not only empower startups with the tools, training and networking opportunities they need to grow and scale, but it also supports corporates in their endeavours to engage innovative tech startups in providing unique solutions to the very real problems they are facing. We thank our corporate engagement partners for participating in this important program and truly congratulate the graduating startups,” said Hashish.

As part of Microsoft’s commitment to empower startups with the tech, mentorship and access that they need to become future unicorns of the Middle East, Turkey and Pakistan, the graduating startups will have continued access to support from the Microsoft for Startups team who will continue to encourage growth and provide the tools required to scale across the region. Some of the startups will also work with Microsoft corporate partners in the future to identify business and mentorship opportunities.

The 21 startups from the GrowthX Accelerator that offered breakthrough solutions to meet corporate clients’ challenges and requirements include AiFlux, DevisionX, Event Gates (EGT Kontrol AS), Farmdar, Farmin, Greener Crop, IPERA.AI, Lune Technologies, monak e-services, NutzenTech, Nybl, Occicor, Olymon Solutions, Pivony, PowerDev, Sav, Searover, Swftbox, Trade Capital Partners (TCP), Valorafutbol, Workfam.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) IBA Karachi, steers into a new direction from being one of the leading business administration institutes to one of the best multidisciplinary institutes of higher learning in the country. IBA’s Retreat was held after the formation of three schools and the appointment of three permanent deans for each school. The IBA Retreat 2022 was organized at Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi from June 28 -29, 2022 under the leadership of Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director, IBA Karachi, who invited key stakeholders from IBA, along with prominent experts and strategists from academia, to participate in the development of IBA’s future vision.

IBA Karachi has gone through tremendous transformations to become a multidisciplinary teaching and research institution. Three full-fledged schools have been formed – namely the School of Business Studies (SBS), School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS), and School of Mathematics and Computer Science (SMCS) – a number of new degree programs have been launched; policy and regulatory frameworks have been put in place; various research and professional development centres have been established to cater to the emerging needs in order to adapt to the ever changing local and global dynamics. The purpose of the Retreat 2022 was to remain abreast with the recent trends, ideas, while envisioning the role of the IBA in the socioeconomic development of the country and lay the foundation for a concentrated journey to achieve IBA’s vision.

The key pillars for the Retreat were identified as: meaningful and impactful research, innovation culture, alignment of academic programs with global trends and market needs, enhanced role of professional development centers, accreditations, quality faculty, academic/industrial linkages, and overall financial sustainability of the IBA.

The leadership aspect reflected upon the newly appointed full-time deans who will lead their respective schools on the academic and research fronts – enabled by a revamped Office of the Registrar which will provide administrative, technological and logistical support. Various steering and monitoring committees are in place to ensure accountability across the board.

The infrastructural and technological development side included, the solar energy project, faculty apartments, new girls’ hostel, state-of-the-art digital IBA project, and overall revitalisation of the campuses.

The event was attended by a large number of IBA faculty members, staff, senior leadership including Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director; Dr. Asad Ilyas, Registrar; Dr. Wajid H. Rizvi, Dean, SBS; Dr. Abdullah Sheikh, Dean-elect, SBS; Dr. Asma Hyder, Dean, SESS; Dr. Shakeel Khoja, Dean, SMCS; and Dr. Maheen Ghouri, Dean, Student Affairs.

Dr. Tariq Banuri, former Chairman, Higher Education Commission; Dr. Syed Zahoor Hassan, Professor and former Vice Chancellor, Lahore University of Management Sciences; Dr. Jawad Syed, Professor, LUMS; Mr. Jawwad Farid, Chief Executive Officer, Alchemy Technologies; and Mr. Rami Awad, Regional Manager, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, also participated in the event and highlighted the future role of universities in the development of society and economy.

The participants appreciated the idea of setting up a long-term plan for the IBA and underscored the importance of holding such events in the future to monitor and ensure progress towards IBA’s future vision.

 

 

 

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Convocations are an honoured tradition to celebrate graduates’ accomplishments in the presence of loved ones, peers, and teachers. On June 30, the LUMS Class of 2022, came together to look back at the precious memories they made on campus, and look forward to new beginnings.

Around 1100 graduate and undergraduate students from all five schools at LUMS were awarded degrees at the convocation. The University’s senior leadership including Pro Chancellor, Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, Rector, Mr. Shahid Hussain, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Arshad Ahmad, Members of the LUMS Board of Trustees, Deans, faculty and staff members celebrated the momentous occasion with the graduates and their families.

Registrar, Ms. Zara Fateh Qizilbash delivered the welcome address, following which, the Pro Chancellor, Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood formally inaugurated the 34th convocation of LUMS.

Vice Chancellor, Dr. Arshad Ahmad congratulated the graduating class and wished them well for their future. He recognised the convocation as a defining moment for all students. While referring to the ongoing political uncertainty and economic challenges, he called upon all graduating students to discover their individual roles and serve a greater purpose. He also emphasised strengthening a collective hope for a better and stronger Pakistan. Towards the end, he advised all students to embrace their full potential and move forward, following in the footsteps of their predecessors while adhering to the timeless qualities of integrity, punctuality, respect, patience, and empathy.

The keynote address at this year’s commencement was delivered by the inspiring, Justice (Retd.) Nasira Iqbal. Recipient of the prestigious, Sitara-i-Imtiaz 2021, Justice Iqbal was one of the first five women to be appointed to the Lahore High Court, where she served as a justice from 1994 to 2002. A Harvard Law School graduate, she is sought after as a legal scholar, has lectured around the world and has represented Pakistan at various international forums. She lauded the efforts of the LUMS community to enable and empower Pakistani youth by providing high-quality and impactful education and training.

In her address, she wished the graduating class success and expressed the hope that they will contribute to the development of the country and create shared value for the people around them. She also urged the graduates to pursue inclusiveness as a way of tackling intolerance in society. Justice Iqbal appreciated the gender equality ratio at LUMS and quoted her own example, “There should be no age barrier to acquiring higher education and students should pursue it as the only means of achieving progress and prosperity.”

Alina Anjum, this year’s valedictorian, inspired her fellow students by sharing her experiences at LUMS and her ideals of pursuing self-belief and strengthening mutual bonds.

One of the winners of this year’s Vice Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, Dr. Haniya Azam, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, shared her thoughts about the enabling environment at LUMS that facilitates learning, growth and success. She also encouraged the graduates to never settle for less and strive for excellence.

Dr. Azam’s address was followed by the awarding of degrees to all graduating students, the robing of PhD graduates, and the presentation of the National Management Foundation awards and corporate medals to high-performing students.

Late Aqsa Fatima, a LUMS student who passed away in April and was to graduate this year, was awarded a posthumous MBA degree to honour her memory. Rector, Mr. Shahid Hussain, presented the degree to the parents of late Aqsa Fatima.

A recorded broadcast of the ceremony can be viewed at the LUMS Facebook page.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Expressing grave concern over the 2.2 million out of school children, with girls being the majority, experts have stressed on the
implementation of Free and Compulsory Education Act and girls right to
secondary education in Punjab.

These thoughts were expressed in the consultation session on the
Implementation of Free & Compulsory Primary Education Act and Girls’
Right to Secondary Education organized by Awaz CDS and National
Commission for Human Rights. The major focus of the session was to
emphasize on the initiatives needed to be taken to ensure primary
education of children and reducing girls drop out from secondary
schools as it would contribute a lot towards ensuring educated women
population, a guarantee to economic and social stability.

Chief Executive Awaz CDS, Mohammad Zia ur Rehman, Member/Commissioner
(Punjab) National Commission for Human Rights, Nadeem Ashraf, Director
School Education Department, Mr. Ghulam Farid, Member Punjab Assembly,
Ms. Uswa Aftab, and Ms. Ayesha Iqbal, Ms Noorish Sabah, Director
Punjab Literacy Department, Ms. Baela Raza Jamil from ITA and other
academics as well as members from NGOs attended the event.
In his opening remarks, Zia ur Rahman, Chief Executive Awaz CDS
highlighted the significance of girls quality secondary education and
explained the grey areas in the way of girls education in Punjab.
He urged the Punjab government to immediately notify the Punjab Free
and Compulsory Education Act 2014 which was approved earlier . He
stressed for increase in development budgets for school education as
developments budgets are only being distributed to PEF and PEIMA
rather development budgets needs to be utilized for the development of
public schools especially for girls, where missing facilities and
accessibility is still a major challenge. He further warned that due
to fuel price hike many girls are leaving schools and more drop outs
are expected after summer vacations.

Mr. Nadeem Ashraf, Member/ Commissioner (Punjab) National commission
for Human Rights welcomed the audience and discussed the bottlenecks
and challenges in implementing Free and Compulsory education act and
ensuring girls basic right of getting education and shift nation
towards stability.

He said that according to PSLM 2019-20, In Punjab for every 100 girls
enrolled at the primary level, 38 are out-of-school and for every 100
girls enrolled at the secondary level, 162 are out-of-school .

Ms. Ayesha Iqbal, Member Punjab Assembly highlighted the recent
development for enforcement of Punjab Free & Compulsory Education
Amendment Act 2020 for the immediate enactment of law . She stressed
that Governor Punjab Mr. Baligh-ur-Rehman should take steps to get
this education Act notified without any delay as education is priority
for all parties.

Member Punjab Assembly, Ms. Uswa Aftab on behalf of School Education
Standing Committee stressed on the importance of notification of
Punjab Free & Compulsory Education Act 2014 to ensure every child is
getting basic education and country is progressing towards achieving
SDGs on education.

She said that her department is constantly working on this sector and
said they would make extra efforts to sensitize more and more people
on girls education in order to minimize girls secondary school drop
out ratio.

The floor was then opened for Answer questions followed by insightful
discussion on making primary education compulsory in the province and
ensuring girls are getting secondary education and thus contributing
towards stability and national goals of educated Pakistan.