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.

Karachi (Nut Desk) Pakistan’s premier conglomerate, Engro Corporation (PSX: ENGRO) announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Overview of Financial Performance

During the first quarter, Engro Corporation’s standalone profitability exhibited a substantial growth of 92% and reached PKR 6.88 billion in Q1 2022 from PKR 3.59 billion in Q1 2021. The Dividend Income of the Company grew by 124% during the period reaching PKR 7.70 billion in comparison to PKR 3.43 billion during Q1 2021. The increase in dividend income and standalone profitability is primarily attributable to receipt of higher dividends from the Fertilizer and Petrochemical businesses.

On a consolidated basis, the Company’s revenue grew by 25% to PKR 88.33 billion in Q1 2022 from PKR 70.87 billion in the corresponding period. The Company posted a Profit-After-Tax (PAT) of PKR 14.90 billion, while PAT attributable to the shareholders was PKR 7.97 billion resulting in an Earnings per Share (EPS) of PKR 13.84 compared to PKR 14.47 in same period last year.

Engro Corporation announced an interim cash dividend of PKR 12/- per share for the first quarter.

Karachi (Nut Desk) Working to counter the deterioration of the environment, BankIslami, the 2^nd largest Islamic bank of the country with 340+ branches in 123+ cities, has organized yet again a tree plantation drive consecutively for the fourth time, in the efforts to rehabilitate forests, conserve the soil, under the campaign, “Plant a Hope IV” to commemorate Earth Day. The Bank held numerous activities to showcase its dedication to the nation and continue setting an example for others to follow.

The activity was attended by the President and CEO of BankIslami, Syed Amir Ali, along with the bank’s senior management, and featured tree plantation activities to counter the growing threat of environmental challenges across the country.

Working as a socially responsible entity, BankIslami supports the government’s efforts to conserve the environment by organizing the country’s largest tree plantation campaigns numerous times. Environmental preservation is among the country’s most pressing concerns of today, and BankIslami is playing a fundamental role in this regard.

Commenting on the occasion, Syed Amir Ali, President and CEO, BankIslami stated that “BankIslami believes in continued efforts to advance the objective of Pakistan’s environmental preservation progress. We are determined to continue making efforts like these around the country, and make the nation greener, one seed at a time”.

BankIslami continues to be one of the country’s most socially responsible organizations and has made important contributions to society since its inception. The bank confidently believes that tree plantation drives like its Plant a Hope IV campaign will grow into larger actions to fix the environment.