foodpanda reiterates commitment towards women empowerment

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Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Keeping up with its annual tradition, foodpanda pledged its commitment to work towards gender equality and women empowerment by featuring its HomeChef at ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality’ ceremony at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The event was held to showcase and celebrate women playing different roles and how corporations should work together to achieve gender equality for a sustainable future.
The partnering organisations included Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), Women on Board, International Finance Corporation, UN Women and Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG).
 
Muntaqa Peracha, interim CEO, members from the HomeChef team, and foodpanda’s HomeChef Atiqa Zaeem from Mrs. Zaeem’s Kitchen were also present at the ceremony to promote gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow.
Sharing his views on how foodpanda is working towards empowering women, Muntaqa Peracha said, “foodpanda’s vision is to enable economic empowerment in the country and our HomeChef vertical is the first step towards making this happen. foodpanda encourages and supports females across all channels and Atiqa Zaeem, one of our HomeChefs, is a prime example of how females can earn from home and achieve financial stability. We envision to celebrate many such examples in the future.”
The session was opened by Atiqa Zaeem, foodpanda HomeChef, Jehan Ara, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Chairperson PSX; Ms Sima Kamil, Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan; and distinguished women of the country from various fields ranging from banking, financial, entrepreneurial, and corporate sectors to designing, medical, and legal professions.
Through its movements catering to women empowerment which includes the first female rider, Rubab Jumani, foodpanda has created various economic opportunities for home-based chefs. foodpanda’s collaboration with PSX highlighted the company’s objective to make the society a place where a woman can sustain herself financially by switching her dreams to a mode of earning.

HBL & MCB BANK introduce RDA drive ‘ROSHAN RAHO’

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HBL & MCB BANK introduce RDA drive
‘ROSHAN RAHO’ in association with the Pakistani Consulate Riyadh, KSA

  • HBL & MCB BANK participate in the Pakistan day event held by the Pakistan Consulate for Riyadh, KSA on 23rd March, 2022.
  • VIP attendance was made by His Excellency, Ameer Khurram Rathore the Ambassador to Riyadh.
  • Virtual guest Speakers included Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO – HBL and Shoaib Mumtaz, President & CEO MCB Bank.

RIYADH (NUT DESK) Leading Pakistani Banks HBL & MCB Bank partnered with the Pakistani Consulate (Riyadh, KSA) to launch their upcoming Roshan Digital Account (RDA) drive, ‘Roshan Raho’ at the Pakistani Consulate’s 23rd March Pakistan Day event. The ‘Roshan Raho’ drive will take place in Riyadh and Jeddah to create further awareness of State Bank of Pakistan’s Roshan Digital Account initiative. This initiative allows non-resident Pakistanis to open bank accounts digitally from abroad for investment in Pakistan and take advantage of the saving schemes and investment opportunities in the country.

During the event, guests were briefed on investment opportunities in Pakistan and the importance of Roshan Digital Accounts, particularly with respect to the economic contributions of the Pakistani diaspora to the progress and prosperity of their homeland. Participants were also apprised on HBL and MCB Bank’s ‘Roshan Raho’ drive to propagate further awareness of the Roshan Digital Account and its associated services, i.e. Roshan Apni Car auto financing and Roshan Apna Ghar home financing amongst others, to the Pakistani community in the KSA.

The event was graced by His Excellency Ameer Khurram Rathore, Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Tipu Usman, Deputy Head of Mission (DHM). The attendees were also virtually addressed by Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO – HBL and Shoaib Mumtaz, President & CEO of MCB Bank. Also in attendance were members of Pakistani professional communities, members of the senior management teams of both Banks, representatives of the Pakistani embassy, members of the Pakistani diaspora and other key dignitaries.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, President & CEO – HBL said: “HBL is honoured to be associated with the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) initiative. Over the course of the last one and a half year, we have been an active partner and a leading enabler in the evolution of the RDA account as it moved from being investment-oriented to now an integral part of lifestyle banking for overseas Pakistani’s. Clients can now make investments, contribute to charities, purchase a car or a house using their RDA accounts. HBL is committed to support the vision of the State Bank of Pakistan, to reach out to overseas Pakistanis and offer them the best of the products and services, as we continue to invest in Pakistan’s economic growth.”

 Shoaib Mumtaz, President & CEO of MCB Bank also said on the occasion, “The Pakistani diaspora has always been an invaluable asset for Pakistan and their contributions to our economy by way of remittances can never be over appreciated. It is due to their wholehearted participation in the RDA initiative, that more than US$ 3.7 billion has been remitted to Pakistan through Roshan Digital Accounts today. MCB Bank looks forward to working closely with Pakistani communities abroad to facilitate even greater access to innovative financial services and opportunities of investment in Pakistan.” 

Fashion Designers From Pakistan Take Part In Fashion Week

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistani and British European fashion designers have participated in the tenth fashion show of Riwayat fashion and singer Sarah Baig held in London for the last ten years. Famous fashion designers from Pakistan take part in Fashion Week May while famous fashion designers from other parts of the world also showcase their garments.

Adnan Ansari, CEO of Traditional Fashion Show Famous Multi Talented Fashion Designer and Singer Sarah Baig of Pakistan is playing her role in introducing this fashion show. It was noteworthy that Sarah Baig performed on the ramp with her new song “Ishq Saza” which was well received by the fans. On this occasion, Pakistani Dream Girl singer and fashion designer Sarah Baig while talking to the media said that The Pakistani fashion industry has spread all over the world, including the country, it has succeeded in creating its own distinct identity which is exemplified by Tradition Fashion Week which for the last ten years has been providing its platform to international designer brands from Pakistan and other countries where fashion enthusiasts from all over the world participate.

Sarah Baig said that while the Pakistani and Indian communities loved the fashion design garments I made, the British people also expressed their liking for them. She further said that these days with their fashion brands. I am also busy preparing my new video cover songs. I am releasing a new video very soon .

IBA Karachi hosts an insightful panel discussion on the Lahore Resolution

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Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) The IBA History Society (IHS) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi in collaboration with School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS) and The Citizens Archive of Pakistan Archive (CAP) hosted an insightful panel discussion on ‘Paving the way for Pakistan: The Lahore Resolution’. Eminent historians and specialists revisited the events around the Lahore Resolution of March 23, 1940.

The speakers included Dr. Syed Jaffar Ahmed, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Sohail University, and Director, Institute of Historical and Social Research, Karachi; Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director, IBA Karachi; Ms. Aaliyah Tayyebi, Senior Project Manager, CAP; and Ms. Aliya Naqvi, Faculty member, SESS, IBA Karachi. 

The aim of this session was to engage in a discussion of the legal and political context of the Muslim League’s 1940 resolution, its historical significance and its political repercussions. 

Commencing the panel discussion, Dr. Ahmed spoke about the events that shaped the political paradigm for the Lahore resolution. Discussing the contents of Mr. Jinnah’s speech, Dr. Ahmed pointed out that the right to self determination for the Muslim ‘nation’ was a major part of Quaid e Azam’s demands for the Muslim community in the Indian subcontinent, which he derived from the international laws of the day, as laid out by the League of Nations. Mr. Jinnah had also said that India is a subcontinent comprising many nations and not just just two. 

Ms. Tayyebi shed light on the importance of oral history and walked the audience through a selection of original audios from people who had witnessed the addresses and speeches at the Minto Park gathering in Lahore. She stated that oral historical accounts make the audience travel back in time and provide a crucial window into history. 

Dr. Zaidi highlighted the importance of reading original and authentic documents to learn true accounts of historical events.

The panel discussion was followed by an engaging Q&A session. 

CAP has also arranged an exhibition at the IBA Main Campus from March 24-27, 2022, featuring original audios of people present at the 1940 Lahore jalsa, and historical photos from the CAP archives. 

Non-profit IMI unveils its flagship Dream Project in New Jersey – USA

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(NUT DESK)

Project spreads over 30-acres with a Continuing Care Retirement Community including assisted living facility for elders in first phase New Jersey – USA Imamia Medics International (IMI) has formally launched work on its flagship Dream Project in Robbinsville, New Jersey. An impressive ceremony was held in this connection at a hotel in New Jersey on 15th Shaban, Saturday 19th March.

The event was attended by distinguished guests and dignitaries belonging to different walks of life. Notable guests included Consul General of Pakistan in New York, Ayesha Ali, Member of New Jersey Legislative Assembly Sadaf Jaffer, Christine Mercer being the leading figure of the Mercer County, and veterans of the Vietnam War. The office-bearers, volunteers, supporters of the IMI along with community elites also attended the ceremony in a large number. A presentation highlighting IMI’s Dream Project was held in the hotel. Later, a magnanimous flag hoisting ceremony was held to raise the US Flag as well as the IMI Flag and Alam of Hazrat Abbas (AS) on Dream Project site in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

Over 30 esteemed guests took part in the Tree Planting Ceremony at the project’s site as the first site activity. They expressed good wishes, assured financial assistance, and prayed for the success of the project. Speaking on the occasion, IMI Founder, Dr. Syed Wajih Rizvi, mentioned that education has emerged as a matter of life and death for the Nation. He said that good health was a prerequisite for the provision of quality education. He stated that a child belonging to a third world country should be healthy for getting education. Education for children is necessary for keeping a nation healthy, he said. Dr Rizvi said the IMI’s dream project stood for the fulfillment of fundamental human needs including education, health, and livelihood. The first phase of the IMI’s Dream Project relates to the Assisted Living Facility, that is designed to provide quality life, healthcare, faith and culture specific needs to community elders .

The Dream Project will spread over an area of 30 acres featuring facilities and activities for people from all age groups. These facilities include professional nursing services, rehabilitation of the ailing persons, plaza reserved for the practicing doctors, IMI headquarters, a modern studio for the Mi-TV, state-of-the-art digital library, auditorium, smart classrooms for Sadiq International Virtual University, gymnasium, and a multi-purpose hall for 500 persons.

IMI is a US-based charity that was founded in a basement of a New York home some thirty years back. A group of like-minded fellows, having full commitment to serve humanity, generously pooled whatever spare money they had to form IMI as the scope of its charitable work kept on extending with the passage of time. At present hundreds of doctors, scientists, professionals, volunteers associated with IMI have been serving humanity round-the-clock through 75 projects in over 17 countries, including an extremely active chapter in Pakistan.

IMI’s humanitarian services stand for serving the people free of charge without any discrimination on the basis of religion, race, and color. IMI supports projects in the fields of education, health, public welfare, and emergency assistance and relief to serve humanity with full commitment. IMI seeks support from its well-wishers from around the globe to continue with its mission to serve humanity. https://imamiamedics.com/page/donate

Telenor Pakistan partners with Novo Nordisk to boost health access

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Advancing its vision to empower societies across the nation, Telenor Pakistan has partnered with NovoNordisk to raise health awareness across rural Pakistan. Under the partnership agreement, Telenor Pakistan will educate its Khushaal Watan (mAgri) users  via SMS and Khushaal Zamindar live show to create reliable diabetes awareness, its symptoms and the need for referral to the doctor. In addition, Telenor Pakistan will create awareness about diabetes to users through its flagship rural health service Khushaal Sehat. 

Millions of Pakistanis, particularly in rural areas, are deprived of access to adequate health facilities, one of the largest barriers to healthcare. The unequal distribution of coverage contributes to disparities in health. For every doctor around the country, there are 1,700 patients in need of care. The Covid-19 global pandemic came as a stern wake-up call for the entire world, paving the way for telemedicine to make up for the shortcomings of traditional healthcare. Telenor Pakistan and Novo Nordisk are playing a pivotal role to ensure people have access to the best quality healthcare, now in the palm of their hands, empowering over 16 million rural customers through Khushaal Watan.

Commenting on the partnership, Chief Operating Officer Telenor Pakistan, Khurrum Ashfaque said, “The core purpose of our Khushaal Watan (M-Agri) portfolio is to develop it as a lifestyle digital platform of choice for agricultural communities, as we offer necessary tools for a healthier, more prosperous Pakistan. We’re committed to bringing benefits and solutions possible through our 4G network to every Pakistani. The collaboration with Novo Nordisk, a first of its kind, is a development towards the same aim, providing accessible digital healthcare solutions and information that contribute towards healthier lifestyles and consequently the economy.”

Present on the occasion, the General Manager and Vice President of Novo Nordisk, Rashed Rafique Butt commented,“Pakistan is now the 3rd largest country in the world with 33 million people living with diabetes. This is a call for everyone to join hands and do whatever it takes to curb this unfolding pandemic. I am very delighted to announce that Novo Nordisk and Telenor have partnered for diabetes which will certainly help us to raise awareness and direct people to take preventive measures and seek consultation from the doctor whenever needed.”

Telenor continues to strive towards inclusion and innovation, and with the addition of Novo Nordisk to itsKhushaal Watan (M-Agri) platform, it has put forth the latest in a series of initiatives designed by Telenor Pakistan to create a better connected and healthier Digital Pakistan.

Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited Enables Merchants to book Inventory on flexible loans Digitally

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The largest digital bank of Pakistan, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) is ushering in unparalleled enablement for Pakistani traders and merchants by allowing them to book inventory on credit, via their distributor. The latest offer, being introduced in partnership with AdalFi – a digital lending fintech – completely digitizes the banking experience of its business customers, particularly the micro, small, and medium business enterprises by manifold. 

MMBL is the first and only microfinance institution to offer merchant lending based on credit scoring. Under MMBL’s digital brand DOST, applications for distributors and merchants, retailers can book inventory through MMBL’s seamless digital banking ecosystem through competitive and flexible financing. This will enable merchants to grow their businesses, besides providing convenience through notifications and options to repay via Inter Bank Fund Transfer (IBFT), or over the counter/branches.
For more information on this product, please visit https://mobilinkbank.com/digital-banking/Dost-tajir

Chief Finance and Digital Officer, MMBL Sardar Mohammad Abubakr said: “MSMEs are the key to fostering economic prosperity and enabling a thriving environment for the country’s sustainable development. We are keen to use digital and financial technology to unlock the full potential of small and medium enterprises to catalyze a socio-economic transformation at the grassroots level. Growth trends during the pandemic indicate that MSMEs thrive on a digital model and our latest initiative is designed to sustain and further accelerate this growth wave.”

Salman Akhtar, CEO of AdalFi said: “We are delighted to partner with MMBL to enable real-time credit disbursement to MSMEs. Our Digital Lending Platform enables Banks to credit score MSMEs entirely, digitally, and unlock access to credit. This is the first of several lending products we are planning to launch in collaboration with MMBL.”

MMBL has an excellent track record of harnessing the power of digital and financial technology to aid the growth of small and medium businesses across the country. The bank has an added focus on helping to accelerate the growth of women-owned and led enterprises, in addition to businesses operating across Pakistan’s remote and hard to access regions. The bank leverages its grand scale digital financial ecosystem to support nationwide economic progress and development through a bottom-up development approach and has showcased enviable results for the past many years. 

 

Exponential Growth of Technology Poses Newer Challenges to Media Freedom

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KALĀM CENTRE FOR TRUSTING SOCIETIES RECOGNIZES AGAHI AWARDS WINNERS AS TRUST FELLOWS 2021-22

The Right to the Truth is a fundamental component in the context of human rights violations; Trust Fellows 2021 – 22 present their research at the UN Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and the Dignity of Victims.

Islamabad (Nut Desk)  AGAHI observed the United Nations International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and the Dignity of Victims. AGAHI organized the online session with journalists, academics and experts focusing on truth and its importance in the context of human rights violations.

Joining the session Dr Mowadat Hussain Rana, one of Pakistan’s leading psychiatrist and cognitive scientist expressed that, wars, slave trades, colonization, imperialism, and economic subjugations may all become a thing of the past and that the challenges in the context of exponential technologies which will become the key determinants of human pre-thought an essential factor to consider while developing an understanding on the future of human rights. 

As the public struggles to separate truth from fiction; in a post-truth era and advancements in ‘deep fakes’ Journalists have a particular responsibility as a powerful force for change in both developed and developing countries. According to multiple reports, trust in media and particularly in journalism and news has been experiencing a long and steady decline over the past few years. There are multiple reasons behind this declining level of trust, one of the prominent is misinformation and disinformation.

“Understanding factors that drive trust in journalism in the local context is an essential asset that serves media freedom, and this is becoming ever so more critical in times of exponential growth of technology, which is shaping public consciousness” said Puruesh Chaudhary, Lead KALĀM Centre for Trusting Societies and Founding President AGAHI.

Dr Najma Sadiq, Head of Mass Communications, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad (NUST) elaborated on the pillars of trust in the construction of information and news, the indicators open for discussion included: research, credibility, predictability, fairness, balance, relevance, contextualization, presentation, accessibility, and interactivity on online platforms. 

Recognizing these global developments and its impact on the local context, on December 10, 2021, at the 9th Annual AGAHI Awards with the support from the Ambassade De France AU Pakistan the winners in the categories of human rights and democracy, Sidra Dar and Aiman Mahmood were recognized as Trust Fellow 2021-22. In a three-month fellowship programme aimed to encourage information hygiene by improving the state of factual reporting practices in the country with the mission to cultivate trust in the society.

The Fellowship exposure equipped the Fellows to better comprehend the known and the unknown threats that emanate from information disorders including an advance understanding of the types of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation practices by a network of academics and mentors. The eight contextualized training modules developed by senior academics were designed to enable an understanding around factors that drive trust in journalism.

During the online session the two fellows Sidra Dar and Aiman Mahmood both presented their research work focusing on the categories they won the AGAHI Awards in; Mahmood’s fishermen of Ibrahim Hayderi story was covered through a democracy lens whereas Dar’s was focused on the identity challenges of the Bengali community oriented more towards the human rights.

The mentors for the Trust Fellowship Programme also joining the session Osama Bin Javaid Senior Correspondent at Al Jazeera and Razeshta Sethna Senior International Journalist implied how truth becomes an important pillar for a journalist in current times of chaos and turmoil. The session was attended by leading academics, journalists, students, and other professionals from Pakistan and other countries.

Each year, on 24 March, the UN International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is observed. The purpose of the Day is to Honor the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice. It also pays tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all.

The Trust Fellowship Programme focuses on ‘The Hazards of Information Disorder’. The programme aims to encourage information hygiene by improving the state of factual reporting practices in the country with the mission to cultivate trust in the society. This Fellowship exposure is designed around contextualized academic and research training that enable an enlightened understanding of the factors that drive trust.

‘Kalām’ Centre for Trusting Societies encourages and supports initiatives designed to improve trust as one of the fundamentals of human agency and wellbeing. The platform explored how information overload in a digital age can lead to a crisis of trust at the UNESCO Global Information Literacy Week in October 2021.

 

 

Meezan Bank provides First-of-its-kind Shariah-compliant solution

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Meezan Bank provides First-of-its-kind Shariah-compliant solution to Inland Bill Discounting Facility for Huawei Technologies Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  Meezan Bank – Pakistan’s first and largest Islamic bank has successfully instituted an Islamic alternate to Inland Bill Discounting Facility for Huawei Technologies Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited – a first-of-its-kind transaction in Islamic banking industry, developed as a Shariah-compliant alternate to local bill discounting facility. The first drawdown under the facility was made against a deferred payment inland Letter of Credit (LC) opened by Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (Ufone) in favour of Huawei. The transaction has been developed by the Bank under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani – Vice Chairman Shariah Board, Meezan Bank, after a series of deliberations and persistent efforts.

On this occasion, Mr. Abdullah Ahmed – Group Head, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Meezan Bank stated, “Meezan Bank is pleased to offer yet another milestone solution for the Islamic banking industry i.e., a Shariah-compliant alternative to discounting of long tenor inland bills with provision of variable profit rates. We are hopeful that this solution will serve as a precedent for unique transactions pertaining to trade within telecom industry.”

Mr. Ahmed Ali Siddiqui – Group Head, Shariah Compliance, Meezan Bank, stated, “This endeavour of Meezan Bank displays its capability to develop out-of-the-box, innovative and Shariah-compliant solutions and reinforces its position as the leading Islamic bank of the country. We hope this solution will open a new chapter in facilitating trade among businesses and industries in a Shariah-compliant way and bring more businesses and trade into fold of Islamic banking.”

Arooj Aftab features on Times Square Billboard as Spotify’s Ambassador for EQUAL Pakistan

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Lahore (Nut Desk)
Arooj Aftab, two-time Grammy nominee and the Ambassador of EQUAL Pakistan, Spotify’s Global Music Program, becomes the first Pakistani artist to light up Times Square in New York City, USA.

Representing women creators of Pakistan at a global level, Arooj Aftab is being featured as Spotify’s EQUAL Artist of the Month on the digital billboard ad in New York Times Square as part of EQUAL’s global campaign. The world’s most popular streaming platform, Spotify, aims to celebrate women creators by giving them a platform to share their content with the world.