News Update Times

• For the very first time, PEUGEOT launches operations in Pakistan through its exclusive partner Lucky Motor Corporation
• Partnership to facilitate the creation of state-of-the-art assembly facilities to boost employment, localization and local automotive industry in Pakistan
• The first step of the partnership will begin with the introduction of the locally built PEUGEOT 2008

 Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) European automotive manufacturer, PEUGEOT, has officially launched operations in Pakistan for the first time in its distinguished history with its exclusive partner Lucky Motor Corporation. The partnership commenced with the opening of eight 3S dealerships in six cities, as well as a state-of-the-art facility for the assembly of cars in Pakistan.

Lucky Motor Corporation is a subsidiary of the Yunus Brothers Group, and has a legacy spanning over five decades, thanks to its robust and aggressive approach gaining considerable market share in the Pakistani automotive industry, and setting new benchmarks in terms of product offering & customer service. With the introduction of PEUGEOT, the company now aims to provide the best mobility solutions the European Brand can offer its customers.

PEUGEOT is an inventive brand that has been a pioneer in the automotive industry for over 211 years guided by its brand values; Allure, Emotion and Excellence, which represent sharp design, intuitive driving pleasure and uncompromising quality. With its entry into Pakistan, these values will be upheld as the brand strives to provide the market with the latest innovations and mobility solutions.

Linda Jackson, CEO of the PEUGEOT Brand, said: “We are delighted with this partnership and what it means for the Pakistani market. This will be the first time a European car is assembled in Pakistan and we are excited to work with Lucky Motors to support employment, localization and the local automotive industry in the country. Internationalization is a key focus for PEUGEOT, with the B and C segment SUV growth representing a great opportunity for us. This is also bolstered by the evolution of the legislation of the country towards electrification which is in line with our own strategy.”

Samir Cherfan, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East & Africa Region, Stellantis, said: “We are excited to embark on this journey in Pakistan with our new partner, Lucky Motor Corporation. We see tremendous potential and opportunity for PEUGEOT in Pakistan, and are looking forward to serving customers in this exciting market. I would like to also take this occasion to thank Mr Muhammad Ali Tabba and Mr Asif Rizvi for making this partnership possible and I am looking forward to witnessing the growth of both parties in the country.”

Asif Rizvi, Cheif Executive Officer, Lucky Motors Company, said : “Lucky Motors is set to change the automotive landscape of Pakistan by introducing Peugeot, the first locally made European brand in the country. We are very excited to partner with Peugeot and look forward to being associated with Stellantis, a company that strongly believes in futuristic mobility solutions.

Pakistan, with its 220 million population, offers a great opportunity for someone to come in and disrupt the automotive market. And we have no doubt that the Stellantis with its 14 brand portfolio, will be the one to do so. Lucky Motors is proud to become the first company in Pakistan to have multi-brand manufacturing and dealers. We are delighted to embark on this adventure, bringing with it the best automotive solutions, while also making meaningful contributions and investments that will support economic and social development in Pakistan.”

The first step of this ongoing commitment to the Pakistani customer will begin with the introduction of the PEUGEOT 2008. The lauded 2008 has been a success story for the brand since its development and stands apart in the compact SUV segment with its distinctive design, advanced technology and efficient powertrains. It also benefits from The PEUGEOT i-Cockpit, which features a stimulating interior design along with a state-of-the-art digital cluster and touchscreen that amplifies any driving experience. With 26 international prizes, including the Red Dot Design Award, and its perceived quality and value, the 2008 is the perfect model for Pakistani families.

The e-2008 will be the next model launched, giving customers the freedom to choose between a 100% electric and a thermic version, thanks to the Multi Energy platform CMP. Together, with support from PEUGEOT, Lucky Motors Corporation will assemble various models locally at state-of-the-art facilities, and is currently exploring opportunities to distribute multiple models by early next year.

To find out more about PEUGEOT’s operations in Pakistan,

please visit: (www.peugeot-luckymotorcorp.com)

40 winners from across 13 diverse categories – from Heritage & Culture to Sports, Social Service to Safety, and more – were recognized for their efforts in driving societal change in Karachi as part of their core mission.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) The Governor House in Karachi was host to a special celebration to honor the organizations which make Karachi a vibrant and thriving city with their social welfare contribution – the closing ceremony of KE’s 2nd KHI Awards, an initiative endorsed by NEPRA and launched in collaboration with #IAmKarachi.

40 winners from across 13 diverse categories – from Heritage & Culture to Sports, Social Service to Safety, and more – were recognized for their efforts in driving societal change in Karachi as part of their core mission. The chief guest of the event as Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, while Chairman NEPRA Tauseef H. Farooqi, and Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Minister of State & Chairman of Board of Investment (BOI) were guests of honor for the event.

Following the pandemic, businesses across the globe were faced with increased risk and instability regardless of their size, but the utility observed that the sector most affected was the one tasked with addressing societal problems. While new initiatives primarily focused on food security, improved hygiene, and securing livelihood, many actors addressing pertinent challenges beyond these areas were left out of the mix.

The KHI Awards addresses this problem by providing an equitable and impartial avenue through which winners are awarded grants of PKR 40 million in the form of rebates on electricity bills. While highlighting the importance of Karachi, Governor Sindh Imran Ismail stated the Karachi’s dynamism is a key driver of national growth, and we must all play our role to continue enriching its vibrancy. He further said that the federal government had taken series of initiatives for the overall development of Karachi.

“In addition to Greenline BRT service, federal government pays special focus on development of the port city to overcome related challenges faced by the citizens”, he added. Appreciating the KHI Awards, he said that Karachi Awards has emerged as a perfect forum for encouragement for the organizations working to uplift the society at large. While lauding other initiatives of the power utility he further said “Another project of K-Electric that needs to be encouraged is Roshni Baji, through which women are empowered by becoming safety ambassadors and going door to door for electrical safety awareness.”

He also stressed upon other organisations to come up with similar initiatives to provide relief to the community and to bring betterment to the society. Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Minister of State & Chairman BOI during his address at the event said, “We must appreciate K-Electric as it honors those organizations today which are playing a critical role in bringing betterment to the city and remain committed to making it more livable and sustainable. Karachi being the economic hub of the country has tremendous potential to attract further foreign investment, improved state of the city however, remains a pre-requisite.

Therefore, we need to make collective efforts to address this city’s challenges and prioritize its progress on every fronts.” Chairman NEPRA Tauseef H. Farooqi congratulated the winners and appreciated KE’s initiative. Addressing the audience, he said, “It is commendable to see that KE is finding innovative ways to take ownership of the communities it serves. We have to understand that creating meaningful relationships with customers and the environment is necessary to drive sustainable progress.

This is why NEPRA introduced the ‘Power with Prosperity’ vision to galvanize the power sector, and we have seen sizable investment and job creation across Pakistan through CSR efforts.” Launched in December 2021, the 2nd edition of the awards saw hundreds of applications that were screened through an extensive and rigorous evaluation process. An independent jury of 15 members, including notable names like Shehzad Roy, Sidra Iqbal, Jehan Ara, and others, led Saad Amanullah Khan, founder and current president of #IAmKarachi. EY Ford Rhodes Chartered Accountants, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited, served as the Official Award Auditors, overseeing the process and ensuring impartiality. Saad Amanullah Khan, President of the KHI Awards jury, was also delighted at the event, stating, “It has been a pleasure to be part of the KHI Awards for the second year running.

Not only did we receive a higher number of applications this year compared to last, the quality and innovation of the projects proposed by the applicants also demonstrate the commitment they have towards Karachi. We are very pleased to present this year’s winners who are impacting millions of people with their services and look forward to growing the KHI Awards further.”

Lahore (NUT DESK) The first day of the THAAP Seminar on Punjab Culture: Heritage, Conservation and Tourism took a successful start in Lahore on the 12th of March 2022. The Seminar is organized by THAAP with the initiative of addressing and promoting the central role played by the local communities in the process of conservation. Which would potentially, lead to the sustainable development of cultural and creative industries and ultimately uplifting and empowering the community as a whole.

The session was commenced by Ar. Mehreen Mustafa, Secretary to THAAP. She warmly welcomed the guests and the noteworthy speakers. Prof Pervaiz Vandal, the Managing Director of THAAP, delivered the welcome address. He began by highlighting what THAAP stands for and its approach to conservation. He stressed the need to see the tangible and intangible cultural histories as the core of our regional heritage. He urged to take notice of the ever-growing gap between the process of conservation and the local communities.

These notions were taken forward in the morning session by Mr. Maqsood Ahmad Malik, Director Archeology Punjab. He presented the various initiatives of the Punjab Archaeology department in the different cities across Punjab. And highlighted the important work done by the organization in protecting Pakistan’s heritage.

The second presenter of the session, Mr. Najam us Saqib, Director Conservation and Planning and Building Control presented WCLA’s extensive work done in the walled city of Lahore with the help of technical assistance as well as community participation. Thus, positively impacting the lives of the locals of the Walled city. Furthermore, architect Umair Ajmal and Ms. Mina Arham from AKCSP presented the detailed analysis and restoration of a few houses at WKC and the surface conservation of the north façade of Wazir Khan Mosque.

The efforts done by the AKCSP included employing various local artisans to keep traditional methods of architecture alive. Professor Sajida Haider Vandal, CEO THAAP, with the help of THAAP Heritage initiatives in Gurdawara Rohri Sahab, Gurduawara Sacha Sauda and Qila Kohna Singh; presented THAAP’s approach to conservation. The morning session was concluded with lunch and music interlude played by young boys from Gilgit Baltistan.

The book launch for the book titled “Flames Prefer to be Naked: Selected Poetry of Nasreen Anjum Bhatti and Sara Shagufta” translated from Punjabi into English by Naveed Alam was held on the second half of the day. He recited excerpts from the collection first in the original Punjabi and then his own translated English. This session was followed by a discussion panel composed of Nain Sukh and Zoya Sajid that discussed feminism in Punjabi literature and the relevance of Punjabi in contemporary times.

Thus, addressing the intangible heritage that THAAP emphasizes as a part of its ethos. The Seminar ended with an intense performance on the poem of Nasreen Anjum Bhatti by Sana Jafri and Abuzar Madho. The day ended with rousing closing remarks by Asad ullah Faiz, secretary tourism Punjab followed by tea.