SeePrime releases an engrossing short film ‘Mr & Mrs Abdullah

SeePrime releases an engrossing short film ‘Mr & Mrs Abdullah

Islamabad:-Pakistan’s fastest growing digital platform SeePrime has brought yet another intriguing short film for its viewers titled ‘Mr & Mrs Abdullah’ starring Marina Khan, Syed Mohammad Ahmed and Danyal Afzal.




‘Mr & Mrs Abdullah’ follows the story of a happily married old couple, Bano and Abdullah and their son Haris who no longer lives with them. Abdullah’s sickness is consuming him and his son keeps on insisting to send money to which Abdullah refuses and asks Haris to come see his parents. Abdullah cares about his family a lot and wants to ensure that they will be taken care of once he’s gone.


“Mr & Mrs Abdullah is a story that depicts just how fragile life is,” commented Seemeen Naveed, the executive producer and the woman behind SeePrime. “It is an emotional and inspiring tale and the hard work and efforts that have gone into it has made it even more special.”


The captivating story ‘Mr & Mrs Abdullah’ has been penned down by Syed Mohammad Ahmed, co-produced by Ali Hussain and Mahib Bukhari, directed by Faiz and executively produced by none other than Seemeen Naveed. ‘Mr & Mrs Abdullah is now available for viewers’ on SeePrime’s YouTube channel.

Cricket Fever Blows up on Social Media During PSL Final Stage

Cricket Fever Blows up on Social Media During PSL Final Stage

February 28, 2022: PSL 7 2022 came to a fiery conclusion with Lahore Qalandars taking the top prize. The nation followed the sport with zeal and fervor. Social media enabled cricket fans around Pakistan to become an interactive part of the game. Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook and Likee all introduced numerous campaigns like filters as well as hashtags to bring a creative light to Pakistan’s premier national cricket tournament. These initiatives added to the grandeur of this festival. 




Likee, the country’s leading short video sharing platform, also embraced the celebration through enabling creators to express their love and support for the game of cricket in a variety of ways. The application launched a hashtag challenge to allow people to become part of the PSL fever that is gripping the nation. The trend received extensive participation from creators across the country who shared diverse videos that included kids playing cricket, rap and dance posts to name a few. 


On top of that, Likee also launched an interactive game that allows creators to participate virtually and relive their love for the game in an interesting manner. For the younger generation that specifically shows its support towards PSL, cheering and roaring for their teams in the stadium as well as on social media, this game is an ideal opportunity to build the hype. 


Numerous creators from the platform showcased their love for the game of cricket through these initiatives. Cricket Lover, a creator with nearly 300,000 fans on Likee shares all and everything about the game on this page. He is avid watcher of the game and never misses a single match especially when the Pakistani team is playing. His love for the Afridi clan including Shahid and Shaheen Afridi is exceptionally profound. He left no confusion about this as he expressed how Likee has provided him with a chance to let the world know of his passion, fascination and zeal for the game and the ‘Men in Green.’


Another creator, Cricket Lovers, who also participated actively in the challenge expressed his views in the following words: “As a nation and as a person, there is no downplaying the fact that cricket runs in our veins. Whenever our team plays, we are up for supporting them. I watch cricket especially PSL on a regular basis and have not missed a match ever. This year, through Likee, I had the distinct platform to express my feelings to a greater audience. I met numerous like-minded people not just on the application but outside as well who appreciated and supported my content and this was amazing to witness.”


Umair, a significant creator on Likee with more than 2 million fans and posting humorous videos on his page was another person that appreciated Likee and its initiatives. “Although I post a lot about other things, when it comes to cricket and PSL, I am a die-hard fanatic. I miss matches due to various commitments, but I make sure to let my love for the game and our players known to the world,” he said. Umair, whose Likee handle is Oye Umair, was much praise for Likee and the opportunity it is providing to the youth of Pakistan and the nation in general. 


With cricket being a crucial point of passion for the nation, short video sharing platforms gave people a grand stage to shine through social media.


Wrapping a Phenomenal Pre-order Phase, realme 9i Goes on Sale in Pakistan

Wrapping a Phenomenal Pre-order Phase, realme 9i Goes on Sale in Pakistan

Bagging more than 4,000 pre-orders, realme 9i wins over consumer anticipation promising the real 6nm processing power at a price they love




realme has once again brought a new and exciting product to the smartphone market – realme 9i. The youth-centric, tech-trailblazer has become known to bring exciting specifications into a budget-friendly package. Pre-orders for the new realme 9i kicked off this week and after a successful run of more than 4,000 pre-orders, the phone is going on sale now. In just a few days, realme has become the talk of the town with branding activities conducted across 700+ stores all over Pakistan. The realme 9i is flying off because of all the cutting-edge tech innovations fit into this easy-on-the-budget handset.



Unbounded Power

The realme 9i isn’t just a pretty package. Inside the new smartphone you can find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 6nm chipset that allows it to pack a pretty powerful punch. This powerful chipset works hard to boost performance as well as reduce power consumption. The 6nm processor consumes 62% less power and affords 46% more performance than its 12nm counterparts. It also brings a powerful Adreno 610 GPU, which provides the support needed for the 90Hz high refresh rate screen technology found in the realme 9i.




In order to combat any issues caused by the lack of memory on the phone, realme developed Dynamic RAM Expansion (DRE) technology. This converts some of your ROM into virtual RAM in order to give you a virtually-expanded RAM. The realme 9i can expand its default 6GB RAM by up to an additional 5GB to enjoy the experience of 11GB RAM.


Stunning Camera Capabilities

Don’t think that realme forgot about the photography enthusiasts. The new realme 9i features a 50MP AI Triple Caemra on the rear that allows you to take stunning photographs. It also comes with a Macro lens for close-up photography and a Black and White portrait lens so you can get creative with the kinds of shots you want to take. You also get access to a range of different photography modes such as night mode, panoramic view, expert mode, timelapse, portrait mode, HDR, ultra-macro, AI beauty, filter, super text, and slow motion. Selfie-lovers will be delighted to know that the realme 9i comes with a 16MP HD selfie camera so you can get crisp, clear, and vibrant selfies to add to your Instagram feed.


Battery That Can Go the Distance

Good performance is useless without the battery life to back it up. Luckily, the massive 5,000 mAh battery on the realme 9i has got you covered. Providing 995 hours of standby time, 48.4 hours of talk time, 20.7 hours of WhatsApp usage, and 116.3 hours of music playback from full battery, the realme 9i’s battery is equipped to give you the ability to perform your preferred activity on your smartphone for long stretches of time. Even if your battery does start to drain after extended usage, the realme 9i’s 33W Dart Charge technology will take your phone from 0% to 100% in just 70 minutes. When compared to the previous entry in the realme number series, the realme 8i, the 9i shows an impressive 36% increase in charging speed and comes with 5-stage safe charging protection, enabling a faster and safer charge.


Aesthetically Pleasing Design

Building on the design concept of "capture the light" introduced in the realme 8i, the realme 9i brings with it the first Stereo Prism Design, which presents a dynamic effect of three-dimensional light and shadow transformation across the back of the smartphone. The realme 9i comes in two stunning color variants – Prism Blue and Prism Black. Part of what makes the design unique is the industry-leading, 8-layer optical coating done on the back side of the phone which provides the ultimate transparency and layering. Light is refracted through multiple layers of nanoscale film and superimposes the glare with high color saturation. This produces an eye-catching visual effect.


The brand new realme 9i is available now in the 6GB + 128GB variant for the exciting price of just PKR 36,999/ in Prism Black and Prism Blue in mobile stores all over the country. Go get yours now and join the realme family.


Pakistan’s Fatima Group inks $1 billion deals with global agriculture giants at Expo 2020 Dubai

Pakistan’s Fatima Group inks $1 billion deals with global agriculture giants at Expo 2020 Dubai

Lahore, Feb 26, 2022: Fatima Group, one of the fastest-growing industrial conglomerates in Pakistan, has signed two MoUs of over USD1 billion with two key global agriculture stakeholders – China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC) from China and Sarh Attaqnia Co. (SAC) from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.




A formal signing of the business partnership was held at the Pakistan Pavilion in line with the ongoing Agriculture Week at Expo 2020 Dubai. Fatima Group is leading the initiative of transforming Pakistan’s agriculture to serve as the world’s food basket. They’ve been known as Pakistan’s fastest-growing industrial conglomerate with more than $1 billion in revenue in industries like fertilizers, energy, textiles, sugar, cement, and venture capital investments.


“As chairman of a leading Pakistani conglomerate, it is my vision to bring modern precision farming to Pakistan. We as a country are blessed with immense potential and I strongly believe that with the right partners we can create a big difference not just for Pakistan’s food security but the entire region’s. We are grateful to our Chinese and Saudi counterparts who have put their trust and faith in us. I am hopeful that this landmark will lead to many more such partnerships and investment opportunities for future,” said Mian Fawad Ahmed Mukhtar, Chairman of Fatima Group and CEO of Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited.


CMEC as a technology partner, will help with the adaption of climate-smart precision agriculture farm machinery, improved high-yielding seeds, and other crop inputs in Pakistan. In addition, Sarh Attaqnia Company is a key partner that will invest in developing a state-of-the-art agriculture value chain encompassing sustainable production, processing, warehousing, and export marketing of grain crops to help ensure regional food security.


Pakistan has over 20% of its GDP linked with agriculture and about 64% of the human resource associated with it. This collaboration will potentially unlock a tremendous amount of untapped land resources of Pakistan by bringing fallow lands under cultivation for sustainable production of crops like rice, barley, oats, silage bales for livestock, and dairy industry under the Corporate Agriculture Farming initiative. Fatima Group, along with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, is at the Pakistan Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai over the next four days, holding a range of events showcasing its commitment to help ensure regional food security, agricultural innovation, and women empowerment in the agriculture sector of Pakistan.

Meezan Bank disburses Rs. 1 billion under Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan - Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme

Meezan Bank disburses Rs. 1 billion under Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan - Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme

Meezan Bank disburses Rs. 1 billion under Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan - Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (PMKJ-YES) to facilitate the Youth of Pakistan in setting up new or growing established businesses




Karachi, Friday, 25 February, 2022: Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank, also became the first and only Islamic bank to disburse Rs. 1 billion under Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan - Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (PMKJ-YES) for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)


Mr. Usman Dar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs and Mr. Haleem Adil Sheikh, Member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh graced the ceremony hosted by Mr. Irfan Siddiqui, Founding President & CEO – Meezan Bank and Mr. Ariful Islam, Deputy CEO – Meezan Bank at the Bank’s Head Office located in Karachi. The event was also attended by the PMKJ-YES teams and senior management of the Bank.


PMKJ – YES will allow access to Islamic finance to those SMEs who, despite being credit-worthy, are unable to avail financing due to various documentary and collateral related issues. Under this scheme, Meezan Bank will extend Shariah-compliant financing facilities of up to PKR 25 million to eligible customers at subsidized rates.


Mr. Irfan Siddiqui reiterated that Meezan Bank, following its Vision of establishing ‘Islamic banking as banking of first choice...’ stands committed to the Government of Pakistan and State Bank of Pakistan in playing a key role in the success of Prime Minister's Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme and other schemes to promote financial inclusion, by providing Shariah-compliant financing products and solutions.

U Microfinance Bank Signs an Agreement With The Bank Of Punjab For Kamyab Pakistan Program

U Microfinance Bank Signs an Agreement With The Bank Of Punjab For Kamyab Pakistan Program

Islamabad:  President & CEO of U Microfinance Bank Limited (“U Bank”) Mr. Kabeer Naqvi and President & CEO of The Bank of Punjab (“BOP”), Mr. Zafar Masud, signed an Agreement to promote affordable housing finance under Government’s Kamyab Pakistan Program  – KPP.




Through this partnership, BOP will provide U Bank with interest-free Term Finance Facility under the KPP framework compliant Low-Cost Housing Program, amounting to PKR 5 Billion, to promote housing finance in the country. This new initiative not only strengthens the bond between both institutions and opens up more avenues for collaboration, but also ties in with the Government’s agenda for providing access to housing credit to the excluded part of Pakistan.


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Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Kabeer Naqvi, President & CEO of U Bank said that this program of the Government of Pakistan will help institutions in providing subsidized micro-loans to low-income families for the purpose of encouraging economic growth in Pakistan, particularly those in the informal sector. He commended Government’s commitment in providing affordable housing finance for all and further support economic and social development. He also highlighted how U Bank’s strategic direction is aligned with the Government’s mission towards financial inclusion and poverty alleviation.


Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Zafar Masud President & CEO of BOP said, this Partnership will pave way for the microfinance industry to extend housing finance to the low-income groups, a market segment that has remained neglected for a long. BOP is continuing to play its role as a catalyst in mortgage market development and for the growth of affordable housing in the country. He further added that BOP has already embarked on the journey of becoming one of the top 5 banks and will soon create its space there.


The ceremony was held in Islamabad and was witnessed by the senior management of both institutions. From BOP, Mr. Farid Ahmed Khan (GC – C&IB), Mr. Khawar Shahid Ansari (GH – Treasury & FI), Mr. Saqib Sajjad (Head – FI & CB) and other team members were present. From U Bank, Ms. Mariam Pervaiz – Chief Commercial Officer & Chief of Staff, Ms. Ambreen Malik – Chief Business officer and Chief Digital Officer, Mr. Muhammad Farooq Kamran – Chief Corporate & Investment Banking and other senior members of the management team were present.

Zong Organized its Annual Business Conference 2022 Themed ‘Let’s Get Digital’

Zong Organized its Annual Business Conference 2022 Themed ‘Let’s Get Digital’

Islamabad- February 25th, 2022- Pakistan’s cellular and digital services frontrunner, Zong 4G, held its Annual Business Conference 2022 digitally that was attended by over 250 employees from across the organization. Themed, ‘Let’s Get Digital’, which is also Zong’s new brand tagline, the event saw company management highlighting annual achievements and milestones for the year 2021.




Zong’s commitment to Digital Pakistan was reiterated at the event, and its several initiatives to bring the country at par with the global digital race were highlighted, with employees being enthused about their contributions. More in more, the company’s employees’ consistent and tireless contributions towards making the comp any the go-to provider of connectivity and high-end digital services was also brought to light and applauded by the top management.


Spotlight on the company’s goals for 2022 – and a wider vision for the future – was also shared at the event with employees showing their excitement over the company’s ambitions. The management also shared how Zong is leading Pakistan’s digital transformation from the front, and how it will continue to boost its efforts towards realizing the vision of Digital Pakistan.


Zong Chairman & CEO, Wang Hua, also shared the company’s long-term key strategic direction with the employees, along with Zong’s growth and development strategies for 2022. “I congratulate all Zong employees for making 2021 a year of many successes,” shared Wang Hua at the occasion. “We achieved many milestones and set new industry benchmarks which we owe to our valued employees and customers.”


He added “Each member of the team has contributed their best to make Zong the preferred Pakistani connectivity and digital services provider, and make Digital Pakistan a reality.”


He also highlighted Zong’s CSR contributions and stressed its focus on adding value to Pakistani society. “Zong believes that through digital and intelligent transformation, we can help Pakistan transform digitally and enable every citizen,” he added.


Keeping employee health a top priority since March 2020, Zong adopted the work-from-home model and successfully transformed the company for the new business model. Since the pandemic, this is the second time that Zong has held its Annual Business Conference digitally.

Wrapping a Phenomenal Pre-order Phase, realme 9i Goes on Sale in Pakistan

Wrapping a Phenomenal Pre-order Phase, realme 9i Goes on Sale in Pakistan


Bagging more than 4,000 pre-orders, realme 9i wins over consumer anticipation promising the real 6nm processing power at a price they love


realme has once again brought a new and exciting product to the smartphone market – realme 9i. The youth-centric, tech-trailblazer has become known to bring exciting specifications into a budget-friendly package. Pre-orders for the new realme 9i kicked off this week and after a successful run of more than 4,000 pre-orders, the phone is going on sale now. In just a few days, realme has become the talk of the town with branding activities conducted across 700+ stores all over Pakistan. The realme 9i is flying off because of all the cutting-edge tech innovations fit into this easy-on-the-budget handset.

Unbounded Power


The realme 9i isn’t just a pretty package. Inside the new smartphone you can find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 6nm chipset that allows it to pack a pretty powerful punch. This powerful chipset works hard to boost performance as well as reduce power consumption. The 6nm processor consumes 62% less power and affords 46% more performance than its 12nm counterparts. It also brings a powerful Adreno 610 GPU, which provides the support needed for the 90Hz high refresh rate screen technology found in the realme 9i.

In order to combat any issues caused by the lack of memory on the phone, realme developed Dynamic RAM Expansion (DRE) technology. This converts some of your ROM into virtual RAM in order to give you a virtually-expanded RAM. The realme 9i can expand its default 6GB RAM by up to an additional 5GB to enjoy the experience of 11GB RAM.


Stunning Camera Capabilities

Don’t think that realme forgot about the photography enthusiasts. The new realme 9i features a 50MP AI Triple Caemra on the rear that allows you to take stunning photographs. It also comes with a Macro lens for close-up photography and a Black and White portrait lens so you can get creative with the kinds of shots you want to take. You also get access to a range of different photography modes such as night mode, panoramic view, expert mode, timelapse, portrait mode, HDR, ultra-macro, AI beauty, filter, super text, and slow motion. Selfie-lovers will be delighted to know that the realme 9i comes with a 16MP HD selfie camera so you can get crisp, clear, and vibrant selfies to add to your Instagram feed.

 

Battery That Can Go the Distance

Good performance is useless without the battery life to back it up. Luckily, the massive 5,000 mAh battery on the realme 9i has got you covered. Providing 995 hours of standby time, 48.4 hours of talk time, 20.7 hours of WhatsApp usage, and 116.3 hours of music playback from full battery, the realme 9i’s battery is equipped to give you the ability to perform your preferred activity on your smartphone for long stretches of time. Even if your battery does start to drain after extended usage, the realme 9i’s 33W Dart Charge technology will take your phone from 0% to 100% in just 70 minutes. When compared to the previous entry in the realme number series, the realme 8i, the 9i shows an impressive 36% increase in charging speed and comes with 5-stage safe charging protection, enabling a faster and safer charge.


Aesthetically Pleasing Design

Building on the design concept of "capture the light" introduced in the realme 8i, the realme 9i brings with it the first Stereo Prism Design, which presents a dynamic effect of three-dimensional light and shadow transformation across the back of the smartphone. The realme 9i comes in two stunning color variants – Prism Blue and Prism Black. Part of what makes the design unique is the industry-leading, 8-layer optical coating done on the back side of the phone which provides the ultimate transparency and layering. Light is refracted through multiple layers of nanoscale film and superimposes the glare with high color saturation. This produces an eye-catching visual effect.


The brand new realme 9i is available now in the 6GB + 128GB variant for the exciting price of just PKR 36,999/ in Prism Black and Prism Blue in mobile stores all over the country. Go get yours now and join the realme family.

 Spotify Reveals Data On Pakistani Music’s Borderless Reach

Spotify Reveals Data On Pakistani Music’s Borderless Reach

Karachi, Thursday, February 24, 2022: Almost a year ago, Spotify - the world’s most popular streaming platform, entered the Pakistani market with a commitment to help local artists reach new fans and build careers, both at home and abroad, through its tools and features that enable artist discovery. 365 days later, Spotify is celebrating its first anniversary by unveiling how Pakistani music is being discovered and enjoyed around the world. 





Pakistani artists found a global stage

According to Spotify’s data, there have been over 19,590 songs added to the platform from creators in Pakistan over the past year. Amongst the 184 markets, with 406 million listeners worldwide in which Spotify operates, the top countries listening to Pakistani music are India, the United States and the United Kingdom.


The Spotify data also revealed who are the most-streamed Pakistani artists outside of the country. Atif Aslam became the most-streamed Pakistani artist abroad, with his hits "Kadi Te Has Bol" with Velo Sound Station, "Jeena Jeena (Badlapur)", and "Tere Sang Yaara" ranking in the top 10 most-streamed songs from Pakistan abroad. 


Acclaimed Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was the second most-streamed Pakistani artist abroad, and his uncle, the legendary qawwali maestro, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan came in third. Momina Mustehsan landed the fourth spot, and Bilal Saeed came fifth. 


“Baari” by Bilal Saeed and Momina Mustehsan, the ultimate love song for millions of listeners, has earned the number one spot as the most-streamed local song abroad. The power duo made another appearance with “Uchiyaan Deewaraan” in the fourth spot, and Momina Mustehsan came in ninth with Adnan Dhool in “Awari”. 


Additionally, Rap duo Young Stunners’ hits “Gumaan”, “Don’t Mind” with Rap Demon and “Afsanay” came third, seventh and eighth, respectively. 


“Spotify continues to be committed to providing equal opportunities to all local artists, enabling them to connect with a global audience by creating an ecosystem where they can propel their careers, while breaking lingual and cultural barriers,” said Claudius Boller, Managing Director of Spotify MENAP, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.


Local genres are getting exported across the globe

Pakistani music crossing borders had another notable moment over the past year, with 11% of the Pakistani Indie genre being streamed in the US, seeing a growth of more than 150% globally in the last year. 

Additionally, Pakistani Electronic is gaining momentum locally and internationally, with 23% of the genre being streamed in the US, Canada, UK, and Germany, paving the way to a 223% increase in global streams since Spotify’s launch. 


Speaking about how things have changed for him since Spotify entered the local scene, Turhan James, a Pakistani electronic music producer, said, “I'm so glad to see that my music is being heard so much since Spotify launched in Pakistan. I personally feel that it has been an absolute game-changer for our music industry. The platform has given artists the opportunity to have their work showcased to millions of people, not just in Pakistan but around the world, while giving listeners the ability to consume music they would never come across. It's been a blessing!"


Local hip-hop was also amongst the most popular genres abroad. More than 63% of the streams for the genre came from outside the country and witnessed growth in global streams of almost 70%. 

Join the celebrations on Spotify Pakistan's Facebook and Instagram pages.

Facebook: @SpotifyPakistan| Instagram: @SpotifyPakistan 


About Spotify Technology S.A.

Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators. Today, with over 82 million tracks, we are the world’s most popular audio streaming service with a community of more than 406 million users across 184 markets.


Spotify’s Streaming Trends In Pakistan Feb, 2021-Feb 2022:


Top local artists streamed outside of Pakistan:

1. Atif Aslam

2. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

3. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

4. Momina Mustehsan

5. Bilal Saeed

6. Shafqat Amanat Ali

7. Talha Anjum

8. Talhah Yunus

9. Asim Azhar

10. Young Stunners


Top songs from Pakistan streamed abroad:

1. Baari (Bilal Saeed, Momina Mustehsan)

2. Pehli Dafa - Atif Aslam, Shiraz Uppal

3. Gumaan - Young Stunners

4. Uchiyaan Deewaraan - Bilal Saeed, Momina Mustehsan

5. Kadi Te Has Bol - Atif Aslam, Velo Sound Station

6. Jeena Jeena (Badlapur) - Atif Aslam

7. Don’t Mind - Rap Demon, Young Stunners

8. Afsanay - Young Stunners

9. Awari - Adnan Dhool, Momina Mustehsan

10. Tere Sang Yaara - Atif Aslam





The All New realme 9i – A 6nm Powerful All-round Performer

The All New realme 9i – A 6nm Powerful All-round Performer

Bringing premium specifications to an affordable price segment, the new realme 9i really packs a punch with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 6nm Chipset, 11GB Dynamic RAM and 33W Dart Charge.

The pre-orders for realme 9i are live across the country through multiple offline channels and mobile stores near you. The pre-orders are not coming slow and there isn’t a lot of time remaining for you to avail the special pre-order offer all for PKR 36,999/-. 




The realme 9i is the first entry in the 9th iteration of the acclaimed realme Number Series and upholds the grand realme tradition of providing more game-changing specs at an economical price segment than you would expect. The smartphone comes equipped with amazing features such as a 33W Dart Charge, 90Hz refresh rate, a 5000mAh battery, and many more. So, let’s take a moment to go through these features and determine why this device is among the hottest releases of this year. 




Next-level Power

As stylish as it looks on the outside, the realme 9i is just as powerful on the inside. It comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 6nm chipset which allows for greatly improved performance as well as power-saving. The 6nm processor consumes significantly less power than its 12nm counterparts, consuming 62% less power and providing 46% better performance. When you pit it against the Snapdragon 662 from the previous generation of Snapdragon processors, this processor provides a 20% increase in CPU performance, a 17% increase in GPU performance, and a 10% increase in AI performance. These improvements allow for faster loading, less lag, faster launch times, and higher frame rates which greatly improves the user experience whether it’s for casual use or heavy gameplay. The handset also comes with realme’s Dynamic RAM expansion technology which gives users the option to use up to 5GB additional virtual RAM. This allows you to multitask as needed without ever worrying about the speed of your smartphone.




Next-level Battery 

Any great device can fail if it doesn’t have the right support features. Luckily for you, the realme 9i has got you covered. The massive 5000mAh battery that comes with the smartphone provides ample support for long hours of strenuous usage. At full battery, the realme 9i supports continuous music play for up to 116.3 hours and its standby life totals to an impressive 995 hours. Don’t worry if your battery starts to hit the lower thresholds, as even at 5% battery with super power saving mode enabled, your handset can last up to 49.9 hours on standby. When it comes to charging your battery, realme aims to provide a smooth experience with its 33W Dart Charge technology. With its intelligent algorithms and advanced technology, the 33W Dart Charge can get your phone up from 0 to 100% in just 70 minutes.




Next-level Design

The design concept of the realme 9i follows in the footsteps of the realme 8i’s philosophy of “Capture the Light”. This has led to the development of the iconic Stereo Prism Design which presents a dynamic effect of three-dimensional light and shadow transformation. This effect can be found in both the color variants of the realme 9i. However, the Prism Blue variant does come with a little something extra. With 8 layers of optical coating in its rear design, the light passes through layer by layer via refraction. This allows for patterns of light to be seen across the back panel as light moves through the layered design leading to a very attractive display. On the front side, the realme 9i comes with a stunning 6.6-inch, 90Hz refresh rate enabled, LCD touch screen with a peak brightness of 480nit. Combining these design innovations makes the realme 9i an exciting smartphone to watch out for.


Next-level Camera

Last but not least, let’s talk about the camera capabilities of the new realme 9i. When it comes to the rear camera, realme 9i comes equipped with a 50MP AI Triple Camera along with a 2MP Macro Lens for close-up photography and a 2MP Black and White Lens that takes artistic shots in portrait mode. The camera on the realme 9i also comes with various modes including Night Mode, Panoramic view, Expert mode, Timelapse, Portrait Mode, HDR, Ultra Macro, AI Beauty, and Slow Motion among others. All of this combined gives you great photography capabilities in an economical price.  The 16MP Selfie Camera is no joke either, allowing you to take clear crisp selfies with natural looking color. 


With all these exciting features, the realme 9i is a must have for tech enthusiasts and gamers alike. So, visit your nearest mobile store to place your pre-order now before Friday, February 25, 2022 in order to avail your free gift of the realme Buds Classic. The realme 9i is available in its 6GB + 128GB variant for the attractive price of PKR 36,999/-.


His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announces the launch of e& as a new brand identity for Etisalat Group

His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announces the launch of e& as a new brand identity for Etisalat Group

The new brand demonstrates the Group’s commitment to become a global technology and investment conglomerate that accelerates the digital transformation journey while empowering societies. 

HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan commends e& for steering its global digitalisation leadership through pioneering advanced technologies, advancing ICT infrastructures, and fuelling growth while unlocking value.

The launch further strengthens the UAE’s standing as the Middle East technology and digitalisation hub. 




Abu Dhabi, 24 February 2022: His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Minister of Presidential Affairs, today launched e&, marking the transformation ambitions of Etisalat Group into a global technology and investment conglomerate. 


Commenting on the launch, HH Sheikh Mansour emphasised the importance of capitalising on opportunities that the fast-evolving business landscape continues to present in the age of technological disruption. He commended the efforts of e& in devising a more progressive business model that sustains its hypserscaling ambitions, promotes new ventures and partnerships, and maximises value across its operations.




His Highness said, “The transformation of e& from a telecom company founded more than four decades ago in the UAE into a global influence in digitalisation highlights its role in upholding the UAE’s sustainable economic development and diversification plans. We commend e& for being the national champion that steers its global digitalisation leadership through pioneering advanced technologies, advancing ICT infrastructures, and fuelling geographic expansions while unlocking value.”


The launch of the new brand identity for Etisalat Group was attended by His Excellency Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, H.E. Mohamed Bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs and H.E. Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of e&.

 



The ambitious strategy


As part of its strategy, e& will enhance customers experiences across all segments by ideating, designing, and delivering a range of innovative and breakthrough technologies, driven by its track record of success. This strategy is aimed at accelerating growth through the creation of a resilient business model that is representing the Group’s main business pillars.


Telecom will retain the previous branding identity while upholding the Group’s rich telecoms heritage, bolstering the Group’s strong telecoms infrastructure and maximising value for its customer segments, in the UAE and internationally. In addition, it will expand into new geographic markets while continuing to drive operational performance in the 16 markets where it operates.  


e& life is focused on enhancing customer delight by becoming an integral part of the lives of its customers. The business pillar has already made robust plans to deliver next-generation technologies and digital experiences that will bring the world to the customers’ fingertips through smart connectivity platforms in entertainment, retail and financial services.  


e& enterprise will be the driving force behind the digital transformation of governments, corporates and enterprises. Through its breakthrough technology solutions in cybersecurity, cloud, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as deploying mega projects, e& enterprise will create real business value as it continues to leverage on its expertise as a digital managed company having the strength and reach of a global trusted partner. 


Maximising shareholder value while strengthening global presence is key to the e& strategy to empower societies. e& capital will act as a pillar for growth for the Group as it drives new acquisitions and mergers in line with its vision for investing in ideas that make the future. 


The evolution e& comes at the heels of the Group’s strong financial performance as well as several milestones that contributed to the transformation. More recently, e& ranked first in the Forbes MENA Top 10 most valuable listed companies in the UAE. The Group was also named the strongest telecoms brand in the world. Accumulating success year on year has taken place in light of the considerable investments the Group has made in maintaining its 5G network prowess, investing in breakthrough technologies, aggressive market penetrations, deploying megaprojects, driving smarter connectivity, and pursuing strong partnerships. 


A new era built on solid foundations


H.E. Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of e&, said, “This is a milestone in the history of the Group, and a new era where we reaffirm our commitment to deliver outstanding customer experiences and maximise value for our shareholders. To ensure that the next chapter of our journey is a success, we made the decision to realign our business model so that we can stay agile and fit for the future.


“This successful journey has been made possible through the continuous support of the UAE leadership as we become key enablers in the digital transformation taking place globally across all industries.”


He added, "Our evolution is built on the solid foundations of several historical achievements, multiple milestones and robust financial performance, highlighting our global technological leadership and our confidence in leading change for growth. During this time, we have also worked tirelessly to ensure that our solutions positively impact people’s lives at every touchpoint. We are now ready to be the future-focussed nexus that will drive more positive change for our customers and shareholders through our robust expertise.” 



Transformation driven by thought leadership


e& has already demonstrated its robust industry leadership when it comes to digital transformation when it announced the establishment of its consumer digital and enterprise digital business units, in addition to attracting partners from around the world to contribute to the digitalisation growth journey.


Commenting on the launch of the new brand and its transformation strategy, Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e& said, "The evolution as e& embodies our commitment to double down on enhancing the quality of our solutions while surpassing customer expectations and maximising value creation for our shareholders. Our robust transformation plans will focus on running our business operations more efficiently, diversifying our revenue streams as well as helping our enterprise customers achieve their digital transformation goals adeptly. 


“We will continue to identify new growth opportunities, take full advantage of strong partnerships and maintain our edge as the global technology investment conglomerate that makes a difference in people’s lives.”


Hatem Dowidar added, “The digitalisation acceleration during the pandemic offered a new realm of opportunities for us to serve our customers better as they seek more seamless and enhanced digital experiences. Our strong business continuity principles and adept crisis management, combined with our growth mindset, have dramatically impacted our business growth across our operations. We seized the moment to become future makers who are confident to lead a transformation of such grand scale, whether it is being master innovators or enablers of digitalisation in markets where we operate.


“We are keen to contribute to a knowledge-based economy that will digitally empower societies as we move forward with our mission to pioneer next-generation technologies, build breakthrough partnerships and create a new world powered by all of us.” 



foodpanda collaborates with Climate Change Ministry to launch first e-bikes for e-commerce

foodpanda collaborates with Climate Change Ministry to launch first e-bikes for e-commerce

 Islamabad, February 24, 2022: foodpanda, one of the leading e-commerce companies in Pakistan, today became the first e-commerce player in Pakistan to launch e-bikes on its platform for delivery riders. As part of the ground-breaking initiative, which is being undertaken in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Climate Change, foodpanda handed over the first set of e-bikes to its riders in a ceremony held in Islamabad - which was attended by Malik Amin Aslam - Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change. 




The initiative reaffirms foodpanda’s pledge to work towards environmental sustainability. foodpanda has partnered with Jolta Electric to scale e-bikes on its platform and will also explore financing opportunities with different banks to support its riders.


Malik Amin Aslam, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change while speaking at the occasion said, “This partnership is geared towards fostering a culture of environmental wellbeing, in line with Prime Minister’s Clean Green Pakistan Initiative. As the number of delivery riders have significantly gone up, this is going to be the first of its kind practical action. Needless to say, it is a collective action approach and will pave the way for other players to take this as an example and follow suit.”


While sharing his views, Muntaqa Peracha, Interim CEO at foodpanda said, “Launching e-bikes is in line with our core philosophy of embedding technology into our business and aimed at defining a direction for the future. foodpanda is today a household name and has over the years become an integral part of people’s lives through its value-added offerings. This is reason enough for us to stay one step ahead and demonstrate our commitment to climate action at a time when there is a great urgency to act.”


In December last year, foodpanda and the Ministry of Climate Change pledged to work together for launching and accelerating efforts to protect the environment. foodpanda recognizes that climate change is one of our greatest challenges which requires immediate action. Partnerships like these and other initiatives are small steps in the right direction to mitigate the impact of climate change.


The ceremony was attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, Muntaqa Peracha, Interim CEO foodpanda Pakistan, Hassan Arshad, Principal, Policy & Communications foodpanda Pakistan and Usman Sheikh, CEO Jolta Electric, along with other senior representatives from the companies.

Union Microfinance inaugurates first branch in Karachi

Union Microfinance inaugurates first branch in Karachi

Union Microfinance, a new entrant in the microfinance industry, launched its first branch on 24th February in Karachi. Union Microfinance was established with the mission to tap the unbanked population and bring them into the ambit of financial inclusion. As financial access translates into prosperity and reducing poverty, Union Microfinance has taken up the challenge to reach out to the marginalized segment of the country’s vast population with a special focus on women, especially those working in the cottage industry, across the country.  




The Branch was inaugurated by Mr Yasir Ashfaq, CEO of Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company. On this occasion Mr. Yasir Ashfaq stated that Pakistan has one of the lowest numbers of financial inclusion, although both the regulators i.e., SBP & SECP are making a lot of efforts to improve this situation, however we need more microfinance institutions that can reach to poor and underserved households. He appreciated the sponsors of Union Microfinance Bank in taking a big step of adding a new microfinance institution whose focus is on women and using digital means to provide efficient financial services. He further stated that PMIC would encourage and assist new microfinance institution who have strong governance systems in place to provide financial services to underserved segments of the society.


Mr. Mumtaz Hadi, the CEO of Union Microfinance, said that we are in the era of digitalization which needs to replace and speed up the long-drawn process of loan disbursements. In Pakistan, he said, the number of people using mobile and internet is increasing rapidly - more than 83 percent of the population use cellular phones. This also demonstrates the dire need for robust digital services. He said, Union Microfinance will provide innovative digital lending solutions through real-time credit disbursements: from customers’ onboarding to disbursement and collection. This way, Union Microfinance aims to not only simplify and eradicate the time-consuming hurdles in loan disbursements, but also to effectively market their products to the target market.


Regarding financial inclusion of women, he said that Union Microfinance will offer female-centric products because females lag far behind in the accessibility of financial services in our country. He said that Union Microfinance plans to expand its network in the next 2 years by opening more branches in other cities to facilitate and access the unbanked population in villages across the country.


Mr Mumtaz Hadi has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the USA, and carries a vast experience in the banking sector, having worked in both local and foreign banks.

 Infinix Launches ZERO 5G Featuring 6nm 5G Master Processor and Uni-Curve design

Infinix Launches ZERO 5G Featuring 6nm 5G Master Processor and Uni-Curve design

Lahore – Feb. 24 – Infinix today launched its first premier 5G smartphone, ZERO 5G, delivering the benefits of 5G – such as higher speeds, seamless connection, faster downloads and greater coverage more accessible than ever before. The smartphone is integrated with a 6nm MediaTek’s Dimensity 900 master processor for high-performance gaming, a uni-curve design for a sleek look and feel, a 48MP AI Triple camera with 30x ultra-zoom for crisp close-ups of distant objects, a 6.78'' FHD+ ultra-smooth display with 120Hz Refresh Rate and 240Hz Touch Sample Rate for lower latency and immediate responsiveness and a 5000mAh with 33W quick charge technology to power users through their entire day. 




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“Infinix is setting a strong course in today’s fast-growing marketplace and providing innovative, yet high-performance 5G technology that is more attainable to users through the new ZERO 5G smartphone,” stated Charles Ding, Deputy Product Director of Infinix Mobility. “Our innovation gives users a smartphone with better performance from a slimmer and stylish design that includes every key technology feature they are looking for in a 5G device that offers the most bang for its buck within its price range.”  


Accelerate Your Day

Infinix is improving the user experience with 5G technology with super fast connectivity that better supports bandwidth-heavy apps such as gaming and video streaming. With the growing number of people using their smartphones for mobile gaming and streaming, 5G connectivity has become a crucial feature for smartphone devices. The Infinix ZERO 5G is equipped with a powerful 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G chipset bringing a full-domain and full-speed 5G network experience. Its Clever 5G Mode automatically switches between link4G and 5G according to the user's bandwidth, which can significantly improve download and gaming speed and reduce power consumption.


 MediaTek’s Dimensity 900 5G chipset is built on a 6nm high-performance manufacturing node and integrated with a 5G New Radio (NR) sub-6GHz modem with carrier aggregation. The chipset is equipped with an octa-core central processing unit (CPU) consisting of two Arm Cortex-A78 processors with a clock speed of up to 2.4GHz and six Arm Cortex-A55 cores operating at up to 2GHz that deliver exceptional performance for snappier app responses, faster frames per second (FPS) for gaming and better connected experiences. With the chipset’s Arm Mali-G68 MC4 graphics processing unit (GPU) and an independent artificial intelligence (AI) processing unit (APU), power-efficiency is optimized to extend battery life even further for mobile gamers.


The ZERO 5G smartphone provides even faster and more reliable connectivity for gamers with Wi-Fi 6 and 2x2 MIMO technology that offers about 1.2Gbps connectivity speeds. Infinix takes the ZERO 5G’s connectivity solutions even further with Dual 5G SIM technology, which enables the smartphone to connect to two separate 5G SIMs, intelligently switching to the fastest network and enabling seamless internet access from both connections as needed, powering users day’s like never before on an Infinix device.


Stunning Design Language 

Smartphone design is heavily driven by the desire for bigger screens and more minimal yet functional features without losing the key technologies – such as camera quality, memory capacity and battery life.


The ZERO 5G comes with a large 6.78” FHD+ ultra-smooth display with 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate, giving users a smooth experience and a quicker response to touch input when browsing webpages, consuming online media and playing action-packed games. The smartphone showcases a Uni-Curve design with a softly curved back using a composite material that mimics the look and feel of glass, creating a device that is more comfortable to hold, yet premium to the touch allowing users to express their sense of style with their device. The rear contour drop camera design is integrated into the curve of the device, creating an ergonomic design that is palm friendly and a move away from traditional camera modules’ harsher right-angle positioning. 


 The unique design of the ZERO 5G incorporates subtle textures and colors that reflect the serenity of natural sceneries with three bold colors including: Cosmic Black to represent distant galaxies, Skylight Orange to represent the bright and energizing sun and Horizon Blue to represent the mesmerizing sky.


Capture Every Moment 

The ZERO 5G features a crisp 48MP main camera with 30x ultra-zoom comprising of a 13MP portrait camera and 2MP virtual camera. The 30X 48MP zoom camera allows users to capture stunningly high-quality from a great distance. Users can also capture moments that the human eye cannot normally see, with the 960 frames per second (fps) slow motion capabilities for stunning video captures. 

 On the front of the ZERO 5G, the 16MP Dual Flash Light and enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) shooting technology bring out the best in you in all angles and lighting conditions so your selfies and video calls are on point every single time. 


Other key features of Infinix’s ZERO 5G Series include:


A 5000mAh battery and 33W quick charge: The 5000 mAh battery supports all-day usage and can be quickly charged with TÜV Rheinland safe fast-charge technology enabling the smartphone to last through 9.4 hours of gaming, 27 days on standby, 22 hours of calling and 152 hours of music playback (testing data provided by Infinix lab).


Universal Flash Storage UFS 3.1 and LPDDR5: The LPDDR5 brings a new height of speed for ZERO 5G smartphone, which substantially improves memory performance, and further reduces power consumption. As an added boost, the UFS 3.1-based storage doubles sequential read performance and increases download speeds.


Infinix’s Dar-Link 2.0: The software improves the image stability and the sensitivity of touch control that is based on an AI algorithm, while simultaneously bringing down the temperature of the device to provide a fully immersive gaming experience.


XArena:Enhances your gaming experience by integrating game applications into a single zone and thus game booster is enabled for the game. There are quick settings that allow you to focus on your game by blocking messages and incoming calls without worrying about any other distractions.


Heat Pipe Thermal Module 2.0: This feature systematically monitors the temperature of the ZERO 5G smartphone so users can immerse themselves in the long-lasting gameplay without worrying about overheating.


Android XOS 10: The ZERO 5G’s XOS 10 software offers an upgraded interface, AI voice assistant, smart assistant, phone cloner 2.0 and doc correction. For enhanced security, it also comes with X-proof, which secures the screen from behind, and privacy tracker, so users can keep their information private and control when it is shared, as the data is never uploaded to the cloud. 


Availability and Pricing 

The ZERO 5G will be available for pre-orders soon in the price tag of Rs. 49,999 with a free gift of Infinix XE20 on Xpark. Stay tuned to Infinix official pages and social channels for further updates.


realme 9 Series with Qualcomm Snapdragon 6nm chipset is Coming to Pakistan

realme 9 Series with Qualcomm Snapdragon 6nm chipset is Coming to Pakistan

realme 9 Series is Coming to Pakistan – Promising a Real Upgrade to Powerful Performance

The upcoming edition of realme’s ultra-popular Number Series features an impressive upgrade to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6nm chipset in an economical price

realme 9 Series with Qualcomm Snapdragon 6nm chipset is Coming to Pakistan



Always striving to make advancements in the field of technology, realme has innovation in their DNA. With every new release, the tech popularizer strives to bring the latest and greatest developments in tech away from the exclusive sphere of premium products and share them with the average consumer. The same remains true with the upcoming release of the realme 9 series as it aims to bring real power into the palm of your hands without causing your wallet any distress. The first handset in the series, the realme 9i, comes packed with a game-changing Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor, a 33W Dart Charge and a stunning 50MP AI Triple Camera for you to dream big with the limits of what you can achieve with just a smartphone whether you’re a gamer or a photographer.

Zong 4G and PTA Sign Agreement to Promote Gender Inclusion in ICTs

The rise of smartphone gaming can be attributed to the popularity of online multiplayer games such as PUBG or Fortnite but not all devices are equipped to handle the strenuous task of running heavy gaming for extended amounts of play time. Issues such as lag, overheating, and screen resolution can really impact the gameplay experience. The team at realme understood these issues and added the first Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 6nm processor in its price segment to the realme 9i. In comparison to the previous generation of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (Snapdragon 662), this processor provides a 20% increase in CPU performance, a 17% increase in GPU performance, and a 10% increase in AI performance.

These changes allow for the realme 9i to provide faster loading, less lag, faster launch times, and higher frame rates which significantly improves the gameplay experience. The 6nm processor also consumes less power than its 12nm counterparts, consuming 62% less power and affording 46% better performance. Lower power consumption also prevents your smartphone from heating up too much or too quickly. This combined with the handset’s massive 5000mAh battery allows you to play games on your phone for hours on end without worrying about your phone’s battery life. However, even if you end up exhausting its battery, the realme 9i has got you covered with first in its segment super-fast 33W Dart Charge that will charge your phone from 0-100% in just 70 minutes.

Telenor Pakistan launches 7th Cohort of Naya Aghaaz

Gaming isn’t the only activity that requires real power from your smartphone. One of the other great benefits to come with the realme 9i is its amazing photography capabilities. The rear camera is a combination of 3 lenses in a triple AI camera: the 50MP Ultra HD main camera, the 2MP Black and White portrait lens, and the 2MP macro lens for close-up photography. The previously mentioned increase in AI performance brought on by the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor really helps increase camera performance in its beauty mode, night mode, and fast photo mode. You’ll never have to worry about filling up your phone with too many photos either as the realme 9i supports up to 128 GB of internal storage with the option to expand storage by up to an astounding 1TB with an external memory slot. So don’t let the fear of storage get in the way of the creative muses.

With all these exciting features, the wait for the realme 9 Series to drop seems almost impossible but luckily the wait is almost over. realme is holding the launch event for the 9 Series on Monday, February 21, 2022 where more details about the trailblazing tech they have to offer will be revealed. While the price of the handset has not been revealed yet, it is safe to assume that it will continue realme’s commitment of economical pricing for advanced features. So, make sure you tune in for the upcoming launch of the realme 9 series for further information!
Telenor Pakistan launches 7th Cohort of Naya Aghaaz

Telenor Pakistan launches 7th Cohort of Naya Aghaaz

Islamabad , 22 February, 2022: Telenor Pakistan takes great pride in leading the way when it comes to workplace inclusion and has established itself as a true leader in diversity. In line with this commitment, Telenor Pakistan has launched its 7th cohort of the Naya Aghaz program to drive women’s reintroduction into the workforce. The Naya Aghaaz program, first launched in 2014, was designed to create an inventive way of acquiring talent that aims to get women back to work giving them an opportunity to re-invent themselves in their careers. 




The recent batch of Naya Aghaaz associates comprises of 11 women, from various geographical, educational and professional backgrounds, who will be placed in varying roles, including gaming, growth hacking, segments, HR partnering, field operations, revenue assurance, tax accounting and B2B enterprise solutions, throughout their 9-month long tenure. Since its inception, Naya Aghaaz has opened doors to not only cater to an untapped segment of the nation’s talented workforce, but also create a fresh pool of skilled resources that are better prepared to overcome challenges and break stereotypes. Since its launch, Telenor Pakistan has hired a total of 105 associates with a conversion rate of 40%.


Speaking to the press on the occasion, Chief Human Resource Officer, Telenor Pakistan, Oystein Bakken said, “We work outside the box, we work together and we strive to come up with new and practical opportunities that promote social development and the betterment of every individual, irrespective of gender. It’s our responsibility as an influential organisation to set the bar high when it comes to inclusion, both within and outside the workplace. Inclusion of women specifically holds the potential to have far-reaching social impacts that empower them to make significant contributions to the socioeconomic development of their families and communities. As we have seen in the past, we hope to see more companies take inspiration from Telenor Pakistan in creating workplace cultures that empower women to get back to work and thrive in leadership roles.”


Renowned for its progressive values, Telenor Pakistan has designed a number of initiatives over the years that offer women the tools necessary to succeed. Last year, the network also partnered with the World Bank to train more than 1,100 women entrepreneurs on design thinking skills, as a part of the Girls Learn, Women Earn initiative as it continues to inspire women taking up roles in our society that further add to the socioeconomic development of the country. In addition to upskilling that comes with the program, Telenor Pakistan further offers facilities like mental health counselling, customized learning calendars, mentorships, placement support, flexible work and Naya Aghaaz alumni connect to name a few. The organisation remains motivated towards offering women practical work opportunities and training to improve their career prospects and prepare them for the world we know today and anticipate in the future.

Here's How the realme 9 Series Will be a Step-up in Your Smart Arsenal

Here's How the realme 9 Series Will be a Step-up in Your Smart Arsenal

The latest edition of realme’s ever-popular Number Series continues the trend of economically democratizing cutting-edge technology 

As a rising star in the world of tech, realme has shown constant commitment to being a tech democratizer for the masses. As a brand, realme is known for being youth-oriented, stylish in design, and having outstanding performance. Bringing cutting-edge technology to a wider audience is a core part of realme’s beliefs which is reflected in its ever-popular number series. The number series has been known as a flagship for the youth and a popularizer of tech over the years. Going back to the realme 3 Pro, realme was a pioneer in bringing 20W Fast Charge to its price segment. This legacy was continued by the realme 5 Series that brought with it a Quad-camera setup. Further down the line, the realme 6 Series gave its display a trendsetting shakeup with a 90Hz refresh rate. 




In 2020, the release of the realme 7 Series brought with it the introduction of the amazing Sony 64MP Primary Camera to the price segment. The most recent installment, the realme 8 Series, put the incredible 108MP Infinity Camera into the hands of the masses. The same commitment and passion for technology and modern advancements that is foundational to the number series is embodied by its upcoming era in the realme 9 Series and will serve as a lifestyle upgrade for its users. To really show off the upgrade from the realme 8 Series to the realme 9 Series let’s engage in a little comparison.




On the surface it may seem like the realme 8 Series comes packed with greater camera capabilities than the upcoming realme 9 Series, boasting an impressive 108MP Infinity Camera compared to the 50MP AI Triple Camera that comes with the realme 9i. However, this alone is not enough to assess camera quality as a camera’s megapixel count is not a measure of a camera’s quality rather it tells you how much detail a camera’s sensor can collect. Flaunting a 50MP AI Triple Camera, a 2MP Macro Camera for close-up photography, and a 2MP Black and White camera for artistic shots, the realme 9i is capable of taking pictures that are rich in quality in its price segment. Selfie enthusiasts now have an aid in their quest for the perfect photo with the realme 9i’s stunning 16MP AI Selfie Camera. 




The realme 9 Series brings with it a focus on performance to give users a smooth, seamless experience whether they want to run a heavy mobile game or watch a marathon of movies. The realme 9i brings to its price segment the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor which is an exciting prospect for gamers on a budget. Most game developers specifically optimize their games for Snapdragon processors as opposed to others like the realme 8 series’ MediaTek Helio processor. The new Snapdragon processor also brings with it groundbreaking power through a 6nm chipset and has shown a 17% higher CPU clock speed than that of its predecessor. With this addition, the realme 9 series empowers you to dream big with how you use your technology and encourages users to take a leap towards a tech-integrated lifestyle. 




The remaining supporting features of the realme 9i are nothing short of impressive. The display comes with a super smooth 90Hz refresh rate, so motion blur is reduced while gaming and navigating through your phone becomes a much smoother experience. Those who are heavy phone-users or have infrequent access to charging spots will be overjoyed with the combination of 33W Dart Charge and a 5000mAh battery found in this handset. The improvement of charging speed over the previous realme 8i’s 18W Quick Charge is about 30%. The massive battery also allows it to exceed the standby time of the realme 8i by over a month.


The realme 9 Series continues to carry the torch of tech democratization handed to it by its predecessors with its range of aforementioned features in order to create an improvement in the quality of life of its consumers. So, tune in for the realme 9i launch event on Monday, February 21, 2022 at 07:00 pm for more information on realme’s upcoming flagship handsets.


Engro Fertilizers highlights the role of Pakistan towards promoting regional food security at Expo 2020 Dubai

Engro Fertilizers highlights the role of Pakistan towards promoting regional food security at Expo 2020 Dubai

Karachi, Tuesday 22 February Engro Fertilizers, Pakistan’s premier seed-to-harvest solutions provider, hosted an insightful dialogue at Expo 2020 Dubai to highlight the food security situation in the Gulf and the potential partnership opportunities with Pakistan to overcome the regional food security challenges.




The panel comprised global agricultural and industry experts including Dr. Abdul Rashid (IFA Laureate), Charles Schneider (International Finance Corporation), Ayman Alwadhy (The Corporate Group, UAE), Wasim Halabi (Foodco National Foodstuff Co PJSC), Fredric Favre (MAS Seeds, France) and Khusrau Nadir Gilani (Engro Fertilizers). The event was also graced by Mr. Hussain Dawood (Chairman of Engro Corporation and Dawood Corporation), Mr. Shahzada Dawood (Vice Chair, Engro Corporation), Ghias Khan (President & CEO of Engro Corporation) and Nadir Salar Qureshi (CEO of Engro Fertilizers), along with other members of the Engro leadership team.


The expert panel pointed out that food security in the Gulf region is a growing challenge due to high dependence on food imports, increasing water scarcity, climate change and supply chain interruptions. In 2020, the region’s share of the acutely food insecure global population was 20%, which is disproportionately high compared to its 6% share of the population. By forging partnerships in the agricultural sector with large established sustainable agri-base countries, like Pakistan, the region can benefit from enhanced agricultural output to overcome its food security challenge.


There is significant potential to increase Pakistan’s agricultural output with focus on modern technology, seed quality, balanced use of fertilizers, and uplift of infrastructure across the agri value chain. It was noted that if average farmer yields are brought at par with those of progressive farmers within the country, Pakistan will see a dramatic increase in wheat and rice production serving not only the needs for domestic consumption, but also create significant surpluses for exports to the Gulf-Region. The Government of Pakistan was also applauded for its efforts to improve water provision and farm economics, resulting in an increase of approximately 1.6 million hectares in area under cultivation with further growth anticipated with large irrigation projects underway.


According to Nadir Qureshi, “To bridge the agri yield gap and enrich crops with essential nutrients, Engro Fertilizers has introduced innovative products and seed-to-harvest solutions, farmer upskilling programs, access to expert advice by leveraging technology, and free of cost soil testing laboratories. We hope that this dialogue will serve as an initial step to encourage Pakistan, Engro and Gulf entities to work together to jointly develop innovative solutions and explore the scope for international partnerships in the agri space.”


The panel discussion concluded that the food and agriculture sector can be an engine of economic growth for both the Gulf region and Pakistan. Through the adoption of technological innovation and sustainable practices, the agricultural sector of Pakistan can be transformed to reduce dependence on food imports, create surpluses to drive significant exports and meet the Gulf regions’ dietary nutrition requirements.