GCCM Concrete Canvas Trial at Punjab Irrigation Field Research Station

Lahore, March 31, 2022: In an attempt to revolutionise the irrigation landscape of Pakistan, an international irrigation project was jointly deployed by Steelman Pvt Limited (A REDtone Group Company) and Punjab Irrigation Department (P.I.D).

GCCM (Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mat) is a product developed by Concrete Canvas UK, brought into Pakistan by Steelman Pvt Limited; a specialised Electro Mechanical firm; part of the REDtone Group of Companies.

In order to check its effectiveness, a trial was carried out jointly by Steelman and Punjab Irrigation Department at Field Research Station Babakwal. Chief Engineer, Irrigation Research Zone Lahore, Rashid Aziz, and Director Irrigation, Research Institute (IRI), Ghulam Zakir Hassan Sial, visited the site and observed the demonstration of laying this new canal lining material.

Also Read: KFC announces title sponsorship for Pakistan-Australia ODI series

On the occasion, Chief Engineer Rashid Aziz stated, “The material looks great, the main factor observed so far is its easy and fast laying methodology. With the inception of this technique, lining project targets can be achieved ahead of time along with saving of water. Earlier I was a little suspicious about its joints but the way they are being treated with a thermal welding machine is quite satisfactory, however we will further observe the impact of varying degrees of temperature on these joints as well.”

Expressing his views, Director (IRI) Ghulam Zakir Hassan Sial said, “Pakistan has one of the largest irrigation networks in the world, however, controlling seepage through canals remains a serious concern for our country. The Irrigation Research Institute of Lahore was set up in 1924 and it has been engaged in conducting research studies on various lining materials to counter the issue of seepage loss through canals. Concrete Canvas will be declared as effective and sound for use, subsequently after processing it through various semi field conditions it will be a great breakthrough, as we get past the trial stage.”

Explaining the technology used, Deputy General Manager Steelman Pvt. Ltd.; Ehtisham Habib, expressed that, “The proposed new lining technology is quite unique and innovative as Concrete Canvas is one of those systems that is durable, cost effective, time saving and eco-friendly as compared to the traditional methodology being used locally. I am sure that the trial will be a success and, we will be able to achieve great results.”

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foodpanda launches pandapro

Karachi, March 31, 2022: foodpanda, Pakistan’s leading food delivery platform and e-commerce Company, launched its latest feature, pandapro, at a grand unveiling event in Karachi. Through this event, pandapro was officially introduced as a service for the larger audience. pandapro is a membership programme which gives customers an exclusive access to flat discounts, better services and complementary food/drinks across foodpanda’s use cases. 

Speaking on the occasion, Muntaqa Peracha, interim CEO foodpanda, stated, “We are very excited to launch pandapro as a service in order to strengthen long-term, ongoing relationships with our customers. We will continue to focus on providing excellent service to our customers by letting them enjoy exclusive discounts on food delivery, as well as additional discounts on Pick-Up and groceries through pandapro.

Also read: Likee and One Two Records Come Together to Promote Songs from Dum Mastam

pandapro users will enjoy free delivery on all restaurants and shops in addition to the non-pro discounts on foodpanda. They will also get to enjoy up to 20% and more on selected restaurants and free delivery from all restaurants and shops on all orders above Rs.599. This benefit can also be used together with the non-pro discounts on foodpanda.

The event was attended by foodpanda’s management, loyal customers, top vendors, influencers, media houses and other key stakeholders. The event was wrapped up with an electrifying performance by Hassan Raheem who has become the latest musical sensation in the country. 

 

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KFC announces title sponsorship for Pakistan-Australia ODI series

KARACHI: Food retail giant KFC, continuing their strong association with cricket has announced the title sponsorship of the ODI series of historical Australia’s tour to Pakistan, “KFC ODI Series – Pak Vs. Australia”. The series consists of 3 ODI matches which will be played in Gaddafi stadium Lahore, starting on March 29th, 2022.

The brand has a rich history of endorsing the game globally. From sponsoring Australia’s Big Bash League since its inception to introducing the Mini-Cricket Programme in South Africa, and bagging the official sponsorship of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, KFC can be credited for enriching the future of the game in multiple countries.

Now, with becoming the title sponsors of the Pakistan and Australia ODI series, the brand is playing a pivotal role in reinvigorating the nation’s favorite game.

Unveiling of the sponsorship plaque was doing jointly by Zakir Khan, Director International Cricket – Pakistan Cricket Board, and Noor Alam, Chief Marketing Officer – KFC Pakistan.

Noor Alam, CMO, KFC Pakistan, said, “Finding ways to excite and delight Pakistanis is a top priority at KFC Pakistan, and what better to excite this country than bringing back international cricket after 22 long years. I hope all our Pakistani cricket fanatics celebrate the return of this great sport to our local stadiums and continue being our inspiration towards making the impossible happen.”

Earlier, KFC has had a massive impact in regional and international cricket. From sponsoring the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to endorsing domestic teams such as Southern Punjab and Karachi Premiere League, KFC is responsible for bringing a crispy revival to Pakistani cricket.

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Likee and One Two Records Come Together to Promote Songs from Dum Mastam

 Likee, one of Pakistan’s leading trendsetters in the social media landscape has partnered with One Two Records one of the largest music labels in Pakistan, in the first cross-promotional collaboration for the country. The two leading brands have come together to promote songs from the upcoming movie ‘Dum Mastam’. The first track being released under the partnership is sung by Bilal Saeed, one of the most renowned names in Pakistan’s music space for his iconic voice of ‘Baari’ fame. 

Social media has been revolutionizing various aspects of traditional activities. Marketing and advertising are no exception. Likee, as the official content partner for Dum Mastam movie has initiated one of the biggest collaborations in the Pakistani entertainment sphere. As a platform hosting a vibrant community of creators promoting a diverse array of content, Likee has become the hub for music and talented individuals to showcase their skills in this field. In line with its objectives to resonate better with local audiences, the short video sharing platform has launched the in-app hashtag challenge #BeqararDil and promoted the song on its social media accounts, which gained millions of views among people around the country.

Commenting on the development, Likee Representative, stated; “Pakistan is a land of various unique treasures and music is one of them. As the nation’s leading avenue for expression and entertainment, Likee is always pushing the boundaries to deliver high-quality content for its audiences. We are delighted to announce this partnership with One Two Records for the release of the songs from the movie ‘Dum Mastam’ with the first one being sung by none other than Bilal Saeed himself.”

Murtaza Niaz, General Manager of One Two Records, commented: “We had a good collaborative working relationship with Likee Pakistan. This time releasing film music on Likee will be interesting as we understand the importance of Short Video Platform in the marketing aspect, especially reaching out to the masses.”

Ever since its launch, Likee has grown in popularity across the country through its distinct opportunity creation for creators that would otherwise remain unheard. 

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National Assembley goes digital, a step towards Digital Pakistan by Tech Valley, Google’s strategic Partner in Pakistan

Digitalization need of the hour to improve work environment in Parliament: NA Speaker 

Islamabad:29th March 2022: Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has said that Digitalizing the work place environment would improve efficiency and productivity in the working environment of Parliament. He said that this is an era of paper less and digital based official environment . He also said that ensuring privacy in this digital age is a challenge and stressed on the need to ensure end to end encryption for this project . He expressed these views while inaugurating the project of " Re-imagining the National Assembly of Pakistan with Google Workspace’s Advanced Productivity and Collaboration Tools" in Parliament House today.

 Speaker Asad Qaiser has said that it is first Parliament in the region which has adopted Google Workspace to digitize work processes and enhance productivity and collaboration between its members. He also said that this is aper the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital Pakistan under project  “Office Communication and Productivity Suite of Applications for the National Assembly of Pakistan.”

While many technology firms competed for the tender, Tech Valley, a local partner for Google Cloud in Pakistan, won the public tender with Google Workspace’s easy-to-use, secure and innovative digital productivity and collaboration tools. 

Speaker National Assembly, Asad Qaiser appreciated the efforts of the team and said: "With the latest technology and tools being enabled in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the past few months, Google Workspace has been a tremendous addition that will assist members to be more efficient.”

Google Tech Valley CEO briefed that after the successful deployment of Google Workspace, a “Google Day” was observed at the National Assembly to mark this important milestone of digitizing the National Assembly’s back-end processes. During the event, a live demonstration was provided to all members to educate them on how to best leverage these tools to make their day-to-day operations more efficient. CEO Tech Valley, Umar Farooq added: “Multiple national and international teams have made sure that the productivity tools used by the National Assembly of Pakistan are completely secure and encrypted.”

He also said that Google Workspace provides an innovative, flexible and secure cloud-native solution for people and organizations to achieve more. Its suite of tools allows users to collaborate from anywhere, anytime. The solution provides a custom email for Pakistan’s National Assembly and includes applications like Email, Calendar, Meet, Chat, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Sites, and more.

Timothy Paolini, Head of APAC Region, Google, who flew in to join the event, said: “More than three billion people worldwide use Google Workspace to learn, work and stay connected to those that matter to them. Where there’s been a fundamental shift in where and how we work, we’re proud to be supporting the National Assembly of Pakistan and empowering its members with the innovative and enterprise-grade tools they need to connect, create, and collaborate flexibly and securely on any device – whether they are returning to the office, working from home, or serving citizens on the frontlines.” He said that With Google Workspace, local teams are expecting more efficient and effective communications. Moreover, with the elimination of unnecessary tasks, such as rotating files from one office to another or storing and retrieving critical documents from a physical location just to get feedback from teams, these digital tools are transforming the Assembly’s traditional and time-consuming practices.

Later on Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser and Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri also  inaugurated CCTV Control Room ( Security & Surveillance) in Parliament.

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The IPG Group Pakistan launched Roshan Digital Account drive in GCC to promote new investment opportunities in Pakistan

Karachi (March 30, 2022): The IPG Group Pakistan, a leading sports marketing and international events company and a renowned name in remittance initiative events is facilitating the launch of Roshan Digital Account (RDA) drive for overseas Pakistanis to promote new investment opportunities in Pakistan in collaboration with renowned banks on an international platform. Recently, in partnership with Bank AL Habib, The IPG Group Pakistan conducted an event that was held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman and leading Pakistani Banks HBL & MCB Bank (in partnership with the Pakistani Consulate Riyadh, KSA). The IPG Group Pakistan also successfully launched HBL & MCB Bank’s ‘Roshan Raho’ RDA campaign at the Pakistani Consulate’s March 23rd Pakistan Day event. Both the events were well received by higher officials, key dignitaries and the professional Pakistani community of Muscat as well as in Riyadh.

The intent of the international drive is to promote the initiative that is taken by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in collaboration with Pakistan’s top most banks to ensure that overseas Pakistanis are informed and supported in investment opportunities and innovative digital banking systems.

Jawad Ghulam Rasool, CEO, The IPG Group Pakistan, while sharing his views said, “We understand the importance of the RDA message and information disbursement. We look forward to conducting Roshan Digital Account Road Shows throughout the Middle East, Europe and North America and contribute to the progression of Pakistan.”

The IPG Group Pakistan is confident that the success of this RDA drive has not only been a great source of information on investment opportunities and on the benefits of Roshan Digital Account, but will also soon be evident in the overseas investment sector. During the events, 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 also apprised the IPG Group Pakistan and all the associated banks for ‘Roshan Raho’ drive to propagate further awareness of the Roshan Digital Account and its associated services.

The IPG Group Pakistan is gearing up to facilitate top banks from Pakistan with the RDA drive in key geographical locations.

The event was a culmination of key notes from high profile bank officials on the investment opportunities, along with details of the RDA initiative, the registration process and the RDA associated product suite. 

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Huawei will continue supporting digital transformation across the Middle East: Karl Song

• "We are strong supporters of the Middle East region's green ambitions," says the Huawei executive

• Huawei is investing in the future through expansive R&D; 22.4% of its total 2021 revenue was spent on R&D

  

Islamabad, March 30, 2022: During an exclusive Middle East roundtable to discuss Huawei's 2021 annual results from a Middle East business perspective, Karl Song, VP of Global Communications, Huawei, highlighted how the company has been at the forefront of the ICT industry, reiterated its competitiveness across the world and commitment to supporting the Middle East digital transformation. 

Commenting on Huawei's recently announced annual report, Song said, "Our total revenue in 2021 reached 99.9 billion dollars and we generated a net profit of 17.8 billion dollars with a net margin of 17.9%. Huawei recorded an increase of 75.9% year-on-year in terms of net profit, and overall, we wrapped up the year in a solid financial position." 

"The harder things get, the more we are investing in the future. In 2021, we increased our R&D investment to 22.4 billion dollars, representing 22.4% of our total revenue. Both our R&D expenses and R&D expense ratio reached a 10–year high in 2021, and Huawei ranked second in the 2021 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard. Our total R&D investment over the past decade is more than 132.5 billion dollars," added Song.

Song further reiterated Huawei's intention to continue investing heavily in R&D to strengthen its innovation in systems engineering and drive fundamental changes in three areas: fundamental theories, architecture, and software.

The company reported steady performance in its ICT infrastructure business while new business segments like digital power, which is of special importance to the Middle East markets and cloud grew rapidly and its ecosystem development efforts have entered the fast lane. "In the Middle East, Huawei continued to play a pivotal role in the development of the region's ICT industry, enabling digital and intelligent transformation accelerated across industries. Innovations in 5G, cloud, AI and other fields are pushing the digital economy into a new phase of development," said Song. 

"The Middle East is ahead of many other regions when it comes to adoption of advanced technologies. Because of the fast roll-out of 5G, for example, some countries in the region serve as a real proof point of how technology can help to advance the development of all industries, especially when integrated with technologies such as cloud and AI," he added.

Globally, Huawei collaborated with carriers and partners to sign more than 3,000 commercial contracts for industrial 5G applications. In 2021, 5G saw large-scale commercial deployment in many industries, including manufacturing, mining, steel, port, chemical, cement, power grid, and healthcare. Huawei's 5G solutions for industries have been replicated at scale across eight typical application scenarios, including remote equipment control, data collection, and product quality inspection.

"5G remains a crucial enabler of digital transformation across the Middle East. Huawei enabled the first wave of 5G deployment in many countries across the region. Moving forward, we remain committed to contributing to the Middle East countries' technology ambition, especially in light of the mega-events such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and help create unparalleled value and experiences for the users," he stated.

Song also highlighted the trend for green development, which has become a globally recognized mission, specifically vital to the Middle East's sustainable future in-line with the carbon neutrality targets many countries in the Middle East have already set. As a leader in the global ICT industry, Huawei has been developing innovative green technologies that make ICT products more energy efficient. Using its simplified site solution, renewable energy, and intelligent technologies, Huawei helped carriers in more than 100 countries deploy green sites. 

"We are strong supporters of the Middle East region's green ambitions and the strategies of countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and others to move towards carbon neutrality. Many of our partners across the technology landscape also desire to participate in climate change action. This movement involves innovating green, low-carbon networks and data centers while promoting clean energy development. We are doing this today through Huawei Digital Power, including many strategic projects in the Middle East," said Song during the roundtable.

Huawei Digital Power looks at five areas of business globally: Smart PV, data center facilities, mPower for electric vehicles, site power, and integrated energy solutions. Song reiterated that Huawei Digital Power sees the Middle East region and the Gulf specifically as strategically important as it seeks to contribute to a low-carbon, smarter society powered by digital technologies. "While we will have cooperation with businesses in all of the previously mentioned five domains in the GCC, I believe that Smart PV and data center facilities are particularly important to this region," he added.

The Huawei executive noted that in UAE, the company partnered with Moro Hub, a subsidiary of DEWA, to roll out the largest 100% green power DC in the region. In Saudi Arabia, Huawei is constructing one of its largest projects in the Red Sea to roll out an energy storage infrastructure with a capacity of 1,300 gigawatt-hours. 

"Even in a post-pandemic environment, we see clear opportunities to support Middle East organizations in their digital transformation and reimagine the future. It involves bringing technological advances to even more industries and creating new value by helping governments and enterprises go digital while operating more intelligently. The task ahead is about ensuring all people benefit from technological progress," Song concluded.

Huawei remains committed to contributing to the development of the region's ICT ecosystem and nurturing local talent through cooperation with governments, universities, and industry organizations. Its annual initiatives include the Huawei ICT Academy, Seeds For The Future, and the Huawei Middle East ICT Competition— the latest edition benefited 15,000 students across the region. Through these programs, Huawei has already empowered the skilling and upskilling of many young people in the region.

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Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui launch 'Cast and Crew' in partnership with J.

~ Cast and Crew – The next destination in fashion ~

Pakistan 30th March 2022: J. in partnership with the country’s most famous media personalities Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui have launched a new brand ‘Cast and Crew’.

Cast and Crew will deliver a taste of Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui’s grace and charm to Pakistanis, who have long admired the duo as among the industry's best-dressed artists. The collection currently caters to tailored luxury outfits for both men and women, including shalwar kameez, kurta, pants, and footwear, all with a hint of the two celebrity’s style aspiration.

Sohail Hamid Khan, Chairman J., celebrated this union along with Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui and launched Cast & Crew at a glamorous star studded event. 

“A lot of time and hard work has gone behind this. Humayun and Adnan have added great value to this brand with their expertise and together as a team, we have introduced this premium line of clothing to our customers”, he said at the occasion. 

The event was attended by government officials, bureaucrats, industry veterans, actors, singers, models, and many more. Overall, this event will go down in history as a memorable night where friendships turned into goals and visions came to life through the right teams.

Adnan Siddiqui expressed his excitement at the occasion and said, “It is with great joy that we are offering Cast & Crew to the people of Pakistan. Humayun and I began our careers together and grew up together, which made our connection grow stronger as a result, regardless of whether we worked as onscreen buddies or advisors. This new cooperation is a natural transition from years of friendship."

"I am thrilled that Adnan and I have finally locked in on something we both like and share," Humayun Saeed stated, delighted and equally ecstatic about this new alliance. “The core of Cast & Crew is modernity, combining contemporary style with a great deal of grace."

Cast & Crew is set to redefine the face of premium menswear and womenswear starting March 24th, 2022. This exciting enterprise is scheduled to make ripples across the country and around the world.

 

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FFPL III: Pakistan’s House of Blood among teams securing Free Fire World Series final berth, they go on to compete for $2 Million at Sentosa in May

Lahore – March 28, 2022: Free Fire Pakistan League hosted its Grand Finale event yesterday in Lahore, with thousands in attendance. FFPL III came to a close in a manner of grandeur as we saw Pakistan’s biggest Professional Esports League have a new winner this year, team House of Blood. FFPL has previously attained the coveted endorsement status by MOIB under Fawad Chaudry and has since then grown to become Pakistan’s top-level Esports League.

The tournament saw a massive prize pool of PKR 1 Crore with the cash prize extended to the top-12 teams. The winning team, topping the leaderboard, took home the major share of Rs 35 lakh from the prize money and other amazing Infinix products. The Country Product Manager, Binh Nguyen, was present to award the winning teams their cash prizes alongside. 

Onlookers were mesmerized by the grand growth of Esports in Pakistan with the final resembling that of International standards. Live broadcasting, Casters, Celebrity appearances, Cosplay, generous giveaways by Infinix and a technically superior set up showed encouraging signs for Esports in Pakistan. 7 Final matches were played to decide the winning team representing Pakistan in the coveted Free Fire World Series.

Commenting on the occasion, Hamza Hashmani, Esports Lead Pakistan said: “Free Fire is developing the infrastructure for professional Esports in Pakistan. Both the attendance and passion for FFPL have witnessed immense growth. These competitive platforms empower our youth by providing lucrative opportunities, Congratulations to HoB and all other teams who made it to the final”    

Falak Gondal, PR & Comms Lead commented on the occasion: “We started off with 2000 teams registering, with weeks of competing to reach the top 12- Congratulations to those who made it this far, enabling Esports as a profession has been dear to all of us at Free Fire Pakistan this year and with phenomenal turnouts such as these we only see the trajectory of Esports as exponential from here”

Sharing his views about the event Mr. Joe Hu, CEO - Infinix Pakistan said “Infinix takes pride in supporting the Pakistani Esports industry to keep up with the latest trends and exciting ways to engage with youngsters. This partnership with FreeFire is a testament to Infinix’s commitment to be a frontrunner in the expansion of technological advancement in Pakistan." He further added “we aim to empower youth with esports enabled interactive technology and to promote E-sport further in Pakistan’’.

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TECNO initiates its #ShowYourSpark TikTok campaign

Lahore – Tuesday, March 29, 2022: TECNO has officially started its #ShowYourSpark TikTok campaign for the latest Spark 8C. Many prominent TikTokers including Haris Ali and Hira khan were a part of this campaign, with hundreds of others dancing to the catchy beat. TikTok viewers are urged to share their own videos using this beat and get a chance to win a brand new Spark 8C smartphone. 

TECNO Spark series has always been famous for its high-tech features on an affordable budget. The new Spark 8C comes with a 13MP Rear AI dual camera, 8MP Front Camera, 6.56” HD+ Dot Notch Display, 90Hz refresh rate, and 5000mAh Battery. Moreover, it is available in two variants 4+128GB (PKR 23,999) and 3+64GB (PKR 19,499). 

The main highlight of the phone is its Expandable Memory. With the Memory Fusion Technology, the Spark 8C RAM can be increased by 3GB. Hence, the 4+128GB phone can be expanded to 7+128GB and the 3+64GB variant can be expanded to 6+64GB. Spark 8C comes in four stylish colors – Magnetic Black, Turquoise Cyan, Iris Purple, and Diamond Grey.

This is not all, the new Spark 8C brings its users new innovative features such as Customized Beauty, Rear Camera decoration and Fingerprint sensor design, SOPLAY, other special audio features, and much more. Features like SOPLAY are an amazing addition for youngsters to help them produce their own unique music videos. 

Kelvin Zeng, CEO of TECNO Mobile Pakistan, shared his views

“This TikTok campaign is a unique interaction with our fans. We urge all youngsters to participate in this campaign and Show their Spark to the world. Spark 8C has successfully launched and is already being appreciated by the masses. We expect the same zeal for this TikTok activity as well.”

As many famous TikTokers are a part of this campaign, hundreds of more videos are coming from the local audience. The best ones will be shared and will get a chance to Win a new Spark 8C. SO hurry up and upload your own video to this catchy beat right now!

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Shine Bright like a Diamond with the Stereo Prism Design of realme 9i

The sleek and stylish design of realme 9i is one of its amazing features 

You’ve probably heard the famous expression “all that glitters isn’t gold”, but the realme 9i is here to prove it false with its brilliant combination of design and power. The chic design of realme 9i makes it a good match for your trendy sense of style. realme always strives to redefine the vogue and bring exciting designs to their customer base. The economical realme 9i represents style and substance with a plethora of exciting features such as a 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, 5000mAh battery, 50MP AI Triple Camera, and much more. When speaking of the handset’s design, the most striking element would be the Stereo Prism Design on the back panel.

Following the design idea of "Capture the Light" that was fundamental to its predecessor, the realme 8i, the realme 9i introduced the brand-new Stereo Prism design. This design is based on the way that a prism plays with light, refracting and reflecting it into beautiful patterns. 

When light hits the back panel of the realme 9i, a dynamic effect of three-dimensional light and shadow can be observed making its way across the back of the phone. This unique effect is achieved through the use of industry-leading, 8-layer optical coating on the back panel of the phone. This provides layering and transparency.  When light is refracted through these multiple layers of nanoscale film it superimposes the glare with high color saturation. The effect produced by this is very transfixing and pleasing to the eye.

The realme 9i comes with a stunning IPS LCD screen and a super smooth 90Hz refresh rate. This provides you with a great viewing experience when you’re using the device whether it’s for binge-watching, gaming, or general tasks. The 16.7” display spans across most of the front panel, having a 90.8% screen-to-body ratio. The touchscreen is also incredibly responsive, boasting a 180Hz touch sampling rate so that you don’t have to worry about issues with touch sensitivity. The fingerprint scanner of the realme 9i is also built into the display allowing for a faster unlocking experience. 

The realme 9i has something for everyone. Whether you’re a stylish fashionista or a round-the-clock gamer, this smartphone has the features you need which makes it a very versatile device. The realme 9i comes in two vibrant color options: Prism Blue and Prism Black. Both of these variants incorporate the new trendy Stereo Prism Design. You can get your hands on this beautiful phone at a store near you for the attractive price of PKR 36,999/-.

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PANDAMART GRANTED FULFILLMENT CENTRE HACCP CERTIFICATION

Karachi, March 28, 2022: Pandamart, the online groceries delivery service under the foodpanda umbrella has been granted HACCP platform / fulfillment centre certification, which covers fresh fruits, vegetables, meat & commodities receiving, processing, packing & dispatching. 

HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.

The HACCP certification for the first pandamart store was issued in November last year, after a 6 month process, by Bureau Veritas, a world-renowned company specialized in the testing, inspection and certification founded in 1828. Currently food safety audits are underway at several other stores for the certification of processes in these stores as well. The process to obtain the certification also requires specialized training of all staff handling the food items.

“Obtaining the HACCP certification is part of our commitment towards maintaining the highest international food safety standards, and ensuring that our customers purchase and consume the freshest and most hygienic food items. Research from Mintel suggests that 84%-86% of people do not buy groceries online because of trust issues around fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat quality. Through this certification, our goal is to develop a strong food safety culture throughout our network of pandamarts so that we can develop a higher level of trust in the q-commerce channel. People should be able to lay their minds to rest knowing that the freshest and highest quality produce is being carefully handpicked, packed, and delivered to them,” stated Ibad Ahmed, Director - Q-Commerce and New Verticals at foodpanda.

Grocery shopping on pandamart is accessible and convenient on the foodpanda app with stores stocking thousands of products. Customers can order online whatever they want from the nearest pandamart and their order, whether for a single item or the whole month’s groceries, is delivered at their doorstep within half an hour. The pandamart services are available 20 hours a day.

About foodpanda

With over 20,000 restaurant/home chef partners across the country and millions of food deliveries every month, foodpanda is Pakistan’s largest q-commerce and online food delivery company. foodpanda provides self-employment income opportunities to thousands of home chefs and delivery riders to earn a successful living as and when they choose to.

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Provincial Consultative Conference on Improving Rule of Law held in Karachi

Karachi :- A provincial consultative conference was organized by Oxfam in Pakistan in collaboration with SAFWCO (Sindh Agriculture & Forestry Workers Coordinating Organization) on improving rule of law at Movinpick Hotel, Karachi. The conference convened members of provincial assembly, policy makers, legislators, academia, justice providers to collectively reflect and review the challenges women, minorities, and marginalized communities face in accessing justice in Sindh and a need for effective legal and policy reforms to increase citizen’s access to justices.

Oxfam in Pakistan is implementing its project, “Improved Access to Fair, Legitimate and Effective Justice in Pakistan’’, with SAFWCO Hyderabad, Sanghar and Hyderabad districts. The project focuses on citizen’s legal empowerment and strengthens confidence-building measures between citizens and formal justice institutions. 

Mr. Suliman G. Abro,Founder of SAFWCO greeted the participants in his welcome note. He applauded Oxfam’s contribution in improving citizen’s access to justice through improving confidence and trust between citizens and justice providers.

Addressing the conference, Ms Asma Kiran Team leader Programme Manager, Governance and Economic Justice Oxfam in Pakistan spoke on the importance of rule of law and inclusion of women and marginalised groups in the justice system, who are often ignored in their pursuit of justice. In her address, she stressed on the paramount need to open spaces where marginalized groups can access justice and engage duty bearers and justice providers.She stressed the need for a collective approach to strengthen the rule of law across the province, which is only possible if all levels of justice mechanism are involved, to ensure an equal and fair justice system for all. 

Mr. MurtazaWahab, Advisor to Chief Minister on Law, Government of Sindh, Karachi who was the chief guest at the event, spoke on the need to strengthen rule of law institutions through technical assistance, development of a policy to build capacity and enhance skills of justice providers. He also stressed that civil society should play a part in government efforts to improve rule of law. 

Ms Shehla Raza, Provincial Minister for Women Development in her speech shared government’s pro women policies and said that the government is committed to bring more reforms in laws and policies to improve the access to justice of women and other marginalised sections of the society. He committed to advocate at policy level to increase number of women employees in every provincial department to better facilitate more than half proportion of our population. 

PirMujjebUlHaq, Chairman of Standing Committee on Law and Parliamentary Affairs said that the provincial government has passed a number of record laws, majority of them are focussed on women, children, minorities and other marginalised sections. He said that improving rule of law and access to justice initiatives are priority for his committee and any stakeholders’ recommendations would be welcome in this regard.       

Mr. SharjeelKharal, Deputy Inspector General, Sindh Police said that the police in recent years have taken several initiatives to ensure access to police services to marginalised sections. Human Rights Cell has been established at the IG office and human rights cell and women complaint cells are also working at DIG and SSP offices across the province. “Reporting on crimes against women and minorities is now a part of regular police reporting to high officials,” he added. 

Others who spoke at the conference include Ms Anjum Iqbal Jumani, Secretary Department of Women Development, Suhai Aziz, Senior Superintendent Police, Ms Mangla Sharma, Member Provincial Assembly, Jami Chandhio Social Expert Lawyer Ali Palh,Justice providers and community representatives.

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An overwhelming response from India and Pakistan for Zindagi’s Mrs.& Mr. Shameem

Viewers from across the borders come together in support of the gender-bending love story of Mrs.& Mr. Shameem

[Pakistan 25th March 2022]:Zindagia leading entertainment brand, has championed cross-border collaborations in art and culture with content from the South Asian regioncreated for viewers across the globe. After path-breaking content such as Churails, Dhoop Ki Deewar, Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam, Zindagi launched yet another one-of-a-kind series titled ‘Mrs. & Mr. Shameem’ on 11th March 2022 on ZEE5. A love story at its core, the series traces the journey of two characters ‘Umaina’ and ‘Shameem’ who break gender stereotypes while traversing a journey of friendship and companionship.

After years of distance between the hearts, audiences from India and Pakistan have united to show their love and appreciation for the superlative story-telling and the show has been receiving appreciation and acceptance from both sides of the border. With people from across the globe appreciating the trailer and the show’s unique concept, India and Pakistan are united this time pouring in their love and showing support for the content Zindagi is showcasing.

Some of the comments from India and Pakistan on the trailer that received 4M + views on YouTube read – “Saba Qamar and Nauman Ijaz light up the screen as they subvert norms”; “Highly matured content. This is next evolution of web series”; “If this is Pakistani web series then it is a great leap in their OTT platform. Hopefully, it will do well.”; “Kudos to the team for embracing and standing up for such an important yet sensitive topic”; “Divided by politics, united by art”.

Talking about this overwhelming response Director Kashif Nisar shares, “It is a great feeling to watch both the countries showering us with so much love. This feedback motivates us to further the cause of blurring the physical divide through art and story-telling. It is with great honor I would like to thank all our well-wishers across the globe for the response towards our show."

Sharing her views on the same Saba Qamar says, “I am overjoyed to see such a response coming from both the countries. This takes me back to my Hindi Medium days, where I received so much appreciation from the audience for my character. To see such stories being welcomed by the audience on both sides of the border is a great feeling altogether.”

Produced by Kashif Nisar and Misbah Shafique, Mrs.& Mr. Shameem is a distinctive love story of a pure bond graduating from friendship to growing old together and everything in between.

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Kashmir Premier League Showcase Kicks-Off with Mega success in Expo 2020

Dubai / 25th March 2022: To showcase the success of the Kashmir Premier League, three daysKPL showcase with the title “Magnificent Kashmir with its Premier League.” has begun in Kashmir Gallery at Pakistan Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai on Friday, 25th March 2022. Honorable guests from Pakistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and UAE joined the KPL showcase while a large number of visitors joined in and highly cherished the events of the day.

A welcome note was delivered by Mr. Arshad Khattak  (Chairman of KPL) who greeted the guests of honor and the visitors of the KPL section at Kashmir Gallery. He wowed that the KPL showcase will be a unique experience for them to enjoy and learn about Kashmir as well as KPL. 

Mr. Arif Malik (President of KPL) then presented the success story of the globally recognized Kashmir Premier League Season 1. He also elaborated on the challenges on his way to bringing this inimitable dream to reality. Further, he added that KPL season 2 will be a much bigger and healthier event about the prosperity and development of the Kashmir region

The Secretary of Sports & Tourism of AJ&K Mr. Mansoor Qadir Dar delivered the vote of thanks to the participants as well as the spectators visiting the Kashmir Gallery. He enlightened the vision behind the Kashmir Premier League and its outcome global recognition of the first season.

Chief GuestMr. Abdul Majid Khan (Finance Minister of AJ&K) highly appreciated the Kashmir Premier League and expressed his facilitations on the success of KPL season 1. He further added that he has a strong belief in KPL in strengthening the economic condition of AJ&K.He wowed to support KPL for its future endeavors.

Ch. Shahzad Akhtar (CEO of KPL), Mr. Taimoor Ali Khan (COO of KPL), and Mr. Saqib ur Rehman (CMO of KPL) also adorned the event with their presence. Their efforts in making this dream come to reality were also praised by the speakers of the event.

The first day of the occasion was bursting with knowledge-based and fun-filled programs and activities. A conference with the topic “Sports Tourism in AJ&K” was graced by Mr. Abdul Majid Khan, Mr. Mansoor Qadir Dar, Shoaib Malik (Former Captain of Team Pakistan), Muhammad Amir (Fast Bowler of Team Pakistan), Mr. Arif Malik, and Mr. Owais Nazar (President of Pakistan Hotelier Foundation UAE). Whereas, Ms. Bakhtawar Mahmoodwas the moderator of the conference.

Participants of the conference discussed different aspects including sports infrastructure and sports culture in AJK, initiatives for sports and tourism, hospitality challenges, and opportunities for investors & the tourism industry. They appreciated the initiative of KPL as it proved to be asignificant asset towards the economic, social, cultural, sports, and tourism development of the Kasmir region. The audience was engaged in the activity, learning about the solutions for challenges in AJ&K.

The spectators were very excited to attend the program “KheloAazadi Se” with Shoaib Malik as the guest of honor. Theprogram host Zaariya Khanquestioned him covering various aspects of his life, career, and as a part of KPL. Shoaib Malik also answered several questions asked by the audience present in the show.

Several other activities were also part of the first-day events including the success stories of KPL displayed on digital screens. The visitors of the Kashmir Gallery had a close interaction with the guests of honor and the management of the Kashmir Premier League. The Kashmiri diaspora from around the globe was observed to be very keen on learning more about KPL and how to become a part of this precious league of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

The visitors of Kashmir Gallery including Kashmiri Diaspora in their views said that Kashmir Premier League is the first ever very own league of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and has proven its strength and vision by uplifting the Kashmiri youth and by projecting the Kashmir Issue globally.

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OPPO A96 goes on Sale with Long-Lasting Battery, OPPO Glow Design, and Enduring Quality

OPPO announced the OPPO A96 that is available in stores and digital channels in Pakistan. OPPO A96 is equipped with a robust 5000mAh long-lasting battery and 33W SUPERVOOCTM flash charging that ensures a smooth experience, these features are complemented by the OPPO Glow Design that allows the phone to be scratch and fingerprint resistant. OPPO A96’s 6.59-inch 90Hz Colour-Rich Punch-Hole Display with 96% NTSC wide color gamut that is managed by the OPPO’s self-developed Adaptive Refresh Rate Technology promises to deliver an immersive viewing experience. Available now nationwide for PKR 41,999/-  

Stylish Design that Delights and Captivates

The OPPO Glow Design manufacturing process selects the best diamond-cut glass panel and places in a vacuum to compress the crystal pattern to create an eye-catching, smooth, anti-fingerprint and dirt-proof texture. This gives the OPPO A96 its 3D thin center frame form factor in 2 magnificent color options: Starry Black, Sunset Blue.

OPPO A96 features a 6.59-inch 90Hz Colour-Rich Punch-Hole Display with 90.8% screen-to-body ratio and 1080×2412 FHD resolution. The bump up in refresh rate is managed by OPPO’s Adaptive Refresh Rate Technology, OPPO’s self-developed technology for LCD screens, which auto-regulates the screen refresh rate based on what the user is doing, ensuring better smoothness while keeping power usage down. All-day AI Eye Comfort enhances the screen visibility in bright or dim environments based on the levels of ambient light. The display has also been upgraded to cover a 96% NTSC wide color gamut. Equivalent to 100% DCI-P3, the display now covers more of the color spectrum, making image colors even truer, richer, and more captivating.

By moving the fingerprint sensor to the side for quicker unlock access, OPPO A96 is able to adopt a 3D Thin Center Frame for a slimmer and more premium look and feel. 

5000mAh Long-Lasting Battery and 33W SUPERVOOCTM for Effortless Experience

The 5000mAh (typical) battery gives users the necessary battery power to stay connected. The battery allows users to text on WhatsApp for up to 15 hours while 33W SUPERVOOCTM fast charging gives users more flexibility with a 30-minute charge providing 55% of battery power. In addition, OPPO has made great strides in improving the battery usage efficiency with features such as Super Power Saving Mode based on the power-saving strategies, such as CPU frequency adjustment and backlight regulation that adopts on specific apps to extend battery life. OPPO A96 also features Optimized Night Charging, which allows the phone’s AI to learn the user’s sleep patterns and schedule a segmented battery charging plan during the nighttime.

Reliable Performance for an Enduring Experience

Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 680 4G Mobile Platform, OPPO A96 delivers an exceptionally smooth user experience with the 8GB + 128GB large memory and storage. This is complemented by RAM Expansion which gives the OPPO A96 an extra boost to performance and storage, meaning better multi-tasking and smoother experience, and extra storage via SD cards expansion to preserve more photos and videos.

A great audio experience is central to calling and entertainment. Dual speakers and microphones on OPPO A96 produce high volume stereo audio while reducing ambient noise. The high-fidelity Dirac HD audio technology makes viewing experience more immersive.

Powerful Camera System for Versatile Portrait Experience

OPPO A96 carries a 16MP Front Camera, producing gorgeous portrait shots. Features such as AI Natural Retouching includes blemish removal while still preserving the user’s natural facial features. Portrait shots are now brighter and clearer in dim environments with the help of the 360° Fill Light feature.

The rear-facing dual camera setup features a 50MP Rear Camera with high photosensitivity and high pixel count, and a 2MP Bokeh Camera, allowing users to use Portrait Mode to capture photos with the precise and natural bokeh effects. The rear camera also supports 5x digital zoom and up to 20 continuous burst shots.

Additional camera features such as AI Palette, Neon Portrait, Flash Snapshot, and Selfie HDR to deliver even more versatility to users as they shoot in different scenarios.

ColorOS 11.1 for Intuitive Software Experience

ColorOS 11.1 on OPPO A96 makes the entire user experience effortless and efficient with fluidity, ease of use, and performance at the core of its functionality.  System optimization software features such as System Booster and Link Boost 2.0 ensure high-level system performance and connectivity smoothness. Bullet Screen Message minimizes the disruptions from calls or notifications while users are engaging in a game, meaning message information will scroll across the screen as floating windows to minimize the disruption. Privacy features are also a core tenant of ColorOS, with Private Safe and APP Lock offering users the ability to keep their private data and apps secure. Anti-peeping for Notifications gives the front camera the ability to detect anyone close by and intelligently protects user information by hiding notification content.

Air Gestures are now available on OPPO A96, which include non-touch sliding gestures to move the screen up or down, swiping up to answer calls, or static palm gestures to silence calls.

Market Availability

OPPO A96 is now available in Pakistan, with two stunning colors in Starry Black and Sunset Blue with 8GB + 128GB variant. The phone will be available for purchase at a retail price of PKR 41,999/- at Daraz and in stores nationwide.

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TECNO holds Valuable Partner Meeting 2022 in Lahore

Lahore : The globally eminent smartphone brand, TECNO held a splendid Valuable Partners Meeting 2022 at Falatties's Hotel, Lahore. The event unveiled TECNO’s new Spark 8C smartphone and rewards for the best Master Dealers (MD) of the fourth quarter (Q4) 2021. Many marketing dealers, media persons, and tech experts joined the event. 

The event was arranged by TECNO to join hands and lead the market in Pakistan towards greater technologies. The new Spark 8C was also officially unveiled and unboxed by Tech YouTuber, Bilal Munir from Video Wali Sarkar, live for the event participants. 

TECNO gave away a net worth of USD 200,000 gifts among the MDs at this event. The Rewards for best MDs of Q4 2021 included Special Gifts for all, Motorbikes (51), Thailand Tour (36), Luxury Europe Tour (22), Loyal UK Tour (5), and Business Cars (10). 

Adeel Tahir, Sales Director of TECNO Mobile Pakistan shared some insightful knowledge regarding the New Plan and Sale Strategy of 2022 with the audience. He said, 

“We thank all our partners for being with us in our journey and trying to expand more in 2022. We are now one of the Top 50 Chinese Cross-border Brands, also China’s TOP 500 Private Enterprises, and have become one of the Top Influential Chinese Overseas Brands in no time. In Pakistan, we recently received the Brand of the Year Award 2021 award for being the Fastest Growing Brand of the Year.

As Camon 18 in Pakistan exceeded 200% getting the No.1 position globally, we are aiming for the High-end and Flagship market by launching Camon 19 and Phantom in Pakistan soon. Moreover, we have established a TRANSSION Pakistan Manufacturing Centre, a joint venture between Pakistan and China to manufacture 49 percent of its mobile phones in Pakistan in the coming years.”

He also added, “We shall be working more to improve the product experience, especially in design +OS; establish the brand image of ‘professional imaging’, ‘stylish design’ and ‘surprise experience’. Also, with our shop coverage increased to 96% across Pakistan, 

we’ll invest marketing budget in Camon and focus on share improvement and countless other BTL investments.”

Furthermore, Kelvin Zeng, CEO of TECNO Mobile Pakistan, thanked all the participants for joining and shared insights on the next plans. He shared,

“Thanks to our partners for their work and I hope for a successful 2022 for everyone. We started with mid-range and budget-friendly devices in Pakistan, but are now aiming for the higher budget segments with our Camon and Phantom series. You’ll soon be able to get your hands on our Camon 19 and the latest Phantom phone in Pakistan. We believe in mutually growing so our success is in the success of our partners.”

In the end, a lucky draw was held for all the event participants, where people won gifts such as LEDs, Motor Bike, and TECNO Phones. There was also a musical segment arranged by TECNO. The UK Sahara band performed taking the event to another level with their lively and energetic performances.

About TECNO

TECNO is a premium smartphone and AIoT devices brand from TRANSSION Holdings. With “Stop At Nothing” as its brand essence, TECNO is committed to unlocking the best contemporary technologies for progressive individuals across global emerging markets, giving them elegantly designed intelligent products that inspire consumers to uncover a world of possibilities. TECNO understands the needs of consumers from different markets and provides them with localized innovations and design breakthroughs demonstrated through their mastery of serving consumers who are “young at heart” and never stop pursuing excellence. TECNO’s portfolio spans across smartphones, tablets, smart wearables and AIoT devices made for consumers in over 70 emerging markets world-wide. TECNO is also the Official Partner of Manchester City, Premier League Champions 2020-21. For more information, 

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NEPRA Chairman and its CSR award winners visit LUMS

Lahore, March 25, 2022: The Chairman, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi was recently invited to visit the LUMS campus in Lahore. He was joined by representatives from seven NEPRA licensee organisations, which have done tremendous work towards social initiatives, particularly within the areas of renewable energy. 

The aim of the meeting at LUMS was to discuss avenues of collaboration with the University. The visiting organisations included K-Electric, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Engro Energy, China Power Hub Generation Company (CPHGC), Karot Power and Kot Addu Power Company (KAPCO). 

Mr. Farooqi and the other visitors were welcomed by the University’s senior leadership. These included LUMS Provost, Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Bilal Ahsan Malik and Director of Advancement, Ms. Nuzhat Kamran. Alumni and students also participated in the session.

 

During the welcome address by Dr. Jadoon, he praised the CSR initiatives undertaken by Mr. Farooqi in the areas of education, health, environment, and others. He congratulated Mr. Farooqi on setting up the CSR department at NEPRA in 2020 with a focus on Sustainable Development Goals. He also shared how LUMS faculty experiment with innovative instructional and learning techniques and seek to create impact through cross-disciplinary research in the areas, water informatics, energy, linguistics, and economics among several others.

This was followed by a presentation by Ms. Kamran elaborating how over the last three decades, the University has evolved into Pakistan’s leading institution with an immeasurable impact on business and society. “This has been achieved through our donors, who have supported the University’s mission of providing a world-class education to students, enabled ground-breaking research, and helped LUMS become a premier learner-centred institution,” she added.

She also highlighted the University’s commitment to inclusive education through its signature National Outreach Programme (NOP). Providing an overview of the NOP’s transformative experience for scholars from disadvantaged backgrounds, she shared the multiplier effect of this initiative as they come full circle to give back to their communities. 

Dr. Malik elaborated on the support services provided to NOP scholars during their time at LUMS with regards to academic advisement. “LUMS spends considerable resources in actively finding talented students in order to give them a fair chance and a level playing field. NOP students are supported in three key areas: helping them settle in at LUMS, providing them with resources to succeed during their time at the University, and preparing them for their future careers,” he shared.

Speaking at the event, NOP alumni, Ms. Adeela Sarfraz, Class of 2009 and Mr. Hafiz Ali Naeem, Class of 2016 and CSS topper, shared their inspiring journeys at LUMS and how they went on to achieve success in their respective fields. They credited the University for providing them with the foundation for their achievements.  Mr. Farooqi, a graduate of LUMS MBA Class of 1996, praised the University’s NOP scholarship as “transformative” that impacts the lives of students, their families as well as their communities. He also spoke about his own journey as a student at LUMS and discussed the various CSR initiatives undertaken by NEPRA, the most prominent of which is the ‘Power with Prosperity’ programme. 

The event served to be a starting point where licensees were really excited to collaborate with LUMS.

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foodpanda reiterates commitment towards women empowerment

Karachi (March 25, 2022): 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 organisation 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.

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

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.

"I am extremely excited to be the first Ambassador of EQUAL Pakistan because this kind of well-structured program will help uplift women in the audio industry of Pakistan." said Arooj Aftab.

By introducing EQUAL Pakistan, Spotify’s mission is to celebrate Pakistani women creators by utilizing the platform's resources and providing new opportunities for these creators through a globally cohesive and branded experience.

The EQUAL Pakistan program includes: 

• EQUAL Pakistan playlist: Pakistan women artists are showcased at full volume on the country's go-to playlist for discovering and supporting these talented creators. The playlist features diverse women voices, including  Zahra Paracha, Abida Parveen, Wooly and the Uke, Annural Khalid, Maria Unera, and Amna Riaz. 

• EQUAL Destination: Spotify listeners can enjoy listening to some of the most talented women artists from the country via playlists such as EQUAL Pakistan, Top Local Female artists in Pakistan 2021,  Women of Coke Studio, This is Abida Parveen, and This is Noor Jehan on the EQUAL Destination.

• EQUAL Global Playlist: Featuring EQUAL Ambassadors and women artists from around the world, this playlist will serve as the ultimate listening experience, amplifying the EQUAL class of each month.

• Artist marketing: Each EQUAL Pakistan Ambassador of the Month will receive organic and on-platform promotion across Spotify's editorial & social spaces. This model has proven effective in propelling significant growth on the platform in both the artists' home countries and beyond. Arooj Aftab was featured on a billboard in Times Square on March 23 to honor her as Ambassador of the Month.

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