Saima Group & Agha Steel join hands to Launch Pakistan First Eco Friendly Green Housing Structure Project

Karachi, May 30: Agha Steel Industries Limited, a leading Steel manufacturing company has signed an agreement with Saima Group for exclusively providing Green Electric Arc Furnace Technology steel rebars to its first of a kind Eco-Friendly Green Housing Structure Project “Saima Premium Residency”. Saima Group is a name associated with quality and trust in the real estate planning and development sector of Pakistan, having successfully delivered many mega projects for both residential and commercial to its customers. Addressing the occasion Mr Zeeshan Zaki, Chairman Saima Group said “We are very excited to launch Saima Premium Residency as Pakistan’s first Eco-Friendly Green Housing Structure project that shall be built exclusively with the finest and most technologically advanced rebars supplied by Agha Steel. In accordance with our long term goal of transforming into an environmentally conscious organization, it is our aim to partner with firms that share our values to give sustainable developments for our future residents”

Also read: MMBL and Digit 4G enter into Strategic Partnership to Digitally bolster Pakistan’s Financial Ecosystem

He further added “We couldn’t have found a better partner than Agha Steel for providing Steel for this visionary project as they are the only company in Pakistan that provides 100% refined quality steel by using green steel technologies.”

At the signing ceremony Mr Hussain Agha, CEO Agha Steel, also expressed his view and noted “We are delighted to be entering into this agreement with Saima Group for providing steel to Pakistan’s First Eco- Friendly Green Structure Project. This is a great initiative by Saima Group as the leaders of the industry must play a pivotal role to ensure a sustainable and greener future for our generations to come. This agreement is testament to our aligned visions and ambitions for a Greener Pakistan.”

 Also read: Enabling Financial Independence: Easypaisa launches attractive in-app Savings

Agha Steel Industries led a Green Steel Revolution through sustainability of its energy mix by installing a 2.25 Megawatt solar power project and signing a term Sheet with Engro Energy for Renewable Energy. Agha also stated, “Our State of the art plant utilizes scrap-based Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology. By using recycled scrap for our raw material, we reduce the need for natural resources. Our CO2 Scope 1 green-house gas emissions and energy consumption intensities are approximately 7 times less than the global steel making average, making the Green Arc Furnace Technology environmentally friendly.”

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MEDZnMORE’s Tabiyat.pk and AGP Partner for Patient Care & Access to Quality Medication

MEDZnMORE’s tabiyat.pk signed an agreement with AGP, making this another major partnership with a leading pharmaceutical brand. Through this partnership, consumers will have access to AGP’s products through tabiyat.pk’s platforms. 

The event was hosted at the tabiyat.pk’s head office in Karachi and was attended by Furqan Masood – Head of Trade Marketing AGP, Faizan Tanveer – Trade Sales Manager South AGP, Tanveer Shah Khan – Commercials Operation Manager, Shafaeen Hassan – Head of Finance MEDZnMORE, and Furqan Ahmed – Head of Marketing MEDZnMORE, along with their core team members. 

Also read: MMBL and Digit 4G enter into Strategic Partnership to Digitally bolster Pakistan’s Financial Ecosystem

The online platform has also partnered with Getz Pharma, GSK, Shield, Mothercare, and other market leaders previously.  Through partnerships with leading, trusted brands in the pharmaceutical industry, the company hopes to provide high-quality medicines to its customers and improve patient care. 

Tabiyat.pk is a leading health-tech startup that started its operations in September 2020 and has delivered to hundreds of thousands of customers across Pakistan.

They have invested heavily in building a replicable infrastructure with a purpose-built temperature-controlled warehouse, a technology stack focused on just-in-time medicine inventory, an integrated supply chain, and an AI-powered logistics solution.

Also read: Enabling Financial Independence: Easypaisa launches attractive in-app Savings

This proprietary system enabled the company to seamlessly fulfill the operational needs of both B2B and B2C customers. 

The start-up recently secured $11.5 Million in its pre-series A round, making it the largest health-tech funding in Pakistan. Apart from partnering with the leading manufacturers, tabiyat.pk has various projects in the pipeline to offer the audience better access to healthcare products.

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MMBL and Digit 4G enter into Strategic Partnership to Digitally bolster Pakistan’s Financial Ecosystem

Islamabad, May 30, 2022: Pakistan's largest digital bank, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) has partnered with DIGIT, a leading technology brand of Swift Biz Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in Pakistan, to bolster Pakistan’s digital and financial ecosystem. Under this strategic partnership, MMBL will accelerate digital inclusion by enabling its deposit account customers to purchase DIGIT smartphones (Glory1, Play1 & Energy) at an affordable and subsidized price from selected MMBL branches. Ghazanfar Azzam, President & CEO of MMBL, and Abdul Rehman Mahmood, Founder & CEO of DIGIT signed the partnership agreement, in presence of senior officials from both organizations.

Through this alliance, MMBL will allow new and existing deposit account customers to perform daily transactions such as fund transfers, utility bill payments, mobile top-ups, and other services via the preinstalled DOST APP in the Digit 4G smartphone or by using the DOST USSD code i.e. *8792#.

Sharing his thoughts at the signing ceremony, Ghazanfar Azzam, President & CEO of MMBL said: “As a market leader in digital banking, we continue to focus on introducing customer-centric digital financial solutions for bridging the digital divide and promoting financial inclusion across the nation. Our collaboration between MMBL and DIGIT will not only make digital banking accessible for our customers but also supplement the deployment of customized financial products and services on smartphones as well as smart-enabled feature phones.”

On the occasion, Abdul Rehman Mahmood, Founder & CEO of DIGIT, said, “Currently, a large segment of Pakistan's population is lacking the opportunity to join the global digital revolution and financial inclusion. We are pleased to partner with Mobilink Microfinance Bank for this strategic partnership. DIGIT is a 'Made in Pakistan' brand for the people of Pakistan, and innovation with affordability is the key to the success for us. We have introduced the first of its kind affordable Touch and Type Smartphone (DIGIT Energy) for the masses. We are also planning to introduce Buy Now Pay Later for our phones. Our partnership with MMBL will help in bringing banking facilities to customers in every corner of the country.”

Deposit account customers interested in purchasing the DIGIT smartphones will be required to fill out a form. The handset will then be delivered to the mentioned postal address via Cash on Delivery (COD). Customers can also visit the nearest DIGIT retailer shop for buying phones. Moreover, for registering any complaints, customers can call the UAN at 0304-111-4123, which will be resolved within 24 hours.

MMBL has ensured continued top-line growth in the digital banking sector. Through its strategic partnerships, MMBL is committed to banking the underserved and unserved customers with innovative digital financial solutions. In line with the Bank’s unwavering commitment to fostering digital inclusivity, MMBL is continuously exploring new avenues to improve its portfolio that uniquely serves its customers' growing financial needs.

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PUBG Mobile realme Gaming Championship 2022 Reaches a Fiery End in Lahore

Gearing up for the Grand Finale, top two teams from each university in Lahore and Karachi will battle it out for the ultimate champion of the gaming tournament

After two weeks of clutch moves and chicken dinners, the qualifier and preliminary rounds of the PUBG Mobile realme Gaming Championship 2022 have come to a close. Last week, the action shifted to the vibrant, loud and proud city of Lahore. After the success of the Karachi leg of gameplay, students in Lahore were hyped to get their chance to prove their mettle in the PUBG battleground. PUBG is one of the most played mobile games in Pakistan, gaining many fans thanks to its collaborative gameplay and the challenge of using strategic thinking to make it to the top of the leaderboard.

Students from four selected universities around Lahore competed for a spot in the virtual grand finale last week in a series of tight games in teams of four players. The PUBG Mobile realme Gaming Championship 2022 visited University of Lahore (UoL), University of Management and Technology (UMT), University of Central Punjab (UCP), and University of South Asia (USA) to scope out the rising pool of PUBG talent and find their Lahore fleet of challengers.

The event took place over two days at each university. The first day was reserved for team registration and gaining further information about the competition and the second day was reserved for the main attraction – thrilling rounds of gameplay featuring a clash of brain and brawn. Students at two universities, UCP and UoL, were also lucky enough to meet Ducky Bhai who is the most well-known YouTuber in Pakistan, known for his fun-filled content and love for gaming. Students were able to meet and greet with Ducky in between grueling rounds of gameplay and the winning teams from these universities were handed their prizes by Ducky himself. 

The winners of the gameplay at each university were able to win a collection of exciting realme giveaways including t-shirts, key-chains, water bottles, and notebooks and a guaranteed spot in the virtual grand finale. The top two teams from each of Lahore’s universities are listed below:

University of Lahore (UoL)

1. Team TS

2. Team UoL Lovers

University of Central Punjab (UCP)

1. Team H2E

2. Team T18

University of Management and Technology (UMT)

1. Team Devine

2. Team Ignito

University of South Asia (USA)

1. Team Elnor

2. Team Myself

The players are gearing up and going over their strategies as they use this week of calm to prepare for the ultimate test of their teamwork and PUBG acumen in the virtual grand finale of the PUBG Mobile realme Gaming Championship 2022 taking place on Sunday, June 05, 2022. The prizes they seek to claim as their own are no laughing matter. The winning team in the tournament will walk away with a mindboggling amount of PKR 200,000/- as well as four realme 9 Pro+.

Trailing just behind them, the second place team will walk away with an astonishing PKR 100,000/- as well as two realme C35 handsets. Finally, the third place team will walk away with PKR 50,000/- and a realme C35 handset. 

For gamers across Pakistan this is an exciting time to support those in the gaming community and come together for what will surely be a thrilling finale to an incredible gaming championship. Students from the featured universities should also come together to support the representatives from their university and show solidarity with them. So mark your calendars for Sunday, June 05, 2022 tune into realme’s social media pages to watch the grand finale of the PUBG Mobile realme Gaming Championship 2022.

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Carrefour celebrates cool summer sale

• Discounts across numerous categories including groceries, electronics, textiles and household appliances 

• Carrefour’s summer mega sale hopes to help customers stay cool during the heat wave

Lahore, May 30, 2022: Carrefour, fully owned and operated by UAE based Majid Al Futtaim in Pakistan, has launched a surprise, themed mega sale to make this summer cooler and more exciting amidst rising temperatures. Customers can escape the scorching heat wave by shopping in a chilled and expansive environment at ten Carrefour stores across Pakistan and can also avail amazing summer offers online via Carrefour’s website or mobile application.

As per the forecast, the country's weather is expected to stay hot and dry throughout the month of June. The incredible discounts are geared towards the products that customers use on a daily basis to deal with the scorching summer heat, covering fresh foods, groceries, electronics, textiles, health, and homeware, as well as heavy household appliances like refrigerators, water coolers, and air conditioners. Special cashback offers are also applicable online to make shopping more comfortable and convenient. 

Umer Lodhi, Country Manager of Carrefour Pakistan said, “Carrefour Pakistan remains committed to supporting our surrounding communities by delivering unbeatable value through every experience, year-round. With temperatures soaring, we are excited to offer an assortment of special deals that will make this summer more exciting and enjoyable for everyone. We have worked closely with our sales team to identify our customer’s favourite products during hotter months so that we can ensure the very best value in terms of quality, price and selection”

The mega sale will be available at all Carrefour stores in Karachi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Islamabad throughout the season. In addition to the convenience of in-store shopping, Carrefour also offers its delivery service through the Carrefour Pakistan app and customers can use MyClub to gain instant discounts, earn and redeem points, and to better serve its customers. For further information, please head to www.carrefourpakistan.com to discover the hottest deals.

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Enabling Financial Independence: Easypaisa launches attractive in-app Savings

Easypaisa, Pakistan’s leading digital payments platform, has introduced yet another innovative feature enabling users to earn daily profits through a single click. Easypaisa users can now use the in-app savings product to earn a percentage on their existing account balance every day.

The revolutionary product is designed to financially empower all Pakistanis to take control of their finances through convenient and secure digital savings. By simply clicking ‘Subscribe’ to any of the available plans, Easypaisa App users can immediately start earning up to 9% annual profits, posted daily with no hidden restrictions. No amount of users’ funds are locked; all they have to do is maintain a higher balance than their chosen plan threshold and keep making profits. Whether an existing Easypaisa user or a new one, the savings product is available for everyone.

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Commenting on the development, M. Mudassar Aqil, CEO, Easypaisa and Telenor Microfinance Bank said; “As a predominantly cash-based economy, there has always been room for improvement in saving habits of Pakistanis. With a major share of household budgets already allocated to basic sustenance needs, most people across the country struggle to save. At Easypaisa, we remain committed to empowering everyone to take control of their finances through convenient digital means and our in-app savings product is a key step in this regard. Now, practically anyone can start saving and earn profits daily through their Easypaisa account without any entry and exit barriers”.

Also read: Ufone 4G commits to fostering women’s access to mobile Internet

With more than 10 million customers using the Easypaisa App in the last 30-days across the Android and iOS platforms, Easypaisa is the most used Pakistani App across all categories and remains committed to transforming Pakistan into a cashless and financially inclusive society through the power of collaboration & technology.

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PTCL Business Solutions Polo Cup

 

PTCL Business Solutions Polo Cup concluded on Sunday at Islamabad Polo Ground. Picture shows winning team along with Zarrar Hasham Khan, GCBSO, Muhammad Shoaib Baig, GCHRO, Naveed Khalid Butt, GCRO, PTCL & Ufone. The event was attended by large number of corporate customers, polo enthusiasts and club members; making it one of the biggest events of the season.

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Ufone 4G commits to fostering women’s access to mobile Internet

Islamabad – May 27, 2022: Ufone 4G is at the forefront to support women’s empowerment in the country, hence, the Pakistani company is committed to significantly expanding its female customer base. 

Through its commitment with the global association of mobile operators, the GSMA, Ufone 4G aims to bring high-speed connectivity to more Pakistani women to enhance their participation in the mainstream socio-economic system.

Also read: PTCL Group joins hands with National Emergency Center for Polio eradication from

 Pakistan

The initiative underpins Ufone 4G’s long-term commitment to bringing every Pakistani citizen into the fold of digital inclusion for positive socio-economic outcomes. Therefore, the company is focused on reducing the gender gap in access to connectivity and helping women leverage the Internet to explore opportunities for personal and professional growth.

The company has exhibited its strong commitment to fostering gender inclusivity through various initiatives.  Ufone 4G boasts a significant female user base, mainly due to its women-centric use cases and communication focused on the specific call and data needs of women. These use cases helped Ufone 4G deliver products and services to women with different professional backgrounds, duly tailored to suit their call and data needs and routine.

Also read: Zong offers International Roaming Bundle for Turkey

Also delivering on women's safety and privacy needs, Ufone 4G introduced an industry-first Smart code *765# so that women customers can receive mobile top-ups without having to share their phone numbers with retailers. Just recently, Ufone 4G donated its flagship Wifi internet devices to the participants of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Women Civic Internship Program to support their pursuit of personal and professional growth.

Ufone 4G acknowledges that women play a vital role in the prosperity of a country, therefore it never shies away from providing equal opportunities to them to spur their pursuit of finding a constructive and meaningful role in the society.

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TUD hosts gathering of over 70 women entrepreneurs

KARACHI: Lean in Pakistan Foundation held a cross sector gathering at The Buraq Center by LADIESFUND, where more than 70 women entrepreneurs and professionals networked for building professional friendships and business development. A wide range of dynamic women professionals, corporate, SME business owners, students, and those in art and culture attended, says a Press release.

This dynamic must-attend session which was hosted by Lean in Pakistan Foundation founder Tara Uzra Dawood was jam-packed and drew the likes of Claudia Ziegeler (wife of the German Consul General in Karachi), Ameena Saiyid, Baela Raza, Rukhsana Asghar, Kiran Zubair, Sara Pagganwalla, Khursheed Hyder, Nazli Abid, et al.

“Lean in Pakistan Foundation celebrates the importance of women pursuing their dreams and careers,” stated Tara Uzra Dawood, President, Lean in Pakistan Foundation. “We are delighted by the overwhelming numbers of members in Pakistan and the enthusiasm for this important initiative of women supporting women.”

LeanIn.Org is a nonprofit organization founded by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg to empower all women in their ambitions. LeanIn.Org offers inspiration and support through an online community, free expert lectures and Lean in Circles, small peer groups whose members meet regularly to share and learn together. Since the organization’s launch in March 2013 – following the release of the bestselling book, LeanIn-Women, Work and the Will to Lead – the LeanIn.Org community has grown to over 1 million women and men and more than 30,000 Lean in Circles in 150 countries. LeanIn.Org is a private operating nonprofit organization under the Section 501(C)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code in the United States.

Lean In Pakistan, a Lean In Circle organization, is authorized to use LeanIn names, the Lean In service mark, program logos, the domain name “leaninpakistan.org” and associated website and other branded materials under a license from Lean in.Org, as part of the Regional leaders Program – Terms of Service. Although Lean in Pakistan is an independent group, Lean In.Org authorizes Lean in Pakistan for use of these Lean In branded materials and has selected Lean In Pakistan to be non-profit organization.

“A moment of joy – seeing 100 women gathered at Pakistan’s biggest Lean In Circle meeting in Karachi. My thanks to these amazing women for leaning in and inspiring me from across the world,” Sheryl Sandberg, COO Facebook & Founder Leanin.org, famously wrote of the group in a facebook post on her personal page in January 2016. Then, in 2018, Lean in Pakistan was selected as one of 10 affiliates globally to be awarded permission for independent non-profit status.

“For me, as still a newcomer to Pakistan, it was yet another wonderful surprise to meet such a great mix of professional women – from educators, publishers, authors to jewelry designers, law professors, tv producers, pharmaceutical entrepreneurs, medical professionals… the list goes on. My compliments to Tara Dawood for bringing us all together – what a great vibe on the occasion of celebrating Lean In Pakistan!” said Claudia Ziegeler, wife of the German Consul General in Karachi.

“It was a wonderful event for networking,” said Ameena Saiyid, founder, Lightstone Publishers.

“Really had a good time and met such amazing women,” said Khursheed Hyder, Public Relations, HUM Network.

Baela Reza, co-founder, Children’s Literature Festival, said, “A real powerhouse event.”

LADIESFUND was Venue Sponsor for the event and Vital Tea was Tea Sponsor.

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Mastercard, One Global™ and i2c partner to launch integrated wallet in Middle East and North Africa, along with issuing capability for fintechs

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia : Mastercard, One Global™ and i2c have announced a partnership to provide tailored financial solutions that will enable the issuance of digital mobile wallets in the region. Through this partnership, banks, fintech, merchants and wallet providers can now offer consumers in the region easy access to cutting edge, digital-first payment solutions and services.

Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mastercard said: “Following the successful adoption of Mastercard Digital First solutions by many leading banks, we have introduced approaches that simplify integration for innovators like fintechs, merchants and neo banks. Making this possible are programs like Mastercard Fintech Express, through which we enable the ecosystem to partner more effectively. This announcement is an excellent example of collaboration to solve for speed, service and scale, while accelerating financial inclusion and innovation in the region.”

By working in partnership with Mastercard and i2c, One Global™ is fixing a process that is often siloed, time consuming and limiting for innovation. Mohammed Al Rashidi, Founder and Executive Chairman of One Global™ said, “This collaboration reduces integration time significantly and makes the engagement process simpler for payment innovators. Today, they must search for a BIN Sponsor, an issuer-processor, a network partner, and much more. We bring this engagement into a single window with three interventions.”

“The One Global™ Og Stack™ enables banking-as-a-service for startups, fintechs, mega merchants and banks. As a principal Mastercard license holder in Bahrain, One Global™ offers its own BIN sponsorship capabilities.  Through our partnership with i2c, we take care of various possible issuing processing needs. Together, we are well placed to meet rising consumer demands,” Mohammed continued.

The One Global™ Og Stack™ is the world’s first digital transformation and innovation-driven platform that enables new ideas to reach global markets and brings them together with incubators, investors, venture capitalists and various business clients with a single integrated SDK that connects both startups’ innovations and Enterprises’ omni channels.

Kevin Fox, Global Head of Sales of i2c Inc. , said, “i2c’s tech stack is an agile offering that enables various use cases from commercial to personal, from end-to-end, including digital-first payment methods such as contactless payments. We recognize the intrinsic benefits of partnering with mobile channel technology partners and networks. The market has a specific need for this kind of offering, and the demand is very visible. Fintech companies are facing challenges when it comes to engaging the ecosystem needed to launch their digital banking services, so this alliance will offer a quick, sustainable, and resilient resolution to those challenges.”

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Azfar Ahsan receives Global Visionary Award

DUBAI, DATE: Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Founder and CEO Nutshell Group, and Founder Corporate Pakistan Group, received the “Global Visionary Award for Global Connectivity of Businesses and Communities” by the BSV Blockchain Association at a convention held in Dubai.

He is the first Pakistani businessman to have received this recognition at the Global Blockchain Convention – a global platform to highlight new blockchain innovations, big ecosystem announcements, new product launches, technology updates, keynote speeches, panels, and fireside chats from global blockchain leaders.

Also read: KCFR signs MoU with Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce at Davos

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ahsan said that global recognition from this prestigious forum was an honor for Pakistan and Pakistani businessmen.

He urged fellow Pakistanis to explore innovative, new trends of emerging opportunities in business and investment in order to keep the country at par with global dynamics. He said we are already on the right path. Pakistan was performing well in the domain of knowledge and technology output among the regional countries as its ranking in the Global Innovation Index had improved from 137th in 2013 to 99th in 2021. 

Also read: FM Bilawal Bhutto attends Pakistan Breakfast at Davos

Delivering his keynote speech on ‘New Technologies, New Futures for Nations,’ Mr. Ahsan said: “Blockchain technology is one dimension of overall knowledge economy providing a promising future for different domains, such as the real estate industry, the Internet of Things (IoT), the supply chain management (SCM), the healthcare industry and the financial services industry.”

This year, the Global Blockchain Convention had more than 120 international speakers and 1,000+ delegates from over 50 countries.

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PTCL Group joins hands with National Emergency Center for Polio eradication from Pakistan

Islamabad – May 26, 2022:  Under corporate social responsibility, PTCL & Ufone 4G joined hands with the National Emergency Center, Government of Pakistan to extend its support for Polio eradication from Pakistan. The national telecommunication group created awareness by leveraging its vast network to promote vaccination against the disease that can physically impair children for life if not prevented in time. 

 

Unfortunately, Pakistan is one of the only two countries where polio is still prevalent. The Government of Pakistan with the support of National Emergency Center and other stakeholders is constantly working to eradicate the disease to safeguard the lives and future of our children. This time around, PTCL and Ufone 4G stepped up to raise awareness regarding the urgency to vaccinate children to prevent them from getting affected by lifelong physical deformity at the hands of this otherwise easily preventable disease. 

 

Also read: ‘UPaisa Ramzan Offer’ – Exciting rewards for donors supporting Pakistani welfare organizations

PTCL and Ufone 4G supported the three-day Polio Vaccination Drive from May 23 to May 25, 2022, by sending SMS broadcasts across 11 regions of KPK and the former tribal districts, including Kohat, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, D.I. Khan, and Tank. The Urdu language SMS broadcasts urged parents to get their children vaccinated during every vaccination campaign to ensure their health and safety.  

 

Sharing his thoughts regarding the campaign, Head of PR & Corporate Communication, PTCL Group, Amir Pasha, said: “We are glad to support the efforts of National Emergency Center and the Government of Pakistan towards eradication of Polio from Pakistan. It is important for us because this is about safeguarding of our future generations from lifelong dependency. We at PTCL and Ufone 4G will continue to leverage our services and infrastructure to create shared value for the society under our corporate social responsibility program. We hope that our efforts make a significant difference in reducing vaccine hesitancy so that our future is in the hands of a hale and hearty generation.”

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“We are grateful to PTCL and Ufone 4G for their cooperation in creating awareness regarding the polio emergency in Pakistan. The Polio Programme is working relentlessly with partners and other important stakeholders to prevent children from falling prey to lifelong disability. We need more cooperation like this for promoting vaccination across all regions of Pakistan so that all children are safe and grow with full potentials,” said Dr. Shahzad Baig, National Coordinator, Polio Eradication Programme.

 

The initiative originating from its CSR objectives reflects the group’s commitment to promote social-good and sustainable growth in the country. As the national telecommunication carrier, PTCL Group not only enables and empowers the people through high quality ICT services but also leverages is expertise and resources to touch upon their lives on the basis of need and opportunity. 

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FM Bilawal Bhutto attends Pakistan Breakfast at Davos

Islamabad May 26, 2022: Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has marked his presence at traditional Pakistan Breakfast in sidelines of World Economic Forum at Davos on May 25, 2022. Pakistan Breakfast is Pakistan’s signature event which is held on every WEF annual meeting to discuss Pakistan’s economic & political situation.  

Pakistan Breakfast was hosted by a think tank Pathfinders in collaboration Martin Dow Group while Chief Minister Sind Murad Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Environment & Climate Change Sherry Rehman, Federal Minister of State on Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar also attended the session along with a large number of government officials and members of business community. 

Also read: The Aga Khan University Hospitals Clinical Laboratory Re-Accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for the Third Time

While addressing the audience on this occasion, FM Bilawal shared Pakistan’s perspective on the economic and social impacts of the evolving geopolitical developments. Pakistan will never compromise on its national interest whenever it engages with any other country diplomatically or economically, minister stressed. The minister was of the viewpoint that we can demonstrate domestically and internationally that Pakistan is a functioning state who is willing to help itself, and then the international community will also understand our potential and help us grow further. 

While stressing upon better relations with neighboring countries, Bilawal Bhutto said that we would soon be witnessing the day when Pakistan would be enjoying friendly relation with all of its neighbors including India. The minister also shed light on several other issues including the challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, food and energy security, and climate change.

Managing Director World Economic Forum Mr. Jeremy Jurgen also shared his views on this occasion. He shed light on global trade facts and opportunities specifically for developing countries.  

Also read: Crowdfunding Training Project for Civil Society Organizations in Pakistan

The exclusive breakfast session was moderated by Co-founder Pathfinder Group Mr. Zarrar Sehgal who welcomed the guests and shared the objectives of bringing such interactive sessions. While sharing his viewpoint, Mr. Sehgal said that Pakistan have huge potential for investors and may play a pivotal role in regional growth.  Head of Martin Dow Group Mr. Ali Akhai also shared his views on this occasions. 

Pakistan Breakfast is one of Pakistan’s major event which has been conducted regularly in the sidelines of World Economic Forum and for last many years it is being sponsored by Pathfinders Group and Martin Dow Group. The World Economic Forum annually brings together political and business leaders as well as representatives from international organizations, civil society and youth representations from across the world to deliberate and identify pathways to overcome economic, social and environmental challenges.

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Telenor and LUMS senior management consider synergies

Islamabad, May 25, 2022: Staying true to their mission, Telenor Pakistan leadership met with senior officials from LUMS to strengthen linkages between the private and academic sectors. The LUMS delegation, including Dr Arshad Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Mr Shahid Hussain, Rector, and Ms Nuzhat Kamran, Director of Advancement, met with CEO Telenor Pakistan Irfan Wahab Khan and his team to discuss partnerships for future collaboration in areas of mutual interest. 

LUMS officials were briefed on the network's ongoing work revolutionising digital and financial sectors through innovative educational interventions that enhance the end-user experience with an eye on scaling technology. 

Also read: Crowdfunding Training Project for Civil Society Organizations in Pakistan

Irfan Wahab Khan said, "Telenor Pakistan and LUMS share the ambition to create a stronger, more resilient digital society that thrives on inclusion. Collaboration between the industry and academia, such as applied research and data science, is key to pushing business innovation. With research finding its way in the industry supported by data insights, this tie-up  will pave the way for digitalisation advancements that ultimately improve livelihoods and empower young minds to do more and be more."

Dr Arshad Ahmad commented, "Telenor Pakistan has contributed to a strong digital ecosystem supporting tech startups. Advancements in health, fintech and platform learning have resulted from improved connectivity and communication, even in the most challenging times. We look forward to forging stronger ties and  achieving great goals with Telenor Pakistan."

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Telenor Pakistan has a history of collaboration within the country's education sector, focusing on improving the state of digital education, such as its recent partnership with Orenda, Noon Academy, and Telenor Velocity's onboarding of multiple Ed-tech startups. Discussions like this enable the kind of knowledge-sharing partnership that cannot be achieved through financial investments alone and is fundamental in building Pakistan's human capital development.

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Ziauddin University observes International Nurses Day

KARACHI: “A voice to lead on investing in nursing and respecting the rise of global health security, focusing on the need to protest, support and invest in the nursing profession to strengthen the global health care system.

And today, in particular, we’re talking about nursing and its role in pandemics. They were especially overworked and exposed during the pandemic, and we appreciate their humanity during that time. Nursing is the backbone of all healthcare systems around the world, and without nursing, there would be no healthcare, demonstrating how vital this subject is to us,” said Dr Nida Hussain, Pro-chancellor, Ziauddin University.

Also read: AKU intervention dispels myths around menstruation

She was addressing the seminar, titled “NURSES: A Voice to Lead - Invest in Nursing and Respect Rights to Secure Global Health” to mark International Nurses Day, organised by Ziauddin University Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery. The purpose of the seminar was to inform the public about the work of nurses and how they contribute to the health and wellbeing of the public.

“At Ziauddin, we understood the need of promoting nurses’ work and rights to a safe workplace, as well as their full participation and decision-making in patient care and our administrative function. We’ve worked very hard in the last two decades to improve the quality of our nursing,” Dr Hussain added.

Representing the government of Sindh, Director General Nursing Shabir Hussain Jhatial said that since the country’s founding, Sindh province has had almost 1100 BSN admissions and nearly 600 midwifery admissions. The Covid was at its peak when the Sindh government interpolated 2000 nurses, despite the country’s financial problems. The nurses were given hundreds of job opportunities. The federal government has allocated 8.1 billion rupees for the improvement of nursing and midwifery services. As far as the Sindh government is concerned, nurses and midwifery are being developed and improved, and nurses are being invested in for the good of our country.

Also read: Ministry of Railways and Pakistan Railways signs MoU with Sehat Kahani

Talking about the importance of education, Dr Khairunissa Ajani, Assistant Dean, School of Nursing & Midwifery AKU, said, “education is a building block; if we as nurses don’t have a solid scientific knowledge base of what we’re doing and where we’re going, we won’t be able to stand up for ourselves, stand up for the patient, and make the impact we’re supposed to make, so we must ensure that we have the scientific knowledge about nursing.”

The event was addressed by Dr. Pamela Marshal, Dean, Ziauddin University Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Dr. Jai Das, Assistant Professor of Research AKU and Alexander Lawson Director, Centre for International and Constitutional Law, Ziauddin University. The ZU Dialogues was moderated by Yasmin Noorali Amarsi.

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FFPL III’s Winning Team, House of Blood Secure Additional $40,000 at the Free Fire World Series in Singapore

Karachi, 24th May: Upon winning the third edition of the Free Fire Pakistan League (FFPL), team House of Blood became the first-ever representatives of Pakistan to go on to the global stage, the Free Fire World Series (FFWS). Having previously secured PKR 3,500,000 from the prize pool of FFPL III this year, they have now gone to add $40,000 (PKR 8,000,000) more to their total winnings tally this year, as they ended up in 16th position overall at FFWS.  

 

Two months after winning FFPL III, HoB faced other reigning teams from the region at the Play-ins stage which ultimately decided whether they would go on to the finals to compete for the grand prize pool worth $2,000,000. Their journey was cut short, in particular by Thailand's representative - Attack All Around who were dominant during the play-ins.

Also read: irst-ever Pakistani team competing at FFWS 2022 the best of luck

The finals were held at Sentosa island in Singapore on 21.05 where spectators witnessed Attack All Around claiming the Champion title and taking home the lion's share of the prize pool valued at $500,000 

Last year, Free Fire World Series 2021 was the most watched esports tournament worldwide with over 5 millions peak concurrent viewers according to Statista.

Also Read: GameBird’s FFPL III Champion represents Pakistan in Free Fire World Series in Singapore

Free Fire continues to be the most downloaded mobile games in the world, with over 1 billion downloads on Google Play Store and is revolutionising the esports landscape in Pakistan. Free Fire Pakistan has introduced a myriad of engaging initiatives to uplift Pakistan’s gaming industry such as the first-ever esports scholarship, the first professional esports league in Pakistan and the first nation-wide esports tournament.

 

FFPL IV is expected to return later this year in August, where thousands of players will look to dethrone reigning champions House of Blood and win the chance to represent Pakistan in FFWS Winter 2022.

About Garena

Garena is a leading global online games developer and publisher. Free Fire, its self-developed mobile battle royale title, was the most downloaded mobile game in the world in 2019, 2020, and 2021, according to data.ai, previously known as App Annie. 

Also Read: Pubg Mobile Launches Version 2.0 Update with Evangelion’s Iconic Angel and Eva-01 Landing in the Official Livik Map & Much More

Garena is run by passionate gamers and has a unique understanding of what gamers want. Garena champions social and entertainment experiences through games, enabling its communities to engage and interact. Garena is also a leading esports organiser and hosts some of the world’s biggest esports events.

Garena is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Garena, Sea’s other core businesses include its e-commerce arm, Shopee, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

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Crowdfunding Training Project for Civil Society Organizations in Pakistan

Lahore: Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are valuable development partners that help to promote citizen participation, enhance sustainability, and alleviate poverty to accelerate progress towards the Agenda 2030. However, access to finance remains one of the main challenges for CSOs and NGOs. This obstacle is to a large extent associated with the lack of information on different funding mechanisms, the weak visibility of CSOs projects, and their campaigns shared with potential donors.

 

Filling this gap, the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are launching the Tadamon Crowdfunding Academy in Pakistan. The program is going to be run online in partnership with Kaya platform, a global learning platform of the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, and Cirrus Pakistan. This online training programme will enable civil society organizations (CSOs) to learn how to raise funds using digital crowdfunding platforms. The mission of the program is to provide visibility to CSOs` projects and activities, support them to have better access to alternative finance, and connect them to potential partners and supporters.

 

To invite CSOs to apply for the Tadamon Crowdfunding Academy and help them with the application process, UNDP Pakistan and Cirrus – the local implementing partner, conducted a webinar on “How to Crowdfund Your CSO in Pakistan” on 19th May 2022.

 

During the webinar, Assistant Resident Representative/Chief Development Policy Unit at UNDP Pakistan, Ms. Ammara Durrani talked about digital transformation, “The Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions have transformed the way we live, learn, work, and stay connected for better opportunities, and we must leverage these transformations to improve and amplify the impact of our work. UNDP’s digital strategy of 2022-2025 captures this opportunity of digital connectivity and transformation, as it opens up a multitude of possibilities, like crowdfunding and alternative financing mechanisms, as provided by this initiative.”

 

The CSOs that get selected for training will also participate in launching their own crowdfunding campaign using e-learning tools and knowledge provided. The training is designed to be interactive and engaging, whereas the modules cover the key steps in designing a crowdfunding project – from building a campaign and communications strategy to learning how to set your financial goals, storytelling and preparing visuals and videos. The program brings together national and global experts in crowdfunding, media/PR relations, social media copywriting, design and much more.

“The civil society in Pakistan has been playing a significant role in Pakistan’s development progress for several decades. Being the local implementing partner for Tadamon Crowdfunding Academy is our chance to give back to these changemakers and we look forward to this opportunity of learning and growing with the CSOs in Pakistan as we work on rolling out their crowdfunding campaigns at a mass level.” Ms. Ayesha J. Shahid, Chief Strategy Officer, Cirrus.

 

Project ideas can be submitted to the Academy until 30th May 2022 by signing up on the Tadamon platform. For more information you can visit: https://tadamon.community/cfa/pakistan

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The display says it all - Infinix NOTE 12 series!

The use of AMOLED display in various gadgets have completely redefined the user-experience altogether. Not only do they offer smooth and wide viewing angles but reproduction of true colors gives users an immersive screen viewing experience that cannot be seen on other displays.

It is then no wonder as to why the users now look for devices that come with AMOLED display since they aren’t only reliable but also make the media viewing experience more enjoyable. 

Also read: realme C35 to Reign the Pakistani Smartphone Market Following Global Domination

With more and more smartphones entering the market every other day, it is hard to differentiate and find real AMOLED based display devices. Whereas Pakistan’s largest smartphone-selling brand Infinix, just announced NOTE 12 series – featuring a true colored AMOLED display which makes it an impressive addition to NOTE series. NOTE 12 comes with a massive 6.7" AMOLED display enabling users to experience super fluid display, rich on-screen colors and a compelling view of the content. In short, with NOTE 12 series users can now easily identify true AMOLED displays. 

Also read: Huawei’s next-gen products and Smart-Watches for Healthy Living at the Huawei Flagship Launch Event

Embedded in a sleek design, excellent finish and light weight body, new NOTE 12 is easier to carry around at all times. A cherry on top is MediaTek Helio G96 ultra-fast and dedicated gaming processor which boasts a lightning speed in short. NOTE 12 is not only fast, it is a feature-rich device offering all latest and industry leading features in one place so the users will not have to worry about missing out on any feature

Primarily, Infinix’s NOTE 12 is an ideal choice for people looking to upgrade their phones with latest most technology.  It’s better to Keep an eye for the launch of Infinix NOTE 12 as it’s just around the corner.

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The Aga Khan University Hospitals Clinical Laboratory Re-Accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for the Third Time

AKUH CL Remains the Only Clinical Laboratory in Pakistan to Receive the Prestigious Accreditation

Karachi, Tuesday, 24 May 2022: The Aga Khan University Hospitals Clinical Laboratory has received the gold standard College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation for the third time and remains the only clinical laboratory in Pakistan to receive this prestigious accreditation. This accreditation is a certification that AKUH Clinical Laboratories follow over 3,500 standards to provide our patients timely and accurate results every time.

A team of seven inspectors – practicing professionals qualified through CAP training programme – visited the Aga Khan University Hospital and its Outreach Health Network on a two-day visit from 10 March to 11 March 2022, to audit AKUH laboratory’s quality records, staff qualifications, validation of tests, equipment, facilities, safety programmes and overall management against 3,500+ indicators.

Shagufta Hassan, CEO AKU Outreach Health Network, Pakistan said that the Clinical Laboratories of AKU are a national asset and have grown from one laboratory on its Stadium Road campus in Karachi to over 294 phlebotomy centers and 13 stat-laboratories across 126 cities in Pakistan. “AKU is recognized as a leader in its academic programmes and clinical services.” She continued, “We strive to achieve the highest standards of quality that not only meet but exceed the expectations of their families.”

At the debriefing after the audit, the CAP inspectors expressed their satisfaction and commended the efforts of the teams who were involved in maintaining highest quality standards every day.

“There are no showstoppers in this place. You’re a busy place and you’re a very complex place; it’s probably one of the most complex labs in the world. You have a big checklist with a lot of items, and it takes a strong team, with a lot of deep understanding of the different disciplines [to do this work]. You should be very proud of that,” said Dr Aaron Han, Chief Auditor CAP. 

Mr. Suleiman Shahabuddin, President, The Aga Khan University, expressed his gratitude to the team for achieving this milestone for the third time and said, “We have excellent people, who are passionate to deliver highest quality healthcare and have a drive to constantly improve our operations so that our patients and their loved ones are satisfied that they are in good hands.”

“We are committed to the delivery of accurate and timely results for our patients by providing highest levels of quality standards and transparency,” said Dr Farooq Ghani, Director CAP accreditation.

The Aga Khan University Hospitals and the AKU Outreach Health Network, Pakistan has a robust Patient Welfare and Zakat programmes. In 2021 alone, 950,000 patients received Zakat support work PKR 3.7 billion.

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KCFR signs MoU with Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce at Davos

Islamabad: To strengthen trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Switzerland, Pakistani think tank Karachi Council on Foreign Relations has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) at Pakistan’s Pavilion at ongoing World Economic Forum Davos yesterday.  

The MoU was signed by Chairman SACC Dr. Urs Lustenberger and Chairman KCFR Mr. Ikram Sehgal while the ceremony was witnessed by a large number of government officials, businessmen and other participants at WEF. The Memorandum ill allow both organizations to collaborate on research projects and in managing different mutual operations including conference, dialogues and forums to enhance trade activities. 

Also read: TCL Launches its Latest 4K HDR TV with Dolby Vision and Wide Color GAMUT for a Superior Experience

SACC Chairman Dr. Lustenberger expressed his immense pleasure on this occasion and stressed that both organizations can learn from strengths and expertise of each other. 

While addressing on this occasion KCFR Chairman M. Ikram Sehgal termed the MoU as a first step towards cooperation between KCFR and SACC. This will bring working together in different fields and addressing various issues of concern, Sehgal added. 

The Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) is a private organization, providing a forum for all firms, institutions, government bodies and individuals interested in the economic and business relations between Switzerland and Asian nations.

Also read: English Biscuit Manufacturers prioritizing employee engagement and employee wellbeing

Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) is a prominent Karachi based think tank working since 2003 in the fields of Foreign Relations and Economic Affairs. 

KCFR holds seminars and conferences on topics relating to National and International issues concerning Pakistan while it regularly interacts with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, institutions, foreign envoys other dignitaries during their visits to Pakistan to meet the objectives spelled out above.

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realme C35 to Reign the Pakistani Smartphone Market Following Global Domination

After clinching the top spot in European and South Asian markets – realme C35 is all set to capture hearts and minds in Pakistan 

realme has dedicated the first few months of the year 2022 to its offerings in the mid-range and high-end segments, the realme 9i and realme 9 Pro+ respectively. After the successful impact of these models in Pakistan, realme is gearing up to bring yet another midrange king to dominate the local smartphone industry.

Also read: realme 9 Pro+ - The Best Gaming Device for PUBG Pros

realme C35 has topped sales charts in the European and South Asian markets and is poised to do the same in Pakistan with its Glowing Silk Design, 6.6-inch FHD Display and 50MP AI Triple Camera. The star performer of the C Series – realme C35 is set to take the market by storm with its latest offerings. 

realme’s C Series is perfectly packaged for emerging markets like Pakistan due to its large tech-savvy population who have a budget-conscious mindset. The growing youth of the country desires the specifications that a premium smartphone can provide but have to work within a smaller budget. realme’s C series is the answer to this conundrum, balancing quality with reduced costs.

Also read: realme Pakistan Embarks on a Strategic Partnership with Advance Telecom

Since its inception realme has had a three-pronged focus of maintaining quality, improving customer satisfaction, and democratizing tech to lower price segments. In order to further this aim, realme even inaugurated its first local assembly plant in the country earlier this year in the city of Lahore. The benefit of this plant was passed on to consumers in terms of reduced prices for realme products and higher reliability in the final product. The realme C35 opened for pre-orders on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 exclusively through Daraz and has piqued the interest of the entry-level segment.

For Phase 1 of the new smartphone’s rollout, realme is expanding coverage to over 1,500 shops across the country. This feat is made possible with help from an addition to realme’s roster of distributors thanks to their recent partnership with Advance Telecom, one of the leading mobile distributors and service providers in the country. The realme C35 is expected to overtake the growth of the realme 9i two-fold. This leads one to wonder what exactly makes the realme C35 such an incredible offering. As with the rest of the phones in the C series, the realme C35 comes with an internationally renowned TUV Rheinland Smartphone High-Reliability Certification. This certification is earned after undergoing rigorous testing under internationally recognized standards and is held in high regard. The Glowing Silk Design of the new handset takes inspiration from the simplicity, rich quality, and smoothness of silk. The handset is designed to give you a premium look and feel. The realme C35 also features a powerful 50MP AI Triple Main Camera setup for you to take high quality images at your disposal as well as a 6.6-inch FHD Display to enjoy those spectacular moments.

realme firmly believes in the “Dare to Leap” philosophy which is why they take chances and aim high. realme’s vision for the next two years is to slide into the group of top three smartphone brands while it aims to snatch the top spot within the next five years. Currently, realme still holds a great position as one of the top five smartphone brands (5G) in the world and was named the fastest growing 5G smartphone brand globally earlier this year. All these acknowledgments were made possible for realme because of their focus on nurturing a customer relationship across longer periods of time as realme is committed to giving their consumers lifetime value. This relationship is tended to with the availability of after-sales service through physical service centers in major cities around the country or through a toll-free helpline to address any customer concerns. The realme C35 is still available for pre-order for just PKR 32,999/- for a few more days on Daraz with a free gift of the realme Buds Classic being included as well so go and grab yours today. 

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Spotify continues its journey of acknowledging Pakistani women artists with Hadiqa Kiani as the third Ambassador for EQUAL

Hadiqa Kiani, Pakistan’s most prolific music icon, becomes EQUAL Pakistan’s Ambassador of the Month

Karachi, May 20, 2022: As EQUAL Pakistan continues to highlight a mix of iconic and emerging musical talents from the country, Spotify announces its third Ambassador of the month. The brand continues to celebrate women and their achievements in the field of music with Hadiqa Kiani as the face for EQUAL Pakistan for May. Hadiqa, one of Pakistan’s most loved voices for more than 2 decades, appeared yesterday on a digital billboard at Times Square NYC following Arooj Aftab and Mehak Ali, the previous Ambassadors for EQUAL Pakistan.

Also read: Spotify celebrates the spirit of Ramadan with a special EQUAL Pakistan edition and a Ramadan Destination

Hadiqa Kiana is amongst the most notable singers and composers that Pakistan has produced. Currently on tour, Hadiqa is a trailblazer who deserves a place at the helm. In line with a tradition of being given the spotlight for the world to witness their grandeur, Hadiqa Kiani being EQUAL Pakistan’s Ambassador of the month, marked the special occasion with her song titled ‘Yaad’, coming from her recent album VASL, being featured on EQUAL Global playlist, for millions of listeners to enjoy. In addition, Hadiqa  is on the cover of EQUAL Pakistan. 

"Hadiqa Kiani's versatility knows no bounds. Being a trendsetter for Pakistani women over the past two and a half decades, she has conquered all, shattering every glass ceiling along the way. Hadiqa remains an icon and an inspiration that artists, especially Pakistani women look up to," highlighted Rutaba Yaqub, Spotify's Music Manager for Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

Also read: The Spotify Charts Experience Is Now Available in Pakistan

"We are elated to have her as the EQUAL Pakistan Ambassador for the Month where she will act as the torch bearer, leading the way for not just female artists but the community in general to pursue their dreams."

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 Zeb Bangash, RFB, Natasha Noorani and Sameen Qasim

• 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 spaces. This model has proven effective in propelling significant growth on the platform in both the artists' home countries and beyond. Each EQUAL Ambassador gets a billboard placement in the middle of Times Square in New York. 

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