Zong Teams Up with PSDF and Huawei to Close the Digital Divide in Pakistan

     

In a collective effort to narrow the digital divide in Pakistan, Pakistan’s cellular and digital services frontrunner, Zong 4G has joined forces with PSDF (Punjab Skills Development Fund) and the global technology leader, Huawei.

As part of the partnership, PSDF has received 300 smart Huawei tablets from Zong, with both partners working collaboratively to digitally empower the Pakistani youth by providing critical digital resources and tools to support their skill development.

PSDF received the MetaPad tablets and will utilize them to implement its online learning and hybrid training programs targeted at nurturing learners’ skillsets so they can seize employment and income-generating opportunities.

As part of its digital training program ‘e-tayyar’, PSDF is funding skills training that is in demand by employers to equip learners with skills to advance their careers in the digital era. This will be achieved by training them in emerging careers such as professional freelancing and how to launch their entrepreneurial ventures.

Shedding light on the value of the new partnership with Zong, Ali Akbar Bosan, COO PSDF, said, “This collaboration between PSDF and Zong creates a holistic opportunity for PSDF trainees who will gain access to technical knowledge through PSDF course content and the digital tools they need to access their course like internet data and smart devices, from the nation’s top IT provider.”

Also commenting on the development, Zong’s official spokesperson said, “It’s a delight to be extending our partnership for digital empowerment and bringing more opportunities for Pakistanis to get trained on the digital skills. The partnership resonates with our motto of ‘Let’s Get Digital’ as it will bridge the digital divide from Pakistan. I’m confident that we’ll achieve greater milestones out of this collaboration.”

To support its efforts of closing the digital divide that exists in the country, PSDF has already forged successful partnerships with Zong and Huawei in the past.

In collaboration with Zong, it launched the e-learning course on ‘How to E-lance’ to train 10,000 youth on ways to launch their online careers on Fiverr and Upwork, the leading online platforms for freelancers, as well as providing free internet data to support their learning journey.

PSDF and Zong’s strategy is to utilize the tablets to optimize their usage ensuring that many people can benefit from them. The tablets will be distributed amongst high-achieving trainees to ensure they can continue to earn a living through freelancing.

Further information on PSDF’s digital trainings and upcoming onsite trainings can be found at: https://www.psdf.org.pk/

Haleeb Foods once again joins hands with Akhuwat Foundation in their mission to support the underprivileged

 

Haleeb Foods Limited has once again joined hands with Akhuwat Foundation in their mission to support the underprivileged. HFL’s joint efforts with Akhuwat Clothing Bank are a nationwide initiative to gather in-kind donations for the needy. The focus of this collaborative effort is to gain support from multiple sectors such as educational institutes, corporate sectors and gated housing societies. The charity collection boxes are dispersed across main cities including Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad.

The aim of this partnership is to foster a culture of sharing and recycling amongst the generous people of Pakistan.

On this active collaboration HFL, Manager Corporate Communications - Miss Amur Nadeem said: “HFL’s strong belief in giving back to the community has always kept us at the forefront of such philanthropic initiatives and through this collaboration we aim to support the underprivileged sector of the society. We encourage everyone to donate what they can and help those in need.”

Haleeb Foods as a responsible corporate entity continues its mission to lend a helping hand to the community and give back to the society as part of its multiple CSR initiatives.

Infinix NOTE 12 with MediaTek Helio G96 - now available to order on Xpark and Daraz!

         

 Pakistan’s highest selling smartphone brand; is now taking orders for the most powerful NOTE 12 with MediaTek Helio G96 available on Xpark and Daraz. Delivering lightning fast performance on a massive 6.67” true AMOLED display, the device is all set to take the stage by storm with its excellent user experience. Infinix NOTE 12 with up to 13GB RAM and 256GB internal storage is now available to order on Xpark and Daraz for Rs 39,999 along with a free gift of Bluetooth earbuds.

Offering an immense 6.7” FHD + true color AMOLED display, Infinix NOTE 12 is a treat for gamers and users who consume content on their smartphones. It also comes with an extended RAM of up to 13GB i.e. 8GB built-in RAM and 5GB additional RAM which not only accelerates NOTE 12 G96’s performance but provides exceptional out of the box performance evident for multitasking.

Talking about the launch of Infinix NOTE 12, Mr. Joe Hu; CEO Infinix Pakistan said: NOTE 12 series is the embodiment of what makes the young generation different from the rest. NOTE 12 is for the ones who like to go on adventures, is into sports, keeps an eye on the speed, and carries their own unique style.”

A triple camera setup of 50MP ultra camera empowers to click high resolution pictures even in dark. Infinix NOTE 12 comes with a 5000mAh battery and 33 W super charger thus giving the users a much-needed relief from having to recharge their batteries even after minimal usage. Brandishing a sporty, ultra-sleek and fresh outlook; the NOTE 12 comes in several bright and vibrant colors. The users can choose any of the total three – Force Black, Snowfall, and Sapphire Blue – as per their needs and taste.

Starting today, Infinix NOTE 12 G96 is available to order on Xpark and Daraz at a price of Rs. 39,999 along with a free gift of Bluetooth earbuds.

Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen improves the conversion formula of International Baccalaureate programmes from May 2022 onwards

          

The Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) Equivalence Committee has improved the conversion formula for the International Baccalaureate (IB) students from the May 2022 examination session onwards. 

For example, as per the revised conversion formula for grades of Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP), students securing 7 grades (highest grade in IB) would be equivalent to the mean value of the highest subject marks achieved in the Pakistani Examination Board (90+ marks). Equivalency marks have increased by an average of 5 marks for IB students securing 7, 6, 5, 4, & 3 grades. 

IBCC considers the Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) equivalent to Pakistan’s SSC and HSSC (relevant group), respectively.

The improved conversion formula will benefit students currently enrolled in the following IB programmes - MYP, DP and CP. Following this decision, IB students will be able to compete with the students qualifying from other foreign qualifications, also helping them secure admission to medical and engineering colleges in Pakistan. 

Speaking about this development, Uzma Shujjat, IB Regional Manager (Pakistan, Iran and the Nordic Region), said, “Improvement in the conversion formula for IB students marks a significant milestone for the IB in Pakistan. The IB is globally recognized for its innovative approach to education. IB programmes empower school-aged students to take ownership of their own learning and help them develop future-ready skills to make a difference and thrive in a world that changes fast. Following this welcome revision by IBCC Equivalence Committee, we expect more learners to join our programs and get admission to national universities”. 

Known for its inquiry-based learning, the IB creates resilient, well-rounded young people who have the knowledge, skills and sense of purpose they need to thrive throughout their lives and contribute to making the world a better place. The IB offers four high-quality educational programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP, for ages 3-12), Middle Years Programme MYP (for ages 11 to 16), Diploma Programme (for ages 16-19) and the Career-related Programme CP (for ages 16-19) to over 5500 IB World Schools globally. 

The IB is currently offered at 31 IB World Schools across the country. In the last eight years alone, the number of IB programmes offered by schools has more than quadrupled, from 10 in 2014 to 48 present day. We are excited to forecast that there will be 65 authorized programmes by 2023, making an IB education accessible to even more students across Pakistan. 

HUAWEI nova 9 - Here is what blew our minds in the Trendy Flagship & Camera King:

                   

 A sensational design, An Ultra Vision Camera, Cool front camera vlog features, 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge in addition to innovative Super Device features

Everybody wants a smartphone that does not only look stylish and trendy, but one that comes with solid and innovative features. Be it a high-resolution camera setup, powerful all-day performance for intensive everyday use or some cool features that make the daily use of the phone easier and simpler.

Huawei has something that ticks all of the above boxes. Introducing the Trendy Flagship & Camera King – the Huawei nova 9. The latest addition to its popular mid-range HUAWEI nova series comes with an all-new colourway called Colour No. 9, an astonishing Ultra Vision AI Quad Camera, 66W HUAWEI Supercharge in addition to cool Super Device and EMUI 12 features, which all but make using the smartphone, fun and enjoyable.

The HUAWEI nova 9 is now available in Pakistan in a lavish Colour No. 9 at the price range of 107,999/- PKR.

A Marvellous and elegant colour and design

The HUAWEI nova 9 debuts with a brand new colourway – Colour No. 9. The low-saturation bluish purple finish is created with a new ‘Starry Flash AG Glass’ manufacturing process[1] to produce an out-of-this-world effect. The HUAWEI nova 9 has a stunning 6.57-inch Original-Colour Curved Display with a tapered surface that flows like a waterfall, minimising the left and right bezels for more immersive viewing.

It can display 1.07 billion colours, featuring a refresh rate of up to 120Hz[2] and 300Hz touch sampling rate for improved responsiveness. Combined with support for full-path P3 colour, the display ensures spectacular viewing experiences with smooth visuals, vivid colours and incredible details. While measuring only 7.77mm thick with a weight of 175g, making it perfect for slipping into your handbag or pocket when out and about! The HUAWEI nova 9 sports a Star Orbit Ring design, making it even more recognisable and eye-catching.

Ultra Vision camera system

The rear camera system includes a 50MP Ultra Vision Camera, an 8MP Ultra Wide Angle Camera, a 2MP Depth Camera and a Macro Camera that lets you capture at as close as 4cm. Both the front and rear cameras support 4K shooting at 30fps, allowing you to express yourself through short videos and vlogs for social media. The main camera has a large 1/1.56-inch sensor and a RYYB colour filter array with a high light sensitivity. This collects 40 percent more light[3] compared to a standard RGGB sensor, ensuring the utmost clarity on all images, while enabling outstanding low light performance. Once the camera hardware captures an image, the XD Fusion Engine gets to work. The HUAWEI nova 9 inherited Huawei flagship smartphones’ XD Fusion Engine, which uses sophisticated computational photography techniques to greatly enhance image details and quality.

Having a good hair day? Do not let it go to waste! The HUAWEI nova 9’s 32MP front camera is perfect for selfies in addition to its 4K selfie video shooting, and Portrait Mode will help your selfie-portraits pop with Bokeh Portrait. There are also AI Beauty effects and filters you can use. Selfies never looked so slick. 

Moreover, introducing an all-new feature - Continuous Front/Rear Recording. With this new innovation, you can also switch between the front and rear cameras, allowing them to fluidly capture their story within a single video file. Dual-View Video recording allows users to showcase their live reaction to events, simultaneously using the front and rear cameras with no editing required or, for when you want to show the big picture and the detail, you can simultaneously capture a close up shot and wide angle shot at the same time.

With the Petal Clip app, you can easily choose from a variety of video templates and themes before posting your vlogs or other videos to social media in no time. Making group shots and video easier as well, the HUAWEI nova 9 also supports Remote Shutter[4]. This means you can easily set-up your HUAWEI nova 9 on a tripod and capture a group photo with your friends without having to worry about awkward frames as you walk to and from the camera.

Charge rapidly with 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge

Whether for gaming, recording, working or simply browsing the Internet, the HUAWEI nova 9 delivers excellent battery life with a large and long lasting 4300mAh battery[5], which is supported by a 66W

HUAWEI SuperCharge. The smartphone can be charged much faster; it only takes 15 minutes to charge to 53% and 38 minutes to full 100%.

Meta Description: The HUAWEI nova 9 with a sensational design, an Ultra Vision Camera, Cool front camera vlog features, 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge in addition to innovative Super Device features

 

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^[1] Only for the Colour No. 9 edition

[2] Display supports a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz. Display refresh rate may vary by app and game.

[3] Data from Huawei labs

[4] Requires HUAWEI WATCH 3. HUAWEI WATCH 3 is purchased separately. For more information on which device models and software version support this feature, please contact Huawei customer service.

[5] Typical value.

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

             

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.

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.

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.

Beaconhouse Group launches The Lighthouse, a children’s orphanage providing a ‘Home with Love & Care’, in Islamabad

      

The Lighthouse, a non-profit organization formed under the Beaconhouse Group has recently been launched, aimed towards providing a loving home for orphans to nurture them into empowered and confident individuals. This project was initiated by Amina Wattoo Kasuri, Founder and Executive Director at The Lighthouse, and Project Director at Concordia Colleges in Pakistan.

Located near the Srinagar Highway in Islamabad, The Lighthouse is a boarding and education facility for orphaned and less privileged children to provide them with a home that will ensure that they receive quality education, necessary life skills, and other emotional and developmental support without discrimination.

As stated by Amina Wattoo Kasuri, Founder at The Lighthouse, “We have over the years worked tirelessly towards the development and uplifting of deserving members of our society. The Lighthouse is an extension of our efforts, and has been a dream of many years. Our vision is to invest in children’s lives today in order to transform their future, while we work to create a safe and stimulating environment where they receive adequate nutrition and are healthy, and are given ample support for their education.”

“Positive changes inevitably take time, but we are committed to improving the lives of disadvantaged children for the long haul. As our name suggests, we aim to be the guiding light that safely leads children towards a secure future,” she expressed.

The orphanage provides free lodging to children, as well as free education at The Educators, a chain of schools by Beaconhouse. The resident children at The Lighthouse will also be given necessary medical services and treatments, transportation facilities to educational and recreational institutions, nutritious meals, financial support to facilitate their marriages once they are of appropriate age, and support and guidance from trained and dedicated staff.

The Lighthouse is a project established under the Mahmud Ali Kasuri (MAK) Welfare Trust, an independent non-profit organisation working towards uplifting the less privileged sector of society. The Trust and its key donors, Beaconhouse, the Kasuri family, and Beaconhouse employees, have consistently responded with meaningful contributions during national crises, including the 2005 earthquake that devastated the northern areas of Pakistan, the IDP crisis of 2009, the massive flooding of 2010 and 2014 and the Covid-19 crisis engulfing the country in 2020.

Details about the orphanage and donations can be found at www.thelighthouse.com.pk.

DG NLC visited LCBDDA Downtown and Lahore Prime site

  

Director General National Logistic Cell (NLC), Major General Yousaf Jamal visited Lahore Prime and Downtown site at Central Business District (CBD) Punjab to review work in progress. Chief Executive Officer, Lahore Central Business District Development Authority (LCBDDA), Mr. Imran Amin, Chief Operating Officer (LCBDDA), Brig (R) Mansoor Janjua and the concerned directorate heads of LCBDDA welcomed him on the site.

DG NLC was accompanied by Brigadier (R) Umer Farooq, PD NLC (Central) and Colonel (R) Arslan, SPM NLC. The delegation was given a detailed briefing about ongoing infrastructural work and its progress. Mr. Riaz Hussain, Executive Director Technical Directorate of LCBDDA also updated on the on-going construction and excavation for parking plaza.

While sharing his views about the visit, Chief Executive Officer (LCBDDA) Mr. Imran Amin said that “NLC has always played a pivotal role in the development arena of Pakistan and having them by our side for infrastructural development at CBD Punjab is very encouraging. This working relation will definitely accelerate development work at CBD Punjab”. 

DG NLC, Major General Yousaf Jamal said “The pace of the infrastructural development work at CBD Punjab is way beyond satisfactory level. After visiting the site and witnessing the ample business opportunities, it is cleared that why CBD Punjab is the center of interest for domestic and international investors”.

The infrastructure development work is gaining pace at CBD Punjab with high-end quality standards and procedures, which are a step forward of turning the dream of economically stable Pakistan into reality.

Infinix all geared up to take the lead with all new NOTE 12 series!

          

The brand essence of Infinix, “The Future is Now” befittingly compliments its success journey despite severe competition and challenges in the local markets. With a range of power-packed devices up its sleeves, Infinix recently surprised the technology experts and consumers by the launch of Infinix Zero 5G – a device powered with MediaTek’s Dimensity 900 master processor which guarantees high-performance gaming experience. The device with its premium look not only managed to win praises for the supreme design, but consideration of its powerful processor, has set the perfect example for the competitors as well.

Another such example was set with the launch of its new gaming smartphone series – Infinix HOT 12 which successfully delivers next level multi-tasking and gaming experience to the users. The brand further intensified the specifications by adding a a 90Hz refresh rate and a massive 5000mAh battery which is enough to last from dusk till dawn!

The success story of Infinix as the most loved smartphone brand in Pakistan clearly reflects the brand’s vision to equip its devices with everything that the user requires. And above all is the Infinix offering of highly equipped devices for all price segments and for all kinds of users.

In continuation to the wide range of its devices, Infinix is now all-set to launch the power-packed Note 12 with ultra-gaming MediaTek Helio G96 processor – a move that could add the feather in the cap, as there remains no compromise on speed.  Moreover, the device is equipped with an extended RAM up to 13GB which aims to not only improve the processing speed but also adds value to multi-tasking for the users.

With the anticipation building high for the launch of Infinix NOTE 12 series smartphones, Infinix continues to extend its reign as the top ranked selling smartphone in Pakistan, and with the launch of its Note 12 series, it seems that the grip on that number one position will not get loose anytime soon!

ICAP holds CFO Conference 2022 at Lahore

            

The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) organized CFO Conference 2022 on the theme ‘Embracing the role as Chief Value Officer’ on Thursday at a local hotel venue.

Mr. Samiullah Siddiqui FCA Chairman PAIBC & Council Member ICAP in his address welcomed all the key note speakers, dignitaries, sponsors and guests. He also thanked all the sponsors for coming forward in supporting CFO conference 2022 on much needed topic “Embracing the role as Chief Value Officer.

Mr. Ashfaq Yousuf Tola, President of ICAP welcomed the guests and congratulated the organizing committee, council members, sponsors, and the participants. He said that this conference is very valuable as it is providing 500 years of experience in just a single day. He said that after Covid -19 pandemic a very fast technological advancement can be seen clearly leading the world to move very fast. Mr. Tola highlighted that the economy is the key pillar of sustainability, and in order to have the value of ascertaining, one needs to be updated and make appropriate decisions towards sustainability.

Mr. Paul Papadimitriou Founder & CEO of Intelligencr delivered a keynote speech on "A Peek into the the World’s Financial & Economic Landscape. He said that Pakistan has a great potential to benefit from these faster dynamics as many rural areas in Pakistan are shifting into cities. Despite increasing inflation, Pakistan being a high-potential country is an opportunity for companies looking for outsourcing. CFOs need to be transcendent leaders who empower others in order to get maximum quality output. He said that technology is a great opportunity and always creates value in an organization irrespective of the fact that the country is rich or poor. He emphasized the importance of human assets that we have in the shape of youth. Around 2.5 billion people are entering the middle class and around 1 billion women are new emerging workforce.

Dr. Ahmad Junaid of KSBL presented the result of the CFO Survey 2022, the survey entailed collective insights from 300+ CFOs, Finance Directors, and Financial Controllers of diversified industries from within Pakistan. It will help businesses understand macroeconomic expectations, capital availability, tech perspective, workforce requirements, and other pressing concerns in Pakistan to make informed decisions. Sustainability is the burning topic these days and it is not a choice anymore, especially in Pakistan we have to make it available to everyone the reason to conduct this survey is to reduce the lack of communication among finance professionals

The conference hosted various key sessions on diversified subjects and featured prominent entrepreneurs and members of the business fraternity of Pakistan.

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

          

Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) featured a variety of HUAWEI’s cutting edge hardware products at the Huawei Flagship Launch Event 2022, including: HUAWEI WATCH GT3 Pro, HUAWEI P50, HUAWEI WATCH FIT 2, HUAWEI WATCH D, HUAWEI Band 7 and HUAWEI Mate Xs 2. Huawei’s world-renowned Health App has aided consumers to lead a healthy lifestyle, globally.     

At the launch event, Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei CBG highlighted: “Huawei’s continuous dedication to optimising the user experience to fulfil its strategy and vision of an All-Scenario Seamless AI Life. He also highlighted the innovative features of the HUAWEI Health App+’s Stay Fit Plan. Users can create workouts and eating plans with automatic reminders, based on their personal training days, exercise goals and favourite foods. The Nutritional Analysis enables highly accurate calorie counts that can help the users meet their goals.”

HUAWEI WATCH GT3 Pro; with a “moon phase collection” interface design, this flagship smartwatch supports a healthy lifestyle, with Electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis and HUAWEI TruSeen™ 5.0+ data monitoring technology, for accurate heart-health measurement and blood-oxygen monitoring. The Titanium Edition of GT3 Pro comes with a 14 days battery life and 7 days of battery life in intense usage scenarios, while its Ceramic Edition comes with up to 7 days of battery life. Wireless fast-charging of just 10 minutes allows a full day of use. Users have access to over 100 workout modes & an AI Coach.

HUAWEI P50 Camera-Phone comes with a powerful Main-Camera Matrix and SuperZoom Matrix. The hardware is integrated with the HUAWEI XD Optics and HUAWEI XD Fusion Pro-image engine. It offers high-resolution images, 4K videography (Front & Rear), over 2,000 colours, True-Chroma Image Engine, Super HDR technology and AIS Pro True-Steady Shot technology. Its stunning 6.5 inch HDR display supports the full P3 colour gamut, for video and gameplay and 300 Hz touch sampling rate to provide fast response times. It also features AppGallery, IP68 safety-rating and 4100mAh long-lasting battery life, with 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge.

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 2: comes with many fashionable characteristics and is equipped with a 1.74-inch AMOLED HD HUAWEI FullView display with a chessboard launcher design for an interactive experience and the ‘Tap-to-Transfer’ feature. Equipped with Huawei Health App, it comes with a speaker and microphone, for pushing phone calls from smartphone to smartwatch via Bluetooth, to chat, on-the-go. Users can also play music directly on the smartwatch and gain access to HUAWEI Assistant∙TODAY, to check; the weather, flights, and other information. It has a large battery, allowing usage for up to 10 days.

HUAWEI Mate Xs 2: is a new flagship foldable and ultra-sleek smartphone that features the first 3D Fibreglass with a Falcon-Wing Design. HUAWEI’s innovative industry-leading composite screen absorbs all shock and buffer to make it ultra-reliable. Its 7.8-inch True-Chroma foldable display, with an Anti-Reflective Nano Optical layer, delivers high-resolution content. Multitasking capabilities and ‘Floating Window Swipe Gestures’ provide seamless control. Its Silicon-Based Anode battery has a larger capacity - 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge that allows a 90% charge within 30minutes.  

HUAWEI Health App: covers all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, including Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness. Users can enjoy a wide range of features to stay fit for both physical and mental health. HUAWEI Health+ is a new premium paid subscription service, with advanced health & fitness features. HUAWEI’s Breathing Training allows users to develop their own breathing-exercise routine. 

These new and unique devices enable and motivate the users to track their health and motivate themselves to live longer and perform better.

BARD Foundation establishes DESCON Endowment Fund at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology

           

Bilquis & Abdul Razak Dawood (BARD) Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI) to establish a DESCON Endowment Fund.

This fund will be available to both male and female students from underprivileged backgrounds enrolling in GIK Institute from September 2022.

The MoU signing ceremony was graced by Chairman, Board of Governors BARD Foundation Abdul Razak Dawood, along with other BoG Members   Faisal Dawood and Farooq Nazir. GIK Institute was represented by its Rector Professor Dr. Fazal Ahmad Khalid (SI), Pro-Rector (Academic) Prof. Dr. Wasim Ahmed Khan, the Dean of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Dr. Khalid Rahman and Director Finance Shahid Farooq.

“At BARD and Descon, we firmly believe that industry-academia collaboration enhances knowledge, innovation and plays an integral part in the economic growth of developing countries. The objective of our endowment funds is to empower students from underprivileged backgrounds to acquire the right set of technical skills and knowledge so their talent is channelized in the right direction,” said Abdul Razak Dawood. 

Experts believe that universities create knowledge and unless that knowledge is not based on the industrial need, it is of no use. This is why BARD Foundation and Descon's philanthropic initiatives and their efforts toward academic enrichment have been appreciated by key stakeholders.

BARD Foundation is a human-development initiative, founded by the renowned industrialist, Abdul Razak Dawood and his philanthropist wife, Ms. Bilquis Dawood.  The foundation seeks to utilize its resources to support the talented but less-fortunate individuals, helping them achieve their true potential. This initiative is also supported by Descon Engineering Limited - a leading Pakistani enterprise which has successfully built several large-scale, infrastructure-projects in many countries.

UCS, a project of Beaconhouse, signs seven school franchising MoUs in Karachi

    

United Charter Schools (UCS), a project of Beaconhouse Group, has successfully signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with leading educationists to franchise seven more facilities of the UCS with the aim to play an important role in the provision of quality education of an international standard to generations of young Pakistanis. To celebrate the occasion, a dinner was hosted by United Charter Schools at the Pearl Continental, Karachi.

Fatima Kasuri, Project Director at the United Charter Schools presided over the signing ceremonies, along with Naveen Shahid Butt, Deputy Director; Omar Mushtaq, Senior Manager Business Development; and Haseebullah Qureshi, Regional Head at UCS. The MoUs were signed between United Charter Schools and seven franchisees: Salman Ashfaq from Gulshan-e-Maymar Campus, Irfan Qureshi from Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus, Adnan Kazi from F.B Area Campus, Furqan Kazi from Gulistan-e-Jauhar Campus, Imran Ansari from Rafaye-e-Aam Campus, Zeeshan Yousuf from M.A Jinnah Campus, and Erum Farooq Edhi from Clifton Campus.

Fatima Kasuri appreciated the efforts of all stakeholders in transforming United Charter Schools from a handful of campuses into an expanding network of leading schools in Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, she stated, “At UCS, we believe that every child has a right to quality education in line with international standards, enhanced with latest technology use. Our education model enables our students to become confident, creative, independent, and critical thinkers enriched with knowledge, skills, and attitudes that empower them to become responsible global citizens. These partnerships with our franchisees reiterate our consolidated efforts in building a solid foundation for students’ successful futures.”

United Charter Schools offers an Oxford-based high quality curriculum that is also in sync with the objectives of the government mandated Single National Curriculum. UCS follows a hybrid learning system made possible with its proprietary online portal system INFINITY – a comprehensive dashboard for school management, administration, and faculty. It offers a holistic teaching and learning methodology that promotes social and cultural development of young minds.

Infinix has signed an MoU with the sensational actor Feroze Khan for their new flagship phone NOTE 12

          

Infinix, the leading smartphone brand in Pakistan is all set to make the sensational actor Feroze Khan the heart of their new edition in NOTE Series - NOTE 12. For this purpose, a MoU is signed between Infinix and Feroze Khan at MovenPick Hotel, Karachi today. Infinix is always dedicated to bring something exciting for its customers and yet again it has done an exciting partnership with Feroze Khan to win the hearts of fans.

Infinix being the no. 1 smartphone selling company has the goal of making this partnership the biggest partnership in Pakistan and creating a great hype for its amazing phone NOTE 12.

“We are glad to have partnered up with Feroze Khan for our new flagship phone NOTE 12 and take pride in adding more value for our people along,” stated Saad Shams, director marketing of Infinix Pakistan while talking about the partnership.

“I am truly honoured to be a part of this new collaboration with Infinix for its stunning phone NOTE 12 and this will definitely add more value to the brand itself and fans who love me and Infinix,” stated Feroze Khan about the partnership.

Infinix never fails to attract its customers through amazing campaign ideas every year. Gamers will be able to experience a huge change in gaming quality as NOTE 12 features a huge gaming processor MediaTek Helio G96 which is the absolute best phone for gaming. It comes with an AMOLED display which will give better screen time and experience for the users and its extended 13 GB RAM will never let your phone goes out of memory. The beautiful phone will be available in the Pakistani market from 26^th May at an amazing price. 

HUAWEI launches the Trendy Flagship & Camera King - HUAWEI nova 9 in Pakistan

            

Huawei Consumer Business Group announced today the availability of the new HUAWEI nova 9, the Trendy Flagship & Camera King to consumers in Pakistan. Defined by innovative features and fashion-forward design elements, Huawei’s latest nova device will spark new inspirations thanks to its powerful camera system and all-new videography features, which create new possibilities for users as they record moments in their lives.

The HUAWEI nova 9 will be available in Pakistan at a price of PKR 107,999/- in the all-new Colour No. 9 starting from May 16^th.

HUAWEI nova 9 debuts with a new colourway – Colour No. 9. It boasts a range of flagship-grade camera technology including a 50MP Ultra Vision Camera system, along with the RYYB colour filter array (CFA) and XD Fusion Engine. The camera enables users to capture impressive images and videos, even in low-light situations. The responsive 120Hz Original-Colour Curved Display, powerful processor, excellent battery life and support for blazing-fast charging speeds with 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge^[1] ensure a fluid experience for avid mobile gamers. 

A Breath-taking New Design

The HUAWEI nova 9 is an elegant smartphone. It introduces a new Colour No. 9 colourway, which is created with an all-new Starry Flash AG Glass process that adds a unique texture to the chassis and highlights the iconic camera module, giving it greater visual emphasis. Under a spotlight, the whole device shines and sparkles.  It also has a stunning 6.57-inch 120Hz Original-Colour Curved Display with a tapered surface that flows like a waterfall, minimising the left and right bezels for more immersive viewing. It can display 1.07 billion colours, features a refresh rate of up to 120Hz[2] and 300Hz touch sampling rate for improved responsiveness.

The design of the HUAWEI nova 9 itself also stands to impress, measuring only 7.77mm thick with a weight of 175g[3]. It also features a Nebula-inspired Star Orbit Ring that was first debuted with the HUAWEI nova 8. It comes with a “nova” ring emblem that highlights the Star Orbit Ring, which makes it even more recognisable and eye-catching. Combined, these design features represent not only a continuation of a legacy, but also the rebirth of it.

Capture Your Story with 50MP Ultra Vision Camera

The rear camera system features a 50MP ultra vision camera, an 8MP ultra wide angle camera, a macro camera[4] and a depth camera. It includes a large 1/1.56-inch sensor and a RYYB CFA with high light sensitivity, collecting 40 percent more light compared to a standard RGGB sensor.[5] This allows users to capture exquisite photos and videos even in low light conditions, ensuring that the bright parts of the image are not overexposed while the dark areas are clear and packed with detail.

Once the camera hardware captures an image, the XD Fusion Engine gets to work, using sophisticated computational photography techniques to greatly enhance image detail and quality.

Vlog Innovation:

HUAWEI nova 9 features a 32MP High-Res front camera that supports 4K video capture and AIS (AI Image Stabilization) Video Stabilisation, allowing users to capture high definition footage of themselves as they talk to the camera or when they vlog.

Thanks to Continuous Front/Rear Recording, users can also switch between the front and rear cameras, allowing them to fluidly capture their story within a single video file. Dual-View Video recording allows users to showcase their live reaction to events, simultaneously using the front and rear cameras with no editing required or, for when you want to show the big picture and the detail, you can simultaneously capture a close up shot and wide angle shot at the same time.

With the Petal Clip app, users can easily choose from a variety of video templates and themes before posting their vlogs or other videos to social media in no time. Moreover, complicated editing processes have been streamlined thanks to Video Search and One-Click Video Creation.

Power at Your Fingertips

The device supports new Touch Turbo technology, taking mobile gaming to a new level as it allows for more accurate and responsive controls.

Whether for gaming or simply browsing the Internet, the HUAWEI nova 9 delivers excellent battery life with the high capacity 4300mAh battery[6]. In addition, down time is kept to a minimum, with the new nova smartphone supporting 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge for high speed charging.

AppGallery: Trusted, innovative and secure

Running on EMUI 12, the HUAWEI nova 9 offers a smart and seamless experience to users. The trusted, innovative and secure AppGallery is available on the HUAWEI nova 9, where users can download a wide range of high-quality apps.

Hands-On: HUAWEI Sound X, a Wireless Speaker with Remarkable Bass

    

In recent years, we've seen all sorts of speakers flooding into the market, but most of these are lower end devices which offer nothing but a voice assistant and mediocre sound in exchange for their relatively low price. 

That's why it's so refreshing to see the HUAWEI Sound X putting the focus firmly back on audio quality. Huawei has co-engineered the Sound X with Devialet, and the French audio giant has certainly brought a lot to the table. Powerful subwoofers, SAM® (Speaker Active Matching) bass enhancement technology, and Push-Push acoustic configuration combine to deliver a high fidelity audio experience. The Sound X also showcases handy features like OneHop Audio Sharing, so you get a good experience as well as fantastic sound.

Superior bass: Subwoofers and SAM® technology

As any audiophile will tell you, powerful bass can improve any genre of music by enriching the tapestry of sound and enhancing the sense of rhythm. Lossless music, when played through subwoofers, simply makes for a more immersive listening experience.

To achieve the best possible bass effects, Huawei has fitted the Sound X with two customized Devialet subwoofers which fill any normal-sized room with surging and powerful sound. Theoretically, the size limitations of Bluetooth speakers take a toll on the quality of low-frequency sound. But the Sound X makes up for this with its magnetic rare-earth materials. It can hit amplitudes of up to 20 mm, so it's certainly not lacking in the power department.

I tested the Sound X with Billie Eilish's Bad Guy in a regular sized living room. With the Bluetooth audio volume set to about 50%, I could hear the tune clearly wherever I was in the room, with the sound output fluctuating between 65 dB and 85 dB. I turned my phone's volume to maximum, and the speaker hit highs of 109 dB (at 110 dB you begin to feel uncomfortable, while 120 dB is equivalent to an electric saw). So whether you're kicking back on the sofa or dancing vigorously, the Sound X will provide the perfect backing track.

As well as its powerful volume, the bass produced by the Sound X is boosted by Devialet's SAM® bass enhancement technology. This means it can adapt sound signals in real-time to match the specific characteristics of the speaker, and ensure that the acoustic pressure reproduced by the speaker precisely matches the original recording. As a result, when you listen to music, it's like you're right there in the place where the track was originally recorded.

For anyone who doesn't know Devialet, it's one of the world's top professional audio brands, and has played a key role in the advancement of acoustic technology, thanks to over a decade of relentless R&D. Devialet's goal is to make immersive, distortion-free Hi-Fi audio universally accessible, so it's no surprise that Huawei wanted to recruit the brand to co-develop the Sound X.

In practice, the bass produced by the Sound X can hit as low as 40 Hz, which really does shake you to the core. Details of the bass parts in The Who's My Generation which I don't get when I listen with my earphones are faithfully and meticulously reproduced by the Sound X. The drums are hard-hitting and the bass is booming.

 

Hi-Fi stereo sound: Crisp highs and rich midrange

In addition to remarkable bass, the Sound X also delivers crisp treble and rich midrange, which work together to create a 360° high-fidelity sound field.

Most speakers struggle beyond 8 kHz, whereas the Sound X hits as high as 40 kHz. In terms of distortion, maximum sound pressure (the Sound X can reach a staggering 93 dB), and gain flatness, the Sound X performs admirably. Even when you play faster paced songs, like The Strokes' Reptilia or Juicebox, the vocals are crystal clear, and none of the songs' detail is lost.

When it comes to nailing the perfect listening experience, the sound field is just as important as sound quality. Some speakers sound great in the store, but disappoint when you set them up at home. This is because the sound effect is affected by the environment where the speaker is located. This is true of the cinema, too. It's only when you're sitting in one of just a few seats that you get the full Dolby Audio effect. To tackle this issue, Huawei has fitted the Sound X with six powerful full-frequency tweeters, which are evenly distributed in a ring. This setup produces stunning surround sound effects, and you can hear high-fidelity sound radiating in a 360° sound field wherever you stand.

Design: A premium-looking speaker

Now let's turn to the appearance of the Sound X.  

The speaker has a sleek, black body. Its glossy upper part has been created using an advanced electroplating process. The interior is coated with premium, impact-resistant polycarbonate material which protects its components. The lower part of the speaker is covered in a fine mesh, which helps the audio signals move freely and sound clear.

On the top of the Sound X, there are touch-sensitive buttons which you can use to mute the speaker, configure the network, and adjust the volume. Around these buttons there are 12 RGB tri-color lights which spin and dance when you do things like use voice commands or pair to other devices. When you’re playing music, you can see the two subwoofers vibrating, and this stops dust from accumulating.

The Sound X also features OneHop Audio Sharing, so you can switch music or calls from your phone to the speaker with just one tap.

CFO Conference 2022 - Embracing the Role as Chief Value Officer

The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) is organizing CFO Conference 2022 on May 17 & 19 in Karachi and Lahore respectively. The conference will be attended by government officials, leading economists, finance leaders, national and international key opinion leaders and subject matter experts. Since 2010, ICAP has organized 20 CFO Conferences across the country with participation of over 9,000 participants, business leaders and finance professionals. In 2020, online conference was held in which around 25,000 professionals participated from across the globe.

The world has dramatically and drastically changed and is ever- evolving with a faster pace than expected. The shifts and transformations are challenging the existing economic and business models, thereby pushing the business leaders to think differently and redefine their business strategies and leadership styles to lead and succeed. Considering the ever-evolving role of Chief Financial Officer into Chief Value Officer, the theme of this year’s Conference is ‘Embracing the role as Chief Value Officer’.

 

The CFO Conference 2022 will gather finance and business leaders to discuss the trends shaping the financial and economic landscape of Pakistan and the rest of the world. This year Conference agenda includes a blend of 40 international and local speakers, thought leaders sharing their experience and knowledge on CFO’s role in ESG led value creation, agile organizations, becoming a transcendent leader, the rise of high growth ventures and gaining strategic and financial leverage with technology.

 

The conference key note speakers are Dr. Alnoor Bhimani, Professor and Director of South Asia Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science and Paul Papadimitriou, CEO, Intelligencr. Mr. Farrukh H Khan, MD & CEO, Pakistan Stock Exchange, Mr. Kevin Dancey, CEO, International Federation of Accountants, Dr. Amjad Saquib, Founder, Akhuwat Foundation and Dr. Nurmazilah Dato' Mahzan, CEO, Malaysian Institute of Accountants will also share their thoughts in the Conference.

Mr. Samiullah Siddiqui, Chairman, Professional Accountants in Business Committee and Council Member, ICAP and Mr. Ashfaq Tola, President ICAP will share the Conference objectives, vision and the Institute’s contribution towards the finance and economic sector of Pakistan. The conference will also feature an evening with Pakistan’s legendary poets Mr. Iftikhar Hussain Arif and Mr. Ata ul Haq Qasmi.