BARD Foundation establishes DESCON Endowment Fund at University of the Punjab

       

Bilquis & Abdul Razak Dawood (BARD) Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of the Punjab’s Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology (ICET) to establish DESCON Endowment Fund.

DESCON Endowment Fund will be available to both male and female students (preferably from rural areas) enrolling in the institute from the next academic year (2023 - 2024), based on their financial backgrounds and academic skills. The students eligible for this fund will be selected from across the country by a special committee, which will also include a BARD Foundation representative. 

The MoU signing ceremony was graced by BARD’s Board of Governors including Faisal Dawood and Farooq Nazir, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab University Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar, Dean of ICET Dr. Abdullah Durrani and ICET Director Dr. Rafiullah Khan. 

Talking about this initiative, Faisal Dawood stated, “Our youth is ambitious and talented, and at BARD Foundation, we are willing to utilize our resources to ensure they get the chance to not only succeed at life but also positively impact their communities. We will continue to explore similar industry – academia linkages to empower students with the right tools and resources.”  

While appreciating BARD Foundation’s academic-enrichment initiative, Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar thanked the BARD Foundation and DESCON for setting up this endowment fund, stating that this is a novel way to empower students from underprivileged backgrounds. The students at University of the Punjab already receive industrial-training at DESCON and this MoU further strengthens the business relationship between the two organizations.  

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. 

Standard Chartered’s Profits Soar by 101%

 Highlights:

•       Record quarterly profit before Tax of PKR 11.8 billion, up 101 per cent year on year

•       Overall revenue of PKR 14.3 billion, growth of 72 percent

•       Strong growth in net advances of PKR 17.8 billion, up by 8 per cent

•       Healthy increase in deposits of PKR 23.2 billion, up by 4 per cent

•       Cost discipline continues with an increase of 8 per cent, against double digit inflation

•       Prudent risk approach / strong recoveries delivering impairment reversal of PKR 0.7 billion

Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Limited (SCBPL) delivered a record performance in first quarter of 2022, leading to a growth of 101% in profit before tax to PKR 11.8 billion. Profit after tax grew by 119% year on year to PKR 7.1 billion

Overall revenue grew by 72% to deliver the highest ever quarterly revenue of PKR 14.3 billion. Net interest income grew by 36% year on year, primarily driven by volume upside from strong balance sheet growth. Non funded income recorded a growth of 167%, impelled by strong performance in FX, derivatives and securities trading. Operating expenses continue to be well managed through operational efficiencies and disciplined spending with an increase of 8% from comparative period last year. Moreover, robust recoveries of bad debts, coupled with prudent risk approach led to a net release of PKR 0.7 billion in Q1’22 compared to a net release of PKR 0.6 billion in the comparative period.

All businesses have positive momentum with strong growth in underlying drivers. This is evident from pickup in net advances, which have grown by PKR 17.8 billion (up 8%) since the start of this year. This was a result of targeted strategy to build profitable, high quality and sustainable portfolios. With a diversified product base, the Bank is well positioned to cater for the needs of its clients. On the liabilities side, the Bank’s total deposits grew by PKR 23.2 billion (up 4%), whereas current and saving accounts grew by PKR 27.8 billion (up 5%) since the start of this year and comprise 93% of the deposit base.

 

The Bank continues to make good progress against its strategic priorities. The global network differentiates the Bank for its clients, bringing forth innovative solutions, product specialisation and structured offshore offerings. The Bank strives to maximise the contribution to SBP initiatives on promoting housing finance and is consistently ranked amongst the top institutions. As of now over PKR 4 billion have been dispersed under Mera Pakistan Mera Ghar scheme. SCBPL is also amongst the top five contributors towards the Roshan Digital initiative and channelled remittances of over USD 350 million since inception and contributed USD 300 million to the investments in Naya Pakistan Certificate (NPC).

Standard Chartered has continued to invest in technological advancements and digital infrastructure to provide further convenience and cyber security to clients. With the launch of its digital onboarding proposition, Standard Chartered is now able to reach more clients and provide them with convenience of opening accounts as well as  subscribing to products and banking services online. Plans are in place to offer host of other products and services that bring more accessibility to the clients and overall bank’s transformation journey stands well-curated. The Bank also continues its efforts on the sustainability and impact front; and to tackle inequality and promote greater economic inclusion through Futuremakers by Standard Chartered.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Rehan Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited said, “Our results for the first quarter of 2022 have set the tone for the year and we remain optimistic and plan to build on this momentum going forward.

Our results demonstrate strong foundations and a clear path towards delivering on our strategic priorities. They are also reflective of our commitment to the country and our desire to capture opportunities in the market whilst providing best in class banking to our clients. We continue to become more efficient and innovative operationally while investing in technologies and capabilities of the future. Our pivot to digital continues based on adopting best practices, leveraging the Group expertise and incorporating feedback of our clients in our offerings.

I am extremely thankful to our shareholders, clients and business partners for their ongoing trust in our capabilities, and our associates, staff and colleagues for their keen commitment in supporting the Bank at each step as we bring forth the best-in-class banking experience.”

Esports gaming industry will experience a disruptive shift soon!

      

The gaming industry across the world has witnessed a massive growth recently. In Pakistan, it gives an average annual revenue of $25 million as reported by Newzoo, a global leader in providing Esports analytics. This recent development is made possible by technology giants successfully meeting the market need for better gaming smartphones. Not only technology brands in Pakistan, but the Government and multiple gaming-based avenues have also been fueling this movement in the country. Recently, the biggest Esports event i.e. FreeFire Premiere League 3 took place which provided a platform for gaming enthusiasts for showcasing and proving their gaming ability. It was supported by Pakistan’s leading smartphone brand, Infinix; which is now all set to introduce their new gaming smartphone series i.e. Infinix HOT 12!

Looking at the essential features of gaming smartphones, the maximum emphasis would always be on powerful and dedicated gaming chipsets. Ideally octa-core processors with two Arm Cortex boasts an unbeatable gaming performance, a must have for avid gamers belonging to various price segments. Infinix HOT 12 also operates on MediaTek processor i.e MediaTek Helio G85, equipped with two main Cortex-A75 not only improves in-game experience but also enhances on the go performance. It also boasts an excellent Antutu score of 213679 whereas its competing processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 scores 187281 only.

If there would be a way to combine Gaming chipsets with Gaming engines like Dar-link, the combination will surely deliver results like never seen before. Luckily, Infinix HOT 12 series will also set its mark for doing so. While gaming on HOT 12, Intelligent Voice Algorithm of Dar-Link 2.0 gives the player a competitive edge by helping them locate rival’s footsteps and swift movements easily. Also supporting multiple customizable in-game display options, this combination of MediaTek Helio G85 with Dar-Link 2.0 is everything the Esports industry needs for redefining the benchmarks.

Further Specifications and details regarding Infinix HOT 12 will be announced soon. So, all the gaming and tech savvy users should stay tuned for the upcoming launch of Infinix HOT 12 series!

Express Your Generosity – Infinix’s new platform to empower youth

 Infinix, a global brand, has announced their latest campaign to enable underprivileged youth to hone their skills for the fast-paced tech world under ‘Express your Generosity.’ For this CSR initiative in collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages Pakistan, one of the most prominent NGOs working for the welfare of children and youth, Infinix is equipping their new facility with a state-of-the-art computer lab by donating their latest InBook laptops.

With the help of this computer lab, residents of the SOS Children’s Villages will have access to unsurmountable knowledge and a practice ground to work on developing the required tech skills for the future. These efforts come as a meaningful and prompt gesture that demonstrates the company’s concern for the social welfare of society.

Talking about this initiative, the Marketing Director of Infinix Pakistan, Mr. Saad Shams, said, “Infinix as a brand emphasizes the development of the digital economy as one of the largest contributors to our gross domestic product (GDP). We feel all of us have a part to play in developing the digital skills of our youth on a grass-root level. Our collaboration with SOS Children’s Village is a part of a larger role that these children will play for the future of our country.”

“On this occasion, I would like to express my congratulations and thanks to Infinix Pakistan for successfully implementing this digital empowering initiative at SOS Children’s Villages Pakistan. During the past few years that Infinix has established itself in Pakistan, we have witnessed various telecommunications projects and CSR initiatives developed due to its support of the local economy. Now we see their contribution to the education sector to empower youth,” said Ms. Saba Faisal, National Director SOS Children’s Villages Pakistan.  

The company remains committed to ensuring everyone has a right to education and believes that technology can help bring learning resources to where they are needed most to support education development.

German Ed Tech Company Mersys enters Pakistani market by partnering with Excellence Delivered

    With the vision of providing quality education for everyone, everywhere, Mersys enters the Pakistani market with a partnership with ExD. With this partnership, ExD will provide Mersys’ state of the art education management platform, Campus, to schools, colleges and universities and vocational training institutes across the country. As the population of Pakistan grows every year, so do the challenges of access to education. With over 60% of Pakistan’s population still in rural areas, systems like Campus aim to bridge the gap between the quality of education offered in urban and rural areas. Mersys helps bridge this digital divide.

 Campus is designed to facilitate online, classroom and hybrid education models, with communication, transparency and privacy at its core. The software allows teachers to plan classes, deliver lectures, give and receive assignments and use data banks to automate repetitive tasks. It also allows school administrators to manage admissions, student and teacher affairs and to get insights into students’ performance. However, it is the focus on students and parents that sets Campus software apart. Mersys Founder and COO Arman Kozhabayev says, “We are thrilled to partner with ExD to contribute towards the digitization of Pakistan’s education sector”.

 Mersys’ new Pakistani partners, Excellence Delivered will be managing local customer service. With a decade long experience of implementing and supporting customers in the education sector, ExD plans to bring this affordable and state of the art system to digitalize the education sector.

 On the occasion of signing of this partnership agreement, the Chairman of ExD Sajjad Mustafa Syed stated, “We strongly believe that technology is vital to the development and growth of Pakistan's education sector and with Campus, we are excited to help Pakistani educational institutes transition to the 21st century online and hybrid learning modes.”

Huawei Consumer BG Enters Enterprise Market, with New Lineup of Office Products

Huawei Consumer BG will now enter the enterprise market officially, serving government and enterprise customers, as well as individual consumers. The announcement was made by Richard Yu, Huawei's Executive Director, Consumer BG CEO and Intelligent Automotive Solution BU CEO, at the Huawei Business Product Launch Event. Mr. Yu noted that Huawei would use its hardware and software ecosystems as dual pillars, to support a growing range of versatile office products that work seamlessly with a wide range of smart devices, including laptops, desktops, monitors, tablets, accessories, Visions, and wearables. These new office solutions will address the following key domains: government, education, health care, manufacturing, transportation, finance, and energy.

Rollout of comprehensive enterprise-centric products

With fast-changing business requirements, market conditions, the need for nimble office solutions has never been greater. Smart workplaces and equipment have begun to replace traditional office products, which tended to boast impressive specs and control costs at the expense of versatility and user experience. Huawei Consumer BG hopes to endow office and business products with newly smart and innovative capabilities, using its success in the consumer domain as a springboard for new-paradigm solutions. Huawei business products will meet customer requirements for performance and cost-effectiveness, while doubling down on a better and smarter user experience, based on next-level digital technology.

As Mr. Yu explained at the launch event: "Our consumer-oriented products have drawn widespread acclaim over the past decade, due largely to their groundbreaking user experience. Huawei will incorporate this premium consumer experience into its business products, following three key principles: quality, intelligence, and reliability."

As a new force in the enterprise equipment market, Huawei comes with a concept and vision that promise to revolutionize the industry. Huawei believes that the enterprise equipment is entering an era that will be dominated by Cloud and AI technologies, following 1.0 and 2.0 eras dominated by desktops and multi-device convergence respectively. Today's products emphasize performance, intelligence, full connectivity, and new paradigms centered around all-purpose convergence and intelligent interactions. At this crossroads in the enterprise market, characterized by widespread acceptance of versatile smart solutions, Huawei hopes to leverage its consumer electronics know-how to add new value and innovation, with the ultimate goal of building a high-quality, smart, and reliable platform to serve all government and enterprise customer needs.

Huawei has launched a full set of business products, solutions, and service platforms, including MateBook B series for laptops, MateStation B series for desktops, Display B series for monitors, MatePad C series for tablets, B series for printers, B series for Visions, and B series for wearables, which make this vision access to a wide range of customers.

Huawei Consumer BG has unveiled a number of business solutions tailored to governments and small-, medium-, and large-sized enterprises, including paperless government office, smart classroom, computer classroom, health and safety management for miners, health management for drivers, and insurance interaction. The next phase will see Huawei Consumer BG invest more organizational resources in the business field, to help governments and large-scale enterprises fully digitalize their operations, and help small- and medium-sized enterprises to improve quality and efficiency across the board.

Huawei Consumer BG will always adhere to its three key principles when developing business products, and building open, secure, and reliable software and hardware ecosystem capabilities to facilitate full digitalization for governments and large-scale enterprises. One-stop office solutions for small- and medium-sized enterprises, will be built on Consumer BG's accumulated smart office and cloud service prowess. Smart office features like Super Device and Mobile App Engine, allow for seamless multi-device and cross-ecosystem collaboration, while Huawei Mobile Cloud makes data transfers truly effortless, taking work efficiency to new heights.

 

Seven business product series, with custom industry-specific solutions

Huawei Consumer BG has launched seven major business product series for: laptops, desktops, monitors, tablets, printers, Visions, and wearables. These differentiated capabilities address diverse industry scenarios and customer needs.

(1) Huawei business laptop MateBook B series: Superior Performance, Better Business

HUAWEI MateBook B series laptops are designed for enterprise users, featuring smart and innovative capabilities, and coming an elegant form. They come equipped with an eye-comfort FullView display and an independent TPM 2.0 security chip, for airtight data protection, while showcasing meticulous craftsmanship. The HUAWEI MateBook B7, the series' flagship model, features a portable 1.33 kg aluminum-alloy body, making it ideal for frequent business travelers in particular.

(2) Huawei business desktop MateStation B series: Steady to Accelerate

HUAWEI MateStation B series products are nothing like the stereotype of unwieldy desktop computers, thanks to their stunning minimalist design, with an exterior Chinese-style grille panel. The slim, strip-shaped air inlet and intricate port layout contribute to a highly-streamlined look and feel. The 8-L compact chassis is approximately one third the size of a traditional chassis, saving crucial desk space. The HUAWEI MateStation B520 is the series' flagship model inheriting tried-and-tested Huawei PC quality standards, having passed 13 stringent environment tests and stability tests in five core scenarios. The mean time between failures (MTBF) reaches over 1 million hours. To meet the security management and control requirements of large- and medium-sized enterprises, the HUAWEI MateStation B520 utilizes newly self-developed LAN boot authentication function, TPM chip encryption, USB port control, IP address authentication, and other related techniques, to build system-level security safeguards that keep confidential information under lock-and-key.

(3) Huawei business monitor HUAWEI Display B3-24 series: Easy on the eyes

HUAWEI Display B3-24 series feature a 23.8-inch full HD eye comfort screen, providing an ultra-immersive viewing experience, with true-to-life colors showcased in their full grandeur. They have been certified by TÜV Rheinland as effective at alleviating eye fatigue during long-time viewing. The monitor's compact three micro-edge design, and 92% screen-to-body ratio, give the eyes more room to roam. The crafted body is slimmed down to the greatest possible extent, creating a sleek and modern business vibe that's conducive with productivity.

(4) Huawei business tablet MatePad C series: Made-to-order customizations, with standout quality, security, and reliability

Tablets are all about working on the go, and that's why Huawei has always put quality first when designing its tablets. HUAWEI MatePad C series offers the premium performance today's office professionals need, with a myriad of smart mobile office features that boost productivity, while minimizing costs. The representative HUAWEI MatePad C5 is targeted at the enterprise office market, featuring elite system-level features like App Multiplier and Huawei Share, which make file transfers, work tasks, and cross-device interactions more seamless than ever. A rich array of mobile device management and expansion capabilities is able to meet the stringent mobile office and security management requirements of government and enterprise customers. HUAWEI MatePad C5 inherits the characteristic of Huawei bezel-less display, with its 10.4-inch 2K FullView screen, which features a sky-high 84% screen-to-body ratio. Never before has a tablet married immersive viewing and sharp graphics, with a professional business aesthetic.

(5) Huawei business Vision B series: Professional display, customized to meet specific business needs

Huawei business Vision devices form a key pillar in Huawei's all-encompassing ecosystem. Smart Vision products offer remarkable promises for government, finance, education, and industry customers, as they offer truly unprecedented capabilities. The representative Huawei Vision B3 comes with customizable features, including the startup animations, startup signal source settings, channel list management, and power button management.

In the hotel industry, for instance, custom hotel chain settings can be backed up and cloned via a USB flash drive, and installed on other Huawei Vision devices, with no hassle involved. Hotel IT personnel can apply upgraded solutions with just a USB flash drive, so that Vision devices can be installed and standardized with enhanced efficiency.

(6) Huawei business wearable WATCH B series: Digital health management

Huawei has launched more than 10 smart watch models over the years, including the digit series, GT series, and FIT series. The recently unveiled WATCH B series has been designed for enterprises and industry professionals, with special customization requirements. HUAWEI WATCH B5, the representative model in the series, comes with a 14-day super-long battery life, as well as comprehensive health data tracking, and health management services.

 (7) Huawei business printer HUAWEI PixLab B Series: Streamlined interactions, soaring efficiency

HUAWEI PixLab B5 provides enterprises with smart, convenient, and connected office capabilities, with streamlined network configuration procedures and printing tasks. Thanks to pop-up pairing, Huawei printers can connect to the network via multiple devices, and print information with just a tap on a smartphone. PixLab B5 prints up to 30 pages per minute, saving valuable time, and taking productivity to the next level. Ultra-stable network connections equip the printer to respond to printing requirements in real time, across a diverse range of office and work scenarios. When a printer is in proximity to a Huawei PC, phone, or tablet, the device will automatically detect the printer, and display a pop-up pairing card. By touching the Connect button, the device-printer connection can be established in as little as 20 seconds. After opening an image or document on a Huawei phone, a printing task can be initiated simply by tapping the phone against the Huawei Share sensing area on the printer. The HUAWEI PixLab B5 adopts a drum-toner separation structure, and an innovative drawer-type toner cartridge, which can be replaced on its own. The large-capacity drum cartridge supports up to 15,000 pages of printing, saving enterprises untold time and money.

As you can see, Huawei Consumer BG has unveiled a full lineup of enterprise-centric smart products, which represent a long-term strategic investment on the company's part. The standout performance, security, stability, and reliability of services, and availability of smart office and creation tools, have the potential to revolutionize smart office work in countless industries.

Stringent standards, data security, and multi-layer safeguards

Huawei provides customers with robust support in terms of product test standards, data security solutions, and full-lifecycle services, in order to meet the stricter needs of government and enterprise customers.

All Huawei Consumer BG business products have passed a battery of stringent quality assurance tests. Business desktops, for example, must pass explosive atmosphere, mechanical vibration, low air pressure, low temperature, high temperature, mechanical impact, mold, solar radiation, temperature impact, vibration, sand dust, humidity, and acid atmosphere tests. Only select materials are used, and products are designed with an emphasis on reliability and security.

Huawei also provides multi-layer data security safeguards, to ensure airtight data transmission. The principle of "no disturbance, no tracking, and no leakage" is strictly adhered to with regard to privacy protection, and incorporated into every step of product design and development. App permissions have been re-sorted, with targeted controls available. Sensitive permissions related to private user data, such as call logs, messages, outgoing calls, and device information, have been cancelled. The access scope for albums is strictly controlled, and the permission can be granted on an image-by-image basis. Huawei has also made a custom multi-screen collaboration solution available, which allows customers to add file filtering and sharing controls.

Better yet, Huawei has built a dedicated service system for enterprise customers, which far exceeds industry standards. Business equipment is not just a means for greater productivity in industry; it's also the backbone for an increasingly smart and digitalizing economy, the infrastructure that will make life more enriched across the board. Huawei's three principles for business products: quality, intelligence, and reliability, will inject new life into industry at large, and ensure that any office can be a smart one.

Dawlance announces new products - hosts Iftaar dinner for Media

     

Dawlance is the #1 home appliances brand in Pakistan and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arcelik – the second-largest manufacturer in Europe. With a vision to strengthen its market leadership in major categories like: ‘Personal-Care Electronics’ and ‘Small Domestic Appliances’, Dawlance has recently announced an expansion in its vast portfolio of technology products, during a Media Meet-up event, followed by an Iftaar dinner, at Movenpick Hotel in Karachi.  

This exciting event was personally hosted by the Chief Executive Officer of Dawlance Pakistan – Umar Ahsan Khan, along with his team of management executives in the country. The ceremony was also chaired by Arcelik’Group Manager for Business-Transformation & Growth - Ms. Handan Abdurrahmanoğlu, from Turkey, along with her international team of senior corporate leaders.

A large number of notable representatives of the print & electronic-media, celebrities, digital-media personalities, and key stakeholders of the business fraternity also graced this vibrant forum, where Dawlance - Arcelik showcased a variety of its latest products that ensure unmatched convenience for the consumers and energy-conservation for a sustainable future. The participants were also engaged to provide a hands-on experience of these revolutionary technologies, built for exceptional performance, making Dawlance the ultimate personal care & kitchen partner for the consumers.

The CEO of Dawlance in Pakistan – Umar Ahsan Khan stated: “We will continue to expand our growing range of Personal-Care Electronics and Small Domestic Appliances that give the first-mover advantage with the next-level of European technology, reliability, convenience, and style for every household. These technologies are being nurtured through extensive Research & Development (R&D) and operational excellence, to meet the evolving needs of modern-day consumers. Our world-class products reflect Arcelik’s global quality standards and strict regulatory compliance.”

The program opened with an insightful speech by the CEO - Umar Ahsan Khan, followed by welcoming remarks from the Chief Marketing Officer – Syed Hasan Jameel, to honor the participating dealers and other distinguished guests. The Key-Note address was delivered by Ms. Handan Abdurrahmanoğlu, while a Category-Overview was presented by Ms. Naushin Shahid. Before leading the guests to the Iftaar dinner, the Director Sales – Sharjeel Baig recited a ‘Closing Note’ of this grand ceremony.