Pakistan registers progress in routine childhood immunisation

 

The latest WUENIC estimates of national immunisation coverage reveals that Pakistan improved its national routine childhood immunisation rates in 2021 and reduced the number of ‘zero-dose’ children (ZDC) who miss out on vaccines by nearly half – a strong recovery after the number of ZDC in the country rose significantly in 2020.

The percentage of children in Pakistan who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) – a key proxy to measure for immunisation coverage, and the reach of health systems, within and across countries – rose to 83% in 2021, which is close to pre-pandemic levels, after experiencing a decline in 2020 (77%). Pakistan has also improved its first dose measles vaccine coverage by 2% between 2018 and 2021, and in 2021 launched one of the biggest measles-rubella campaigns in history.

              

The country’s progress in childhood vaccination and reducing zero-dose children is remarkable at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted essential health services, including routine immunisation, around the world. Zero-dose children are those that miss out on even a single dose of a basic routine vaccine, meaning that reaching them – and the missed communities they live in – improves the ability of the health system to protect its population.

Pakistan achieved these impressive results by maintaining and restoring immunisation services through, public-private partnerships for service delivery, 24/7 immunisation services in hospitals, integrated immunisation service delivery and extended evening and weekend vaccination in urban slums, amongst other collaborative efforts with partners.

Its progress is an example of how countries can maintain, restore and expand routine immunisation, while remaining committed to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. With support from Gavi and COVAX, the country has also vaccinated close to 130 million people (around 56% of the total population) with a primary series of two doses.

Following a global rollout of historic scale – with more than 4 billion COVID-19 vaccines rolled out by lower-income countries – Gavi and partners will be focused on supporting countries’ efforts to integrate COVID-19 into routine immunization programmes, leveraging opportunities to increase uptake, demand and delivery of life saving vaccines – and supporting the road to recovery and expansion of coverage.

Dr. Tokunbo Oshin, Director of High Impact Countries at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance comments on Pakistan’s progress:

“Pakistan has demonstrated its resilience and commitment to immunisation through the impressive progress it has achieved in expanding childhood vaccinations at a time when essential health services, including routine immunisation, have been disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic.

The reduction in the number of zero-dose children is particularly significant given the reduced access to vaccination centres during the pandemic, and the multiple health priorities the country had to attend to. It underscores the persistence of the government, health workers and partners who have pushed forward and improved the reach of immunisation programmes while continuing to ensure COVID-19 remains a priority.

We as a Vaccine Alliance will continue to work with Pakistan and other countries to ensure the greatest number of people can access the life-saving protection of vaccines.”

Please feel free to quote. For further comments, questions, or interviews: media@gavi.org

 

Facts and Figures: 

·         DTP1 – the first dose of the DTP vaccine – is a key measure of how many children receive that first, critical dose of a vaccine. In Pakistan, the number of ZDC increased significantly in 2020 – to 1 million children. However, through concerted efforts to reach ZDC, Pakistan cut this number in half – improving DTP1 coverage from 77% in 2020 to 83% in 2021.

·         Pakistan has received about 111 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from COVAX (as of 26^th July), representing approximately a third of the supply to the country.

·         Find out more about Gavi’s work in Pakistan, here.

·         For expert insights and original content and stories from around the world, visit Gavi’s online digital platform Vaccines Work.  

 

Realme is on the Hunt for the Ultimate realme Super Fan During the 828 Fan Fest

 Realme’s fans are the backbone to its success as a global technology brand. The incredible loyalty and commitment to the brand that they show is inspiring for realme. The tech democratizer always surprises its users with new innovations and exciting products. realme has continuously gone out of its way in order to express its love for its fans and appreciate their constant support by engaging them in various activities.

Whether its major events such as the yearly realme Fan Fest and new product launches or exciting offers such as discounts during recurring sales and frequent giveaways, realme is always thinking of ways to keep its fans happy. In the past, realme has frequently gifted brand merchandise, smartphones, and AIOTs to its fans as a reward for their participation in their planned activities. This year, during realme’s 828 Fan Fest celebrations realme is seeking to bestow a unique honor upon one lucky fan in the country – the realme Super Fan Award!

 

This prestigious honor will be awarded during the month of August’s Fan Fest festivities. Those that are interested in entering the running for the Super Fan Award will be required to demonstrate their admiration and commitment to the brand during this month. Fans are encouraged to participate in the plethora of fresh activities realme has planned throughout the month as much as they can to make their presence known. These events are spread across two major cities in Pakistan. In Lahore, the Keep it Real Fan Meet up will be taking place along with the realme X CML Mega Azaadi Ride which presents a great opportunity for fans to get active and feel involved in the realme community as they celebrate the Country’s Independence Day together.

 

In Karachi, the show stopping realme Music Party will be taking place featuring performances from up-and-coming musicians at a beachside location. You can also boost your chances of taking home the realme Super Fan Award if you join realme’s community page on Facebook and share your unique story as a realme fan and reflect on your life experiences that were impacted by realme’s technology. If you flaunt your love for realme, you will receive more love back in return.

 

The final result of the realme Super Fan Award will be announced in front of the crowd at the realme Music Party on Sunday, 28^th August 2022. realme’s goal is to give its fans an enjoyable month of events and discounts to reward them for sticking by its side through the rough times and the good ones. The smartphone brand wants to help cultivate a sense of community and unity among the youth of the country as it continues to provide them with the tools they need to expand their horizons. realme cares deeply about its Pakistani fans because they always keep it real!

 

A Comprehensive Investment Policy is Essential for Punjab: LCBDDA

Executive Director Commercial for Lahore Central Business District Development Authority (LCBDDA), Mr. Mohammed Omer and other worthy officials of higher management of LCBDDA, attended a discussion session on Investment Policy Pakistan 2022. LCBDDA also known as Central Business District (CBD Punjab) has always taken the lead by participating in activities to attract more and more investments to Punjab. The consultation session was organized by the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) in collaboration with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). 

The session was conducted by Secretary Industries Commerce Investment and Skill Development Department (ICI&SDD), Dr. Ahmed Javed Qazi and was attended by industry thought leaders, members of the business community, stakeholders and dignified government officials.

While addressing the session Secretary ICI&SDD. Dr. Ahmed Javed Qazi said that “To utilize the investment opportunities in Punjab a better investment policy is essential. The government aims to gain the trust of the investors and wants to gather all the stakeholders from the public and private sector on the same page”.

Executive Director Commercial LCBDDA, Mohammed Omer while expressing his thoughts about the session said that “The province of Punjab has always been a center of interest for domestic and international investors because of its geographical significance, skilled workforce and fertile land. Such gathering of the industry thought leaders is a healthy practice for generating new ideas and clearing many ambiguities regarding investment policy. To facilitate the domestic and international investors we have suggested a separate mechanism for the repatriation of funds”. He further added that we have to work on factors of business ease to boost economic activities in the region. To attract foreign investors first, we have to focus on our local investors. The province of Punjab has great investment potential by developing a comprehensive investment policy, this potential can be materialized to secure maximum investments.

The participants of the session also gave their valuable suggestions for the development of an inclusive investment policy, which will help to highlight the investment potential opportunities in Punjab. The session was concluded on the note that new special economic zones should be created to attract more investments. The federal and Punjab government should take initiatives on bilateral terms to boost economic activities in the region. A brief uniform investment policy will not only help in revenue generation for Punjab but will be beneficial for grabbing share in global markets.

Editor’s pick: Our top three choices for mid-range smartphones in Pakistan and why the HUAWEI nova 9 is the pick of the bunch

  Fancy a new smartphone? This is a good time to buy one, andour top smartphones guide will help you compare and contrast the top 2022 smartphones available on the market today in Pakistan.

There are so many good phones to choose from right now but which one is the king of the castle? Is there even a winner? Smartphones come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Here, we have ranked and reviewed the three top 2022 smartphone money can buy today.

            

What can you expect from a news smartphone in 2022? There are many factors you need to consider but primarily the things you need to keep a close eye on are; design, camera, battery life and charging speeds in addition to cool features that spice up the user experience

With that said, trust us - these smartphones are all top-notch and if you want to know more, simply read on to find out how each ones shines in its own way. 

Huawei nova 9

Specs roundup:

·         Display: 120Hz curved OLED 6.57-inch display

·         Camera setup: Rear Cameras: 50MP + 8MP +2MP +2MP – Selfie:

·         32MP Charging: 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge

·         Storage: 8GB RAM + 128GB internal

·         storage Chipset: 6nm Qualcomm

·         Snapdragon 778G

·         Dimensions: 160mm x 73.7mm x 7.77mm

Huawei recently released the HUAWEI nova 9, the latest addition to its popular and loved HUAWEI nova series. Dubbed as the Trendy Flagship Camera King, this latest hotshot from Huawei inherits the HUAWEI nova Series’ unique aesthetic and sophisticated design, bringing along powerful performance and features that help users capture and create. It is a helpful assistant for creating and sharing video content especially when it comes to vlogging features!

The latest smartphone from Huawei debuts with a new colourway – Colour No. 9 that 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. Colour No. 9 is a mix of low-saturation blue and purple hues meticulously blends with the glittering particles to form a dreamy colour spectrum that gives off a hint of mysteriousness. Under different lighting, the colour finish reflects vivid and colourful patterns. Under a spotlight, the whole device shines and sparkles. It reminds users of the subtle moments in their life, which are inspiring and exhilarating.

 

Both the front and backsides of its body are slightly curved, making it feel thinner and more comfortable to hold. Packed with a 6.57-inch curved display, the HUAWEI nova 9 remains sleek with a thickness of only 7.77mm and a weight of approximately 175g. Speaking of display, the HUAWEI nova 9 sports a 6.57-inch 120Hz Original-Colour Curved Display that can render 1.07 billion colours delivering smooth visuals in fine details. The incredibly curved screen slides from the centre to both sides just like a waterfall, which offers immersive visuals and a comfortable grip at the same time.

The HUAWEI nova 9 follows HUAWEI nova 8’s Star Orbit Ring design concept that is similar to the old look, but comes with a nova ring emblem that highlights the Star Orbit Ring, making it even more recognisable and eye-catching.

The HUAWEI nova 9 comes with an Ultra Vision AI Quad Camera system, which includes a 50MP Ultra Vision Main Camera with RYYB colour filter array, an 8MP Ultra Wide Angle Camera, a 2MP Depth Camera and a 4cm 2MP Macro Camera. Whether it is city night photos, panoramas, portraits with bokeh effects or close-up shots, the HUAWEI nova 9 lets users capture images in high quality and deliver pro-grade clarity. 

Meeting the demand for an excellent vlogging experience, the HUAWEI nova 9 features a 32MP High-Res selfie camera. The HUAWEI nova 9 supports 4K video shooting at 30fps with high definition and high frame rate, it delivers an enjoyable video experience with fascinating details and smooth motion.

Moreover, users of HUAWEI nova 9 can easily switch between front and rear cameras whilst filming to produce a single video featuring both footage in one go. Alternatively, you can use Dual-View Video to show both front and rear perspectives simultaneously, or to put a zoomed shot and wide shot together, both taken on the rear camera system, in one frame. Again, this switching of camera occurs seamlessly, allowing you to create unique videos by just pressing the record button.

Regardless of the task, the HUAWEI nova 9 delivers excellent battery life with the high capacity 4300mAh battery. In addition, charging down time is kept to a minimum, with the new smartphone supporting 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge for high speed charging.

 

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.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Specs roundup:

·         Display: 6.2-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display

·         Camera setup: Rear Cameras: 12MP + 64MP + 12MP – Selfie:10MP

·          Charging: 25W Samsung Super-Fast Charging

·         Storage: 8GB RAM + 128/256 GB internal storage

·          Chipset: 5nm Samsung Exynos 2100

·         Dimensions: 151.7mm x 71.2mm x 7.9 mm

From the front, the Galaxy S21 comes with a 6.2-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display complete with a neat punch-hole selfie camera in the top middle of the screen. Look closer and you will see the S21 has dropped its predecessor's curved display and opted for flat edges. However, in practical use the Galaxy S21’s display is great. Stick it in “Vivid” mode and you will see heaps of contrast and colour. The display is also good for watching videos and movies, or simply scrolling through your pictures or playing games.

Hardware-wise, the Galaxy S21 comes with a triple camera array which comprises a main 12MP wide- angle lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 64MP telephoto lens with 3x hybrid optic zoom and 30x space zoom. On the video front, the Galaxy S21 covers a lot of bases it offers up to 8K capture at 24 fps that lets you snap high-quality photos while recording high resolution videos. Other high-end features include 1080p video recording at 30/60/240 fps, which makes them super-smooth. Speaking of smooth, the Super Steady mode, which uses AI to compensate for shaky recording, will works on 1080p 60 fps video capture.

Samsung Galaxy S21 comes with a 4,000-mAh battery. Fast charging is on offer over the USB-C PD standard, charging up the battery to 55% in 30 minutes. Samsung only puts the USB-C cable in the box. If you do not have a charger then you can buy a 25W charger.

Samsung Galaxy S21 runs on One UI. The interface is elegant, complete with a redesigned Quick Panel and a notifications screen that feels less cluttered. Users would especially appreciate the redesigned lock screen widgets as well as the ability to place widgets on the screen and adjust their transparency. One UI 3 still comes with many options to tweak your Galaxy experience.

Samsung Galaxy A72 Specs roundup:

·         Display: 6.7-inch 90Hz Super AMOLED display

·         Camera setup: Rear Cameras: 64MP + 12MP + 8MP + 5MP – Selfie: 32MP

·         Charging: 25W Samsung Super-Fast Charging

·         Storage: 8GB RAM + 128/256GB internal storage

·         Chipset: 8nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G

·         Dimensions: 165mm x 77.4mm x 8.4mm

Dominating the front of the Samsung Galaxy A72 is a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display. The screen is vibrant with colours, excellent sunlight visibility, and great viewing angles. A layer of Gorilla Glass 5 protects the panel.

In terms of colour, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is available in Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet or Awesome Blue. It comes in at 165 x 77.4 x 8.4mm and weighs around 203g. The overall design comes with a large camera block in the top left corner of the rear, and a –hole selfie camera in the top centre of the screen.

The Samsung Galaxy A72 comes with a camera setup, which consists of four lenses. There is a 64MP wide camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera, an 8MP telephoto camera in addition to a 5MP macro camera. On the front, it comes with a 32MP camera for capturing some good selfies.

Samsung Galaxy A72 houses a 5000mAh battery and supports 25W Samsung Super-Fast Charging for a quick refill. Fast charging capability lets you spend more time playing, scrolling and sharing and less time charging. The Samsung Galaxy A72 comes with One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 out of the box. As it’s usually the case with Samsung phones, there is more than enough customization on offer.

Choosing the right one

Making the final choice comes down to you and your preferences. A variety of reasons including sleek design, display, photography, videography, charging speeds, and of course cool features will be the ultimate deciding factors on what your next 2022 smartphone will be. However, amongst all the 2022 trendy flagships, the HUAWEI nova 9 ticks all the above boxes and has an exceptional design and some cool futuristic features!

Meta Description: Here are our top picks for the top trendy flagship smartphones of 2022 in the Pakistan.

 

 

IB students in Pakistan receive Middle Years Programme results

 Globally, 89,201 International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) students received their eAssessment (e-Portfolios and on-screen examinations), and personal projects results, from the May 2022 examination session. This included 165 students from Pakistan.

The MYP is currently offered at 9 schools in Pakistan for the May 2022 examination session, over 240 IB World Schools in 59 countries participated in the optional MYP eAssessment, representing a 13.4% increase in registrations. The students who registered for the full MYP certificate received an average score of 37.72 points (out of 56 possible maximum). The point average in Pakistan was 40.06.

The eAssessments are based at the end of each programme and combines ePortfolios of coursework with media-rich on-screen examinations that enable creative responses, or responses that require students to manipulate data and present new understandings, using much more dynamic methods than on paper.

Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the International Baccalaureate, said: "Our students have shown outstanding resilience and dedication to learning. I am immensely proud of all our students for reaching this milestone. They have built a solid foundation that will enable them to embark on their next educational journey.”

“On behalf of the entire IB family, I would like to thank our global community of IB World Schools, educators, and teachers for the tremendous efforts and hard work for the benefit of our IB students,” she added.

Targeted at students aged between 11 to 16, the MYP is recognised as being equal to the Secondary School Certificate by the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. The curriculum’s framework is based upon the differing approaches to learning; key and related concepts; and independent learning projects in which students are required to complete a significant piece of work over a period of time. The programme has eight subjects with Urdu recently being added to the IB MYP eAssessment. 

realme 828 Fan Fest is Back with a Bang for Fans Who Keep it Real!

        

             

 

realme’s yearly 828 celebration is back with a bundle of exciting activities and offers for realme enthusiasts

 

As the month of August rolls around again, realme braces itself for the commencement of its 828 Fan Fest activities. This celebration serves to celebrate realme’s achievements throughout the year and to shower loyal realme fans with appreciation and entertainment. Last year, the 828 Fan Fest provided an opportunity to celebrate realme’s meteoric rise to the top as the fastest brand to hit the landmark of selling 100 million products.

 

It also provided a launching pad for the incredible realme GT Master Edition and realme C25s smartphones. The tag line for 2021’s Fan Fest was “How Dare You be You”, which delivered an inspiring message of not giving in to society’s judgments or restrictions on who you can be or what you can achieve. For this year’s Fan Fest, realme wants to push its fans to “Keep It Real” and explore their authentic selves. Inspired by this key message, realme plans to ramp up the festivities this year even further with activities planned throughout the month which are designed to engage their fans and community members.

 

Keep it Real Fan Meet-up

This gathering for realme fans is aimed at developing the authentic connection between realme, its team, and its fans. Lucky fans who attend this meet up from around the country will get a chance for a tête-à-tête with realme’s Country Director, Syed Mashood Hassan, in order to get to know more about realme and express their desires for the brand. They will also be invited to an exclusive lunch with the realme team where they can get to know each other and get a look behind the curtain to see the real faces that work hard towards making realme Number 01. The lunch will be followed by live entertainment in the form of standup comedy as well as some team building games which will be a great opportunity for realme fans and the team to mingle and strengthen their real association. Fans will be rewarded for their attendance in the form of exciting giveaways and prizes.

 

realme X CML Mega Azadi Ride

August isn’t just a special time for realme, it is also a momentous month for Pakistan as the Country’s Independence Day takes place on Sunday, August 14, 2022. In an effort to bring something new to its community, realme is partnering with Critical Mass Lahore in order to organize the first ever cycling marathon on the Independence Day of Pakistan. The Mega Azadi Ride will attract over 500 cyclists from all around Lahore who will be participating in a morning bike ride starting at 06:00 AM which will take them from the starting point of Liberty Roundabout to the end of the journey at Jinnah Library. realme wants to provide a platform for the Pakistani public to celebrate Independence Day in an active and healthy manner and show realme’s deep connection with Pakistan.

 

realme Music Party

Prepare to rock out in the sand and sun with realme’s first ever Music Party at the beach, taking place on Sunday, August 28, 2022. This event will be attended by a combination of people from the realme community, celebrities, media, photographers, and the wider realme network. Apart from show stopping musical performances, attendees of the party will have the chance to hear more about realme’s strategy for the future, get exclusive sneak peeks of unreleased realme products, and get a hands on experience of the realme product line through experience zones. A special honor will also be bestowed upon one lucky member of the community as realme will be giving out the realme Super Fan Award during the party. The realme music party is a gesture of appreciation from realme to its fans, giving them an unforgettable night of fun and dancing to repay them for their consistent support.

 

realme Super Brand Day Sale Event

The final gift for realme fans during this year’s 828 Fan Fest celebrations is the realme Super Brand Day Sale. Within the duration of this sale, realme fans will receive exclusive discounts and deals on realme’s smartphones and AIoTs. Discounts on products can go up to a whopping 50% for the week that the sale event will last for. This incredible sale will go live across various e-commerce platforms such as Daraz and AlfaMall.

 

realme fans have a lot to be excited about this August as the tech-democratizer has an impressive slate of activities planned for them to enjoy. With a mix of exciting discounts, huge giveaways, and enthralling events, there’s something for everyone during the realme 828 Fan Fest 2022!