Khushhali Microfinance Bank to overhaul Core Banking and Digital Platform with Temenos & NDC

Khushhali Microfinance Bank, today announced that they have signed an agreement to acquire the leading Core Banking System by Temenos (the software specialist for banking and finance). The system will be implemented by National Data Consultant (NDC) a specialized Fintech solution provider and Temenos Certified Partner in the MEA region.

With Khushhali bank’s selection of Temenos Core Banking system along with Pakistan Model Bank for its Retail and MSME services the bank will also implement Temenos connect, FCM, Insight and Risk as their new digital solution.

A.F.F. Ferguson & Co. (a member firm of PwC network) has provided consultancy services for Khushhali bank’s core banking application selection and will also provide consultancy in implementation phase.

KHUSHHALI will be the 11^th Bank to acquire Temenos Core Banking system in Pakistan. On the occasion, President Khushhali Microfinance Bank said, “Our ambition to reach out to the financially excluded with quality products and services will be facilitated by the investment in a strong technology foundation. We look forward to working with Temenos & NDC on this transformational journey”.

Khushhali Microfinance Bank is a pioneer institution amidst Pakistan’s microfinance banking industry, having been created in 2000 to address the challenges of poverty and access to finance. NDC is a leading provider of IT solutions focused towards the Banking and Financial industry in Pakistan, Middle East & Africa region. Temenos Group AG (SIX: TEMN), headquartered in Geneva, is a market leading software provider, partnering with banks and other financial institutions to transform their businesses and stay ahead of a changing marketplace. 

Discover New Possibilities with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8＋: Smartphones without Limit

Galaxy S8+ , Galaxy S8 , Unpacked2017

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ Deliver Stunning Infinity Display, Connected Ecosystem of Services and an Intelligent Interface

 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. introduces the Galaxy S8 and S8+ to the world, a smartphone that pushes the boundaries of traditional smartphones with its seamless hardware design and a variety of new service offerings. With the launch of multiple services and apps, as well as a stunning Infinity Display for immersive viewing experiences, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ bring a new level of functionality and convenience, opening up a galaxy of possibilities.

“The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ usher in a new era of smartphone design and fantastic new services, opening up new ways to experience the world,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are our testament to regaining your trust by redefining what’s possible in safety and marks a new milestone in Samsung’s smartphone legacy.”

See and Experience More

The Galaxy S8 builds on Samsung’s heritage of creating stunning designs and functional devices. Available in 5.8-inch Galaxy S8 and 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+, the Infinity Display and bezel-less design form a smooth, continuous surface with no buttons or harsh angles. The result is a truly immersive viewing experience without distractions and makes multi-tasking more convenient. The Galaxy S8’s compact design enables comfortable one-handed operation and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 on both the front and back for durability and a high-quality finish.

·         • Premium Camera: The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are equipped with an advanced 8MP F1.7 Smart autofocus front camera and 12MP F1.7 Dual Pixel rear camera for the best low-light, zoom and anti-blur photos with enhanced image processing.

·         • Powerful Performance: Packing powerful performance and connectivity, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ feature the industry’s first 10nm processor, enabling heightened speed and efficiency. It is also gigabit LTE and gigabit Wi-Fi ready with support for up to 1 Gbps so users can quickly download files, regardless of the file size.

·         • Robust Entertainment: As the world's first mobile device certified by the UHD Alliance as MOBILE HDR PREMIUMTM, Galaxy S8 and S8+ let you see the same vibrant colors and contrasts that the filmmakers intended while watching your favorite shows. In addition, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ offer next-level gaming experiences with vivid and superior graphic technology, as well as Game Pack, featuring top game titles, including select titles supported by the Vulkan API.

·         • Global Standard in Mobile Security: The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are built on Samsung Knox, a defense-grade security platform. In addition, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will offer a wide selection of biometric technologies including a fingerprint scanner, iris scanner and facial recognition so users can select a secure biometric authentication method that works best for them.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ will also come with the foundational Galaxy features that our customers have come to love, including:

·         • IP68 water and dust resistance

·         • MicroSD support up to 256GB

·         • Always-on display

·         • Fast and wireless charging capabilities

 Beyond the Phone Experiences

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ offers robust portfolio of products and services, elevating the both devices experience for premiere mobile productivity and connectivity.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ unlock the new Gear VR with Controller, powered by Oculus. Enabling convenient one-handed control and navigation, the controller provides better motion interaction when accessing interactive VR content. The Galaxy S8 and S8+ will also connect to the new Gear 360 to create 4K 360-degree videos and 15MP photos.

Leveraging the processing power of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ for enhanced productivity, Samsung DeX is a unique solution that transforms your smartphone into a desktop by providing a secure desktop-like experience. With Samsung DeX, users can easily display and edit data from their phone, making working from a smartphone faster and smarter.

In addition, as more IoT devices enter the market and the connected network becomes more complex, Samsung Connect simplifies smart device management. With Samsung Connect, users can easily activate IoT-enabled devices through a quick three-step configuration process and manage all connected devices through one integrated app.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ also come with the enhanced Samsung Health service, expanding one of Samsung’s most widely used services with 60 million monthly active users and 11 million daily active users worldwide. Samsung Health includes tele-health (U.S.-only), personal coaching, social capabilities that redefine traditional health and fitness.

Users can leave their physical wallet behind with Samsung Pay, turning their Galaxy S8 and S8+ into a digital wallet they can use almost anywhere they’d use a credit or debit card. With more than 870 worldwide banking partnerships, Samsung Pay has processed more than 240 million transactions to date.

New high-performance earphones tuned by AKG by Harman, offering uncompromised audio for unbeatable sound quality, will come as an in-box accessory. These earphones will have a comfortable hybrid canal fit for better noise cancellation and will be made from anti-tangle metal-fabric material.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be available starting on April 21, and will be offered in a rich color palette including Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue and Maple Gold.

Huawei and Ricostru partner to bring a new aesthetic to technology by reconstructing smartphone accessories

In a step to bring a new aesthetic to technology, Huawei Consumer Business Group partnered with emerging Chinese fashion label Ricostru to reconstruct the design language in its upcoming smartphone accessories. Believing that design is one of the key elements in technology, Huawei combines its advanced engineering expertise with the futuristic design aesthetic of Ricostru to elevate the beauty of its future smartphones and offer consumers a unique experience.

GloryZhang, CMO of Huawei Consumer Business Group said, “We are very excited to work with Rico, a talented new figure in fashion design, to bring a new aesthetic concept to smartphone accessories for Huawei. We strongly believe that technology should be artistic, allowing consumers to express their self-identity, and Huawei’s market-leading products will be further augmented by Rico’s craft and vision.”

Rico Manchit Au, founder of Ricostru said, “Huawei is a company with a compelling vision. The marriage between their advanced engineering and my futuristic design concept is thrilling. I’m looking forward to bringing something new to the design of smartphone accessories.”

Ricostru was founded in 2011 in China, by Rico Manchit Au. Coming from the Italian word ‘ricostruzione’ meaning reconstruction, the label represents the uniqueness of ideas in every individual as well as the power of construction. Known for its minimalistic style and innovative crafting, Ricostrucombines the traditional and futuristic in its designs. Rico earned acknowledgement and support from the international fashion world, being included in the prestigious “Vogue Talent Corner” in 2012 and presenting her SS17 collection at Armani/Theater during Milan Fashion Week.

As the world’s third-largest smartphone manufacturer, Huawei CBG debuted on the prestigious Interbrand Best Global Brands list in 2014 and rose to number 72 in 2016. This partnership comes after the success of Huawei’s recent devices including the Huawei P9 and P9 Plus, which have exceeded 10 million global shipments worldwide.

Six Pakistanis Recognized Among Top 1% of the Global-tech Talent.

Crossover hires Chief Architects in Java and Ruby in a single day with Job Offers of US$ 600,000

Six Pakistanis made Pakistan proud by securing jobs at the Crossover international hiring tournament. These six individuals are now being considered among the top 1 percent of the global talent in the world.

61 programmers from Punjab and Sindh participated in the gaming competition, where six ended up securing USD 100,000 per annum per candidate.  More than 500 senior tech talent from across Pakistan registered for the competition.

Andy Tryba, Chief Executive Officer, Crossover in a message said that Crossover is planning to run more tournaments in Karachi and Islamabad based on Lahore experiment to hire over 200 senior software architects in Pakistan and bring an additional $20M/year worth of employment to Pakistan economy in 2017.

The first National Freelancing Convention #NFC17 was held under the auspices of Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), a unique initiative jointly organized by the PITB and Crossover, participated by more than 500 applicants through highly gamified and competitive process of three rounds. The round finished with a technical interview for on the spot job offer by Crossover.

The leading work from home company, Crossover, hired six (o6) Chief Architects in Java and Ruby in a single day. The successful candidates of technical interview have been given full time / remote job offer paying worth $100, 000/- per year. Crossover also paid asign up winning bonus of $5,000 to the champion of the tournament.Crossover has successfully tested this concept in Turkey, Russia, Romania, Poland and Ukraine.

Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif appreciated the talent hunting activity by Crossover and hoped that the activity would benefit the economy of Pakistan.  Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab and Chairman PITB, Dr. Umar Saif said that technology was creating jobs around the globe while incubators, Startups and freelancing co-working spaces were playing pivotal role in this regard. Pakistan being the third largest English speaking and 9^th mobile user country, with 60 % population comprising of youth in the world has vast potential to exercise technology in every field, he added.

Crossover (also known as Crossover for Work) not only connects companies to the best talent from around the world, but also provides a seamless end-to-end solution for remote team management. Crossover connects talent from around the globe with companies who are looking to hire only the best. Crossover has more than 2200 people from 98 different countries working full time (40 hrs/wk) for its clients.

Gree introduces new models of LOMO series air-conditioners

Gree - a globally leading enterprise of air-conditioners has introduced its new models in series of LOMO non-inverter ACs, promising many innovative features. For more eco-friendliness and energy-saving, these highly efficient ACs are filled with R410A Refrigerant. Its innovative technology reduces the chance of ozone layer depletion.

This new series (LM4L/LM8L/LM4L) of Air Conditioners is equipped with six health-filters to ensure a healthy and pure environment, while promising an Energy-Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 3.2, to save maximum energy. It also maintains a stable voltage-supply during voltage-fluctuations, while it can even start with a low voltage of 150V. These ACs are now available in 3 attractive designs. These products reduce electricity consumption and the overall cost of air-conditioning.

The Marketing Manager of DWP Group, official brand partner of Gree in Pakistan stated that: “This new series of LOMO non-inverter ACs will prove to be a revolutionary range of products. We want our conventional units equally beneficial as our inverters. Due to the hot weather conditions, rising costs and unstable supply of electricity in Pakistan, Gree has created the most reliable air conditioners, to ensure best performance in the country’s environment and climate.”

There are various brands of ACs available at varying prices; it is evident that the lower-priced air conditioner brands do not provide the high level of performance and reliability promised by Gree. So, in the long-run, Gree AC proves to be the most economical and reliable product, with consistent performance and low-maintenance costs.

The Evolution of Huawei’s Innovative ‘P’ Series

Huawei is known for bringing something new-to-the-table, and has yet has launched another revolutionary device – Huawei P10 to its P series. The P series has gone through extensive revolutionary process, with various fascinating devices over the years and has successfully won the hearts of millions of tech-savvy customers across the world. The P Series of Huawei include; P6, P7, P8, P9, and P10.

The first device in the P series was Huawei Ascend P6, powered by 1.5GHz quad-core Huawei Cortex A9 processor and equipped with 2GB of RAM, P6 was the slimmest-ever phone in the market, measuring 132.65 x 65.50 x 6.18 (height x width x thickness) and weighing 120.00 grams. Successor to the P6, Huawei Ascend P7 is equipped with a 5’inch touchscreen display and has a 1080x1920 pixel resolution at a PPI of 441 pixels per inch. P7 was the first-ever phone to have textured glass making it the most innovative and sleek phone.

Boasting Kirin 930 Octa-Core 64-bit chipset, 4G technology, a 6.8-inch screen and a 13MP camera, the beautiful and powerful Huawei P8 was the first phone to have extraordinary light painting capabilities, which lets you capture lightning photography, which was only possible with a professional camera. Increasing the reputation and demand for P series, Huawei P9 was the first-ever phone which is enriched with two 12 MP rear lenses from ‘Leica’ – the ultimate high-end camera maker in the world. P9 also boasts dual-pixel technology and two apertures - 27mm, f/2.2, along with an RGB sensor for greater brightness, ultimately capturing the best photographs regardless of light conditions.

The latest device in P series is Huawei P10, not only is it equipped with a machine learning algorithm and Huawei Ultra Memory, but it is the first phone to have Leica lens in its front camera. The P10 has an improved rear camera with a wide angle features which captures better group photos. The P10’s fingerprint reader has moved to the front where it doubles as a navigation bar and button, letting you function without the traditional 3 Android buttons. The P10 is truly the representation of Huawei’s commitment of providing the customers with innovativeness everytime.

EcoStar feels proud being Co-Sponsor of MARCON ’17 Lahore

EcoStar is a nationwide brand of LED televisions and electronics that reflects technological excellence. This technology leader recently participated as a Co-Sponsor in MARCON 2017 – the prestigious annual marketing conference, organized by the Marketing Association of Pakistan (MAP) – Lahore Chapter at the PC Hotel in Lahore on 13th and 14th March, 2017. Being the Co-Sponsor of this insightful event – EcoStar’s marketing department participated very actively to enrich this insightful event.

                    

The organizing committee of MAP acknowledged EcoStar’s valuable patronage, while Mr. Rizwan Butt, Chief Operating Officer of DWP Group was also presented with a shield as a token of appreciation from MAP. MARCON is an international conference organized for marketing practitioners in Pakistan. Leading experts share their wisdom, ideas and experiences at this forum every year. Thus, it plays a key role in the advancement of professional Marketing in Pakistan’s competitive business environment.

Mr. Rizwan Butt (COO, DWP Group) while talking to media officials commented that, ‘’it’s always nice to hear and appreciate success stories of other marketers as it took them a long period to be here and being a responsible organization EcoStar believes that investing in such events enhance exposure and learning experiences.’’

Huawei Mate 9 –Capturing Life’s Best Moments

Huawei’s latest innovative device - the Mate 9 is a league ahead of its competition, in innovative features, powerful performance and a powerful Leica camera, as it the ideal phone for the new generation which revolves around technology.

The revolutionary camera on the Mate 9 is created by ‘Leica’ - the world’s most sophisticated camera producer. Mate 9 is equipped with 20 MP monochrome and 12 MP color camera, delivering spectacular Hybrid-Zoom with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) photography experience and 4K video-graphy, matching users’ own high-performance lifestyles. The color lens captures true-to-life images, while the black-and-white lens captures intricate details, making each photo features the high quality that is expected of a Leica.

The Mate 9 recognizes the customer’s need of clicking pictures on-the-go and capturing the best moments in their lives, and so the F2.2 OISlets the users take the same picture simultaneously at a slightly different angle to maximize the depth of field, ultimately contributing to create a stylish, professional-grade blurred background effect to make subjects stand out. The 8MP front-camera (with AF, F1.9) also offers many features. So, now you can capture crisp and sharp images even in low lighting conditions.

The Mate 9 consists of a pioneering machine-learning algorithm with cutting-edge hardware, making it the first-ever Android smartphone to deliver lightning-fast performance that increase its speed over time with usage. It is powered by a battery that lasts up to two days, on-the-go.  It is also enriched with a super fast-charge technology, allowing a whole day usage, after only 20 minutes of charging.

The Mate 9 is also available in a Matte Black version which looks amazing in any light. The glare-effect is a result of countless nano level ink “lenses” on its 5.9 inch screen, giving a light-beam effect to highlight the beautiful aesthetics. The Mate 9 Matte Black version is a perfect blend of beauty and brains, giving unmatched performance. Satisfying both tech-enthusiasts and modern smartphone users with its amazing performance and innovative features, the Matte Black version of Mate 9 is truly a high-end creation by Huawei.

Huawei Honor-8 Lite boasts powerful camera features

The Huawei Honor 8 Lite is a powerful device, gaining great popularity and demand due to its highly advanced features and powerful cameras. It is designed to fulfill the evolving needs of the photography enthusiasts and socially active consumers. The device delivers extremely fast performance, thus generating an overwhelming response from the Pakistan market too. 

Its sleek design and high functionality is further enriched by the amazing 12-megapixel back-camera with f/2.2 aperture and autofocus, along with an 8-megapixel front-camera for Selfies, equipped with a 77-degree wide-angle lens. The fascinating features of these cameras promise vivid photography results and capture outstanding video-shoots. So, now the users can instantly capture every memorable moment and event in their daily life, to swiftly share their happiness with family and friends around the world, round-the-clock, on-the-go.

Other highlights of the Honor 8 Lite include; the EMUI 5.0, based on Android 7.0 Nougat, out-of-the-box. It features a 5.2-inch full-HD display with 2.5D curved glass protection. The device is powered by the high-performance ‘Kirin 655 octa-core Processor’, paired with 3GB RAM, while it is powered by a long-lasting 3000mAh battery. The smartphone offers 16GB of internal storage, expandable with microSD card (up to 128GB).

The Marketing Manager of Huawei stated that; "With this great new device Huawei has really impressed various consumer segments. We consistently gain deeper insights into the preferences of every segment of consumers. Understanding their needs helps us create revolutionary new technologies that offer the perfect blend of performance and beauty, to ensure the users happiness".

The prodigious high demand for the new Honor 8 Lite in Pakistan is also driven by Huawei’s rising global popularity, as it has become one of the most admired technology leader and telecom innovator in the world. It clearly reflects Huawei’s reliability, performance and consumer-focus. With this sophisticated device, Huawei has delivered what the younger millennial audience is looking for – an affordable smart-phone that promises a revolutionary user-experience along with the liberty to stream, share and scroll more quickly and stylishly.

Samsung Introduces New Lifestyle TVs at Global Launch Event in Paris

New premium lineup of QLED TVs as well as The Frame showcased

Samsung Electronics today unveiled new details surrounding its premium line-up of QLED TVs and The Frame at a global TV launch event in Paris, further demonstrating Samsung’s leadership in defining the future of home entertainment with advanced cutting-edge technology.

“At Samsung, we strive to provide our customers with the most advanced technology to deliver unrivaled viewing experiences and cutting-edge designs that complement their everyday lives,” said HS Kim, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With state-of-the-art style, smart features, and picture quality, our 2017 lineup is truly ushering in a new era for television.”

Samsung selected Paris, “the City of Lights,” to unveil the “TV of Light,” a name given to the QLED TV for its delivery of optimal brightness levels and stunning visual experience. The venue choice for the event at the Carrousel du Louvre also highlighted Samsung’s focus on the Lifestyle TV concept, represented by two works of arts, the Samsung QLED TV and The Frame.

The latest QLED TVs were designed with the consumer in mind and focus on addressing three key consumer paint points through the solutions known as Q Picture, Q Smart and Q Style. Samsung once again worked with Yves Behar, a renowned Swiss designer, to create the innovative TV, The Frame and offer consumers an elegant masterpiece that seamlessly blends into the interior of any home.

Q Picture: Perfect combination of light and color

The newly-announced QLED TV takes quantum dot technology to the next level with advancements in light efficiency, stability and a wider color spectrum. With new metal quantum dots, the QLED TV addresses all the major aspects of picture quality, including viewing angle, color volume, brightness and bold contrast. The QLED TV can express accurate color and achieves a 100 percent color volume – the highest on the market today, earning accreditation by Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker (VDE), one of Europe’s largest technical-scientific associations.

In addition, the QLED TV’s rich, deep black levels and bold contrast provide a consistent viewing experience regardless of a room’s lighting. The QLED TV’s advanced HDR 1500 functionality allows users to see every hidden detail as it was meant to be seen, with no loss or distortion of color.

Q Smart: Elevating the home entertainment experience

Samsung’s Smart Hub has been expanded to offer an even more intuitive and unified experience, directly via the QLED TV. The enhanced Samsung One Remote Control now supports more devices and offers voice control capabilities across more Smart TV features. Paired with the latest Smart View App – available on Android or iOS mobile devices – users will enjoy their personalized Smart Hub.

Q Style: Designed to fit every lifestyle

This year, Samsung introduced new design elements that can fit into any home – regardless of the interior aesthetics or setup. The all-new Invisible Connection cable helps manage unsightly cords and clutter with a refined, single cord system. Consumers can now design their space with a single optical cable that brings all devices together, reclaiming the living room space once occupied by set-top boxes and external devices.

Samsung has also introduced the No Gap Wall-mount which brings the TV flush against the wall, closer than ever before, with a 15-minute installation process. For those who do not wish to mount their TV onto the wall, there is also a range of stylish Samsung TV stands. Designed like an easel, the Studio Stand is an ideal accompaniment for any artist-inspired living space, and with the Gravity Stand, the TV can be rotated easily and allows for optimal viewing at any angle.

The Frame: A new way to look at TV

Continuing its focus on premium design, Samsung announced more details surrounding its newest innovation – The Frame. Teased at CES 2017, The Frame was curated with an artful approach meant to elevate any room or viewing environment.

Based on the new innovative technology, The Frame looks like a picture frame hanging on a wall when ‘Art Mode’ is on. Instead of fading to black like a conventional TV, the Lifestyle TV’s display transforms into a work of art, letting the users select custom-designed digital art pieces from The Frame. With more than 100 art pieces in multiple categories – including landscape, architecture, wildlife, action, drawing and more – to choose from, it is sure to please every design preference. Paired with the numerous options for art layouts and colors, as well as customizable accessory options including interchangeable bezels and an optional Studio Stand, it truly complements the user’s living space.

Furthermore, The Frame is outfitted with Samsung’s new Invisible Connection and No Gap Wall-mount, allowing users to hang it anywhere because it can blend seamlessly into any living space without unsightly cables or wires.

.

National Foods chooses Microsoft Cloud platform

National Foods, one of the leading food brands of Pakistan has decided to opt for Microsoft Cloud platform. The Microsoft O365 solution will be rolled out to more than 600 employees across the company. This decision to migrate towards Microsoft is reliant towards the overall company objective of sustainability and scalability and at the same time will benefit the company to expand further in its line of business.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Abrar Hasan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Foods Limited said: “In the quest of superiority and development, National Foods, being the biggest multi-category food company, needed to stay up-to-date with the evolving significance of technology. We evaluated different systems existing in the market and amongst them, the Microsoft solution proved to be the ideal choice for the sophisticated operational needs of our organization.”

He further added: “We are fully aware of the importance of investing in technology to ensure sustainable growth and scalability and I am confident that Microsoft will prove to be the best choice for a more productive future. This revolutionary platform promises to fulfill different requirements of the large and diverse workforce, who needs to collaborate and share a variety of information and data, every day”.

Syed Zeeshan Ali, General Manager I.T. at National Foods also applauded the potential of the Microsoft cloud platform, stating that; “Being a significant manufacturer and exporter of multiple food categories and several prestigious brands, National Foods needs sustainable, cost effective, user-friendly, accurate and reliable sharing of data with a vast and secure storage capacity. The other challenge is that the communications within our functions and plants located across Pakistan, as well as internationally, needs to be fast and uninterrupted. We have evaluated Microsoft solutions to be the most viable for our organizational needs. I’m delighted that my organization will be equipped with the latest technology of Microsoft Cloud, thereby ensuring strong connectivity amongst our thousands of employees and business associates”.

He further stated: "It’s worth mentioning that National Foods is continuously progressing by proudly delivering value to its customers and its stakeholders; through pioneering technologies, new product categories and expansion in lines, and by fulfilling its responsibilities in the food industry. It is believed that by opting Microsoft Office 365; National Foods has become a trendsetter as Microsoft platform promises to make National Foods IT infrastructure more scalable and robust, ultimately providing a visible edge over its other competitors." 

Shoaib Khalil, SMSP Director at Microsoft Pakistan stated that; “Our commitment to all our clients is to provide excellence in terms of services. Microsoft has a strong vision to facilitate and empower diverse productive enterprises functioning on different capacities. We would like to congratulate National Foods for making the best choice in terms of upgrading their IT solutions and would also thank them for their absolute trust in us.”

International Office Products (IOP) is the official deployment partner with Microsoft in successfully deploying Office365 at National Foods. Established in 1984, IOP is one of the oldest and largest IT companies in Pakistan. IOP offers a wide range of products and services including PC, laptops, servers, peripherals, networking solutions, software development and licensing, enterprise solutions, IT security, consultancy, and disaster recovery. IOP offers complete one window IT solutions to its customers and has over 140 professionals in marketing, software development, support services and hardware maintenance.

FFC-HUBCO Join hands to Meet Power Challenges of Pakistan

Pakistan's largest fertilizer producer, Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFCL) is entering into a strategic alliance with the Hub Power Company Limited (HUBCO)to set up a 330 MW Coal based Power Plant in Thar.  The announcement came after FFC Board of Directors’ meeting held in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, 15^thof March 2017.

The power plant,being a CPEC Project, will be built under a special purpose company, Thar Energy Limited (TEL), and will be based on indigenous coal to be mined from the coal fields of Thar Block-II. Commenting on the joint venture with HUBCO, Lt Gen Shafqaat Ahmed, HI(M) (Retd), CE&MD FFC assured that this project will help address the power shortfall in the country utilizing local coal, which is also a major goal of the current Government besides adding value to the Company’s long term investments in the best interest of its shareholders.

FFC and HUBCO both are well reputed and internationally recognized corporate entitieswith extremely high business and financial credibility. CE&MD FFC added they believe that this strategic partnership will open up new avenues of business growth, whereas theexcellent financial position, credibility and best business practices of the two corporate giants will provide synergy and confidence forall the stakeholders. 

Ground work on the site has already commenced and the project is expected to begin commercial production by end 2019.

Samba Bank Pakistan Live with Temenos Core Banking System

Samba Bank Limited Pakistan, a majority owned subsidiary of Samba Financial Group of Saudi Arabia has successfully implemented the new Temenos Core Banking softwareR15 for its retail and corporate banking services.

Temenos teamed up with regional partner, National Data Consultant (pvt) Ltd (“NDC”) on the implementation for this project. The bank replaced its parent legacy system STAR to Temenos Core Banking System, release 15 and its Financial Crime Management solution, version 5.  .The teams successfully implemented Pakistan Model Bank version at Samba Bank Pakistan and migrated all 37 branches in one go. The new system carries many technical and functional enhancements including Temenos Product Builder AA which will strengthen bank’s core banking operations and facilitate with launching of new innovative products.

President& CEO of Samba Bank Ltd Pakistan, Mr. Shahid Sattar appreciated the exemplary collaboration of Samba Bank, NDC & Temenos and stated“ This is a key achievement for Samba Bank which helps us deliver our digital growth strategy and enhanced service capabilities to our customers. Temenos collaboration with NDC and approach of implementing Pakistan Model Bank has helped us to complete the project on time and provides a very reliable Core Banking Solution."

Jean-Paul Mergeai, Managing Director for Temenos Middle East & Africa, commented: “I would like to congratulate Samba Bank Pakistan on the achievement and implementation of such an important program and milestone for the bank. By having our Core Banking solution in place, Samba Bank Pakistan is leveraging cutting-edge technology that should give them a competitive edge in a fast moving market, increase operational efficiency, reduce risks and improve customer service. We are also particularly happy with our excellent collaboration with NDC, whose dedication, resourcefulness and expertise enables the delivery of key transformational projects such as this one.” 

Ammara Masood, President and CEO of NDC commented, “Samba Bank achievement is due to the hard work of all teams and the leadership of the Bank. Banks who want to thrive in a fast evolving landscape need mission-critical solutions and reliable local partners to succeed. Our partnership with Temenos and Samba has enabled us to achieve this success. We want to continue expanding our proven track record and support other banks in growing their market share and business scope”

Samba Bank Pakistan has now been live for 2 months on the new Core system with Temenos and Financial Crime management.

PepsiCo renews commitment to empowering women

PepsiCo celebrated International Women’s Day at its Head Office with an interactive session, which brought together women of diverse backgrounds to speak about their challenges and accomplishments. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day was “Be bold for change”. The session, modeled on the TEDx theme of speaking extemporaneously, included comments from speakers, questions from the audience, and concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Adel Garas, PepsiCo’s President for the Asia Pacific Region.

“People are PepsiCo’s greatest asset,” said Garas. “We believe in building a workforce that reflects the diverse consumers and communities we serve. Gender equality, diversity and inclusion are core to our company’s values and how we operate as a global corporate citizen in Pakisan and around the world. While we have accomplished much, we recognize that there is more work to do. We recently surveyed female associates to help us identify opportunities to positively impact engagement and commitment of our female associates, and enable them to unleash their full potential.”

Adding to Mr. Garas’s comments, PepsiCo Pakistan’s Vice President and General Manager, Mr. Furqan Ahmed Syed, thanked PepsiCo’s female associates for their invaluable contributions. “You have been an integral part of our successes over the years and I count on your passion, creativity and leadership to make PepsiCo Pakistan the pride of PepsiCo, and an employer of first choice for females in our country,” said Mr. Syed. “Indeed, diversity and inclusion will be critical to achieving our Performance with Purpose goals for 2025 by helping to create a sustainable advantage for us.”

The International Women’s Day celebration takes place at a time when PepsiCo Pakistan has made significant strides in making the organization more female-friendly. Steps in this direction include the day care facilities for young children established at both the Head Office as well as the snacks plant, a mentorship program for young females, creation of the PepsiCo Pakistan Women’s Forum, and the scaling up of the Lighting Up Lives program so that families with women and children can benefit.

Guest speakers at the session consisted of Ms. Shamim Akhtar, Pakistan’s first female truck driver; Ms. Zenith Irfan, Pakistan’s first female motorcyclist to travel to Khunjerab Pass; Ms. Rubina Jamal, a trekker who has taken expeditions to some of the world’s tallest mountains. 

Huawei Pakistan awarded Airlink the most valuable partner of 2016

Huawei a global leading technology brand has recently awarded Airlink the Best Cooperation Award at Huawei’s Core Partner Convention Awards 2017. The award was in recognition of Airlink's continuous efforts to promote the Chinese technology brand across Pakistan through its huge network.

The one day event at local Hotel consisted of a Press conference addressing key updates across the Huawei business including a future roadmap for the present year and areas for improvement. The event then concluded with the award ceremony for Huawei’s partner agencies. Shaukat Piracha Chairman Airlink communication and Muzzafar Hayyat Piracha MD Airlink attended event and collected the award on behalf of team Airlink. Team Airlink dedicated the prestigious award to late Moazzam Hayyat Piracha and recognize his due efforts for establishing Huawei's business in Pakistan. Upon receiving the award from Mr. Fanhong Bruce, Vice President of Huawei’s MEA and Mr. Blue King GM Huawei Pakistan commended the efforts and unmatched services of his team  and Airlink in making Huawei Pakistan one of the best mobile brands in the country.

Mr. Fraz Malik Khan, Deputy GM Huawei Pakistan has also praised the services of Airlink and expresses to get more efficient and strong collaboration in future too. Huawei has a reputation of promoting their partners and has always appreciated the services provided by their partners in Pakistan and all over the globe.

Huawei Honor 8Lite – Gifting your loved ones!

The Huawei Honor 8 lite is a powerful device, gaining great popularity and demand due to its highly advanced features and powerful camera. Huawei new and innovative campaign is solely about gifting an Honor 8 to someone who you think truly deserves the best.

In this campaign, a series of posts will go up. By sharing the Honor 8lite video and nominating someone with the story of your best received gift, customers will have the chance to get their nominee an Honor 8lite. This series will continue from 10^th – 13^th March and the next day two lucky winners will be rewarded with an Honor 8lite.The winning criteria is that ten people will be shortlisted based on completion of tasks mentioned in the posts, as well as the story shared.

The Marketing Manager of Huawei Salman Javed, stated that; "With this great new device Huawei has really impressed various consumer segments. Therefore, this new campaign is based on Huawei’s vision of truly satisfying the customers. With the story of the best gift received, Huawei wants to give its customers a chance to gift their loved ones back".

The Honor 8lite enriched with a revolutionary 12 MP back-camera, an f/2.2 aperture and autofocus, along with an 8 MP front-camera with a 77-degree wide-angle lens, is perfect for selfies. The device is powered by the high-performance ‘Kirin 655 octa-core Processor’, paired with 3GB RAM and a long-lasting 3000mAh battery. It is designed to fulfill the evolving needs of the photography enthusiasts and socially active consumers. The device delivers extremely fast performance while delivering excellence in means of comfort, style, and camera, thus generating an overwhelming response from the Pakistan market too. All Huawei fans now have the perfect opportunity to win this amazing device by participating in the contest. Youcan get further updates from Huawei’s official facebook and Instagram pages.