PTCL, SCO to explore collaborative opportunities for upscaling services nationwide, especially AJK, GB

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Special Communication Organization (SCO)at PTCL Headquarter Islamabad to explore potential collaborative opportunities for growth of telecom services across Pakistan, with special focus on AJK and GB.

The signing ceremony was attended by HatemBamatraf, President & GCEO, PTCL &Ufone and Major Gen Muhammad Shahid Siddeeq, DG SCO, along with senior officials from both organizations.

The MoU will facilitate multi-level cooperation between the leading telecom players to foster resource efficiency and growth of telecom services nationwide, especially in the remote mountainous regions of AJK and GB. The arrangement will facilitate passive network sharing and SCO’s backhaul support for the launch of PTCL’s Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service in AJK & GB through its 3500 MHz spectrum.

The telecom operators will offer their respective fiber assets for backup/redundancy to ensure uninterrupted high-quality services on a reciprocal basis and jointly build access networks in cantonments and other similar locations.

In addition, the companies will undertake multiple collaborative ventures including Multi-Operator Radio Access Network (MORAN), active elements sharing of cellular network, data national roaming and a range of other ICT solutions to increase their incremental revenues as well as deliver high-quality telecom services to their customers round the clock.

On the occasion, HatemBamatraf, President & GCEO, PTCL &Ufone, said, “We are excited to collaborate with SCO to expand our shared ambition of bringing superior telecommunication services to our customers. Together, we will help bridge the digital divide in the country, especially in the remote regions to help unlock their full potential.”

On the occasion, Major Gen Muhammad Shahid Siddeeq, DG SCO said, “We are pleased to partner with PTCL for upscaling telecom services in AJK and GB, where SCO has played an instrumental in connecting the masses through high-quality internet and cellular services. Through our efforts, we hope to providean inclusive and equitable environment that will ensure progress and growth.”

PTCL being a national company,endeavors to contribute towards the economic development and prosperity of Pakistan.

Gerry’s dnata expands offering; launches line maintenance services in Pakistan

Gerry’s dnata, Pakistan’s leading ground services provider, has expanded its offering. The company obtained Maintenance Organization Approval from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to provide aircraft line maintenance services to airline customers, and now offers a one-stop-shop of ground handling, cargo and technical services at the airports of Karachi (KHI), Lahore (LHE) and Islamabad (ISB).

Gerry’s dnata’s team of professionals can provide full line maintenance support and are trained on customers’ company procedures, providing a seamless service to both passenger and cargo airlines.

The launch customer is flydubai, which Gerry’s dnata already serves at four airports in Pakistan providing a range of ramp and passenger handling services to the airline and its customers.

Syed Haris Raza, Vice President of Gerry’s dnata, said: “As Pakistan’s leading ground handler, we constantly enhance our offering to best meet the needs of our customers. We are confident that our airline partners will welcome the expansion of our portfolio and take advantage of getting quality and safe ground handling and technical services from a single provider. Our team of highly trained, seasoned professionals will deliver world-class quality and safety for our valued customers.”

Mick Hills, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Maintenance at flydubai, said: “We are looking forward to expanding our relationship with Gerry’s dnata to include line maintenance services in Pakistan. Having a single, local provider to oversee our line maintenance, as well as ground handling, will add more efficiencies to our fleet management and ensure a quicker turnaround of our aircraft.”

Gerry’s dnata have the capability to handle the following aircraft types for scheduled, unscheduled and AOG services:

Aircraft Types

· Airbus A319/A320/A321 NEO (CFM LEAP-1A)

· Airbus A318/319/320/321 (CFM56)

· Airbus A319/320/321 (IAE V2500)

· Airbus A330 (RR RB 211 Trent 700)

· Airbus A330 (GE CF6)

· Boeing B737-600/700/800/900 (CFM56)

Over the past year, Gerry’s dnata has continued to enhance its operations and services to deliver the highest level of quality and safety and help airline customers safely transport passengers and precious cargo to and from Pakistan. It made significant investments in infrastructure, technology and equipment, including the opening of a new, state-of- the-art cargo facility in Lahore which doubled the company’s cargo handling capacity at the airport.

Gerry’s dnata’s quality of service helped it win or retain over 20 contracts with key accounts across its network. The company also achieved prestigious industry certifications, including GDP and IATA’s ISAGO accreditation, which validate its capabilities and place the business in a market leading position.

Gerry’s dnata serves more than 20 airline customers at seven Pakistani airports. The company’s team consists of over 2,500 dedicated aviation professionals who assist more than seven million passengers and handle 150,000 tons of cargo annually.

Beyond All Expectations, realme became a Global Bestselling Brand during 2021 Shopping Festivals

realme, the world’s fastest growing smartphone brand, has become a real bestselling brand globally. In Pakistan alone, the emerging tech brand captured top spots on the bestselling lists across major online e-commerce platforms during, 11.11 and other festival sales. This trend was also witnessed in all other markets where realme dominated shopping festival sales throughout.

Pakistan

realme retained its position as the Top No. 01 smartphone brand on Daraz in Pakistan during the 11.11 Salebration. The youth-centric brand clinched two further accolades as the realme GT Master Edition became the top-selling 5G Smartphone and realme Narzo 50i was the Top 01 bestseller overall.

Southeast Asia

realme was also ranked as the Top 01 bestselling smartphone brand in Thailand, Bangladesh and Indonesia on local platforms like Lazada or daraz. Online shoppers from Shopee in Malaysia and the Philippines took considerate interests at realme handsets as the brand was listed as the second bestselling brand.

Europe

Thanks to the hot sale of realme GT Master Edition and realme 8 series, realme saw strong bestselling momentum in Europe with disruptive growth. On Amazon, both Italy and Hungary witnessed a whopping realme growth rate of more than 1000% YoY while Germany, UK, Spain recorded an increase of 342%, 308% and 290% YoY respectively. Noticeably, realme products were dominant on Amazon Top 10 Bestseller lists in Spain (5 out of 10) and Italy (4 out of 10).

Carrefour boosts its investment in Pakistan to PKR 10.5 billion with The Opening of its 10th store

Carrefour inaugurated its tenth Pakistan store at Gujranwala with an investment of PKR 1 billionThe investment from

Carrefour’s owner and operator, Majid Al Futtaim, will provide economic support to 170 households

Carrefour, owned and operated by UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim in Pakistan, has added a further PKR 1 billion rupees to its current investment of PKR 9.5 billion in the country with the inauguration of a new hypermarket in Gujranwala.

The new standalone hypermarket was inaugurated today, in the presence of Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Thierry Joulin, Chief Operating Officer Majid Al Futtaim Retail, Umer Lodhi, Country Manager of Carrefour Pakistan.

With the opening of its 10^th store in Pakistan, Carrefour has expressed its great confidence in the country’s retail sector and underlined its desire to support the growth and prosperity of the communities it is a part of. Flags of the UAE and Pakistan were hoisted at the event by the chief guests to mark brotherly relations between both the countries and the realisation of shared growth objectives. This was preceded by a tour of the 15,000 sqm premises that will provide the community of Gujranwala with an elevated shopping experience.

Through its offering of over 25,000 products in the categories of consumer goods, fresh foods, electronics, home accessories and others, Carrefour Pakistan will bring convenience to the daily lives of shoppers and provide economic support to 170 households in the city through job creation and local sourcing of products.

Speaking at the occasion, Umer Lodhi said: “We stand by our commitment of providing support to the local economy through our expansion plans and the opening of this hypermarket in Gujranwala is a reflection of this commitment in action. It is also a moment of great pride for us as we play our part in the economic revival of the country alongside the Government of Pakistan through the achievement of shared objectives, including sustainable community development.”

Working with more than 700 partners from across Pakistan, Carrefour continues to support and source from local producers. Committed to helping drive Pakistan’s economy forward, Carrefour continues its journey of growth, strengthening partnerships, and providing innovative retail services to shoppers.

In addition to the convenience of in-store shopping for quality products at its ten stores in Pakistan, Carrefour also offers its delivery service through the Carrefour Pakistan app to provide customers with another option for how to shop. The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

PTCL Group wins the prestigious Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmark (GDEIB) Award in five categories

In recognition of its forward-looking human resource practices and work culture, PTCL Group has won the prestigious Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmark (GDEIB) Award in five categories. The achievement highlights the Group’s standing as a progressive and wholly employee-centric organization with unique attributes that have been validated previously as well.

Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmarks (GDEIB) are global standards developed by The Centre for Global Inclusion (CBI) , with more than 112 experts from across the world. The standards help organizations across the world determine their strategy and measure progress in managing diversity and fostering inclusion to strive for excellence in their respective fields.

This year, PTCL Group won the prestigious award in five categories, thereby reinforcing its reputation as one of the most progressive organizations in the country. Among these three; Vision, strategy, and Business impact; Work-life integration, flexibility and benefits; and Assessment, Measurement, and Research were categorized as proactive whereas the other two; DEI Communications and Community, Government Relations, and Philanthropy were categorized in progressive stage.

The GDEIB, ‘Diversity Hub’, a center of expertise with HR Metrics, Islamabad, holds annual awards to celebrate the accomplishments of organizations in GDEIB in 15 categories on a maturity scale of 1-5. Award submissions are reviewed by globally renowned jury members through a democratic review process.

Commenting on the achievement, Group Chief Human Resource Officer, PTCL & Ufone, Syed Mazhar Hussain said, “We are thrilled to receive outstanding recognition at the GDEIB Awards for diversity and inclusion at PTCL. As an organization, we believe in making sustained efforts to foster gender and cultural diversity and continuously strive to provide an environment for these changes to take root. We are glad that we have been able to provide a favorable and equitable working environment and growth-oriented culture to our diverse teams.”

PTCL Group has strongly established itself as one of the most forward-looking organizations in terms of inclusivity, equity, and acceptance. The GDEIB Award is the second of its kind to acknowledge the Group’s credentials in this regard this year, following its success at the Pakistan Society of Human Resource Management (PSHRM) Awards earlier this year.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority

Mobile operators start offering free calling in Murree and Galliat

Islamabad (9th January,2022) In view of emergency situation in Murree and Galliat areas, mobile phone users, currently present in these areas with no balance, have immediately been provided with free on-net calling facility. On the directions of PTA, cellular mobile operators have extended free calling facility on their own network to users with zero balance, stranded in Galliat areas. Users may contact their concerned operators for more info. Moreover, PTA has also directed all telecom operators to ensure uninterrupted services to users and keep enough back up arrangments in case of power outages.

Ufone 4G enables free calls for tourists stranded in Murree, suburbs

Pakistani telecom operator, Ufone 4G has enabled free calling facility to tourists stranded in Murree and suburbs so that they can access help or stay connected with their loved ones during the recent snowstorm induced catastrophe that struck the hill station.

The service is a bid to aid the ongoing rescue operation so that further loss is prevented by helping people connect with their loved ones and the authorities to ensure their safe evacuation. The raging snowstorm has forced shops and markets to close down and mobile balance is unavailable in large parts of the tourist destination. However, Ufone is making sure that its users are able to connect even if they are out of mobile balance.

The company has offered free Ufone to Ufone and PTCL calls for tourists stranded in Murree, Nathiagali and suburbs who can simply dial *4357# from their handsets.

The free calls come in handy as a lot of people are still stuck and await rescue services or look to intimate their family and friends about their situation. The offer will help save lives and aid the ongoing rescue work by helping locate stranded tourists.

Meanwhile, Ufone and PTCL teams are on the ground in Murree, Nathiagali, and surrounding areas to make sure that users have uninterrupted access to network in this difficult hour.

STZA to provide an enabling environment for Freelancers

The Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) and Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Islamabad on 6th January 2022.

Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) is a non-profit organization founded to empower Pakistani freelancers through mentoring, providing opportunities, collaborating with government, industry and academia, and providing them a platform as well as a support group to help grow their career and overcome their challenges.

Pakistan has registered remarkable growth in recent years and become the fourth fastest-growing freelancer market in the world. Pakistan’s current freelance market consists of more than one million individuals working in various specialized fields. STZA envisions collaborating with PAFLA to provide an enabling environment to the freelancer industry in Pakistan where the self-employed workforce is treated as equal partners and contributors to the economy.

Mr. Amer Hashmi, the Chairman of STZA called for undertaking joint efforts to make Pakistan a leading enabler and top marketplace for freelancing by providing ease of doing business, capacity building, mentorship, and broad basing the technology jobs to all corners of Pakistan to achieve the sustainable economic growth.

STZA aims to jointly organize and arrange youth focus awareness sessions, workshops, and training programs with PAFLA for the youth, establish a brand presence among academia by appointing university students as brand ambassadors. Primary qualitative research will be conducted including interviews, surveys, and questionnaires, to assist STZA in creating a robust framework to identify the gaps and challenges of the freelancers’ community of Pakistan.

STZA envisages that this MoU will support prosperity and growth in the freelancers’ community. It will also create global opportunities for Pakistani freelancers, create job opportunities for youth, and help to remove any hurdles for the Pakistani freelancers’ community.

PITB to Setup Complaint Management System (CMS) and dedicated Helpline

Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and Punjab Mines & Minerals Department (MMD) have signed an MOU as part of the project, ‘Strengthening of Directorate General Mines & Minerals, Punjab and IT Integration of Administrative Department’ project under the ongoing Annual Development Program (ADP).

The MoU was signed by PITB DG e-Governance Sajid Latif and Secretary Mines & Minerals Department Amir Ejaz Akbar Gondal at a ceremony held at Arfa Software Technology Park. Chairman PITB Azfar Manzoor and other senior officials including PITB DG IT-Operations Faisal Yousaf, Director Atif Hussain, Project Director Ali Zeb, MMD`s Director General Zafar Javed Malghani, Deputy Secretary (Admin) Atika Ammar and Deputy Secretary (Technical) Sajid-Ur-Rehman were also present.

According to the MoU PITB will develop a Complaint Management System (CMS) in addition to setting up a dedicated helpline number 042-99030122. The CMS and dedicated helpline will be managed by PITB’s IT-Operations team and Citizen Contact Center (CCC).

Speaking at the occasion Secretary, Mines & Minerals Department Amir Ejaz Akbar Gondal said that the initiatives in question will improve departmental service delivery, simplify work processes while eliminating ambiguities and bottlenecks. CCC’s services in particular will help address the citizen concerns and queries without delays and contribute to timely decisions.

PITB’s CCC is the first government-to-citizen (G2C) contact centre offering a number of services to various government departments including SMS messages, Robot Calls and Live Agents Calls.

Chairman PITB Azfar Manzoor said, “PITB initiated ICT interventions are successfully digitizing outdated manual systems while enhancing efficiency and improving monitoring of department’s progress. Automation of MMD will help in identifying problem areas and overcoming challenges. PITB is fully committed to supporting the department in identifying gaps and potential roadblocks and timely remedial measures to improve service delivery.”

Strengthening of DG office is an integral part of this project and will be executed by PITB. It will include procurement and installation of new hardware, automation of department processes, utilization of information technology, hiring of a competent team, and capacity building of existing employees of MMD. Furthermore, PITB will develop the automated software for the Royalty Inspection & Collection Regime, Lease Management System, Department Daak System and Human Resource Management system for the District of Chakwal as pilot project.

CPPA-G and LUMS join hands for capacity building of Power sector entities in Pakistan

A two-day follow-up training workshop for the officer and engineering professionals of DISCOs (Distribution companies) was arranged on January 7, 2022 under the banner of Power Sector Centre of Excellence (PSCE) established at LUMS in Lahore. PSCE is a training and knowledge hub founded jointly by CPPA-G (Central Power Purchasing Agency) and LUMS Energy Institute (LEI).

The training was attended by 80 participants comprising of officials from Distribution Companies (DISCOs), National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and CPPA-G. This Module-II was a continuation of Module-I of the course, where the detailed methodology of Medium-term Demand Forecast (MTDF) was explored. Participants were also given intensive knowledge about the Power Market Survey tool used to gauge bottom up demand forecasting, acknowledged for providing high accuracy for medium-term demand forecasting around the world.

Read More: LUMS Commemorates Its 35-Year Association With Industry Partners

Under the upcoming Competitive Trading Bilateral Contracts Market (CTBCM), it is imperative for the power sector entities to create a mutual environment of learning, sharing and facilitation to modernise and innovate within the competitive electricity market in Pakistan. All involved power entities should work in collaboration with leading academic institutions to popularise the best practices in the sector as per international standards, said Mr. Waseem Mukhtar, Additional Secretary – Power Division and CEO – CPPA-G.

Dr. Fiaz Chaudhry, Director LEI and Programme Director PSCE, said “PSCE was established at LUMS to impart trainings to power sector professionals and equip them with skills needed for long-term integrated system planning. In collaboration with CPPA, we have operationalised PSCE by successfully completing the training on Medium-term Demand Forecasting which sets the foundation for planning decisions and secure operations of the power system. Robust methodology and accurate forecasts of electricity demand leads to optimal generation and network investments.”

Mr. Omer Haroon Malik, Head Market Operations and Development CPPA-G and Principal Counterpart PSCE, expressed that the long-term financial viability of the power sector depends on improving the efficiency of electricity distribution companies that deliver electricity to consumers. With the introduction of the CTBCM regime in May 2022, these efforts will improve the market discipline, and therefore, the operational and financial performance of the distribution companies.

The course was divided into two modules. Module-I covered the course material in a duration of five days held in October 2021, while Module-II was a follow-up for discussion on the prepared forecasts of DISCOs based on the techniques learnt in Module-I. Successful candidates will be issued credentials for completing the course.