Muhammad Adil leader in product design from Pakistan crafting innovation through design and technology

Muhammad Adil, a Pakistani software graduate now based in Dubai, has established himself as a visionary leader in product design, profoundly influencing the logistics and private aviation industries. His strategic mindset and extensive expertise have enabled him to master the intricacies of AI technology and deep tech, fundamentally transforming how these industries operate.

Reimagining Movement at AHOY

Adil joined AHOY in 2019 as the fourth member of a dedicated team and immediately made an impact with his problem-solving approach. He became the creative force behind Comet, an award-winning logistics platform designed to streamline and optimize movement management. By addressing key pain points with innovative ideation and solution-building, Adil helped AHOY tackle real-world problems, securing $20 million in funding through its exceptional value proposition.

His strategic vision and leadership significantly enhanced AHOY’s offerings, earning him company stocks and cementing his role as an integral part of the team.

Leading the Private Aviation Transformation at JETCLASS

Now at JETCLASS, a subsidiary of the Falkenherz Group, Adil is challenging norms in private aviation by combining product design with advanced machine learning and AI. He is developing fully automated, end-to-end platforms that streamline private jet travel logistics.

His efforts go beyond automation—they aim to democratize private jet travel, dispelling the notion that it’s reserved for the elite. In his words, “What a company thinks the user needs and what the user actually needs are mostly two different things.” With this ethos, Adil ensures that technological advancements are meaningful and centered on user requirements.

Empowering other through Mentorship and Community Building

In addition to his business achievements, Adil firmly believes in the value of mentorship and giving back. Since 2020, he has mentored tens of individuals, helping them build rewarding careers. His selfless approach reflects his values of inclusivity and empowerment, offering guidance free of charge. He actively participates in educational and networking events, where he inspires emerging designers to think collaboratively, innovatively, and empathetically.

Adil’s mentorship extends beyond individual sessions; he regularly leads workshops and webinars, focusing on the importance of user-centered design in technology. His engaging teaching style and deep industry knowledge enable him to effectively communicate complex concepts to a wide audience, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

A Leader Fostering Industry-Wide Change

Muhammad Adil’s influence is not confined to his immediate professional circle. He is an avid speaker at international tech and design conferences, where he discusses the transformative power of integrating AI and deep tech in traditional sectors like logistics and aviation. His talks emphasize the critical role of design thinking in solving complex challenges and driving technological adoption.

Moreover, Adil contributes to industry white papers and thought leadership articles, advocating for smart technology solutions that cater to real user needs. His insights have been instrumental in shaping policies and practices that prioritize user experience and operational efficiency.

Through these platforms, Adil not only shares his vision but also actively contributes to the broader dialogue on how technology can be harnessed to make services more accessible and user-friendly. His efforts ensure that the benefits of technological advancements are widely understood and embraced, paving the way for more innovative and inclusive industry practices.

Tania Aidrus, former Google executive, returns to lead the Digital Pakistan project

Tania Aidrus, former CEO of Google search engine, has returned to lead the Digital Pakistan project, nearly four years after she stepped down from the main project due to the dual citizenship issue.

The technology pioneer, who has helped create many of the best apps and platforms, has once again joined the federal government’s digitization project as the PML-N-led government has taken an important step towards digital transformation by setting up a high-level committee led by Tania.

Mrs. Aidrus He has been appointed as regulator of Digital Commission of Pakistan, said a notification jointly issued by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications.

The committee, headed by the Union Minister of State for Information Technology, will compile recommendations on the country’s digital infrastructure, ensuring transparency and efficiency in government operations.

Tania Aidrus

During the Imran Khan government, Tania got the key role of leading Pakistan’s transformation into a digital society.

Tania Aidarus received her MBA and MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and her BA from Brandeis University.

She began working in technology about 15 years ago, aiming to harness the Internet’s potential to break down information barriers and transform lives and economies.

She led product and payments management at Google’s Next Billion Users (NBU) division, helping developing countries transition to digital payments instead of cash.

She also served as Google’s Director of Emerging Markets in South Asia, where she oversaw operations in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from the headquarters in Singapore.

In 2017, Edros co-founded ClickDiagnostics, a mobile health diagnostics company that aims to connect patients in rural areas with healthcare experts.

NADRA to Modernization Nigeria’s Advanced National ID System

In a significant step toward expanding its global presence, Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has strengthened its strategic partnership with Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This collaboration marks a milestone for NADRA, positioning it as a key player in providing identity solutions to large populations in Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, and Somalia.

The recent development in this partnership involves a new agreement focusing on the modernization of Nigeria’s existing middleware solution. Facilitated by a recent contract between NIMC’s Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and NADRA, this initiative aims to enhance the efficiency, security, and interoperability of Nigeria’s National ID System. The comprehensive pre-assessment and recommendations set the stage for leveraging cutting-edge technology to strengthen Nigeria’s National Identity system.

This collaboration, rooted in a trusted partnership spanning over 15 years, reflects the commitment of both NIMC and NADRA to fortify their operational frameworks for a more secure and efficient identification system. The recent meeting between high-level delegations from NADRA and NIMC in Abuja signifies their joint efforts to synchronize project timelines and align key objectives, ultimately advancing their shared goal of building robust and technologically advanced identity management systems.

The Director General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, expressed full support for NADRA’s outlined goals during the meeting, emphasizing the positive outlook for the future of this partnership. Beyond the formal agreement, this contract underscores NADRA’s commitment to international cooperation, technology transfer, and knowledge exchange, solidifying Pakistan’s crucial role in advancing global digital initiatives.

HBL and Visa announce Winners of First Edition of She’s Next program in Pakistan

Five winners were announced for She’s Next, Visa’s global platform dedicated to women entrepreneurs at an awards ceremony in Karachi
Hira Javaid, CEO of Foster Learning wins People’s Favorite Award
Winners receive US$10,000 grant each, a tailored training program by Katalyst Labs, and access to the She’s Next Club.
An independent committee selected winners from almost 2,500 applicants across a variety of sectors, from training to education, advertising to professional services, beauty and online retail.

Visa, a world leader in digital payments, together with HBL, Pakistan’s leading Bank today, announced five winners of Pakistan’s inaugural edition of the She’s Next program, Visa’s global platform dedicated to supporting women in their efforts to fund, run and grow their small businesses.

Winners included Ziana Sakhia, CEO & Cofounder of Bechlo, Sadaf Rehman, Cofounder of CodeSchool, Rida Zainab, Cofounder of Porter Pakistan, and Ayesha Awan, Cofounder of SocialBlu. The program also included a People’s Favorite award, where members of the public voted online for their favorite finalist, Hira Javaid, CEO of Foster Learning.

Winners were chosen from a pool of almost 2,500 applicants from a range of sectors including textiles, education, food and beverage, professional services, beauty and wellness within Pakistan. The five winning woman-owned small businesses received a US$10,000 grant each, along with a tailored training program by Katalyst Labs, and access to the She’s Next Club where they will have access to multiple resources including a workshop library and a community of entrepreneurs for mentorship.

A jury evaluated entries based on the progression of the applicant’s entrepreneurial journey, the robustness of their business metrics, their digital presence; and demonstrated ability to confidently solve problems. The members of the jury included: Carl Manlan, Visa’s Vice President for Social Impact in Central Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), Maya Inayat Ismail, Chief of Staff to the Chairman and ⁠Chairperson, Sustainability Forum – HBL, Aatif Awan, Founder and Managing Partner of Indus Valley Capital and Sheema Sultan, CEO of Core Gym.

Leila Serhan, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for North Africa, Levant and Pakistan (NALP), Visa, said: “We are thrilled to announce the winners of our inaugural edition of She’s Next in Pakistan and recognize the ambition and confidence of these women entrepreneurs. We had a tough job selecting our finalists from almost 2,500 exemplary Pakistani women, and our judges had an even harder job picking our winners tonight. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and our hope is that we continue working with our partners to empower this inspiring community of women entrepreneurs.”

Aamir Kureshi, Head Consumer, Agriculture & SME Banking – HBL, said: “HBL is proud to be the exclusive partner of Visa for the She’s Next global program in Pakistan. The program aims to support and empower women entrepreneurs on their path to financial success. This initiative further supports HBL’s commitment to uplift women entrepreneurs in the country. While we have five winners from the 10 shortlisted, the Bank acknowledges and celebrates the exceptional spirit of all 2,500 applicants, each a winner in their own right. HBL is committed to shaping the financial industry of the country. In this regard, SME’s and in particular women businesses will remain a key focus area for us.”

Since 2020, Visa has invested around US$ 3.8 million in over 380 grants and coaching for women SMB owners through the She’s Next grant program globally including in US, Canada, India, Ireland, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Morocco.

Spotify Announces Natasha Humera Ejaz as EQUAL Pakistan’s Ambassador of the Month

Spotify’s second EQUAL Pakistan Ambassador for 2023 has been announced and the artist who has lit up EQUAL’s digital billboard at Times Square NYC is none other than Natasha Humera Ejaz. A singer and actor who began her career at the slender age of 7 will have her beautiful track “Khud Se Batein” featured on Spotify’s EQUAL Pakistan playlist as part of the celebrations.

Natasha’s journey as an artist began with PTV when she was only seven years old. However, her debut single “Today is a place” came out in 2010, propelling her into the mainstream music industry. Since then, she has had a rousing journey, not only producing some incredible tracks to woo her audiences but also lending her vocals to Mehru in the much anticipated animated film ‘Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor’.

“I never realized until EQUAL Ambassador of the Month actually happened what it feels like to have my voice amplified on the global stage.” stated Natasha Humera Ejaz while voicing her excitement at the achievement. “I do what I do because I can’t think of another way of living, and to have the opportunity to share what I’m passionate about with the world and simultaneously turn up the volume on all girls is a huge privilege,” she added.

Many of Natasha’s tracks are crowd favorites while several of them have been nominated for coveted local accolades. Songs which include the likes of “Till the end of time” and “Khwab” have both been recognized for their vocal prowess. Moreover, her track, “God in me”, which narrates her own story is another sensational melody that moves listeners.

Expressing her views on the announcement, Rutaba Yaqub, Senior Editor for Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh stated:”Natasha Humera has been blessing the industry with her music for as long as I can remember. She has inspired and supported so many of her fellow artists along the way. We at Spotify are excited to have her as an EQUAL ambassador, giving her the mic to speak louder about women’s equity in the music industry.”

EQUAL Pakistan, the signature platform from Spotify which highlights some of the most resounding female artists in the country, is close to completing its first anniversary of taking some incredible local talents international.

MMBL wins ‘Most Innovative Microfinance Bank’ at the Global Business Outlook Awards 2022

Islamabad: Extending a winning legacy that spans over a decade, Pakistan’s largest digital bank, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) has been awarded the title of “Most Innovative Microfinance Bank – Pakistan 2022” by the prestigious Global Business Outlook (GBO) Awards 2022. The award highlights MMBL’s continuous efforts to enhance access to innovative digital and financial solutions across Pakistan.

GBO is a UK-based publication dedicated to covering vital industry sectors such as banking, insurance, brokerage, finance, and disruptive technologies by celebrating individuals and organizations around the world that have made significant impacts in their respective markets with an emphasis on value addition and innovation. Being presented with this accolade cements MMBL’s key role in transforming the banking ecosystem in Pakistan by building smarter, more effective financial solutions for its growing clientele.

Addressing this recent achievement, President & CEO MMBL, Ghazanfar Azzam said, “We are honored to receive this distinguished recognition from GBO that corroborates our innovative efforts to provide customer-centric, affordable, and simplified digital financial solutions. Pakistan’s rising smartphone and internet penetration has indeed opened new avenues for digitization and we are committed to utilizing these to help revolutionize banking and enable increased access to seamless services.”

Also sharing his thoughts, Chief Finance & Digital Officer MMBL, Sardar Mohammad Abubakr stated, “Being internationally recognized as the ‘Most Innovative Microfinance Bank’ in Pakistan is a testament to our success. The Bank’s efforts, for the last decade, have been concentrated on uplifting the unbanked and underserved segments of society, especially women entrepreneurs and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). MMBL not only offers an array of innovative solutions through its expansive digital financial ecosystem but is also dedicated to training its borrowers through specialized training and skills development workshops under the Women Inspirational Network (WIN) program. We are determined to serve all underserved and unserved people through equal and ample opportunities for financial independence.

With over 40 million registered users, including 15+ million monthly active mobile wallets and a network of 196,000+ branchless banking agents, MMBL is dedicated to harnessing the power of technology and encouraging innovation in the banking sector. The Bank’s specialized products and services, such as Women Inspirational Network (WIN) and DOST App facilitate individuals, especially women-owned businesses, to grow financially. MMBL recognizes that a substantial proportion of Pakistan’s economy is built on the efforts of small businesses and is confident in the ability of the microfinance sector to serve as an engine for their growth. Moving forward, the Bank aims to bridge the prevalent financial gap by enabling every individual and business, especially those living in remote and hard-to-reach areas, to gain access to formal financial services with ease.

Fatima Fertilizer receives international gold-standard acclaim for best HSE performance

Lahore: Fatima Fertilizer recently received an international acclaim by the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) through the Green Leaf Award that recognizes outstanding performance in safety, health and environment (SHE) in fertilizer production among the association’s members and is an integral part of its protect & sustain product stewardship initiative.

The honor was claimed by Fatima Fertilizer by marking the first runner-up position in the nitrogenous fertilizers category of IFA’s prestigious 2022 Green Leaf Award for showcasing excellence in the overall management of safety, health and environment (SHE) in the fertilizer manufacturing operations. The exalted IFA Green Leaf Award is considered a global gold-standard by fertilizers manufacturers around the world and awarded by the IFA being the only global fertilizer association having 400 members in 70 countries around the world.

An independent panel of experts diligently evaluate all performance indicators in accordance with the awards’ evaluation criteria before the most deserving winners are selected. These global recognitions encourage and enable companies to strive for the highest standards of safety and well-being in the workplace and also help to protect the environment. The award is hosted after every two years and receives overwhelming interest by all member organisations, including a record number of 25 eligible applications for 2022.

While speaking about this achievement, Mr. Fawad Ahmad Mukhtar, CEO Fatima Fertilizer said, “We are proud of this achievement and will remain committed to our continued efforts towards becoming a global leader in practicing HSE management systems to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees.”

Pakistan High Tech Companies vow to strengthen national defense

Karachi: “Pakistan High tech sector is committed to upholding the highest level of defense preparedness”, was stated by Dr. Haroon Qureshi, President of Pakistan Aerospace Council in his speech at a dinner hosted in honour of Air Marshal Shahid Hamid (Retd) and Air Marshal Arshad Malik (Retd) for their lifetime achievements and services to Pakistan Aerospace & Defence Sector.

Air Marshal Muhammad Mughees Afzal, Chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Air Marshal Ahmed Hassan Marwat, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Engineering) and Executives from 25 member companies of Pakistan Aerospace Council also attended the event.

Mr. Imtiaz Rastgar, Convener PAeC in his welcome speech, paid rich tributes to Air Marshal Shahid Hamid (Retd) and Air Marshal Arshad Malik (Retd) for their life time achievements and services rendered to Pakistan and Pakistan Aerospace & Defence Sector. He pointed out that collaboration between Pakistan Aerospace & Defence Sector and the private tech industry could lead to indigenization and save a huge amount of foreign reserves.

Dr. Haroon Javed Qureshi, President PAeC in his speech highlighted the depth, potential, know-how, skills and manufacturing capabilities of PAeC member High Tech companies. Expressing PAeCs gratitude for the two national heroes, he said, we need more Shahid Hamids and Arshad Maliks for a potent and self-reliant Pakistan.

Executives of PAeC member companies comingled with the former and current PAF leadership and discussed with them the potential, manufacturing capabilities and processes their companies possess.

The current and former PAF leadership was impressed to learn about the manufacturing skills of PAeC member companies and reiterated that their skills and services could be further utilized to meet the challenges faced by Pakistan Aerospace & Defence Sector. Chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex invited PAeC member companies to visit PAC, Kamra for further collaboration. Mr Imtiaz Rastgar suggested having a joint seminar, in this regard, at Islamabad in near future.

Engro Fertilizers highlights the role of Pakistan towards promoting regional food security at Expo 2020 Dubai

Karachi, Tuesday 22 Feb: Engro Fertilizers, Pakistan’s premier seed-to-harvest solutions provider, hosted an insightful dialogue at Expo 2020 Dubai to highlight the food security situation in the Gulf and the potential partnership opportunities with Pakistan to overcome the regional food security challenges.

The panel comprised global agricultural and industry experts including Dr. Abdul Rashid (IFA Laureate), Charles Schneider (International Finance Corporation), Ayman Alwadhy (The Corporate Group, UAE), Wasim Halabi (Foodco National Foodstuff Co PJSC), Fredric Favre (MAS Seeds, France) and Khusrau Nadir Gilani (Engro Fertilizers). The event was also graced by Mr. Hussain Dawood (Chairman of Engro Corporation and Dawood Corporation), Mr. Shahzada Dawood (Vice Chair, Engro Corporation), Ghias Khan (President & CEO of Engro Corporation) and Nadir Salar Qureshi (CEO of Engro Fertilizers), along with other members of the Engro leadership team.

The expert panel pointed out that food security in the Gulf region is a growing challenge due to high dependence on food imports, increasing water scarcity, climate change and supply chain interruptions. In 2020, the region’s share of the acutely food insecure global population was 20%, which is disproportionately high compared to its 6% share of the population. By forging partnerships in the agricultural sector with large established sustainable agri-base countries, like Pakistan, the region can benefit from enhanced agricultural output to overcome its food security challenge.

There is significant potential to increase Pakistan’s agricultural output with focus on modern technology, seed quality, balanced use of fertilizers, and uplift of infrastructure across the agri value chain. It was noted that if average farmer yields are brought at par with those of progressive farmers within the country, Pakistan will see a dramatic increase in wheat and rice production serving not only the needs for domestic consumption, but also create significant surpluses for exports to the Gulf-Region. The Government of Pakistan was also applauded for its efforts to improve water provision and farm economics, resulting in an increase of approximately 1.6 million hectares in area under cultivation with further growth anticipated with large irrigation projects underway.

According to Nadir Qureshi, “To bridge the agri yield gap and enrich crops with essential nutrients, Engro Fertilizers has introduced innovative products and seed-to-harvest solutions, farmer upskilling programs, access to expert advice by leveraging technology, and free of cost soil testing laboratories. We hope that this dialogue will serve as an initial step to encourage Pakistan, Engro and Gulf entities to work together to jointly develop innovative solutions and explore the scope for international partnerships in the agri space.”

The panel discussion concluded that the food and agriculture sector can be an engine of economic growth for both the Gulf region and Pakistan. Through the adoption of technological innovation and sustainable practices, the agricultural sector of Pakistan can be transformed to reduce dependence on food imports, create surpluses to drive significant exports and meet the Gulf regions’ dietary nutrition requirements.

President Arif Alvi awarded Pakistani Teams for winning Prizes in Huawei ICT Middle East Competition 2021

The Award Distribution Ceremony for Huawei’s ICT Middle East Competition in collaboration with The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication of Pakistan was conducted at the President House in Islamabad. President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr.ArifAlvi, Secretary Telecommunication and Information Technology Dr. Sohail Rajput, Vice President of Huawei Middle East, Mr. Wang Shun Li, CEO of Huawei Pakistan, Mr. Mark Meng, the winning Pakistani teams, along with other officials from MoITT and Huawei Pakistan were all present at the occasion.

The competition is a Huawei annual ICT initiative, designed to nurture global ICT talent. Over the month of October, Huawei’s Talent Ecosystem team carried out multiple roadshows at more than 134 universities, hitting a registration number of 10,150 candidates. 8 excellent students were interviewed after regional training and the top 6 qualified for Regional Exam which was scheduled to be held from 21^st – 23^rd Dec in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The final round of the competition witnessed the participation of 11 teams from countries covering the entire Middle East Region.

On 23^rd Dec, Pakistan’s team consisting of Sateesh Kumar, Iqra Fatima, and BhagchandMeghwar along with their instructor Dr. Faheem Khuhawar Instructor won 1^stprize of 20,000 USD. Not only so, the 2^ndprize was also grabbed by Pakistan’s team two consisting of Hafiz Rizwan, Adnan Ali, and Mukhtar Muhammad along with their instructor.

President Dr. ArifAlvi, speaking at the closing ceremony of the Huawei ICT competition here, saying” I am aware of the cooperative arrangement of the Huawei Academy with about 80 different universities in Pakistan to develop and groom young talent. I also appreciated companies like Huawei for training a large number of students in the field of information technology, noting the international companies wanted to create an ecosystem for harnessing talent. I believe that ten million people would get jobs in the information technology sector in the future.”

Secretary Telecommunication and Information Technology Dr. Sohail Rajput reiterated the sentiment, saying, “First of all, I congratulate all the Pakistan excellent talents won this ICT competition final. This shows we have the talents, the youths and energy which can bring a lot of things for Pakistan. If we want to increase our exports and reduce our trade deficit, the only way is invest to our youths because this is our biggest asset. And Formula investing in youth and talent is the IT. Under president’s leading and put more investment in the ICT sector, we can easily get our target in short future.”

After everyone viewed a short video summary of the competition, Mr. Wang Shunli stated at the ceremony, “This is the super competitiveness that Pakistan will rely on the youths who are equipped with ICT technology most in the future. For this mission, I really hope to be able to count on this partnership with all of you, together we can drive the digital transformation of Pakistan and help to develop the next generations of local ICT talents to boost Pakistan’s digital economy.”

Sateesh Kumar, a member of Pakistan’s team that clutched the first prize was grateful for the opportunity, saying, “In my first attempt, I could not qualify for the finals but that didn’t come in the way of my drive, I tried harder & pushed my limits, added more skills and gave a second attempt in which I made my nation proud. Huawei gave us a wide range of opportunities through which my team and I can revolutionize our world, starting with Pakistan.”