Category: Technology

Pak-Qatar General Takaful (PQGTL) Signs Agreement with Hifazah

Karachi, 23 December 2021: Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited (PQGTL) came into an agreement with Hifazah.com, a brand of Hifazah Technologies Private Limited (HTPL) to promote Takaful products through digital medium.

 

Muhammad Raza (Head of Operations, PQGTL) and Mr. Aboo Baker Mohammedi (Founder and CEO, HTPL) signed the agreement along with senior officials of both companies.

 

While expressing his views at the signing ceremony, Mr. Saqib Zeeshan (DCEO, PQGTL) said, “We are delighted to sign agreement with Hifazah Technologies Private Limited as this will benefit customers from choosing Shariah compliant Takaful coverage with ease and upon competitive rates. On the other hand, this partnership will further enhance our reach and help us spread awareness about Takaful products to the masses accessing digital platforms.”

 

Aboo Baker during the signing ceremony commented: “Hifazah was created with a vision to enable the public to opt for Takaful (An Alternate to Conventional Insurance) coverage with confidence, transparency and ease through technology. This platform aims to increase penetration of Takaful via strategic partnerships and vertical diversification, and to make the customer journey convenient.” He further said that he is quite hopeful that this new strategic partnership will bring fruitful results in near future.

QisstPay Gets Pakistan’s First Non Banking Finance Company License

For the first time in the country’s bleak startup history, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has awarded a Non-Banking Finance License to the highly popular Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) startup QisstPay

According to the company’s co-founder and CEO, Jordan Olivas, this license is a huge first for the business. With it, QisstPay is now Pakistan’s first and only legally operational BNPL and is eligible to expand into other areas such as vehicle financing, home financing, microfinancing, leasing in the future.

It is a significant step by the SECP at a time when the BNPL is facing regulatory scrutiny around the world, particularly in the United States and the European Union.

On account of being the first player of a BNPL service in the field, QisstPay’s latest challenge is getting both consumers and merchants on the same page by convincing them to use this new product. By focusing solely on a complicated and unusual market like Pakistan’s, CEO Olivas is positive that this new change promises big rewards for QisstPay in 2022.

As the name suggests, QisstPay is the fastest-growing installment payment service for emerging markets, and provides a payment solution to online buyers, merchants, and business partners while increasing their consumer base. It is Pakistan’s first BNPL platform, and is a promising game-changer in the world of e-commerce and fintech.

QisstPay allows its clients to avail of interest-free installments and promotes 60 percent higher traffic and thereby, higher-order rates leading to an increase in sales. By allowing BNPL services, QisstPay focuses on merchant and customer acquisition by stimulating bigger growths instead of transactional volume.

Pakistan Data Protection Bill Entering Final Stages

“The Ministry of Information Technology has finalized the Data Protection Bill. The final draft of the bill will be hashed for approval in Parliament after the law department and relevant forums.”

A special committee on data protection met under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for IT Syed Aminul Haq. The meeting was attended by all stakeholders including National Security Advisor Moeed Yousaf, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. All the efforts of the Ministry of IT for the preparation of the Data Protection Bill are commendable, said the committee members.

The main purpose of the bill is to protect the data of citizens and to prevent its use without permission. Attempts were made to bring it in the form of a consensus law in consultation with the public and stakeholders.

AI can bring major changes to Pakistan’s health care system

“The healthcare industry in Pakistan is ready for some major changes, while Artificial Intelligence (AI) can bring significant changes in the health care system by simplifying the lives of patients, doctors, and hospital administrators.

The establishment of the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences was a need of the time, and this center is being set up under Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi.”

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, and COMSTECH Coordinator General expressed these views while speaking at the One-day Workshop on “Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences” held on Monday jointly organized by Dr. Panjwani Center and Sindh Innovation Research and Education Network (SIREN).

The workshop was held in the building of L.E.J. National Science Information Center, University of Karachi. Dr. Reaz Udin, associate professor at PCMD, presented the welcome address, while Prof. Dr. Ashiq Anjum from the University of Leicester, UK, delivered the keynote. Among others who talked about the advanced applications of AI in the health care domain included Prof. Dr. Imran Nisar from the Aga Khan University, Prof. Omer Rana,  Dean of International School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, UK, and Prof. Huiyu (Joe) Zhou, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester, UK.

Prof. Choudhary said, “Artificial intelligence simplifies the lives of patients, doctors, and hospital administrators by performing tasks that are typically done by humans, but in less time and at a fraction of the cost.”

He said ICCBS took an important initiative to invest and train manpower in the cutting-edge discipline of artificial intelligence applications in health sciences.

This initiative is taken to modernize the current healthcare systems of the country, he said, adding that the main objective of this initiative is to acquire the indigenous capacity for the establishment of a state-of-the-art center for the capacity building and applications of AI in focused fields of health sciences, which will serve the country, and its people.  ICCBS has all infrastructure to initiate this proposed training center of AI in health and it has a history of the successful implementation of new research disciplines in the country, he said.  The proposed center of AI in health will produce a critical mass of trained people who can lead the AI applications across the country, and contribute to the Knowledge Economy of the country, he mentioned. “I am thankful to Prof. Dr. Ashiq Anjum who is providing his expertise and time with the utmost commitment to lead this project as an international expert in the subject,” he said, and also thanked other national and international experts who participated in the workshop. He hoped that this workshop activity would play a great role for the participants to identify new directions in the field of AI in Health Care. In the end, Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen distributed certificates among the workshop participants.

 

Emirates Skywards is offering five lucky members a chance to become Skywards millionaires this Dubai Shopping Festival.

Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, is offering five lucky members a chance to become Skywards millionaires this Dubai Shopping Festival. For a chance to take home one million Skywards Miles every week – shop at more than 1,300 retail stores, dine at more than 200 restaurants, enjoy unique attractions at The Dubai Mall, or spend with more than 1,300 Skywards Everyday partners– an app that let’s members earn Miles on everyday spend.

Become a Skywards millionaire this Dubai Shopping Festival

To enter the weekly draw, customers will need to spend AED 100 or more at The Dubai Mall or Skywards Everyday partners.* Members can also double their chances of winning by simply spending with Skywards Everyday partners at The Dubai Mall.

Every AED 100 spent will qualify as one entry into the draw. The offer is valid on all spends made between 15 December 2021 and 30 January 2022. One winner will be announced every week, starting 3rd January 2022.

Emirates Skywards Credit Card holders can also earn additional Skywards Miles with every purchase made, and 1 Tier Mile for every 4 Skywards Miles earned. The offer is applicable on all participating bank partners across the UAE, Kuwait, KSA and US.* Members can also earn even more bonus Skywards Miles on tax refunds via the utu Tax Free app.*

Visit Dubai

Dubai remains one of the most popular holiday hotspots and a dream shopping destination. From world-class shopping malls, fine dining experiences, and eclectic landmarks – the city has something for everyone. Travellers will have even more reason to visit the vibrant city this year with the mega-event, Expo 2020 Dubai, taking place until March 2022.

Shop, win and be entertained as Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) returns from 15 December 2021 to 30 January 2022 with incredible deals, innovative events, world-class entertainment and life-changing prizes. As the longest running event of its kind, DSF has grown over the last 27 years into a signature celebration for citizens, residents and visitors alike. Featuring the ultimate retail therapy from a wide range of home-grown and global brands as well as live concerts, nightly shows, outdoors markets, pop-up dining and more, this year’s DSF experience is not to be missed.

Offering more than 28 million members exclusive rewards

Emirates Skywards continues to offer its 28 million members worldwide unmatched rewards and privileges. Members can earn and spend Miles on an extensive range of rewards, including flight tickets on partner airlines, flight upgrades, hospitality at sporting and cultural events, and money-can’t-buy experiences.

The loyalty programme recently launched an online subscription platform, “Skywards+”, to offer members easy access to customized rewards. Registered members also have a chance to earn a mile a minute, for up to 5,000 Miles, during a stopover or holiday stay in Dubai – applicable on all Emirates and flydubai tickets purchased from 1 August 2021 until 31 March, 2022.*

For more information, visit emirates.com/skywards.

*Terms and conditions apply

PCMD to hold a workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences

A One-day Workshop on “Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences” will be held on Monday (December 20) at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.

Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences, working under the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), is organizing the workshop in association with Sindh Innovation Research and Education Network (SIREN).

The ICCBS Spokesman said that the workshop will be held in the building of L.E.J. National Science Information Center, University of Karachi, at 09:00 AM.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, and COMSTECH Coordinator General will also address the science gathering, the spokesman said, adding that Prof. Ashiq Anjum from University of Leicester, UK, will be the keynote speaker on the occasion. He said that the experts from national and international institutions will deliver their talks in the workshop. It is pertinent to mention here that this workshop is the first of its kind in the country that will open the avenues of new research areas of cutting-edge technology of artificial intelligence in health sciences.

Supernet Unlocks Global Service Offering Through SatADSL’s neXat Platform

Karachi – Supernet Limited (“Supernet”), Pakistan’s largest satellite communications systems integrator and service provider, and Belgium based SatADSL S.A. (“SatADSL”) jointly announced the signing of an agreement empowering Supernet to benefit from the global service offering opportunities via SatADSL’s neXat platform.

 

neXat is a cloud-based, complete OSS/BSS that enables Supernet to extend the reach of its services as well as sell and buy excess and/or unused capacity in the international market. The platform allows Supernet – whose offering to its customers was previously limited to Pakistan – to expand its business by offering services globally. Supernet can also take advantage of neXat’s eMarketplace to buy and sell managed capacity outside of their existing coverage zones, at a global scale no less, in the fastest time possible.

 

The partnership will also enable SatADSL to offer Ku-band services in the South Asia region.

 

Head of Business Unit Telecoms & Defence at Supernet Ali Akhtar said: “Supernet through constant investments in human capital and infrastructure as well as its customer care practices is already the leading satellite communications service provider in Pakistan. With the expertise and experience that we have, it is past due that we make a serious effort to expanding our presence internationally. With neXat we see a viable path to achieving this. We look forward to the support from SatADSL in helping us achieve this goal.”

 

Senior Vice President – APAC at SatADSL Rajeev Nair said: “We are continuously looking to add service providers to our platform in every key global market. Having Supernet – the premier satcom service provider in Pakistan – onboard with us is a step in that direction. We are delighted that neXat, our cloud-based platform, will enable Supernet to offer VSAT services globally and expand their business. The platform simplifies the sales process for service providers and helps the infrastructure owners faster monetise their investment.”

TriFit announces opening of two world class fitness clubs

TriFit Limited announces the opening of two state of the art fitness clubs in Lucky One Mall. The combined 27’000 sqft space will be built on International Standards and will be divided into two separate clubs, dedicated for male and female respectively. Both clubs will boast World Class Fitness Equipment from US, Europe, etc.; fitness trainers certified by top global fitness academies; local and foreign trainers; over 150 classes per week; multiple fitness studios; TriFuel Café; members lounge; dedicated car parking and much more…

At the signing ceremony, CEO of Lucky One Mall, Mr. Sohail Tabba said, ”We have been looking for the right fitness partner for some time to match the quality standard of Lucky One Mall. With TriFit we found the right partner. They will be opening 2 world class fitness clubs staffed by international trainers in our mall. I believe it will add tremendous value to our customers and also residents within 15-20 minutes driving distance.”

CEO and Founder of TriFit, Ahmar Azam thanked Mr. Tabba for his confidence and said, “We are also proud and excited to have Lucky Group as a strategic partner.  Lucky One Mall is the perfect location to help fulfill our Corporate Mission to steer society towards an active lifestyle, encourage people to exercise daily and make healthy choices. Fitness is for everyone and we intend to provide it to the masses through our technologically driven fitness clubs, world class facility accessible to everyone, and at affordable prices. Lucky One Mall location will Insha Allah successfully open in Q2, 2022 and will be a game changer.”

Also present at the occasion was the COO of TriFit, Mudassar Khan. He shared his views, “Over the next 5 years we plan to disrupt the Pakistan fitness industry for the better, shape it, redefine it and revolutionize it! Whether you are at home, at work or transiting in between… a TriFit Fitness Club and TriFit MUV fitness App, can never be far away from you…”

With the guidance of Allah SWT and our unwavering focus, TriFit Fitness Clubs is working towards opening 50+ clubs nationwide over the next 5 years. TriFit Fitness Clubs will also be looking to open 4 more clubs around the same time in strategic locations across Karachi in Q2, 2022.

foodpanda steps up response to support home-based businesses

foodpanda, Pakistan’s leading online food delivery platform, has always been a step ahead to uplift home-based businesses in the country. Just recently, the photo of a young boy selling macaroni on the streets of Islamabad went viral on the internet. The young chef named Zaheer has been taken on-board by foodpanda and is now a part of their homechef family.
Twenty year old Zaheer is the oldest of the four siblings and he used to study at Islamabad College for Boys, however, due to financial constraints he had to drop out for enrolment in a private program. His father works as a clerk at a bank and is earning 25,000 per month.

Zaheer, in order to support his father, has been on the job hunt for a while and has been struggling especially due to the onset of Covid two years back. He has been trying to explore opportunities in various part time roles and has been offered incomes as low as 4,000 to 5,000 per month. Despite discouragement from his friends and relatives against starting something of his own, he thought of selling Macaroni cooked by his Mom and Sister. Since he could not afford to rent out a shop he did so by selling out of his car. foodpanda, always on the lookout for such dedicated small scale entrepreneurs, took on-board Zaheer as their newest homechef and his kitchen is now live on the app.

While sharing his response when asked about this opportunity, Zaheer said, “I have been selling macaroni on the streets of Islamabad for some time now. It was a testing period for me and taught me a lot of lessons. Having went through the tough times, I am extremely grateful to foodpanda to give me an online platform where I can secure orders while staying at home. The opportunities are numerous and I’m excited to start this new phase of my business.”

foodpanda is working tirelessly to ensure that much-needed support is available for home-based food businesses across Pakistan, as a commitment to their strategic roadmap to create job opportunities and favourable working environment. foodpanda cares deeply for people and for the communities in which it operates, and believe they have an essential role to play during the COVID-19 crisis by giving food entrepreneurs a chance to reach their true potential.

Pakistan’s clinical trial results better than eight other countries

Al-Shifa Trust held its first international research conference regarding the results of the Clinical Trial of the third and final phase of COVID-19.

Government of Pakistan has selected six hospitals for trials and the Al-Shifa Trust Hospital Research Centre completed trials 2,700 volunteers, maximum number of trials among all the hospitals.

Now, Pakistan has become a dependable country for clinical trials as its results were better than the other eight countries and it has become an important part of global research to combat the pandemic, experts said.

They noted that Pakistan turned the pandemic problem into an opportunity for research and according to the participants of the conference, now Pakistan is being studied as a model in dealing with COVID-19.

WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr. Palitha Mahipala said that Al-Shifa has helped the global effort against pandemic and noted that health and research facilities in Pakistan have rapidly transformed to cope with the challenge.

Pakistani institutions should actively participate in local, regional and national clinical trials testing new therapies for COVID-19 and the country could earn around 150 million dollars annually from the Clinical Trials, said Mahipala.

Chinese representative Miss Maria Song said that leading Chinese pharma companies are very encouraged by the response of Pakistani authorities and dedicated efforts of health and research facilities and the outcome of trials are also very promising.

Al-Shifa Trust President Major General Rehmat Khan (Retd) said, “I want to thank everyone who participated in our clinical trials.”

He said that in the beginning, we were in a state of fear and people were also scared but we accepted the challenge of clinical trials to play role in providing the best vaccine to the nation.

At the time when the healthcare research is experiencing fundamental transformation under pressing concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference organised by trust has encouraged a dialogue between stakeholders that kept participants engaged in learning and sharing the latest research insights, he added.

Dr. Zahid A. Butt, Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo, Canada, Maj Gen Aamer Ikram, ED, National Institute of Health, Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, VC, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Saira Afzal, Dean Preventive Medicine, Prof. Dr. Saira Afzal, Dean Preventive Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Prof. Dr. Tanvir Khaliq, VC, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Dr. Abdur Rasheed, Director DRAP, Dr. Jawad Gill, Head of Clinical Operations DRK Pharma, Prof. Dr Wajid Ali Khan, Chief of Medical Services,  Al-Shifa Trust, and Dr. Ume Sughra, Principal Investigator, Al-Shifa Trust were among the keynote speakers.

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