A signing ceremony led by Nauman Ansari (CEO Bank Alfalah) and Dr. Jo Beall (Director Education and Society, British Council Executive Board) was held on 5th October 2017 at British Council Library, Karachi. This ceremony marked the formal initiation of an Operational Alliance for CSR Digital Social Spaces and other activities between the British Council Pakistan and Bank Alfalah Ltdincluding the establishment of Digital Social Spaces at selected Bank Alfalahbranches countrywide and the inclusion of British Council-curated libraries at Bank Alfalah Airport Premier Lounges. This partnership reflects both organisations’ commitment to social responsibility, innovative thinking and the use of cutting edge technology to deliver value.

Also present at the ceremony were: Rosemary Hilhorst (Country Director, British Council Pakistan), Maarya Rehman (Director Libraries, British Council Pakistan), Khurram Hussain (Group Head,Retail Central and Northand Consumer Banking, Bank Alfalah), Mehreen Ahmed (Group Head, Retail South & New Initiatives, Bank Alfalah) and Faaria Salahuddin (Head Transactional Banking, Bank Alfalah).

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. They create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. They do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries they work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.

They have been working in Pakistan since 1947 in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. This year marks 70 years of the British Council working in Pakistan, which it is celebrating through diverse activities and programming, ranging from cultural festivals and alumni events to forming new partnership and increasing our digital footprint.