Karachi: The International Nurses and Midwives Day Conference, hosted by the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) in collaboration with the Division of Nursing Services, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), successfully convened to commemorate the invaluable contributions of nurses and midwives worldwide. The conference, titled “Economy and Environment: Impact through Nursing and Midwifery care”, highlighted the pivotal role healthcare professionals play in shaping economies and environmental sustainability. The conference, held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at the AKU Stadium Road campus in Karachi, featured distinguished speakers and experts in the field who offered insights and perspectives on the diverse benefits of nursing and midwifery care. Mr Noor Ahmed Samoo, Secretary, Department of Universities and Boards, Government of Sindh, graced the event as the Chief Guest. His presence added significant value to the discussions surrounding the intersection of healthcare, economy, and environment. “The efforts we see at the AKU-SONAM in the nursing and midwifery sectors have set an admirable benchmark and become a role model in the country” said Mr Samoo. “We are grateful to the University in providing us assistance in our common cause of advancing nursing and midwifery practices across the country. According to WHO, there are 15 million vacancies globally for healthcare workers, and so it can have a huge impact on the economy worldwide.” As Pakistan’s first private institution to establish a School of Nursing and Midwifery, the AKU-SONAM faculty has made significant contributions in the field through its outstanding academic services, research work, and awareness programmes. Esteemed speakers delivered keynote addresses and talks, including Dr Farhat Abbas, CEO of AKUH, who shared profound insights into the economic dimensions of nursing and midwifery care, stressing their role in driving positive healthcare outcomes and economic growth. Meanwhile, Ms Khairunnissa Hooda, Chief Nursing Officer at AKUH, shed light on the critical contributions of nurses in patient care, hospital management, and healthcare system sustainability. Furthermore, Dr Tazeen Saeed Ali, Interim Dean of AKU-SONAM, emphasized the importance of nursing and midwifery education in fostering a sustainable healthcare workforce and addressing environmental challenges. The conference provided a platform for engaging discussions, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration among healthcare professionals, policymakers, educators, and stakeholders. Attendees actively participated in interactive sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities to further the conversation about nursing and midwifery’s impact on the economy and the environment. “Investing in nursing and midwifery is not only beneficial for healthcare but also for society as a whole. By doing so, we invest in the health and wellbeing of the future generations, create opportunities for individuals to lead healthy, productive lives, and contribute to sustainable development,” said Dr Tazeen Saeed Ali, Interim Dean of AKU-SONAM. “Their tireless efforts and commitment to excellence are instrumental and leading, innovating, advocating and navigating best practices for a healthier future for all in Pakistan.” added Khairunnissa Hooda, Chief Nursing Officer, AKUH. The International Nurses & Midwives Day Conference underscored the importance of recognizing and supporting the contributions of nurses and midwives in building resilient and sustainable healthcare systems for the benefit of society as a whole.
Google deepens its commitment to Pakistan’s gaming industry
Karachi: 13th April 2022 – Google today reaffirmed its commitment to Pakistan’s gaming industry through three new steps. First, its Gaming Growth Lab in Pakistan is entering its second phase where participants across 57 selected companies will receive 1:1 support and mentorship from Google experts, to help them build on the learnings from the first phase of the program, and take their businesses to the next level. Google will also host Pakistan’s inaugural Think Games Pakistan event in June, and launch the first edition of its ‘Google for Games’ Pakistan newsletter. Launched on 1 March 2022, Gaming Growth Lab (GGL) is an accelerator program by Google that seeks to nurture Pakistan’s top up-and-coming mobile game companies. The first phase of the program – a 5-week education phase – was attended by over 250 participants from 57 selected companies. Now in its second phase, GGL will see these 57 participating companies embark on an 8-week virtual support programme focused on identifying and addressing business challenges, and expanding their offerings. Selected participants will also join coaching sessions led by Google experts on topics such as Google Play, Google Cloud, measurement and export where they can acquire more learnings on game creation and growth. Google’s Regional Director in Pakistan, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka, Farhan Qureshi said, “Our goal is to make Pakistan a global gaming powerhouse, and put Pakistan’s gaming industry on the world map. Whether we’re talking about gaming developers looking to create, grow, or monetize games, Google is committed to supporting all of them on their growth journey. I’m excited to see the progress made by Gaming Growth Lab, an initiative that reflects our ongoing commitment to develop the gaming community in Pakistan and help the country unlock its digital opportunity.” Already, GGL participants are reporting results. Codematics, a Pakistan-based app development company, launched two games on the Google Play Store (Bomber Warriors and 3D Car Parking) after attending the first phase of the GGL program. Waseem Javed, Director of Codematics, said, “GGL sessions have been great for us, especially when we connected with experts from Google and the larger ecosystem. GGL has helped us expand our business from just apps to games.” Participants who complete both phases of GGL will graduate from the program in June, after which they can enjoy additional benefits including, priority access to future Google gaming initiatives and networking events in Pakistan, and business growth support from the Google team. Additionally, Google will host Think Games Pakistanfor the first time on June 21-22. This two-day virtual event will bring together Pakistan’s gaming community, experts, and thought leaders, and become Google’s flagship gaming community event in Pakistan. It will feature the latest insights and data around gaming, as well as tools and solutions to help gaming developers build better games and succeed on a global level. Google also recently launched its inaugural ‘Google for Games’ Pakistan newsletter, a quarterly edition of the newest information and insights around gaming specifically designed to cater to the needs of gaming developers across Pakistan. The newsletter can be signed up here: goo.gle/gfgpk-signup
IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON YOUR FUTURE
At some point in the future we will need to turn our attention from survival to adaptation. Leaders in society and in business will need to consider the post-coronavirus landscape to understand how this crisis will have altered the psyche and behaviors of the population, and consequently what we need to address in the structure of our societies, and in support of one another. covid-19 on your future. As Leon C. Megginson writes “It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself” The world will never be the same again, and for the most of us, we can’t really think beyond the present… and survival, we can only start to postulate on what the future may look like by endeavoring to understand the past, and how the present circumstances will impact our habits and behaviors as a species. There will no doubt be a completely new approach to how and where people work, companies would look for local suppliers and customers, job security will be lower, the appetite for travelling would take a hit, a strong desire to re-connect with friends and associate would prevail among other things. Must Read: TECNO is positioning their message during Covid 19 crises Let’s consider how the future of work would look like. In the scramble to shut down, every organization had to embrace a mobile way of working. Thus propelling IT and technology to the forefront. Companies with agile structures had a significant head start over traditional players, raising the question about the importance of expensive workplaces and online working. Organizations are also experiencing a decline in demand for their products/services, forcing to surgically cut costs and only retain resources that add value. Learning from this, it is rational to expect that this structure of working shall be adopted to some extent if not fully in the future as well. Thereby, making you wonder whether you contribute towards profits or expenses for an organization. In these times, preparation for the coming challenges is paramount. Pakistanis need to be prepared to face the upcoming grim situation. With social distancing measures in place, it is essential to focus on how to keep the economy running and generating revenue for the nation. While a growing number of white collar companies are asking employees to work from home, gig economy seems to not be effected by this epidemic. The online working environment is least impacted by the quarantine situation. Freelancers continue to find jobs and deliver work online without any hassle whatsoever. And easily earn a decent income without any uncertainty. In fact, the demand for gig delivery services is growing as the virus spreads. Freelance expertise is becoming more popular as working remotely is expected in the coming times. It is recommended to keep an eye on the future and utilize this time to prepare for it. You can start easy by learning basic skills from online platforms like digiskills, coursera, udemy etc. and indulge in the world of freelancing, to start earning to secure your future. Along with taking necessary health measures, it is essential for the government to propagate such platforms of online learning and earning to enable freelancing growth in order to save the economy. For a country struggling with maintaining foreign reserves, this means millions of dollars flowing in for services rendered, and ultimately benefiting the economy and the people. Moreover, the policy makers need to pay more attention to overall digitalization of economy while designing the upcoming macroeconomic growth framework. Not only this, general public awareness pertaining to skill development is also required among rural parents who either want their children to become doctors or to leave education. We don’t know the length of this crisis, or the global impact and ramifications for sure. But what we do know is, once you have survived ‘survival mode’, turn your attention to the future. If you recognize the challenges, you will be better equipped to harness the opportunities, and to make a meaningful contribution within your circles of influence.
Fostering Partnerships To Accelerate Digital Transformation in Pakistan’s Education Sector
Microsoft in collaboration with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary (KPK) and Secondary Education Department hosted a seminar in Education dubbed ‘Microsoft Edu Day’. The seminar brought together delegates from across the region to showcase the latest technology designed specifically for the education sector to promote immersive, inclusive and 21st century learning. The event was graced by Advisor to Chief Minister on Elementary and Secondary Education, Mr. Zia Ullah Khan Bangash; Provincial Minister for Information Technology, Mr. Kamran Khan Bangash and Microsoft Country Education Lead, Mr. Jibran Jamshad in addition to relevant stakeholders of the Education sector. The event provided a platform to explore possible partnership opportunities of empowering the growing number of youths in the country which is at an all-time high according to the 2017 Pakistan National Human Development Report. The report highlights how the country’s youth can be a critical force for development, if they are empowered with education and knowledge. “In today’s era of mobility, there is no other way but to re-invent. Developing relevant skills from a young age has become a necessity, as youth navigate an increasingly technological world” says Advisor to the Chief Minister on Elementary and Secondary Education; Zia Ullah Khan Bangash.” It is essential that learners are up skilled, with access to quality education that provides youth not only with the technical and vocational but also core employability skills, necessary for them to become a functional part of a thriving digital economy.” Must Read: OPPO to show cases technology vision at the inaugural OPPO INNO DAY Some of the technologies showcased include Office 365, Azure , Microsoft Imagine Academy Certifications and the Microsoft Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Campus Management Solutions, which are designed to drive better learning outcomes, more productive classroom time, and create effective institutions. Artificial intelligence is powering majority of the solutions being used in education space, be it the use of cognitive APIs for safe campus management, or to run training algorithms in a managed instance under Machine Learning Studio, or to predict learning outcomes based on student performance all year around; insight driven decision making is only possible using the power of AI, built into the Microsoft platform. “As the education sector becomes more competitive, digital transformation is now becoming a necessary means of survival as this new digital world requires educators to adapt and adopt digital technologies, methodologies and mindsets.” says Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Information Technology; Kamran Khan Bangash.” it’s important to understand the benefits of digital transformation in education and communicate this to key stakeholders within the business. Understanding and communicating value is the key to success, so prioritizing this is essential.” “Learning experiences have changed massively over the years with the rise of self-learning platforms as well as gamification concepts which have redefined the way we learn and teach today,” says Jibran Jamshad, Microsoft Country Education Lead for Pakistan. “With Office 365, Azure and our productivity suite, institutions can keep up with the rapid pace of innovation and design classrooms that foster innovation and inspire students to achieve more.” In addition to the technology showcase, Microsoft also announced the E2 Educators Exchange competition for local Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts (MIEs). The competition will give local education leaders the opportunity to attend E2 in Sydney, Australia, in 2020, and meet with global educators to explore industry trends and emerging technologies. Interested teachers can enter the competition via https://www.microsoft.com/MEA/educationexchangecompetition/
Education Institutions of Punjab partner with Microsoft to highlight technological advancements in education
Microsoft in collaboration with the Punjab School Education Department, Punjab TEVTA and Punjab Group of Colleges hosted a seminar in Education dubbed ‘Microsoft Edu Day’. The seminar brought together delegates from across the region to showcase the latest technology designed specifically for the education sector to promote immersive, inclusive and 21st century learning. The event was graced by Provincial Minister of Punjab for School Education, Dr. Murad Raas; Chairman Punjab TEVTA, Mr. Ali Salman Siddiqui; Director Technical, Sindh Education Foundation, Ms. Shahpara Rizvi; Advisor to Education Minister Punjab; Ms. Aasiya Khurram Agha, Consultant Higher Education Commission, Mr Asif Shahid Khan; Microsoft Country General Manger, Mr. Abid Zaidi; Microsoft Country Education Lead, Mr. Jibran Jamshad & Microsoft Education Transformation Lead, Ms. Jaye Richards-Hill in addition to relevant stakeholders of the Education sector. The event provided a platform to explore possible partnership opportunities of empowering the growing number of youths in the country which is at an all-time high according to the 2017 Pakistan National Human Development Report. The report highlights how the country’s youth can be a critical force for development, if they are empowered with education and knowledge. Must Read: CARFIRST WINS CONSUMERS CHOICE AWARD 2019 “Developing digital skills from primary school age has become a necessity, as youth navigate an increasingly technological world. With technology in the classrooms, learners can develop digital skills for the 21st century job market ,” says Provincial Minister of Punjab for School Education; Dr. Murad Raas“ While it’s essential that learners are up skilled, it’s also important that educators are empowered and provided with adequate resources to successfully carry out lessons in the classroom.” Some of the technologies showcased include Office 365, Azure , Microsoft Imagine Academy Certifications and the Microsoft Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Campus Management Solutions, which are designed to drive better learning outcomes, more productive classroom time, and effective institutions. Artificial intelligence is powering majority of the solutions being used in education space, be it the use of cognitive APIs for safe campus management, or connecting billions of data sources to Azure IOT suite to drive statistical analysis, or to predict learning outcomes based on student performance all year around; insight driven decision making is only possible using the power of AI, built into the Microsoft platform. “Technologies such as Microsoft Teams, Minecraft and OneNote have played a big part in redefining learning through creating immersive and inclusive learning experiences that inspire lifelong learning,” says Abid Zaidi, Microsoft Country General Manager for Pakistan. “These tools are designed to make an educator’s job simpler so that they can devote time and resources to what matters most – teaching. As Microsoft, we are committed to empowering every learner and educator by providing access to the best technologies in the classroom.” In addition to the technology showcase, Microsoft also announced the E2 Educators Exchange competition for local Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts (MIEs). The competition will give local education leaders the opportunity to attend E2 in Sydney, Australia, in 2020, and meet with global educators to explore industry trends and emerging technologies. “We are really excited to provide local MIEs with the opportunity to engage with innovative educators from around the world,” says Jibran Jamshad, Microsoft Country Education Lead for Pakistan. “Each MIE will receive support and training on how to apply for the program. Overall, we are confident that delegates have left today’s event with new ideas, a revived hope in what digital transformation can do for the next generation, and a sense of belonging to an important global effort.”
Pakistan economic slowdown to continue, finds latest economic research from ACCA and IMA
Pakistan is seeing its economy slow as domestic policy is tightenedagainst a background of a slowing global economy, finds ACCA’s (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and IMA’s (Institute of Management Accountants)Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS). The global poll of 1162 accountants shows that confidence remains above the record low reached at the end of 2018, consistent with a modest global economic slowdown. However, the GECS Q2 2019 findings reveal the employment index falling sharply in Pakistan, denting confidence. SajjeedAslam, head of ACCA Pakistan commented: ‘The economy is being impacted by the twin current account and fiscal deficits. Monetary tightening, along with a slowing global economy, will result in a significant slowdown in economic growth. Tax increases required as part of the recent IMF bail-out will also dampen private sector activity. Growth this year is likely to be around 3.5%, down from 5.8% last year. Looking globally, the US and China have revealed high levels of uncertainty, with the US results showing a sharp fall in confidence to the lowest level in eight years, largely due to trade tensions as tariffs were increased to 25% on a range of Chinese imports. Must Read: TELENOR MICROFINANCE BANK APPOINTS MOHAMMAD MUDASSAR AQIL AS CEO Confidence in the UK economy also fell back from Q1 but not to the lowlevels of Q4 2018. SajjeedAslamconcludes: ‘The GECS points to a slowing global economy with significant downside risks reflected in weak confidence. The biggest risk to the global economy remains a significant further escalation in the US-China trade war. A sharp slowdown in China and a no deal Brexitin the UK are also downside risks we need to consider.’ Raef Lawson, Ph.D., CMA, CPA, IMA vice president of research and policy stated: ‘The US economy is slowing and uncertainty is high as shown in the latest GECS with elevated trade tensions a major factor. But the Federal Reserve is very likely to cut interest rates later this month, helping to sustain the economic expansion, which has now lasted uninterrupted for 10 years.’ GECS concludes with a view of the outlook for global growth, which this year remains a slowdown to between 3% and 3.5% from 3.8% last year. The good news is that persistent sub-target inflation, notably in the US and euro area, gives central banks the opportunity to ease monetary policy.
LUMS ANNUAL CAREER FAIR 2018
The Lahore University of Management Sciences LUMS hosted its Annual Career Fair on January 27, 2018 to connect its students with prospective employers and introduce them to a myriad of job and internship opportunities offered by various public and private sector organisations. Being held for nine consecutive years, the annual career fair, this year welcomed over a 100 national and international reputed organisations, representing multiple industries. Every organisation had setup a recruiter’s booth to conduct on-spot screening interviews, collect resumes and engage with the students in a relaxed setting. The company representatives also counselled the students regarding their career choices and the job market requirements. Must Read: Cheetay Collaborates With Foodies Family Commenting on the occasion, the LUMS Vice Chancellor, Prof.Dr. S. Sohail H.Naqvi said, “The LUMS Annual Career Fair 2018 presents a great opportunity for our recruiting partners and students to learn more about each other. LUMS students got to explore careers available with leading Pakistan based organisations, while employers got an invaluable opportunity to converse with the best talent of Pakistan to see who they would like to employ in the future. Each year witnesses a steady growth in the number and diversity of companies participating in the Fair to recruit on campus. More than a 100 national and international blue chip companies from multiple sectors including FMCG, IT, Telecom, Banking & Finance, Engineering, Oil & Gas, Education, Development, and Pharmaceutical industry were welcomed to LUMS. We were delighted to welcome these dynamic companies at a successful Career Fair hosted by the Career Services Office at LUMS.” The fair has consistently grown, both in terms of students and prospective employer attendance and this year was no exception as the event provided the employers an opportunity to engage with a large pool of talented students while enabling the students to scout prestigious employment opportunities. Several on-spot recruitments were also made at the Fair.
