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P@SHA PULSE Vol 21. August 2024 Edition
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Dear Members,
August was a month of significant progress and engagement for P@SHA, as we continued to drive key initiatives within the tech industry. We began with a productive meeting on August 8th with Mobilink Bank in Islamabad, where we explored collaborative efforts to empower women in tech. Our Chairman, Muhammad Zohaib Khan, contributed to an insightful panel discussion at the Digital Nation Summit on the same day, focusing on policy reforms essential for Pakistan's digital transformation. P@SHA’s participation in ITCN Asia Karachi 2024 was another highlight, where our presence was marked by impactful engagements with industry leaders and government officials, further solidifying our role in advancing the tech sector.
In our ongoing efforts to enhance government relations, we held strategic meetings with the Asian Development Bank and PTA, addressing critical issues such as internet disruptions and exploring collaborative opportunities to elevate Pakistan's IT landscape. Our partnership with Medxol, Pakistan’s first digital healthcare marketplace, was formalized this month, offering exclusive healthcare benefits to our members. Additionally, we continued to build on our skills development initiatives through discussions with organizations like Algoma University, IPSOS, and the British High Commission, focusing on creating upskilling opportunities and advancing tech policy.
Looking ahead, P@SHA is gearing up for several important events. Internationally, we are preparing delegations for the upcoming Oslo Innovation Week and GITEX Global, where we aim to showcase Pakistan's tech potential on the world stage. Locally, we are excited about the P@SHA ICT Awards, which have completed the judging phase across three cities, setting the stage for recognizing the best in the industry. These activities highlight P@SHA's unwavering commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth as we work towards shaping a digital Pakistan and empowering our members.
Regards,
P@SHA CEC
By the Members, For the Members
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August 8, 2024
Digital Nation Summit 2024
Inspiring discussions at the Digital Nation Summit in Islamabad on 8th August!
Our Chairman, Muhammad Zohaib Khan, participated in the panel discussion on "Navigating Policy Reforms for a Digital Pakistan," moderated by Jeanette Whyte, Head of Public Policy APAC, GSMA. Panelists included Aisha Moriani, Secretary, MoITT, and Rt Hon Sir Brandon Lewis, Member of the Board of Directors, VEON Group. Together, they explored Pakistan's digital future.
We’re excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue driving innovation and growth in the tech industry.
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August 12-13, 2024
AzureFest Hackathon
P@SHA was an outreach partner for the AzureFest Hackathon! Held on August 12th and 13th, 2024, at Ashreitech Academy, NASTP, Karachi.
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August 8, 2024
P@SHA Meeting with Mobilink Bank
On August 8th, P@SHA met with Mobilink Bank at their Islamabad office to discuss initiatives aimed at empowering women in tech. Exciting collaborative opportunities were explored to support and uplift women in the technology sector.
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August 27-29, 2024
ITCN ASIA 2024
P@SHA's participation at ITCN Asia Karachi 2024 was a resounding success, marked by impactful engagements and prestigious recognitions.
Day 1:
Our Chairman, Muhammad Zohaib Khan, set the tone for the event with a powerful speech at the inauguration ceremony. The P@SHA booth was officially opened by Chairman Zohaib Khan alongside Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, attracting significant attention from attendees. The day concluded with a high note at the official ITCN dinner, where our Chairman was honored with the Achievement Award, presented by Shaza Khawaja, Minister of State for IT & Telecom, recognizing his outstanding leadership.
Day 2:
The momentum continued with a visit from Aisha Moriani, Additional Secretary, who graced the P@SHA booth. Our team engaged actively with visitors, offering insights and showcasing the impact of P@SHA in the IT sector.
Day 3:
The final day was bustling with activity, including visits from Murtaza Mandviwalla, Chairman of the Pakistan-Japan Business Forum, and the Special Investment Facilitation Council, discussing potential collaborations. The day’s highlight was the World CIO 200 Summit, where Chairman Zohaib Khan shared his insights as a featured speaker.
Overall, P@SHA’s presence at ITCN Asia Karachi 2024 reinforced its pivotal role in driving Pakistan's tech industry forward.
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August 27, 2024
Google Cloud & P@SHA Present: Tech Leaders Fellowship
On August 27th, Google Cloud and P@SHA jointly organized an exclusive session at Daftarkhwan Boulevard in Lahore to announce the Tech Leaders Fellowship—a prestigious 3-month program aimed at helping Pakistan's top companies unlock innovation with guidance from Google experts. In this highly selective program, only 15-20 top companies will be chosen to participate. Don't miss this opportunity to lead the future of tech!
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August 6, 2024
Meeting with Asian Development Bank on Collaboration with P@SHA
In a recent meeting with Asian Development Bank (ADB), P@SHA represented by Secretary General P@SHA Nadeem Malik, Manager, Policy & Govt Affairs Laraib Farhat, and Policy & Govt Affairs Lead Gulraiz Iqbal, both parties explored opportunities to collaborate on initiatives aimed at driving the growth of Pakistan's IT sector. The discussion centered on developing research projects and advocating for policy measures that would enhance the sector's global competitiveness. P@SHA emphasized on the importance of strategic efforts to elevate Pakistan's tech brand, both domestically and internationally.
The ADB expressed strong interest in supporting these goals and suggested several initiatives, including arranging roundtable discussions with industry stakeholders to promote dialogue on key challenges and opportunities. These initiatives align with P@SHA’s vision of positioning Pakistan as a leading player in the global IT landscape.
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August 15, 2024
Meeting with PTA on the Impact of Internet Disruptions
In a recent meeting with PTA, P@SHA represented by Secretary General Nadeem Malik, Vice Chairman Khurram Rahat and Manager Policy & Govt Affairs Laraib Farhat raised concerns about significant application slowdowns and communication delays due to blocked CDNs, leading to industry losses and contract cancellations. The disruptions have severely affected businesses, especially in the e-commerce sector, and 67% of the industry is considering relocation. PTA clarified that VPNs are not blocked, attributing issues to Meta service disruptions. P@SHA recommended more controlled testing, increased transparency, VPN whitelisting, and joint consultations with the industry to address these challenges.
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August 28, 2024
Followup meeting with Atomcamp
In a followup meeting with Atomcamp, P@SHA represented by Policy & Govt Affairs Manager Laraib Farhat, Research Lead Kashif Hussian, and Policy & Govt Affairs Lead Gulraiz Iqbal discussed the potential areas of collaboration. The primary focus of the meeting was to explore opportunities for joint initiatives in the areas of tech policy and clean technology.
One of the key discussions centered around the development of an online course on tech policy. In addition, both parties agreed to work together on developing an online course on clean tech. The meeting also included discussions on creating a data dashboard for industry reports and organizing joint policy roundtables.
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P@SHA X CWPK
On August 5, 2024, P@SHA and ComputerWorld Pakistan (CWPK), a media brand of SPIN under Neoconcept Consultants/Rasala Publications Group, signed a significant MoU. This partnership marks a new chapter in fostering collaboration and innovation in the tech industry.
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P@SHA X Medxol
On August 8th, P@SHA and Medxol - Pakistan`s First Digital Healthcare Market Place signed an MoU, with Nadeem A. Malik, Secretary General P@SHA, and Ali Iqbal Bhatti, CEO and Co-Founder Medxol, finalizing the agreement. Attendees included Muhammad Zohaib Khan, Chairman P@SHA; Hasan Iqbal, MD and Co-Founder Medxol; Ayesha Ahmed, Director Industry Engagement; and Zain Tariq, Manager Industry Engagement. This partnership brings exclusive healthcare discounts and collaborative health initiatives for P@SHA members.
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Central Executive Committee
P@SHA at APICTA meeting at Brunei
P@SHA Chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan and CEC member Dr. Shoab Khan, the Head Judge of APICTA, participated in the APICTA meeting held in Brunei from August 15 to 17.
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Skills Committee
Meeting with IPSOS
P@SHA met with IPSOS regarding the Labour Market Intelligence Study. The Secretariat consulted the IPSOS team on their gender study for the new Centers of Excellence in three provinces of Pakistan (Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan). Different strategies to motivate women to enroll at the COE were discussed as well as increasing the female labor force participation in the IT sector.
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Meeting with British High Commission and PeopleCert
P@SHA had a series of meetings with the British High Commission leading to a joint meeting with PeopleCert, a UK based Certification provider to design an upskilling program for the members. P@SHA will create upskilling opportunities for its members through a well designed and funded program to upgrade the skills in the current HR employed in the IT sector. The discussions are still in progress with the aim to initiate the program soon.
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Animation and Games
Meeting with Algoma University Canada
P@SHA Chairman along with the Skills Team met Algoma University to discuss the possibility of a collaboration to train Pakistani students on Unity and other games related technologies. Algoma is currently working with 4 Pakistani Universities and they want P@SHA to help in placements and to create a supply of resources for the export market especially in Canada.
The discussion is on hold to be started once the mechanism to partner with training institutes is finalized.
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| August 2, 2024 |
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| TechLift: Impact Assessment Report |
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We're thrilled to unveil the TechLift Impact Analysis Report 2024! Discover how this groundbreaking initiative is transforming Pakistan's IT landscape by bridging the skills gap and empowering our future tech leaders. Let's continue building a brighter, more skilled future together!
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| August 15, 2024 |
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| "Technology to connect people with Allah" - PDMS Celebrates 100 Million Mobile App Downloads |
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Pakistan Data Management Services (PDMS) celebrates a major milestone: 100 million downloads. The Quran Majeed and Easy Urdu apps have played a pivotal role in this achievement. These flagship products highlight PDMS’s dedication to bridging people with their faith through technology. As an industry leader, PDMS is committed to innovation and continues to set new benchmarks in mobile app development.
View Website
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| August 20, 2024 |
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| Excellence Delivered unveils SAP Joule at an exclusive AI Summit in Islamabad! |
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Excellence Delivered proudly showcased SAP Joule, SAP’s latest generative AI innovation, at an exclusive AI Summit held at Serena Hotel in Islamabad. This groundbreaking technology promises to transform business operations with its seamless navigation, enhanced task efficiency, and smart information retrieval.
The summit brought together industry leaders and featured engaging discussions with experts. As the only SAP Platinum Partner from Pakistan and a member of United VARs CLG, Excellence Delivered continues to lead in AI and digital transformation, empowering brands across the EU, Pakistan, and MENA region.
View Website
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| August 25, 2024 |
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| Mobilink Bank Elevates Efficiency: Upgrades Treasury Operations with AutoSoft Dynamics Solutions |
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Islamabad – July 25, 2024: Pakistan’s leading digital microfinance bank, Mobilink Bank, has brought on board AutoSoft Dynamics, a renowned global provider of core banking and financial application solutions, as a strategic partner to automate their treasury operations. Under this partnership, AutoSoft will facilitate Mobilink Bank’s seamless integration with the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) PRISM solution through its Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system. This integration ensures secure and instantaneous fund transfers, aligning with the Bank’s commitment to providing premium financial services.
View Website
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| August 27, 2024 |
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| Digital Hyperlinks Leads the Way at ITCN Asia: Introduced Next-Generation Software Solutions and Innovative Digital Marketing Tactics |
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Digital Hyperlinks successfully participated in the 25th ITCN Asia - a leading tech extravaganza held at the Karachi Expo Center from August 27 to 29. The event was attended by industry leaders, tech enthusiasts, and businesses seeking to stay ahead of technological trends.
Utilizing this opportunity, Digital Hyperlinks presented its innovative software solutions and digital marketing services to help modern-day businesses address their technological needs.
About Digital Hyperlinks:
Digital Hyperlinks is a leading IT company offering a wide range of software solutions and digital marketing services. Its mission is to empower businesses with innovative technologies that drive growth and ensure long-term stability.
View Website
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| WELCOME TO P@SHA COMMUNITY |
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We proudly welcome the newest members of the PASHA community. Together let's forge a path for industry growth, success, and a better economic future powered by IT.
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23 September 2024
HBL P@SHA ICT Awards 2024
The HBL P@SHA ICT Awards have successfully completed the judging phase in three major cities, bringing us closer to recognizing the outstanding achievements in the industry. The evaluations have set the stage for an exciting awards ceremony, where the best in Pakistan's tech sector will be honored for their innovation and excellence. Stay tuned as we prepare to celebrate the leaders and trailblazers of our industry.
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23 – 27 September 2024
Oslo Innovation Week
Oslo Innovation Week is a prominent annual event in Europe, attracting a diverse array of innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and industry leaders from various sectors. This innovation festival serves as an excellent platform for exploring and promoting cutting-edge technologies, entrepreneurship, and innovative solutions.
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14 - 18 October 2024
GITEX DUBAI 2024
We are thrilled to announce that P@SHA is organizing a delegation to Ai Everything, the crown jewel of GITEX GLOBAL. This premier event, known as the world's greatest business connector, brings together the most trusted tech leaders, global governments, innovative startups, expert investors, and corporate buyers.
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| Secretariat |
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Daftarkhwan Vanguard, 5-A Constitution Avenue, F-5/1, F-5, Islamabad
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