Bringing banking thought leaders together

NdcTech, an IT and consulting firm providing services for the banking sector globally, and Temenos, a banking software company, co-hosted the 11th edition of Bank of The Future Forum, one of the largest financial conferences in the world, according to a press release.

This event brought together more than 25 Global Speakers and over 500 attendees from the banking sector, influencers, decision-makers, regulators, fintechs, analysts and media.

The event discussed key topics in the banking industry, including composable banking, mobile banking, digital banking, cloud banking etc. Exciting demos were also presented on trending topics such as buy-now-pay-later, payments and core banking upgrades.

Various fintech companies such as HID Global, Huawei, Validata, Abris Consulting and ACI Worldwide showcased their innovative products and offerings and networked with industry experts from the banking and IT sector.

A panel discussion was conducted on pivotal trends in the digital banking industry where thought leaders from the Pakistani banking sector, such as Shahzad Ishaq, Chief Digital Officer, MCB, Iqbal Fazal Ali Khan, Group Head Digital banking, Meezan Bank, Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad, Chief Digital Officer, NBP, shared their thoughts on why banks need to be contextual, relevant, and provide seamless customer experience through simple and easy to use interfaces.

Unlocking digital health care

Saman-e-Shifa Foundation and Easy Health Tech organised a conference on Unlocking Digital Health Care: Affordable Health for All at Health Asia on Oct 14, 2022, at Expo Centre Karachi, according to a press release. The purpose of this conference was to provide an opportunity and platform for healthcare providers as stakeholders to explore digital inclusion for faster delivery of health services with scalability.

Prof Dr Farhan Essa Abdullah, CEO of Essa Labs, as the keynote speaker spoke on digital inclusion at clinical laboratories, from booking tests to delivery of reports, just a click away. He shared that while the healthcare industry was slow-moving regarding digital solutions, Covid-19 upended the entire health ecosystem, including insurance, healthcare delivery, and Laboratory spaces. Providers were pushed to adopt technology — including telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and artificial intelligence — to effectively treat patients from afar.

‘We think digital’ in GB

A meeting presided over by Federal Secretary Aamir Ashraf Khawaja was held at the Ministry of Federal Education’s office last Friday to implement the “We Think Digital Phase VI” in Gilgit Baltistan, according to a press release.

Partners for the project, i.e. Meta and Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, attended the meeting, which was organised to endorse the implementation of the project across 10 districts of GB. The We Think Digital programme provides resources to build a global community of responsible digital citizens.

The initiative aims to spread awareness among children, teachers, youths and citizens to improve digital literacy and safe use of the internet through capacity building. The initiative’s main objectives are generating awareness regarding cyberbullying, safe internet practices, aiding children, adolescents, and youth groups in the navigation of digital spaces and introducing digital citizenship to children.

Unity Foods Ltd’s new chairman

Unity Foods Limited is excited to announce the appointment of Lt Gen (Retd) Omar Mahmood Hayat as the new chairman of the board of directors, according to a press release. He brings over 40 years of experience, most of it in important positions in the military and as chairman on the board of directors of various companies of Wah Nobel Group, Pakistan Ordinance Factory, National Disaster Management Authority, Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority and Pakistan Humanitarian Forum. Being a logistician by profession, he is a humanitarian at heart.

He has also served as Chief of Staff in the Special Support Group for IDPs, overseeing the management of close to 4 million internally displaced persons from Swat and SWA. Working as the head of Pakistan’s largest public sector enterprise, Pakistan Ordinance Factories, he was able to significantly enhance organisational performance by doubling commercial sales and exports.

HMR Water Front’s new sales centre

HMR Water Front has launched its new sales centre at DHA phase 8 Abdul Sattar Avenue, according to a press release. The chief guest of the launching ceremony was Administrator DHA Brig. Rai Asim Mustafa.

He was warmly received by HMR Chairman Haji Rafiq on this occasion. The opening of the centre was formally inaugurated through a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, October 17th, 2022