Allied Bank, CNS collaborate

Allied Bank Limited (ABL) has signed an agreement with CNS Engineering Pakistan to develop a Tier-III certified data centre, as per a press release. The centre will serve as the bank’s disaster recovery site and provide a more robust, modern platform to meet it’s technological requirements.

Mujahid Ali, Chief of Technology and Digital Transformation, said, “This occasion demonstrates the collaboration, ingenuity, and foresight driving the future of digital infrastructure. Data centres play a crucial role in enabling global communication, storage, and processing of vast amounts of data essential for businesses. We are committed to providing our customers with world-class banking services and solutions.”

HESCO kacheris

Open Kacheris are being organised at the sub-division level in the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) region, according to a press release. They aim to listen daily from 11am to 1pm to power-related issues and complaints on a merit basis under HESCO’s public user-friendly service. Senior officers participate in these Kacheris to resolve the issues promptly.

HESCO CEO Muhammad Roshan Otho urges consumers to support HESCO against power theft and routinely pay electricity bills so that HESCO can provide better service. As a commercial organisation, HESCO cannot run its system without receiving payment for electricity bills and seeks consumer cooperation in this regard.

KE renewable energy projects

K-Electric (KE) has completed another milestone in its objective to enhance its share of renewable energy, as per a press release. The company received 15 bids for the first of its ambitious renewable energy initiatives of 150 MW solar projects at Winder and Bela, Balochistan. KE aims to harness 30pc renewable energy solutions in its fleet by 2030 and add 1300 MW of renewable energy projects, designing its portfolio to include wind and solar capacity.

Syed Moonis Alvi, CEO of KE, stated, “The bidding represents local and international players’ trust in KE as a brand, as well as growing confidence in Pakistan’s economic potential.”

TDAP’s food and agri exhibition

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) will hold its 2nd edition of the International Food and Agriculture Exhibition, FOODAg-2024, from August 9 to 11th at the Expo Center in Karachi, as per a press release. It is expected to generate business of $1 billion compared to the $450m generated from the exhibition’s last edition.

It will showcase Pakistan’s contributions to global food security, empowering exporters to display their products and explore joint venture opportunities with international partners. The exhibition will feature over 350 companies and host over 800 buyers from 75 countries.

It will offer conferences, seminars, a Global Cuisine Show, and investment pitching opportunities.

DOW University youth address

Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Development Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, addressed the students and faculty at Dow University, according to a press release. He spoke on ways in which the youth would be supported in building Pakistan’s future.

He described measures to help up to 1.5m people secure employment abroad. The chairman said that the government will provide Rs1m in interest-free loans to the youth and a “Laptop for All Scheme” to provide laptops in interest-free loans.

He described the Green Youth Movement and how it will be promoted by plantation drives and the National Volunteer Programme, in which 100,000 students will receive disaster management training.

CISO, NBP at a policy roundtable

Khawaja Mohammad Ali, Chief Information Security Officer at the National Bank of Pakistan and cyber warfare expert attended a policy roundtable, “Cyberspace as a Global Common; Formulation and Applicability of International Law”, at the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) in Islamabad, according to a press release.

Key stakeholders and policymakers from the civil and military sectors attended the session.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, August 5th, 2024