Bank Alfalah at PBA 2024

Bank Alfalah received the ‘Best Bank for Digital Excellence’ award and ‘Best Bank for Customer Engagement’ award at the Pakistan Banking Awards 2024, as per a press release.

Speaking on the occasion, Atif Bajwa, President and CEO of Bank Alfalah, said, “Being named the ‘Best Bank Digital in Excellence’ award winner for the third consecutive year highlights our relentless pursuit of empowering customers with secure, seamless, and technology-driven solutions that redefine financial convenience in Pakistan’s rapidly evolving digital banking ecosystem.

PAA’s letter to Pemra

The Pakistan Advertising Association has formally appealed to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to reconsider its decision to suspend Television Audience Measurement (TAM) services provided by Medialogic for 30 days, as per a press release. The request was communicated through an official letter addressed to the Chairman of Pemra by the Chairman of PAA, Ahmed Kapadia.

Mr Kapadia stated in his letter, “We acknowledge Pemra’s concerns about this decision. However, we respectfully request that Medialogic be allowed to continue sharing TAM data during this suspension period. This measure would provide the industry with much-needed stability while Pemra addresses its underlying concerns.”

PMIC and partners launch I2I project

The Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company, in collaboration with Jazz, Daraz, MG Apparel, and TCS, supported by the

Champions of Change Coalition, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the Informal to International project, as per a press release.

This project aims to empower 150 women entrepreneurs in district Bahawalpur by transitioning their businesses from local informal markets to national and global platforms, utilising digital tools and e-commerce marketplaces.

AP Asia celebrates milestones

The Accelerate Prosperity in Central and South Asia (AP Asia) project — funded by the European Union and implemented by AP through the Aga Khan Foundation — celebrates its achievements at the AP Asia Dissemination Event in Islamabad’s Serena Hotel as per a press release.

The programme has catalysed entrepreneurship across Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. This initiative has supported over 2,800 entrepreneurs across 1,904 businesses, with 29 per cent women-led and 41pc youth-led businesses.

New CEO of PMEX

Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited has appointed Khurram Zafar as the CEO, as per a press release.

Mr Zafar joins PMEX with a robust background in business, technology, and capital market leadership in Pakistan, Europe, and the United States.

Prior to his appointment at PMEX, Mr Zafar led a Pakistan-focused venture capital fund. He has also served as the CIO of the Lahore Stock Exchange and has consulted for Merrill Lynch, Visa, and Bank of America during his professional life in the US.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, December 9th, 2024