Google Pakistan celebrates IWD

In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), Google Pakistan hosted “HERstory: Google IWD 2025”, a webinar highlighting the achievements of women in Pakistan’s digital economy, as per a press release. The event was attended by over 550 people, including Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who actively engaged in discussions on advancing women in technology.

Aligned with IWD’s 2025 theme, “Accelerate Action,” the discussion focused on empowering women in the digital economy through education, mentorship, and access to tech tools. The session also featured a panel of three inspiring women who have either benefitted from Google’s digital skilling initiatives — and in turn are actively driving programmes to foster career advancement for Pakistani women — or have used their platform to amplify female voices in the country.

Farhan Qureshi, Google’s Country Director for Pakistan, said at the event, “At Google, we believe in the power of technology to transform lives, and we’re committed to building a ‘Future Forward Pakistan’ where everyone can reach their full potential in the digital economy. With Pakistan being the third-largest freelance economy in the world and a rapidly growing digital talent pool, we are encouraged by the enthusiasm in digital skills, especially through the active participation of women across our programmes. Through initiatives like Digital Safar, Google Career Certificates, and our Google Developer Groups, we will continue to equip all Pakistanis with the skills, opportunities, and networks to succeed in the global economy.”

Wafi empowers female drivers

Wafi Energy Pakistan Limited (formerly Shell Pakistan Limited) hosted a vehicle maintenance and safety awareness session at Bahria Filling Station, Karachi, celebrating Inter­national Women’s Day 2025. The event aimed to equip women with essential vehicle maintenance skills, promoting confidence and safety on the road, as per a press release.

During the session, female participants received hands-on training in essential car care practices such as oil changes, tyre pressure checks, understanding dashboard indicators, and recognising fuel quality. The event also featured expert guidance on road safety and emergency handling, empowering women to feel more self-reliant and secure while driving.

Zubair Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer of Wafi Energy Pakistan, stated, “At Wafi Energy, we recognise the significance of enabling safe, independent mobility for women. Through this initiative, we aim to provide female drivers with the knowledge and tools that promote both their confidence and road safety. As part of our ongoing commitment to inclusivity, we will continue to launch programmes that make a meaningful impact on the communities we serve.”

Zong 4G integrates DeepSeek AI

To enhance efficiency and drive digitilisation, Zong 4G has integrated DeepSeek AI’s open-source models into its ecosystem as per a press release. This adoption enhances efficiency, streamlines and enables smarter processes across multiple domains.

DeepSeek AI’s open-source framework provides Zong 4G with the flexibility to develop AI-driven solutions without the constraints of proprietary models. It delivers higher efficiency at a lower operational cost, making it an ideal choice for enterprise applications and cost-effective AI+ integrations.

Zong Aeye, Zong 4G’s internal AI-powered system, leverages DeepSeek AI to enhance employee productivity by enabling more effective data access and improving operational efficiency.

“Our focus is on harnessing AI+ to enhance internal efficiencies while improving user experiences,” said Zong 4G’s Chief Technical Officer, Mao Weiliang. “While we develop AI solutions for our customers, we also recognise our responsibility to transform our own operations.

JS Bank shares financial statement

JS Bank recorded a consolidated profit before tax of Rs30.7 billion for the year 2024 as compared to Rs18.7bn for the year 2023, showing a growth of 64pc.

The bank’s profitability, based on the consolidated financial statements, was driven by an 87.2pc surge in net mark-up/interest income, which reached Rs73.9bn compared to Rs39.5bn last year. Moreover, the Bank’s consolidated deposits stood over Rs1.1 trillion, and on a standalone basis, the deposits were at Rs525bn.

JS Bank continues to strengthen its position in the banking sector with a focus on sustainable growth and innovation through its aggressive approach in small and medium enterprise investments, women-empowering products, and green financing.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, March 10th, 2025