CeDAR launched at Lums

The Centre for Digital Assets Research (CeDAR) at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) was officially launched on April 24 as per a press release. The centre aims to be a hub of research, training, development and innovation in the areas of decentralised internet, Web 3.0 and digital asset technologies.

It is supported by a generous grant from the Stacks Foundation, founded by Muneeb Ali, a Lums alumnus, the main product of which is a Web 3.0 platform that enables smart contracts on Bitcoin.

To mark its official launch, CeDAR hosted an international conference at Lums to enable connection, knowledge transfer, and collaboration between global experts in the Web 3.0 ecosystem and the regulatory and governmental organisations in Pakistan.

The conference facilitated roundtable conversations with leaders from key domestic stakeholders such as the State Bank of Pakistan, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, and the Pakistan Banking Council.

The event covered key topics such as ways to ensure compliance and regulation for the industry, the utilisation of excess energy for digital asset mining, how digital assets fit in for investment allocation, and how Pakistan can best develop a technical workforce for such technologies.

Telenor appoints new CMO

Telenor announces the appointment of Ahsan Maykan as the new chief marketing officer as per a press release.

Mr Maykan has been heading Telenor’s entire marketing value chain and has helped turn around the company’s business performance over the last year, leading to double-digit revenue growth.

Along with product, revenue, pricing and brand communication, Mr Maykan will be responsible for leading digital transformation efforts and building advanced data analytics & artificial intelligence capabilities.

Jazz celebrates Girls in ICT Day

Jazz celebrates the upskilling of thousands of female students and master trainers through its partnership with Tech Valley during a visit to Islamabad College for Girls, as per a press release.

The visit, conducted alongside the Ministry for Federal Education & Professional Training and Tech Valley, included a tour of the Google for Education classroom, where students and teachers demonstrated how digital tools are enabling interactive, personalised learning experiences.

As part of its broader Digital Safar programme, Jazz, in collaboration with Tech Valley and Google for Education, has equipped approximately 50,000 students and 5,000 teachers across Pakistan with the training and resources needed to thrive in today’s tech-driven world. This partnership has fostered digital literacy, internet safety, creative thinking, and collaboration through platforms like Google Workspace for Education and Chromebooks.

TPL Insurance launches Titania

TPL Insurance has launched Titania to offer bespoke protection to Pakistan’s business magnates, professionals, and affluent families as per a press release.

Pakistan’s emerging insurance market is witnessing a surge in demand for unique financial products, fuelled by rising wealth and urbanisation. Unlike standard insurance, Titania offers fully customisable coverage for vehicles, homes and estates, domestic and international travels, and health plans for families, domestic staff and even cherished pets.

Aurangzeb Javed Siddiqui, Head of Retail & Financial Institutions Group, added, “Titania isn’t just innovation; it’s exclusivity, engineered for those who expect nothing less than excellence.”

IBA earns AACSB accreditation

The Institute of Business Administration’s (IBA) School of Business Studies (SBS) earned the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, as per a press release. Founded in 1916, AACSB is the oldest business education accreditation body headquartered in the United States.

The accreditation is awarded after an evaluation process, engagement with AACSB-assigned mentor, a comprehensive review and visit by a peer review team consisting of deans from accredited business schools, and demonstration of alignment with the nine accreditation standards focusing on strategic management and innovation, learner success, thought leadership, engagement, and societal impact. As one of the most widely recognised accreditations in the world, AACSB will further boost the global recognition and employability of IBA graduates.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, April 28th, 2025