CCL acquires Mitchells Fruit Farms

CCL Holding Pvt Ltd, a diversified investment platform, completes acquisition of 13,447,058 ordinary shares, representing 58.78 per cent of the total issued ordinary share capital of Mitchell’s Fruit Farms Ltd, as per a press release.

By bringing the heritage brand into its portfolio, CCL Holding enhances its commitment to everyday wellbeing and deepens its presence in the food and beverage sector. This acquisition reflects the group’s commitment to building enduring businesses that improve quality of life while serving communities at scale.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors of CCL Holding, Kashif Sajjad Sheikh, Executive Chairman, CCL Holding, and Chairman Mitchell’s, remarked, “Mitchell’s has a heritage of more than 90 years in nourishing families across Pakistan. At CCL Holding, we see this acquisition as augmenting our synergies with a legacy brand that shares our belief in creating lasting value for communities. Together, we will scale Mitchell’s strengths, broaden its reach, and ensure it continues to thrive for generations to come.”

Roshni Baji programme’s 6th cohort

K-Electric’s (KE) Roshni Baji programme receives a significant boost as Rotary International extended collaboration for a co-funded project for the sixth cohort, according to a press release. The collaboration marks ano­ther milestone in the journey of this pioneering programme, which continues to empower women, advance community safety across Karachi, and will now strengthen conversations around climate resilience and disaster preparedness.

Since its inception in 2021 with just 40 women, the Roshni Baji programme has grown into a network of 265 ambassadors with inductions from the current cohort, reaching over 880,000 households with messages on electrical safety, energy conservation, and emergency preparedness. Many Roshni Bajis have gone on to build small businesses or join KE’s workforce as Data Processing Officers, Metre Data Maintenance Officers, field staff, and apprentices, symbolising real transformation through opportunity.

The sixth cohort, co-funded by Rotary International and supported by CFC, will focus on climate resilience and disaster preparedness in Karachi’s coastal communities. The programme will reach 120,000 women through door-to-door climate and safety awareness drives; engage 3,000 children and train 500 teachers in climate-smart practices; and establish 10 Disaster Risk Reduction teams.

China Mobile’s global partners’ conference

China Mobile’s held its Global Partner Conference in Guangzhou, China. Since 2013, annually China Mobile has been hosting the Global Partner Conference to showcase the latest achievements of the company and its partners in technological innovation and digital-intelligent transformation.

During its annual conference, China Mobile unveiled four major initiatives spanning artificial tntelligence, international branding, quantum communications, and digital-intelligent living.

Inspired by its parent company, Zong aims to bring the ‘Chinese Solutions’ showcased at the Conference to Pakistan, reinforcing its vision to becoming an excellent information services and technology innovation company.

Looking ahead, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile, Zong will leverage its parent company’s advanced technological capabilities to drive Pakistan’s digital transformation. Guided by its vision to become a leading information services and technology innovation company, Zong actively accelerating AI, building high quality 4G network, introduce “Chinese Solutions” to promote the implementation of cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing, AI, and industry solutions contributing to the development of a closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the new era.

In the past two years, China Mobile has accelerated its transformation, consolidating its leading advantages in new information infrastructure such as dual 100Gbps networks.

New report on AI ethics

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) launch a report on artificial intelligence (AI) titled AI Monitor: Shining a light on AI’s ethical threats for finance professionals to mark Global Ethics Day, according to a press release.

The report identifies four key findings: AI is already embedded across work and life, making its ethical implications unavoidable; AI poses specific risks for finance professionals, reinforcing the importance of applying fundamental principles; AI literacy is essential to combine technical understanding with ethical judgement; and alignment is needed across individuals, organisations, and policymakers, as no single group can manage these challenges in isolation.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, October 20th, 2025