Synergy Group and Global Media Giant - Aegis Media Group Enter Into A Strategic Partnership - ProPakistanis

 Synchronize Media, a Synergy Group Company –has now formed a strategic alliance with Carat – a brand of Aegis Media Group, in Pakistan

Karachi – 8^th October, 2012 –: Synergy Group has signed a partnership agreement with Aegis Group Plc – one of the leading Media and Communications Group, whereby both companies have entered into a strategic partnership to implement media solutions in Pakistan. As the first step of this partnership, Synchronize Media, a Synergy Group Company will represent Carat, Media Agency of Aegis Group in Pakistan.

With this new association, Synchronize Media further strengthens its reputation as one of the leading media buying houses in Pakistan. Having recently earned the title of #1 media network by RECMA (Research Company Evaluating the Media Agency Industry www.recma.com),Carat has a proven global track record of one of the finest media agencies in the world. Together, Synchronize and Carat have now entered a path to a more focused-driven business growth.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Ahmed Kapadia, Managing Director, Synergy Group said, “Today’s alliance between Synergy Group and Aegis Group is a strategic partnership that will have long term impact on the media services in Pakistan. With an international alliance of such high stature, Synergy Group looks poised to achieve highest standards of excellence in media and communications services.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Michael Nederlof, CEO Aegis Media, Middle East & North Africa said, “Pakistan has huge potential in media and I am pleased to announce that we have selected Synergy Group as our sole representative and partner for Carat in Pakistan. As a leading global media agency, this is an important step for us in expanding our global network in this part of the world. We feel that working together Carat and Synchronize Media will offer clients an increased level of local insight, combined with global scale.

During the signing ceremony, Mr. Ali Mandviwalla, COO, Synergy Group, said, “We are extremely proud of our new found association with Carat. Our partnership with Carat and its wonderful global reputation will certainly provide Synchronize Media that extra mileage to bring in technical expertise of highest global standards. As a result, we seek to serve our clients at par with international standards and offer cutting edge solutions.”

About Carat:

Carat is the world's leading independent media planning & buying specialist and the market-leader in digital and non-traditional media solutions. Owned by global media group Aegis Group plc, listed on the London stock exchange, the Carat network is more than 5,000 people in 70 countries worldwide. Carat defined the sector when we were established as the world's first media independent in 1968. We are now Europe's largest media network, a position we have held for more than 15 years. In this new era, advances in digital technology and changing consumer behavior have created an era of unprecedented complexity and opportunity for clients. Media is now an ecosystem that includes bought, owned and earned communications. In this new era, Carat is leading and shaping the industry once again, using media in new ways to deliver business value to clients.

About Synchronize Media:

Synchronize is one of the most progressive media solutions provider in Pakistan which was established in 2008 and is a Synergy Group Company. It has a diverse experience of working with Telecom, Banking, FMCG, Food & Beverages, Airlines, Pharma and Government Businesses.

About Aegis Media:

Aegis Group is the world’s leading focused media and digital communications group. With consumers more connected, through a range of devices, than ever before, the era of media convergence is presenting many opportunities as well as a new, complex media eco-system. From identifying who the consumers are, to how they make their decisions, Aegis Group makes the best use of today’s media mix to bring to life the right communication strategy and deliver the best results for clients.

About Synergy Group:

Synergy is the fastest growing marketing and communications group in Pakistan. We offer services ranging from conventional advertising to integrated solutions based on marketing services and event management. Established in 1999, Synergy Advertising quickly evolved into 6 strategic business units: Synchronize Media – Media Planning & Buying house, Synergy Marketing Corporation – Event Management Company, Syntax Communications – PR & Communications agency, Synergyzer – Marketing & Advertising magazine and Brandsynario.com – Web portal.

KESC Launches Unique "Empowerment Program" to Pay Electricity Bills of Social Welfare Institutions - ProPakistanis

KESC Launches Unique "Empowerment Program" to Pay Electricity Bills of Social Welfare Institutions

Ever since the present management has taken over, we have seen our role as going much beyond that of just supplying electricity to over 20 million people of Karachi and we have consciously developed a 360 degree value creation model that guides us in defining our role in much broader terms. We firmly believe that KESC's own turnaround and sustainability is fundamentally linked to the economic, social and environmental values that we create for a diverse set of stakeholders whom we serve and engage on a daily basis.

We call this model KESC’s SEEDS – that is, KESC’s Stakeholder Engagement and Enrichment Drive for Sustainability.

SEEDS is a holistic approach that fully recognizes the impact of our performance in sustainable development across our stakeholders’ universe. SEEDS essentially drives four distinct programs and these are – ESG Initiatives, Social Investments, Stakeholder Engagement and Thought Leadership. Our social investment program, aims at investing our resources, including time, into sustainable projects that can change the social and economic landscape of our city.  Under our uniquely developed model, we are committed to expand the empowerment program to ensure that public welfare institutions are enabled and empowered to create even higher value for communities that they serve. A large number of purely welfare-driven institutions in health and education sectors were given relief in billing and infrastructure development projects. During the last couple of years, our employees have invested around 150,000 hours into various social causes under the Employee Volunteer Program. We would continue to build on this legacy of selfless service. At KESC, we look at how these interconnected communities can be harnessed to have direct sustainable economic and social impacts beyond just one-dimensional financial and shareholder value.

As part of its Social Investment Program (SIP), Karachi Electric Supply Company, has launched a unique “Empowerment Program” to provide relief to social welfare organizations in health and education sectors. To qualify for the empowerment, it would need to be a charitable organization operating in the public welfare domain in the health or education sector located and operative within the limits of KESC distribution territory. It must be an independently registered NGO (non-governmental organization) with declared Articles and Memorandum of Association, whose accessibility of operations must be open to general public without any specific community focus or restriction. The qualifying entity must be providing at least 70 per cent of its services to deserving individuals free of cost or at minimal charges acceptable to KESC. In general, the entity must be a non-profit institution, totally non-political and non-government institution, and not associated or linked to any business house. Magnitude of operations of such entity would need to be relatively large, having direct annual impact on minimum of 5,000 individuals belonging to underprivileged segments of the society. Such institutions would generally enjoy good reputation among public and their credibility would be beyond any doubt.

Under this program, KESC signed the first memorandum of understanding with Indus Hospital recently. Under the program KESC would bear 50% of Indus Hospital’s cost of electricity every month.

Indus Hospital provides quality medical care in its wide ranging clinical departments and also provides post graduate medical education to deserving persons free of cost. The services provided by Indus Hospital include hi tech coronary angioplasties, life saving cardiac bypass surgeries, cutting edge laser interventions or restorative orthopaedic procedures. Indus hospital serves around 550,000 patients annually free of charge.

Mr. Tabish Gauhar, CEO of KESC, said on the occasion that: “KESC has always considered itself an integral part of life in Karachi and we have always tried to go beyond our core function and act as a responsible corporate citizen. We are driven by our philosophy to create sustainable social value for the less fortunate segments of our society. Empowerment Program for charitable institutions is just another humble effort to contribute towards the betterment of public life. By supporting and enabling active social welfare institution we are creating value driven partnerships aimed at social sustainability of underprivileged communities. We fully acknowledge the great work being done by the Indus Hospital and we are delighted to be able to extend our small contribution through our Empowerment Program.”

According to the memorandum signed by Tabish Gauhar, CEO KESC and Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, CEO of The Indus Hospital, KESC would provide 50% free units of electricity to be consumed by Indus Hospital every month.

Under this social welfare arrangement, KESC would be paying 100 per cent of the electricity bill of MALC every month, which provides free medical aid to a large number of leprosy, eye and TB patients all across the country including Karachi. By the end of the past year, MALC had treated over 800 leprosy patients; had operated upon 4,575 eye patients; and had registered over 10,000 TB patients. Cure rate of leprosy patients by MALC is recorded as 97 per cent.Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, CEO of Indus Hospital, said in his remarks: “This step taken by KESC allows us to save money spent on utilities and spend on the poor and needy patients. It has a direct impact on our ability to deliver quality health care. As we expand our Hospital infrastructure and move towards a University model in the coming years, we hope to develop a long term relationship with KESC. The Indus Hospital thanks the KESC Leadership for such an empowering initiative".

The second memorandum of understanding was signed with Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre, aimed at providing relief to social welfare organizations in health and education sectors. Under KESC’s Social Investment program, the Company would be extending relief to various healthcare and educational institutions serving the poor on purely humanitarian grounds. KESC would pay electricity bills of these welfare entities in part or in full, thereby subsidizing their energy cost in recognition of the noble causes these institutions are pursuing.

The memorandum was signed by Tabish Gauhar, CEO KESC and Dr. Ruth Pfau, founder member and Vice President, Board of Governors, Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre.

Mr. Tabish Gauhar said on this occasion, “KESC feels very blessed over providing a humble contribution towards the betterment of patients receiving free medical care at MALC. We pray for their early recovery and hope that God gives us enough resources to continue helping the needy and deserving. MALC is serving the less privileged patients of the society for over half century free of charge and we fully appreciate its services to humanity.”

Dr. Ruth Pfau of MALC said in her message, “MALC is extremely thankful to KESC and highly appreciates its contribution for the un-served communities in the country. It would not have been possible for us to sustain the Leprosy Centre without the help of benevolent organisations like KESC. There is surely a great need for such initiatives for the NGO sector that is providing valuable support to the underprivileged in society. The savings generated through subsidized electricity from KESC would help us in better serving the patients and providing them better medicines to live in a society where they are usually treated as outcasts.”

Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre is one of the largest NGO in the country running Leprosy Elimination, TB and Blindness Control Program with its headquarters in Karachi, serving as a secondary referral facility for Leprosy patients from all over Pakistan who are treated free of charge. Dr. Ruth Pfau had joined the small setup of MALC back in 1960 as a young lady doctor from Germany who gradually developed it into the National Leprosy Control Program providing comprehensive care and rehabilitation facilities to patients at 157 sub centres spread across the country.

KESC Management

LinkedIn to Setup Offices in Pakistan, Not Really - ProPakistanis

LinkedIn, world’s largest networking website for professionals, is making its way to start operations in Pakistan by setting up local offices in the country, reported Express Tribune citing Saleem H Mandviwalla, Chairman for Board of Investment (BOI) in Pakistan.

Chairman BOI said that board had detailed discussions with a LinkedIn Director for the move.

Mr. Saleem Mandviwalla further revealed that LinkedIn is likely to start setup offices in Pakistan by year end or early next year with initial investment of USD 10 million. “This will lead to the setting up of LinkedIn’s proper operations in Pakistan”, the chairman said.

Mr. Salaeem further mentioned that LinkedIn has shown great interest in Pakistani market which poses huge potential for internet companies with its 30 million internet users and growing.

Stats say that there are 1.2 million LinkedIn users in Pakistan, which largely consists of business professionals and decision makers of the country.

Board of Investment has said that it will use LinkedIn as an effective tool and an important platform for its business development activities.

Via Express Tribune

(September 27th – 1:30 PM)

Express Tribune has now reported that its earlier report, that was produced by APP (Associated Press of Pakistan) was untrue and that LinkedIn has denied opening offices in the country.

“While we are exploring some commercial opportunities in Pakistan, we currently have no plans to open a local office,” LinedIn spokesperson Darain Faraz was quoted as saying.

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Cybernet Holds Introduction Events for its Cloud Solution - ProPakistanis

Cybernet recently held events to introduce their infrastructure service to the IT market in Pakistan.

The events, titled “Leveraging the Cloud to Build a Smart Organization” took place in Lahore and Karachi on the 18^th and the 26^thof September respectively.

The service, branded as RapidCompute is claimed by company as Pakistan’s first cloud computing service and falls under the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IAAS) category of cloud computing.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Imran Khan (VP Corporate Sales) explained the idea of building a smart organization in detail. He touched upon the ways through which an organization can engage IT infrastructure and services experts to manage their IT needs and as a result, find more time to concentrate on their core businesses. According to him, RapidCompute provides organizations with the flexibility to instantly scale up or down their IT resources to match their business requirements.

The second speaker, Mr. Zaeem Arshad (Division Head – RapidCompute) identified the criteria to assess an enterprise cloud offering. This includes storage, network, security, support and automation. He provided a basic demonstration of RapidCompute’s self service portal, which allows customers to provision their RapidMachines at practically the blink of an eye. He also mentioned the applications – CRM, ERP, HR and Payroll among others that can be run on RapidCompute with significant ease. He felt that backup and Disaster Recovery are two areas where cloud can serve the customers really well. In his opinion, the sole involvement of local engineers to setup RapidCompute was the most important achievement for Cybernet.

Mr. Salman Siddiqui – Channel Sales Lead, Microsoft Pakistan was also at hand to talk about RapidCompute’s Service Provider License Arrangement with Microsoft. This allows RapidCompute to bundle licensed Microsoft software with its RapidMachines at monthly charges. These charges are a fraction of the cost that companies have to bear today for perpetual licenses. He stressed upon the commitment that Microsoft being one of the largest global software vendors has to partner and support cloud computing in Pakistan.

The event was concluded by Mr. Danish Ali Lakhani (Chief Operating Officer) who thanked the attendees and explained that Cloud is the next evolutionary step in terms of computing. A Pakistan based cloud computing service such as RapidCompute is a step in the direction of providing sustainable computing infrastructure services for the local industry.