Briefs

Wapda mobilises contractor 

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Following award of the contract for Kurram Tangi Dam Project (stage-I), the contractor has been mobilised to begin construction work on the site.

This was stated by the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (retd) during his visit to the dam site in North Waziristan on Thursday.

The chairman said that Kurram Tangi Dam was a significant project for the socioeconomic uplift of the people of the far-flung areas of FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He directed the project management to make sure that the project was completed within the stipulated timeframe.

This was a multi-purpose project with gross water storage capacity of 1.2 million acre feet (MAF) and power generation capacity of 83.4 megawatt (MW).

Wapda would complete the project in two stages. Stage-I would be completed in about three years. After completion of stage-I, more than 16 thousand acres of land in North Waziristan Agency would be irrigated, while the project would generate about 18MW of electricity.

Wapda chairman also visited Mohmand Dam Project site in Mohmand Agency, FATA. During the visit, he said that the detailed engineering design of Mohmand Dam was likely to be completed in February 2017.

Following government approval, the processes for financial arrangements and award of contract would be initiated.  

The chairman said that in view of its benefits, Mohamand Dam was a project of paramount importance, as it would not only store water and generate electricity, but also help mitigate floods in Peshawar, Charsadda, and Nowshera. Mohamand Dam Project has a gross water storage capacity of 1.3MAF and power generation capacity of 800MW. 

 

INJAZ Pakistan, Gulf Air collaborate

News Desk

KARACHI: Gulf Air and INJAZ Pakistan have collaborated for the first time in an annual competition, which is based on INJAZ Al-Arab’s internationally acclaimed company programme and is called the INJAZ Al-Arab Young Entrepreneurs Competition 2016, a statement said on Thursday.

Gulf Air is sponsoring tickets for the students and INJAZ Pakistan officials, who are participating in the competition that is to be held in Manama, Bahrain, it said. The INJAZ Al-Arab Young Entrepreneurs Competition is the culmination of six months of experiential learning and application based on INJAZ Al-Arab’s internationally acclaimed company programme, which is executed by a select group of corporate mentors who work with students on establishing, marketing and liquidating a real business.

The competition is an annual celebration of the achievements of students who participated in and won the National Company Program Competition in their countries after demonstrating sound knowledge in business planning, market research, marketing, sales and feasibility studies.

Islamic microfinance awards

News Desk

LAHORE: Islamic microfinance institutions around the globe have received 20 awards in different categories at the International Islamic Microfinance Awards organised by AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE) in Nairobi.

Muhammad Zubair Mughal, chief executive officer of AlHuda CIBE, said that the aim of the awards was to encourage Islamic microfinance institutions and to alleviate poverty. He said that 92 institutions applied for these awards globally, among which 20 institutions were selected for awards from different countries, including Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, UK, US, Malaysia, and Albania.

Abdul Muttalab, chairman of Jaiz Foundation Nigeria, was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award in the recognition of his volunteering services towards Islamic finance, while, Dr Amjad Saqib, founder and chairman of Akhuwat, was awarded for Best Islamic Microfinance Institution.

 

SAP supports Vision 2025

News Desk

KARACHI: Digital transformation will drive Pakistan Vision 2025’s knowledge economy growth and citizen wellbeing, SAP’s new Pakistan Country Manager Osman Khan said on Thursday.

Pakistan Vision 2025 outlines the goals for the country to become the world’s top 10 economies by 2047, especially in economic diversification and greater use of ICT in the public and private sectors, he said.

“As Pakistan’s economy shifts to the knowledge economy, nationwide digital transformation will modernise government services and infrastructure, enhancing businesses and daily lives.” He said “SAP is committed to supporting Pakistan Vision 2025, and training the youth for the high-tech skills of tomorrow,” Khan added.

 

PPAF wins Energy Institute award

News Desk

KARACHI: Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) has received global recognition for its community managed 55 micro-hydro plants completed in Northern Areas during 2004 to 2015 with funding from the World Bank, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The prestigious Energy Institute (EI), UK has selected these PPAF projects in the EI Awards Community Initiative category for 2016, a statement said Thursday. Besides clean energy, the project provides light and much needed economic opportunities through enterprise development for nearly 12,000 households. Qazi Azmat Isa, CEO of PPAF, said, “PPAF is committed to combating poverty and mitigating the effects of climate change on marginalised communities across Pakistan.