Briefs

Briefs

PTCL to use Afiniti’s AI solutions

By our correspondent 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) on Monday signed a partnership agreement with Afiniti, the US-based applied artificial intelligence company that transforms the way humans interact. While Afiniti works with customers in Americas and Europe, PTCL becomes the first company to “Go-Live” at scale, not only in Pakistan, but also in Asia. The partnership will bring new innovations to the customer services and contact centre operations of PTCL.

Before signing the partnership agreement, there was a period of six months during which a pilot project was undertaken to gauge the effectiveness of the Afiniti solution. Within the first two months of the pilot, Afiniti’s technology resulted in substantial improvements in PTCL’s contact centre operations through intelligent pairing of agents and callers. 

Italian firms to participate in IGATEX

By our correspondent

KARACHI: The International Garments, Textile and Leather Machinery and Accessories (IGATEX), Pakistan’s biggest textile expo, would host 500 local and international participants from over 30 countries, a statement said on Monday.

At least 30 textile machinery manufacturers from Italy would participate in the IGATEX, scheduled to be held from April 26-29 at the Expo Centre. Italian Consul to Pakistan Dr Gianluca Robagotti said, “Such a large Italian presence makes IGATEX 2017 an appealing meeting point for Pakistani textile industrialists and operators.”

He said the Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Potecorvo will attend the fair and related events, including a meeting with the press and electronic media on Friday, April 28, after the technical seminar organised by FAKT.

“Italian market share on the world exports of textile machinery is about 11 percent. There are approximately 300 companies who produce textile machines and related accessories, for a total of about 12,000 employees,” said Dr Gianluca.

FPCCI holds interactive session

By our correspondent

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) held an interactive session on “SMEs sector in Pakistan: Contribution, Challenges and Prospects”, which was presided by Aamer Ata Bajwa, senior vice president of the FPCCI, a statement said on Monday.

Bajwa expressed his concern over the low and insignificant level of financing to the SMEs, resultantly lower contribution in the economic and social development, employment generation and poverty alleviation in the country.

While quoting the examples of other countries, he said the SMEs are dominating in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea and contributing more than 80 percent in their development.  These countries have achieved the status of industrial advanced countries on the basis of development of SMEs sector, he said.  Pakistan should learn from the experience of these countries and formulate SMEs-driven policies, Bajwa added.

‘Renewable energy a viable option’

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Energy crisis in Pakistan could be overcome by renewable energy resources that are a viable option to meet energy demands. Pakistan has vast resources for renewable energy; therefore, policymakers should focus on this area. These views were expressed by Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) chairman Dr Shahzad Aalam, while speaking at the National Conference on “Renewable Energy Promotion & Innovative Technologies” at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday. The speakers said Pakistan is blessed with all kinds of resources that are being used around the world as energy inputs.