IBA Karachi launches a new office in Islamabad expanding its nationwide imprint.

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, in collaboration with the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) Islamabad, has inaugurated a dedicated facility in the federal capital.

The inauguration was attended by more than 200 participants from diverse fields. Focusing on IBA Karachi's executive and organizational development philosophy, the new office will offer leadership and management development programs for family businesses, public sectors, state-owned enterprises, and corporates in the northern regions. IBA aims to bring opportunities for organizations and individuals through action learning-based capacity-building initiatives, research, forums, think tanks, and consultancies. This venture will help meet the increasing demands of today's business world.

Attendees from IBA included Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director; Dr. Asad Ilyas, Registrar; Dr. Abdullah Zafar Sheikh, Dean, School of Business Studies (SBS); Dr. Shakeel Khoja, Dean, School of Mathematics and Computer Science (SMCS); Dr. Irum Saba, Associate Professor, SBS; Kamran Bilgrami, Director CEE; Dr. Sharjeel Hasnie, Head of Testing Services; and members of the Board of Governors (BoG), namely, Nadeem Hussain, Saba Kamal, Muhammad Mureed Rahimoon, and Mohammed Sohail, Alumni Representative on the BoG.

The event commenced with a welcome note from IBA alumnus and MOC, Sibtain Naqvi. The IBA Islamabad Office at NIBAF was inaugurated by Akif Saeed, Chief Guest and Chairman, Securities, and Exchange Commission of Pakistan; Riaz Chunara, Managing Director, NIBAF; and Dr. Zaidi.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the collaboration, Mr. Bilgrami stated, "This transformative partnership will open new avenues for our students and faculty to engage with industry professionals. By combining our strengths, we can bridge the gap between academia and industry and create a positive impact on education, fostering innovation in Pakistan."

Mr. Chunara emphasized the importance of academia-industry collaboration, stating, "We believe that through this partnership, we can address critical issues such as corporate governance and digital transformation. By working together, we can foster a culture of innovation and equip professionals with the skills needed to excel in their respective fields."

Dr. Zaidi commented on IBA’s new facility: "I am truly impressed by the transformative potential of this collaboration between IBA and NIBAF. This strategic alliance opens new horizons for executive education and knowledge exchange, particularly in the areas of corporate governance, public policy, and digital transformation. I am confident that this partnership will pave the way for impactful initiatives and create a lasting impact on our education and learning landscape." He added that together, we can empower professionals across various sectors to enhance their skills and contribute to the progress of Pakistan.

A panel discussion on the future of executive education in Pakistan also took place. Panelists included Sadia Khan, Javed Iqbal, and Dr. Khoja. CEE Trainer, Bulent Sohail, moderated the discussion.

Earlier, IBA and NIBAF inked an MoU to establish a remote IBA office at NIBAF, Islamabad. Under this agreement, the two institutes will offer joint leadership and management development programs. Mementos were presented to the esteemed guests by Dr. Zaidi.

Mr. Bilgrami concluded the evening by sharing his final thoughts and thanking the attendees for their participation. The evening came to an end with a networking dinner.

About IBA-CEE: IBA Karachi has been offering Professional Development Programs since its inception in 1955, and the CEE was formally established in 2004. The CEE has a strong network of local and global faculty members and collaborations. 

Currently, it offers capacity-building programs in several cities for Enterprises, Public Sector Organizations, and Family Businesses. 

Google Career Certificates 2.0 Official Launch in Pakistan: Addressing the Digital Skills Gap and Empowering the Workforce

Fahd Haroon, Emphasized the Need for Courses on Business Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics, and Cyber Security for Pakistani youth to Learn and become Part of the Global Workforce.

Google, in partnership with TechValley and the Institute of Rural Management (IRM), officially launched Google Career Certificates 2.0 in Pakistan at a prestigious event attended by key figures from the government and the IT sector. The event was graced by Federal Minister for IT & Telecom Syed Amin Ul Haque, Mr. Fahd Haroon, Minister of State/Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Public Communication and Digital Platforms, and Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, SAPM on Youth Affairs and Senior Google representatives from the region.

Mr. Fahd Haroon emphasized the need for training and skills development as priority areas, highlighting the significant gap in digital skills within the Pakistani workforce. He underscored the importance of digital skills in today's economy and called for a collaborative approach between stakeholders, including Google, TechValley, IRM, the government, and educational institutions, to advance Pakistan's digital workforce together.

Mr. Haroon expressed his gratitude to Google for creating 44,500 new scholarships, with a special emphasis on offering 50% of these scholarships to the female population in the country. He also acknowledged Google's commitment to Pakistan's digital growth by launching three new courses - Business Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics, and Cyber Security.

Farhan Qureshi, Country Director, Google Pakistan, said, "We are proud to introduce digital skills along with soft skills courses for Pakistani talent to rise into this new world of technology, with a particular focus on women and youth."

Pakistan has a working-age population of approximately 85.75 million, with a significant portion of the population under the age of 30. This young and growing workforce requires access to quality education and training opportunities to realize their potential and contribute to the country's economic development.

Google Career Certificates 2.0, a program designed to make (aspiring) professionals job-ready in six months, was introduced at the event. The program aims to provide targeted skills training to help participants rapidly qualify for in-demand jobs. Industry experts and thought leaders also attended the launch, discussing strategies and initiatives for advancing Pakistan's digital economy collectively.

During the event, Google presented various case studies and shared success stories of recently graduated professionals from the Google Career Certificate program in Pakistan. The program has already made a significant impact on the lives of many Pakistani professionals, equipping them with the necessary digital skills to excel in their careers and contribute to the country's digital economy.

The Google Career Certificates 2.0 program is a testament to the importance of addressing the digital skills gap in Pakistan and empowering the workforce with the right tools and training. With the continued support of key stakeholders and the government, this program aims to create a brighter future for Pakistan's digital workforce and economy.

The Future of Jobs Report 2023 shows that cognitive skills and management skills are the most critical skills required by the workforce, with 25% and 19% of organizations ranking them as essential, respectively. Other critical skills include technical skills, attitudes, and working with others, with 18%, 15%, and 9% of organizations ranking them as essential, respectively. The Report also shows that the skills required for reskilling focus on creative thinking, AI and big data, leadership and social influence, design and user experience, and analytical thinking, among others.

For more information on the Google Career Certificates 2.0 program, visit https://grow.google/intl/en_pk/certificates/

Pakistan and UAE Discuss Food Security Initiatives for Vulnerable Populations

Pakistan and UAE Discuss Food Security Initiatives for Vulnerable Populations

Minister of State and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Public Communication and Digital Platforms, Fahd Haroon, meets with UAE Consul General in Karachi, H.E. Bakheet Al Romaithi to discuss the importance of public communication and UAE's food program for Pakistan.

 

The Minister of State and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Public Communication and Digital Platforms, Fahd Haroon, met with H.E. Bakheet Al Romaithi, United Arab Emirates Consul General in Karachi. They both discussed the importance of public communication in raising awareness about food security and the impacts of climate change. The meeting centered around the UAE food program for Pakistan, initiated by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the meeting, Mr. Haroon also informed a visiting media delegation from the UAE about the initiatives taken by Pakistan, particularly in the Sindh province, to combat food insecurity. The Consul General expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between the government of Sindh and UAE on the ‘Emirates Humanitarian’ medical campaign in Pakistan's southern Sindh province to provide health facilities to the poor.

 

Pakistan and UAE have a long history of friendly relations, with the UAE serving as a trusted ally for Pakistan. The UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE-PAP) reflects His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's love for the people of Pakistan. The program has provided assistance in various social and humanitarian fields, including health, poverty alleviation, education, and disaster relief.

 

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Acute Malnutrition analysis, acute malnutrition is at a Critical level in eight districts in Sindh and at a Serious level in one district. The UAE's food assistance program aims to address this pressing issue. As per the data, the overall malnutrition prevalence in Pakistan is 38.3%, with 17.7 million stunted and 9.7 million wasted children under five years of age.

 

In the past, UAE has executed several humanitarian assistance programs in Pakistan, including the UAE Polio Vaccination Campaign, which vaccinated over 86 million Pakistani children under the age of five between 2014 and December 2020. UAE's assistance in the healthcare sector has helped Pakistan combat various diseases and increase life expectancy.

 

Pakistan and the UAE share a strong trade relationship with a significant Pakistani population residing in the UAE. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan received $531.4 million in remittances from the UAE in 2022. The UAE is Pakistan's biggest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa region, with exports from the UAE to Pakistan amounting to $7.13 billion in 2021. The main products exported from the UAE to Pakistan were refined petroleum, crude petroleum, and scrap iron. During the last 18 years, exports of the UAE to Pakistan have increased at an annualized rate of 9.57%, from $1.38 billion in 2003 to $7.13 billion in 2021.

Pakistan exported $1.28 billion worth of products to the UAE in 2021, with refined petroleum, bovine meat, and rice being the primary products. The exports of Pakistan to the UAE have increased at an annualized rate of 0.74%, from $1.12 billion in 2003 to $1.28 billion in 2021.

 

The meeting between Mr. Haroon and the Consul General reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and UAE to address food insecurity and improve the well-being of vulnerable populations. The UAE's food assistance program, along with Pakistan's initiatives in the Sindh province, will help address the issue of malnutrition in Pakistan.