Telenor, Beaconhouse School System break Guinness World Records title
ISLAMABAD (PR): Telenor Pakistan, in collaboration with Beaconhouse School System, has officially broken the Guinness World Records title for ‘Longest Chain of People Clasping Wrists’. The official attempt to make the new record took place on 29th September 2016 at Jinnah Stadium, Sports Complex Islamabad, where 2,950 participants formed the human chain and kept it intact for 60 seconds. The participants included employees of Telenor Pakistan and students of Beaconhouse School System who formed the chain to show solidarity with Telenor Pakistan’s initiative to promote safe use of internet, especially amongst the youth, as the company builds on its ambition to provide ‘Internet for All.’
Forming the world’s longest chain of people clasping wrists was part of the activities performed on 29th September when Telenor Pakistan celebrated ‘Customer First Day’ for the fifth consecutive year. To highlight the responsible use of internet, Telenor centered its annual day dedicated to customers on taking a stand for Safe Internet. In addition to breaking the world record, Telenor employees in seven regions visited schools and public arenas to inform and engage thousands of children and parents in Safe Internet use.
“We believe it is important to educate and raise awareness on using internet safely so that young people can make wise online choices and be safe in the cyber sphere. As one of Pakistan premier telecom and digital companies, we consider it our responsibility to educate people of the power of internet and the responsibility that comes with it,” said, Malik Faisal Qayyum, Director Customer Value Management & Analytics, Telenor Pakistan. Commenting on the achievement, he added, “We are humbled by this unique achievement, which would not have been possible without the support of students from Beaconhouse School System. We are delighted that our combined efforts have brought this honor to Pakistan.” Ms Seyda Subasi-Gemici, who adjudicated the attempt on behalf of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS, said: “We congratulate everybody involved on their record-breaking achievement.”
USAID director visits PITB to discuss collaborations in Punjab IT projects
LAHORE (PR): Newly appointed director of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for Punjab Ms Allison McFarland paid a visit to the Punjab IT Board (PITB) on Friday.
Vice Chancellor of IT University (ITU) Dr. Umar Saif, who is also chairman of PITB, briefed her on the major projects initiated to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in Punjab. Ms McFarland said: “Our focus is to invest money in the initiatives aiming at ensuring peace, prosperity & democracy in Pakistan. The skilful use of smart technology in government businesses of Punjab is very inspiring. PITB’s innovative work is bringing positive changes in the education and health sector. I am thrilled to work in collaboration with PITB and ITU on the projects pertaining to health, education, agriculture and livestock etc.”
Earlier, Dr Saif shared an idea to introduce a new subject named Technology for Development at the ITU so that upcoming generations may have an opportunity to be well versed with the latest technologies emerging across the globe. Dr Umar Saif pitched the idea of Maker Movement in Pakistan that would promote art, innovation, creation and imagination in the country while stating that the maker space instituted at PITB would serve as a precursor to the movement. He further elaborated that the aim behind maker movement was to start hosting maker fests and setting up maker spaces across colleges and universities to encourage students to work towards technological innovations. Dr Saif also introduced McFarland to the program of distributing smartphones among farmers through which they shall be acquainted with necessary methods of agriculture and other imperative recommendations to boost harvest bringing economic uplift.
Dr Saif said “We have introduced Plan9 that has become the largest start-up incubator of Pakistan. It has incubated more than 130 start-up companies of whom some have won international fame.
These start-ups have set a new trend in the ignored field of entrepreneurship and now more than 20 universities and colleges have established their own start-up incubators with the help of ITU. Our start-ups have secured seed funding amounting around $70 million from USA, UK and Middle East states.”
The USAID director realised entrepreneurship as another field that may create a number of corners for future investment. She said: “The modern technology is highly useful for triggering youth to nurture new start-ups and companies. I believe PITB’s Plan9, PlanX and TechHub Connect may have great potential to work together with the USAID in future to strengthen the youth and women of Pakistan.”