Mobilink extends strategic partnership with Opera
LAHORE (PR): Mobilink, as part of VimpelCom and Opera Software have signed an agreement to extend their partnership as a means to enhance the Mobilink customers’ experience of using the country’s fastest mobile internet. The agreement aims to extend the Opera Software services in VimpelCom operations across the globe.
Mobilink customers through this exclusive partnership will enjoy the fastest mobile internet browsing experience as Opera compresses the data by up to 80%. The extended strategic partnership will offer Mobilink mobile internet customers with a complete internet engagement by offering them with free Facebook Zero, Twitter, Wikipedia, Mobimusic & espncricinfo browsing.
Farid Ahmad, Vice President Marketing Mobilink commenting on the partnership said, “Mobilink’s mobile internet offers value to the internet experience of over 37 million Pakistanis each day. Our partnership with Opera Software further strengthens our promise of providing ‘A better everyday’ through quality services and empowers our mobile internet users by introducing unlimited opportunities with Opera.”

Hush Puppies sponsors event
LAHORE (PR): Hush Puppies is sponsoring the historic “Game of Kings”, Pakistan Polo Club 2014 which is being held in Lahore Polo Club from 13th-19th of January, 2014. This week-long tournament is attracting talent from all across the country whilst promoting the sport. Hush Puppies management showed gratitude to Lahore Polo Club for providing the opportunity.
Hush Puppies is the pioneer in casual footwear worldwide. Hush Puppies takes pride in being the manufacturer of world’s most comfortable shoes and serving the trendy individuals in more than 150 countries around the globe.

PPL signs first-ever MoU with int’l university
ISLAMABAD (PR): Aligned with its efforts to develop technically qualified human resource and lead innovative initiatives in the Exploration and Production (E&P) sector, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for industry-academia collaboration with NED University of Engineering and Technology (NED) and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
The MoU extends PPL’s role in facilitating industry-academia linkages in the field of Petroleum Engineering besides training E&P professionals and enhancing research and development projects. The initial duration of the MoU is five years but may be extended further.
MD and CEO, PPL Asim Murtaza Khan, Vice Chancellor, NED Professor Muhammad Afzal Haque and Head, Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics, NTNU Professor Egil Tjaland signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.
The highlight of the event was to mark the establishment of the Norwegian Centre of Excellence for Petroleum Studies at NED in collaboration with NTNU under the Pak3004, Pak-Norway Institutional Cooperation Programme.
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was chief guest on the occasion, unveiled the plaque for the centre and congratulated those involved in the effort. Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal Khan was also present.
In his address, Abbasi underscored the need for academic and technical competence to service the E&P industry and step up exploration activities to meet the country’s rising energy demand. He also reiterated the government’s support for such initiatives.

Policy to privatise imported urea distribution flayed
LAHORE (PR): National Fertilizer Marketing Limited employees have expressed their grave concern over government’s policy to privatize the distribution of imported urea. They said that the proposed plan will destroy the finances of hundreds of families. Government should eliminate corrupt elements not the institutions, they said.
Economic Coordination Committee’s decision of handing over the distribution to private sector will maximize the hegemony of industrial mafia as top local manufacturers were already involved in the illegal increment in rates of Urea and were fined with Rs 7 billion by the competition commission of Pakistan in 2013, they added.
They also welcomed the steps against corruption by Secretary Industries, but disapproved any possible plan of handing over the distribution responsibilities to the local manufacturers.

Nestle and LUMS unveil agribusiness programme
LAHORE (PR): Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), in collaboration with Nestlé Pakistan, is launching an Executive Certificate programme aimed at creating a cadre of competent and skilled professionals in the agribusiness sector.
Nestlé Pakistan is committed to supporting and promoting the development of competent agribusiness professionals as part of its Creating Shared Value (CSV) initiatives. The Executive Certificate in Agribusiness Management (ECAM) is built around a series of short duration modules covering key disciplines of management with contextual relevance for agribusiness and the challenges currently facing the sector.
“As a predominantly agricultural country, Pakistan needs to develop a class of professionals educated and trained in the relevant disciplines,” said Nestlé Pakistan’s Managing Director, Magdi Batato. “The ECAM gives them the opportunity to do so and we at Nestlé Pakistan are proud to be leading the initiative in collaboration with LUMS.”
The ECAM program underscores the importance of the agriculture sector to the health of the economy. Agriculture contributes 21% of GDP and employs 44% of the workforce. The sector is pivotal to robust economic growth, development and alleviation of poverty. Nestlé and LUMS both recognize the role of the agriculture sector in Pakistan’s economy and how trained professionals will keep the country competitive with other leading agricultural economies around the world.