May 14 - 20, 2001

Arena Multimedia

Arena Multimedia has started its programme with the name Arena Online on FM 100 on every Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 p.m.

The purpose of this programme is to promote Arena's mission to create a pool of high quality Multimedia and Web Professionals who will meet the demanding needs of organizations for the largest generation of Multimedia applications.

During the programme Mr. Arshad Khalil, CEO Arena multimedia Pakistan, and Mr. Laiq. A. Siddiqui, General Manager Arena Multimedia, brief the listeners about Arena Multimedia and its course and respond to the online queries of callers.

Arena Multimedia has also initiated a programme with the name Customer Care to mark their Third Anniversary celebrations.

This programme is being initiated by Arena's Customer Care Cell. This programme is being introduced because Arena thinks that it has progressed only because of its customers and the trust which they had in Arena. By means of this programme Arena also welcome suggestions / queries / feedbacks. For this purpose one can write to them at customercare@arena-pakistan.com.

MCB foundation established IT training centre at Karachi

MCB Employees Foundation of Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd., which was established in the year 1994 with the main object to look after welfare affairs of their retired employees and members of their families i.e. providing financial assistance in the shape of monthly maintenance allowance to the widows, substance allowance to ex employees of seventy years and above, to defray educational expenses of school / college going children and grant for the marriage of daughters of ex employees.

Realising the importance of the information technology, MCB Foundation besides other things have established recently Information Technology Training Centre for MCB staff and members of their families.

Mr. Mohammad Aftab Manzoor, President, Muslim Commercial Bank inaugurated the Centre at MCB Foundation House, Opp: Mazar e Quaide Azam, Karachi.

Present on the occasion were all MCB Team members including Mr. Mohammed Aleemuddin, Chief Executive, of the Foundation and Trustees of the Foundation.

Pakistan France Business Alliance

Recently, the Consul General of France in Karachi Gilles Bonnaud hosted a reception at his residence to introduce the members of the Pakistan France Business Alliance (PFBA) to the Governor of Sindh Mohammedmian Soomro.

The Consul General warmly welcomed the Governor and thanked him for accepting his invitation to meet the members of the PFBA on his personal request, inspite of the short notice and his very busy schedule.

Naveed A. Khan President of the PFBA also the Honorary Consul General of Iceland and chairman Delta Shipping briefed the Governor about the aims and various activities of the PFBA during the last eleven years. He highlighted the constructive role played by the PFBA in promoting economic and commercial relations between the two countries and the expectations of the French investors

The Governor lauded the performance of the PFBA and appreciated the role French companies like Alcatel, Alstom, Rhone Poulenc, Credit Agricole, Societe Generale and Continental Biscuits (LU) were playing in the economic uplift of the country. He enumerated the various confidence building measures, the present government had taken at the federal and provincial levels which included improved law and order situation, upgraded infrastructure and legal reforms to protect foreign investments. He elaborated the economic strategy of the present government to overcome the debt-trap and the current account deficit. In this regard he made special mention of the better fiscal management, transparent privatization, rational restructuring of imports and exports. He hoped these measures would motivate foreign investors to invest in Pakistan. He invited French investors to bid for companies which would be privatized soon. The Governor assured the Consul General and members of the PFBA of his personal interest and support to facilitate their task.

Prominent members who attended the reception were Mr. Zakir Mahmood (Habib Bank), Mr. Hasan Ali Khan (Continental Biscuits), Mr. Jean Pierre Raynaud (Credit Agricole), Mr. S.K Pervez (Alstom), Mr. Patrick Chuzel (Air France), Mr. Ovais Ahmed (Pierre Cardin), Mr. Amin Hashwani (Hashwani Group), Mr. Akbar Sharif (Rakaposhi Tours) and French Trade Commissioner Jean Pierre Filippi.