GOVERNOR SINDH ADDRESSES NCR
SEMINAR-THE POWER OF PREDICTION!
Teradata, a division of NCR organized a seminar @ctive
Data Warehousing Seminar Series: The Power of Prediction! in
Islamabad. Chief guest on the occasion was the Governor Sindh
Mohammedmian Soomro and the guest of honor was Sindh Finance Minister
Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh. The keynote speaker at the Seminar was Dr.
Stephen Brobst, Chief Technology Officer NCR. Also present on the
occasion was Syed Veqar-ul-Islam, Country General Manager, NCR
Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion the Governor said,
"Information Technology is the key to all applicable knowledge.
Practically everything today is linked to Information Technology and
it cannot be denied that in prevailing times the progression of a
developing society like ours is largely dependent on the growth of our
IT sector. "
"I am glad that companies like NCR have been
consistent in their support to ensure that it plays its part in
supplementing the efforts of the Government of Pakistan in furthering
the usage of IT in Pakistan. We, as a country, have to select our
areas of focus within the IT industry and project Pakistan's strength
in these areas of focus. We must focus in the services sector, as this
is where the margins are increasing, and this is the area of real
growth", he added.
In his address Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh talked about
how Information Technology is changing with speed around the world and
the scenario in Pakistan is also the same. There is greater emphasis
being placed on IT in the country and in Sindh due importance was
being accorded to Information Technology. He also mentioned that while
infrastructure was being improved change would not emerge overnight.
The aim of the seminar was to make businesses and
organizations realize the importance of data, as data drives business.
Knowledge moves the marketplace and Intelligence the universe. For
organizations to stay competitive, they have to make acquisition of
intelligence — about their customers, their competitors and their
global position — their number one goal. @ctive data warehousing
transforms intelligence into actionable results, which is the key to
survival in the new economy. Organizations can see the real truth
about their business and know their customers every move.
Stephen Brobst, Chief Technology Officer, NCR
Corporation, who is considered to be an Icon in Data Warehousing &
CRM within NCR and worldwide specializing in the design and
construction of Data Warehouse solutions for Fortune 500 companies and
also is recognized as a speaker of worldwide acclaim on Data
Warehousing. Besides being the author of many books, he is also an
expert in the field of e-commerce and Customer Relationship Management
(CRM) solutions.
In the seminar, he covered different aspects of
data warehousing including moving transactions to decision support
systems, Customer Relationship Management through @ctive data
warehousing, evolution of data warehousing with real world examples
and developing a system support strategy. He illustrated various
concepts with real world examples, which were of great interest to the
audience present at the Seminar, which included Chief Executives,
Division Heads, Operation Managers, Business development Managers, IT
Managers and Marketing Managers.
The seminar especially proved effective for
government and non-government organizations in Pakistan providing them
with insights into the requirements for making strategic and tactical
decisions.
In 2000, NCR introduced these series of seminars in
Pakistan for the first time for introducing latest trends and
innovations in the field of data warehousing.
Earlier in his welcome address Syed Veqar-ul-Islam
said, "The key objective of these seminars is to bring awareness
about the emerging technology of Datawarehousing and CRM by bringing
speakers who are considered an ICON in the industry — worldwide.
This is our third consecutive year, where we have continued to invest
heavily in organizing such concept oriented and highly informative
seminars.
How a Centralized, single, trusted version of the
truth once available in the organization, helps you to conduct your
business. In Pakistan we are talking about "Growth" in every
segment. In some cases we have made progress, in others we are
striving hard. Talking about growth, how many of us actually know
which customer group in our own sphere of operation, provide the
greatest profit today — and more importantly which customer group
has the highest growth potential. It is invariably true, that very
small fraction of your customers drive the most profit, and more
importantly another small group has the highest growth
potential."
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT
SCIENCES, ISRA UNIVERSITY, HYDERABAD
Isra University, the first UGC recognized private
university of Hyderabad operates competitively three of its
departments — Medicine, Computer and management sciences.
As business education faces up the challenges of
the new millennium, the ripples created by the department of
management sciences are worth noticing in terms of dynamism and
qualitative education in less than four years.
Under the dynamic leadership of Prof. Dr. Amanat
Ali Jalbani, Chairman Department of Management Sciences, with its
top-notch faculty and the mix of business courses, it seemed to have
given an ample opportunity to the young brains of Hyderabad to have
their share of good education.
At the department of Management Sciences we believe
in providing quality education and training our students as
professionals in their field as well as making them good members of
our society.
Keeping its mission high in view, the faculty of
management sciences that includes Ph.Ds and PGDs from U.S., U.K and
Germany is working closely with the professionals of various business
fields, government, industry and commerce to develop greater awareness
and understanding that they could later on contribute to the
professional development of the students.
At present, the programs of Department of
Management Sciences include BBA-IT, BBA (Hons) MBA in MIS, Marketing
and Finance. It also offers MITM, which blends business studies with
computer sciences.
The faculty members use the modern teaching
methodologies to motivate and maintain the interests of the students
by arranging interactive exercises in the classes to brush up the
student's existing skills while helping them to gain a recognized
qualification. The activities include quizzes, business games,
presentations, assignments and case studies. All the students are
encouraged to use multimedia in the preparation of their presentation
and to make an effective use of information technology by working in
the computer labs to search for the current information about their
topics of presentations.
Isra University believes that knowledge is nowadays
the key source. The future belongs to those who know how to access and
use information. Keeping in view this factor it has developed the
crucial source of information for the students i.e. a good library
which comprises of foreign books currently used in the best
universities of the world, and constantly updating them with new
editions. Furthermore, it has tried to induce the case study method,
used by the best business schools like Harvard, in the curriculum and
course exercises and for that matter, the library is provided with
numerous case studies of the world's best companies. The library also
offers the students an access to audio and video sources which they
can relate to their courses to gain practical and current examples of
the companies while actually learning useful business skills.
In addition to the above-mentioned resources, the
department of Management Sciences of Isra University is known for its
clean vibrant environment purposely built buildings, spacious and air-
conditioned classrooms to create one of the best learning environment
among business schools.
Culmination of any fine education involves an
overall development of the personalities of the students. Everyone
knows this fact that the students should have original minds and it's
the best time to inculcate in them the best attitudes of life. A
staunch believer in the student's counseling this department has
arranged for the advisors of students in a ratio of 5 to l who are
none other but their teachers. They not only advise them on academic
activities but also take care of inducing in them a strong adherence
of moral and ethical values, which would make them good and
competitive citizens of Pakistan.
The mood of enthusiasm and hard work echoes
throughout the department with the dedication of Isra's Department of
Management Sciences to help support and nourish learning among its
students who INSHALLAH would soon prove to be the cream of the crop.
23rd AGM OF PAK KUWAIT
INVESTMENT CO.
The 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Pakistan
Kuwait Investment Company Limited (Pak Kuwait) was held in Karachi on
06 May 2002. Pak Kuwait is a 50:50 joint vcnture between the
Governments of Pakistan and Kuwait.
The AGM was attended by Mr. Abdulazim M.A. Al-Shamali,
representing Kuwait Investment Authority, Mr. Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi
representing Pak Kuwait and Mr. Mohammad Shakir — authorized
representative of the State Bank of Pakistan.
Mr. Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi — Managing Director,
Pak-Kuwait, appraised the share holders of the Business Plan of the
Company, including the various measures and initiatives being adopted
by the Management of Pak Kuwait to maintain its strategic position
against adverse economic environment, achieve an improved benchmark of
performance, in addition to the various initiatives being undertaken
by the Company that will act as a catalyst in revival of investment
activities in Pakistan. The Shareholders were also appraised of the
initiatives undertaken at Pak Kuwait to streamline internal processes
through introduction of Digital Archiving of records and
ISO-certification. It was felt that this would enable Pak Kuwait to
establish a strong organizational foundation, documentation and
manualization for improvement of internal management and control
systems required to meet international standards.
The Accounts for the year 2001 were considered and
approved at the AGM. The share holders appreciated the measures
adopted by the company that has resulted in posting of highest
operating profit of Rs. 984 million in the history of the Company, a
growth in balance sheet by Rs. 905 million ( 9%) with a net worth of
more than Rupees 4,000 million. Pak Kuwait continues its highly
impressive record of dividend payouts. A dividend payment of Rs. 365
million was approved for payment, inclusive of an interim dividend of
Rs. 165 million from the profit of the first quarter ended March 31st
2002.
The Managing Director informed the Shareholders of
the recent reaffirmation of 'AAA' credit rating status of Pak Kuwait
by the credit rating agency. The achievement of consecutive
maintenance of 'AAA' status for the third consecutive year was highly
appreciated by the shareholders. The Managing Director appraised the
Shareholders about the various measures being adopted by the
Management of Pak-Kuwait to meet new challenges for an improved
benchmark. This provides a challenge to the Company to excel over its
past performance.
LAUNCH OF MICRO FINANCE CELL
Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company (Private)
Limited formally launched the operations of Micro Finance Cell on 6th
of May, 2002 by disbursement to its first two customers. The two
customers have migrated to Karachi from Kohlo, Balochistan. Presently
they buy cloth from the market and sell in rural areas of Katror,
Lasbeela, Thatta etc.
Cheques were distributed by Mr. Abdulazim M.A. Al-Shamali
(Chairman - Pak Kuwait) and Mr. Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi (Managing
Director - Pak Kuwait) at the conclusion of the 23rd Annual General
Meeting of Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company (Pvt.) Limited in
presence of the nominees of State Bank of Pakistan and senior members
of the management.
On the occasion, the Chairman Mr. Abdulazim M.A.
Al-Shamali stated that Pak-Kuwait has initiated the endeavour of
launching the Micro Finance initiative that will go along way to
contribute to the well being of the common man.
Mr. Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi, Managing Director of
Pak-Kuwait stated that Pak-Kuwait envisages playing a dynamic role in
the area of Micro Finance. He added that micro-finance can play a
major role in employment generation and poverty alleviation.
Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company (Pvt.) Limited
has established the Micro Finance Cell to offer financial services for
the benefit of disadvantaged section of the population. Micro Finance
Cell will design products and provide financial assistance to Micro
Entrepreneurs for initiating or expanding income generating activities
in commercial, industrial, agricultural and service sector. The cell
will promote formation and capacity building of community based
micro-finance institutions.
While initiating and expanding income-generating
activities, the cell will collaborate with welfare associations and
other institutions closer to potential customers. It will provide a
variety of support services, which would include, motivating and
organizing the poor, extending financial training, helping build
backward and forward linkages. The cell will give priority to people
below poverty line, 'special persons' and women. The cell will also
guide and encourage skilled workers and educated unemployed youth for
starting their own career as micro entrepreneurs.
Micro Finance Cell will initially serve the
Customers residing in Karachi particularly the rural areas and Goths
adjacent to Karachi.
NISAR COMMENDS PSO FOR
'TURNAROUND'
Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has achieved a phenomenal
tunnaround and can now be cited as a role model for corporate good
governance.
This was stated by Mr Nisar Memon, Federal Minister
for Information and Media Development, at a largely attended
dinner-reception hosted in his honour by Mr Tariq Kirmani, Managing
Director, Pakistan State Oil, at a local club.
Mr Nisar Memon served at the PSO Board of
Management for almost two years before his present assignment as
Federal Minister.
He especially praised the way the present
management has steered the company clear of the financial morass of
the yester-years and broutht it back to No. l position among the oil
marketing companies operating in Pakistan.
He said though he had resigned from the PSO board
immediately after assuming the ministerial charge to avoid any
semblance of clash of interests, his heart was still with this premier
corporate entity of the country.
Mr Tariq Kirmani narrated the contribtion Mr Nisar
Memon made to the company's well being as its board member. He also
thanked the minister for his continued cooperation and guidance.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. M Salim, Chairman,
PSO Board of Management, observed that Mr Nisar Memon's contribution
to the company could be gauged from the fact that the board has yet to
find suitable replacement for him.
The guests at the reception represented a
cross-section of the corporate elite.
PSO SAVES US$ 850,000 IN FUEL
OIL IMPORT
PSO invited tenders for supply of 275,000 MT High
Sulphur Furnace Oil (HSFO) and 75,000 MT of Low Sulphur Furnace Oil (LSFO).
The tenders were opened on 2nd May in a transparent manner in presence
of suppliers/traders or their representatives.
The bids were very competitive resulting in lower
premiums as compared to Term Contract premiums. There were 11
participants for the PSO tender and 6 participated in the Japanese
Tender.
The premiums were identical in both tenders. HSFO
premium ranged from US$ 10.98 PMT to US$ l9.95PMT for M/s. Fal Oil and
M/s. Vitol respectively, against the term price of US$ 12.88 PMT. The
bids for LSFO ranged from US$ 28.44 PMT to US$ 45 PMT for Mls. Fal Oil
and M/s. Hascombe Ltd. respectively against our Term premium of US$
34.00 PMT.
Based on the lowest premium M/s. Fal Oil was
awarded 3 firm and 1 optional cargo for HSFO and 2 firm and 1 optional
for LSFO. M/s. Bakri was awarded one Optional Cargo of HSFO.
As a result of this tough competition between
Suppliers/Traders an amount of US$ 850,000 has been saved by PSO for
the nation.
PSO does not retain these savings and passes on the
same to its customers in the shape of lower prices of HSFO/LSFO.
Hence,on one hand, PSO has saved precious foreign exchange of
approximately US$ 850,000 and, on the other hand, PSO will reduce the
price of LSFO/HSFO by an equivalent amount to benefit its customers.
