E-bikes, e-rickshaws in Punjab

The Government of Punjab, Transport Department, held a launch ceremony last week to introduce new initiatives to revolutionise the transportation sector, as per a press release. The event, held at Faletti’s Hotel Lahore, showcased the Punjab government’s commitment to promoting sustainable and eco-friendly modes of transportation.

This initiative featured the launch of an interest-free scheme in partnership with The Bank of Punjab (BOP), aimed to providing 10,000 e-bikes to university students across Punjab. Besides, the Punjab government also initiated the registration of retrofitted three-wheelers and issued the inaugural license for e-rickshaws. These are significant milestones in the transition towards sustainable transportation in Punjab.

The event was attended by Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Chief Minister of Punjab and Zafar Masud, President/CEO of BOP, among others. Mr Naqvi announced that from now on, the Punjab government will only purchase e-bikes.

The chief minister also added that 2,000 e-bikes for government servants, 2,000 e-bikes for working women and 2,000 e-scooties for disabled persons would also be provided through an interest free programme soon.

Mindshare partners with EFU Life

Mindshare has partnered with EFU Life to drive the brand’s digital marketing strategy, as per a press release.

This collaboration aims to introduce a data-driven media approach to communicating the benefits and importance of life insurance and financial well-being.

Mohammed Ali Ahmed, CEO & MD EFU Life, expressing his thoughts on the partnership, said, “Leveraging all digital channels for engaging with potential and existing customers, and tapping into new segments is a key part of EFU Life’s strategy. With this partnership, our goal is to leverage the media expertise of Mindshare to curate effective communication and use data to enhance the impact of our outreach.”

Amna Khatib Paracha, CDO of GroupM & MD of Mindshare, added, “At GroupM, we believe in bringing data upfront into our strategies and tailoring the communication based on the needs of businesses and audiences. With EFU’s market approach and Mindshare’s media expertise, we aim to elevate the online presence of the insurance industry.”

Fact-checking initiative iVerify

The Centre of Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, has launched a non-partisan fact-checking initiative, iVerify, to advance the scope of independent and unbiased reporting in the country’s journalistic landscape, as per a press release.

Addressing the iVerify launch ceremony at Serena Hotel, Islamabad, Amber Rahim Shamsi, Director CEJ-IBA, said the tool would be an important step in ensuring transparent and verifiable news reporting and investigation methodologies.

She added, “Seeing the rise of misinformation in both digital and conventional media spaces, the fact-checking mechanism established by iVerify shall become a cornerstone of reliable, non-partisan journalism in Pakistan.”

iVerify currently offers one of the few robust verification approaches for journalists in the country, emphasising eliminating bias, authenticating facts, and processing news articles through manual examination. It is internationally accredited by the United Nations Development Programme and has been successfully implemented in several countries around the world.

Emirates perks for travellers

Emirates has announced a new offer for travellers planning to visit Dubai this winter. Starting from 12th January, people who have bought flights to Dubai or add a stopover in Dubai of eight hours or more can enjoy free tickets to two of Dubai’s biggest attractions — the Museum of the Future and Atlantis Aquaventure, as per a press release.

The Museum of the Future is the newest feature in the Dubai skyline, where visitors will be transported into the world 50 years from now. Furthermore, visitors can cool off on the slides and rides at Atlantis Aquaventure, the world’s largest waterpark.

This special offer is valid on tickets bought between 12th January to 1st February 2024 for travel between 15th January and 31st March 2024.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, January 15th, 2024