News Release - National Science Fair

Intel Announces National Science Fair Winners

Winners to represent Pakistan at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2014in Los Angeles, California

                                         

PAKISTAN, Islamabad, January 29, 2013 – Intel Pakistan today concluded its National Science Competition by announcing the winners who will represent Pakistan at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2014, to be held in Los Angeles, California, USA from May 11^th to 16^th.

GRAND WINNERS INDIVIDUAL

Name: Syeda Minahil

Project: Cure of Piles.

Institution: Forward Girls College E2 Hayatabad, Peshawar

Name: Sidra Riaz

Project: Prevention of Ozone by 2 Environment Pollution Filters (EPF)

Institution: Chtchi Memon Academy Gaya Girls College, Karachi

Name: Syed Talal Wasim

Project: Surveillance Spy Robot

Institution: Agha Khan Higher Secondary School, Karachi.

GRAND WINNERS GROUP

Names: Haris Bin Ashraf, Muhammad Babar Shah, Tahir Ali Ajmeri

Project: Cheap & Efficient conversion of Plastic garbage in to Combustive Oil

Institution: Defence Authority Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed College, Karachi.

Names: Shazia Khair Muhammad, Iqra Irshad, Sana Batool

Project: Turbine

Institution: Punjab Danish School, Girls Branch, Hasilpur.

The National Science Fair showcased more than 83science projects submitted by young scientists from all four provinces after rigorous competition at district and provincial levels. Winners of the National Science Fair have qualified to compete in the International Science & Engineering Fair, showcasing their talent on an international platform for over $4 million in prizes and scholarships.

“The huge number of students who have qualified for the National Science Fair and the ones who’ve further secured a position in the International Science& Engineering Fair in Los Angeles are proof that Pakistan is home to incredible talent. One of the core outcomes of education is to produce productive citizens and role models for tomorrow, which we can only achieve by enabling students in becoming acquainted with and excelling InTechnology,” said Naveed Siraj, Country Manager, Intel Pakistan. “Pakistani students receive international recognition and gain valuable exposure through this platform, while at the same time showing the real potential for Pakistan around the world. I would like to thank all the students who have participated in the Science Fairs at all the qualifying levels, and wish the winning teams the best of luck in Los Angeles.”

Xpress Money celebrates its 10 year milestone in Pakistan

~ Pioneering a host of innovative services for its customers over the decade ~

Islamabad, 28 January, 2014: 

Xpress Money, the world’s most dependable money transfer brand, has successfully completed 10 years of service in Pakistan. Since its inception in 2003, the remittance service provider is playing a very important role in the Pakistan remittance industry with a share of around 10% in the organized market. In 2011, Xpress Money became the leading foreign remittance player in Pakistan processing over 2.5 million transactions to the country.

In these ten years, Xpress Money as a brand expanded its footprint in 150 districts across Pakistan by collaborating with leading banks, financial institutions and cellular service providers. The brand has increased its presence by over 500 percent since its launch and currently has a strong network of over 15,000 agent locations across the country. In the past decade, Xpress Money has offered a plethora of services like Cash-to-Cash, Direct Account Credit, Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), Mobile Account Credit and was the first to pioneer convenient consumer-focused services like Inter Bank Funds Transfer (IBFT) and Door-Delivery service. Xpress Money customers remitting money from KSA and Kuwait get an additional benefit of a free life insurance cover – a value add that no other international money transfer operator provides. 

Talking about this milestone, Mr. Rizwan Ali Hamdani, Country Manager – AFPAK, Xpress Money said, “Xpress Money’s ten-year success story reflects our idea of facilitating migrants to send remittances legally, in a simple, fast and safe way by providing attractive exchange rates. We are grateful to all our stakeholders and business partners for their continuous support, which helped us reach this milestone. We will consistently strive to expand our business so that we can serve more customers by driving the brand philosophy of ‘Bringing Home Closer’.”

Xpress Money is currently present in over 150 countries and aims to be present in all countries across the globe by the end of 2015. The brand has a robust expansion plan in place for Pakistan and aims to achieve newer milestones in the country over the next few years.

Success Story

Shaping the Future

Irshad bibi, a resident of Bahawalpur is well known and respected for her pottery work and beautifully painted pitchers in the area. Her work is not only appreciated at the town level but dealers from main Bahawalpur City are buyers of her products. She is a role model for other women who have the potential to use their skills to improve their livelihood and break the circle of poverty.

Bibi dedicates her success to her family members and Khushhalibank who supported her financially in the hour of need. When her husband passed away suddenly, she found herself to be the sole provider for her three daughters. Not educated and completely lacking in any kind of practical experience outside her home, Irshad Bibi was faced with all her fears. But she resolved to provide for her children by using her talent and flare for pottery.

When she decided to start a business of crafting pitchers and various other utensils, it was appreciated by family as a good idea but the practical implication was the grueling task of arranging initial financial resources for purchasing equipment and raw material. Regretted by various relatives for provisioning of loan, she took advice from an elder of her village about any bank providing such facility. 

It is a daunting task for a woman with no formal education to approach a bank as loan processes are considered difficult but she was delighted that Khushhalibank in her area not only accepted her loan request but also provided her up to date entrepreneurship counseling throughout the process of setting up the business which establishes the bank’s resolve towards reducing poverty and enhancing women empowerment.