BIG DATA

BigData Goes Green

By Naveed Siraj

I’ve recently made the effort to be more environmentally friendly. I turn the TV off at the mains when I’ve finished watching it, and I’ve stopped letting the tap run when I brush my teeth. Did you know that you can save up to eight gallons of water a day doing that?

We’re constantly asked by governments and utility companies to be more energy efficient in our day-to-day lives, so I wanted to do my bit. I hope you are too.

There’s no hiding from the fact that we all need to be more energy efficient to reduce harmful carbon emissions and to satisfy growing demand for energy from the ever-increasing global population. Take Asia Pacific for instance. Between 2010 and 2035 energy demand is set to increase by 67 per cent, which will account for more than half the world’s energy consumption. 

This wouldn’t be such a problem if all the resources needed to generate power were renewable. Unfortunately however, coal, oil and gas – the main resources used for energy production – are running out, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

It’s an unsustainable situation, which is why change is needed. The small changes we can make to the way we consume energy is easing the pressure, and is something we should continue doing, but there’s a game changer coming which is going to revolutionize the way we use and generate energy.

Big Data, delivering big insights.

Across the globe, power grids are being modernized and made smarter by a host of new technologies, such as sensors, metering solutions, and home energy management systems – some of which are powered by Intel chips – creating a variety of data sets delivering a deeper insight into the infrastructure’s performance. These “smart grids” will be generating unprecedented amounts of data – relating to energy production all the way to consumption – and connecting with various devices and systems empowering all involved to enhance their energy efficiency.

If you’re scratching your head wondering how all this data created by the smart grid is going to deliver improved energy efficiency while enhancing the service you receive from your provider, let me explain.

First and foremost, Big Data insights on energy consumption and generation allow utilities to effectively and efficiently manage the power grid in near-real time. What this means is that utilities have a detailed overview of the volume of energy flowing through the entire power grid and can scale it up or down accordingly at any time to meet demand; allowing us to better manage and use our precious resources. It also allows utilities to identify faulty parts of the network so that they can isolate them and mitigate the impact such faults have on the rest of the power grid.

Let me give you an example. Through analyzing data about ad breaks for popular TV shows or national sporting events, utility companies can anticipate windows where huge power surges will occur when viewers rush to switch the kettle on or grab a glass of water placing significant pressure on the network. As such, the volume of power in the grid or water in the network can be managed accordingly to satisfy demand while ensuring the processes deployed are efficient. 

The use of renewable energy in the power grid is also a great piece of evidence of how data analysis is enabling us to be greener. For instance, being able to predict how much power is generated by solar power and comparing this with usage data, utilities can identify how much energy needs to be generated from non-renewable sources, therefore reducing wastage and better managing the network.

Better understanding how we use energy will also empower utilities to offer us consumers tailored tariffs suited to our individual needs, deliver more accurate bills, and incentivize us to be more energy efficient. For instance, to ease the pressure placed on the power grid during peak hours, energy providers can offer reduced rates during off-peak hours to encourage usage then. This not only increases energy efficiency, but improves customer service.

To investigate the hugely positive impact Big Data can have on energy efficiency, Intel set up Pecan Street Inc., a nonprofit consortium of universities, technology companies, and utility providers collaborating on testing, piloting, and commercializing smart grid technologies – since launching two years ago we’ve gathered over 80GB of data from sensor systems in just over 200 households in the Mueller community of Austin, Texas.

Through the insight gleaned we aim to drive new products, services, and economic opportunities helping you to easily and efficiently manage energy consumption, while making your homes more comfortable to live in. 

It’s critical we all still make the little changes – like turning the tap off when brushing your teeth – but it’s encouraging to know that in Big Data we have a tool that will help us enhance energy efficiency further to ensure the environmental wellbeing of our children and future generations.

The author Naveed Siraj is Country Manager, Intel Pakistan

Be Curious. Look Inside™

Not All Tablets Are Created Equal

By Naveed Siraj

I was told as a child that it’s what’s on the inside that counts and makes us who we are. This has resonated with me ever since, which is why I’m passionate about my work at Intel and helping people to understand this when they’re choosing a tablet device for the first time.

So what makes up the inside? We all know that atoms are the basic building blocks of life that make up everything we know. They are the food we nourish ourselves with, the water that keeps us hydrated, the bed we sleep in and the technology we use each day. 

Increasingly however, we are asking important questions about what makes up the things we consume. From fair trade or ‘green’ products, to the amount of hidden sugar in supposedly healthy foods, technology devices are no different as they become central to our lives.  So central in fact that tablet ownership has risen across countries in Asia over the past year.Research from Intel supports this, projecting a compound annual growth rate of 38 per cent (2013 – 2017) in the tablet market.As our demands in life increase and preferences change, we want to know that what is inside our devices can help us to keep pace with these needs. 

Variety is the spice of life – The many uses for tablets

Often thought of as simply an entertainment device, tablets are being used in a multitude of ways. For example, a study found that Asia-Pacific consumers are using tablets to search for deals and make price comparisons. In a typical three-month period, nearly 80 per cent of the Asian shoppers surveyed, used a tablet to make a purchase. Not only this but, according to Forrester, a fifth of the world’s tablets will be owned by businesses by 2017, especially as the bring-your-own-device trend prevails. 

As the uses for tablets evolve, so too does the demand for varying levels of tablet performance, making it important to understand that different components inside a tablet will deliver different performance. Not all tablets perform equally, so look at the ‘ingredients’ of a device and choose one that best suits your needs.

What’s inside – The tablet ‘ingredients’

The processor is the ‘brains’ that powers the devices we use in our lives. It provides the performance you need to run multiple applications at once and deliver great experiences – be it surfing the Internet, looking at pictures of friends and family or when watching videos or playing games. It is the very heart of the device; it’s the ‘atom’ that makes up its very being. 

When you’re choosing a device for the first time, while you consider what’s on the outside, pay just as much attention to what is on the inside to meet your everyday needs.

But how do you work out what you need your device to do? At Intel we believe there are five ingredients you should consider:

• A powerful processor, which demands less power, enabling the device to be thinner, sleeker and last longer.

• Outstanding battery life that can provide you with more than 10 hours active battery life and three weeks of standby. You don’t have to worry if you accidentally leave your charger at home for the day.

• If you’re an avid gamer or simply appreciate good graphics, you’ll want superior graphics performance to give you a smooth and immersive gaming or vivid movie-watching experience.

• If you shop online or use Facebook you’ll want a digital life protection feature that keeps your online identity private, protects you from phishing attacks and keeps your data secure.

We understand that everyone’s palate is different, which is why there are so many devices that cater to these differing tastes, and that come in different shapes and sizes, speeds and weights. Some are super thin and sleek, while others are more robust for playful students. However, no matter what they look like on the outside, they all are made up of the same powerful ‘atom’ on the inside– it is the processor that counts. 

I put this challenge to you. Next time you’re looking to buy a new tablet device -ask the question, ‘What’s inside?’

The author Naveed Siraj is Country Manager, Intel Pakistan

Media Briefing

Lamudi.pk continues to enjoy the confidence of the Pakistani real estate sector

Islamabad, March 19, 2014 – Lamudi.pk, the leading real estate classifieds player in Asia, Africa and Latin America, held an interactive session today where Country Director Saad Arshed briefed the media about the success of the venture in Pakistan. Lamudi.pk has become the market leader in Pakistan in terms of growth as it is uploading more than 15,000 properties per month.

Launched last year, the venture has made tremendous inroads in the market and has captured a sizable portion. The online portal has managed to bring more than 500 trusted real estate agents on board and has 35,000 active property listings for thousands of visitors every day. Within this short span of time, the portal has also launched a mobile version of the website to provide the smart phone users an interface that is easy to operate.

Lamudi.pk’s service is straight forward, whether people are looking for properties for rent or for sale, the internet platform Lamudi.pk enables customers to easily find or sell their house, apartment, commercial property or land online. At the same time, property providers and agents get a trusted online presence through a personalized webpage.

Speaking on the occasion Saad Arshed, Country Director, Lamudi.pk said that “Over the course of the last few months we have successfully developed our real estate website in Pakistan. Internet users are growing exponentially in the country and Lamudi.pk is fully cognizant of this fact. We wish to provide our customers with the best deals for private and commercial properties wherever and whenever they want. Keeping in view the demand, we have already launched a mobile version of the website to enable the 15 million smart phone users easy access to the website without logging on to their personal computers. We will continue to bring further innovations in the real estate market to make the rent and sale of properties a hassle free process.”

Key characteristics of Lamudi.pk are its diverse property offers, the intuitive website set-up and the high security standards to avoid fraud. The business platform operates under a high level of transparency through professional photos, updated listings, detailed descriptions, reports and rankings for all of its properties in each market. The Lamudi.pk platform helps brokers to manage their inventory fast, easy and stress-free.

90% of respondents in a recent survey said they’d prefer a touch-enabled device

Intel gives a new touch to technology

PAKISTAN, Lahore, 11 March, 2014 – Intel Pakistan put a different spin on technology as it hosted an informative and entertaining seminar at Pearl Continental Lahore on Touch and Mobile Technology as both a stylish accessory and an essential connectivity tool for modern men and women.

Touch is becoming a standard feature across the board now in devices such as mobiles and tablets. A wide array of devices such as 2-in-1s, Ultrabooks and other notebooks feature touch as well on latest Intel processors. This highlights the importance of creating awareness and knowledge about how to optimize on this technology so that users can enhance their experiences and life-styles accordingly.

The seminar focused on useful information on using and carrying touch devices on a day to day basis whether for work or for personal tasks. Along with fun aspects and useful tips, the seminar undertook discussing the benefits of using touch enabled devices in the workplace; 90% of respondents in a recent survey of Intel employees said they’d prefer a touch-enabled device, while many workers are choosing tablets or Ultrabooks with touch, as their companies adopt BYOD (Bring your own Device) policies.

Key features of the state of the art technology such as its speed, weight and design, combines practicality and style to complement perfectly with your everyday life. They are not just innovative, beautiful and intelligent; they offer performance levels of a full laptop, keeping you connected while on the go without weighing you down. Ultrabooks in particular are less than 0.8 inches thick, weigh barely one kilogram and will fit perfectly in your handbag while still having space for all your other necessities

Touch technology means users can interact with devices in a more natural manner, but there is a need to build awareness as to how it affects work scenarios – including the way we behave and share information. Intel believes that touch-enabled devices will significantly improve both employee productivity and enterprise efficiency along with enhancing the user experience in the personal sphere.

“This is a good opportunity for us to integrate lifestyle with technology and narrow the distinction between a tech-savvy and an everyday technology user in Pakistan. At Intel, we are not producing technology for the sake of it. We want to deliver deeper experiences, in touch with the social and emotional needs of our consumers in their homes, tailoring solutions to variable local needs around the world. The way the technology landscape has evolved, various devices like PCs, tablets, phones are now indispensable and quickly becoming an extension of an individual. We want to ensure that whatever gadget our users choose, it enhances their sense of self. With Intel Inside, you can definitely get more out of your devices, helping you to do what you love to do.” said Asma Aziz, PR and Marketing Manager, Intel Pakistan.

Women’s Awards Ceremony

Khushhali bank Idol Award to be presented at the 6th LADIESFUND® Women’s Awards Ceremony

Islamabad, 27th February 2014 - Dawood Global Foundation hosted a press conference to officially announce the 6th LADIESFUND® Women’s Awards for Pakistan 2014 to be held at Mohatta Palace Museum on 1st March, 2014. Four hundred of the most dynamic and inspiring women in Pakistan will be in attendance including internationally acclaimed Pakistani women.

This event is sponsored by Dawood Global Foundation, Khushhali bank Ltd., Pioneer Cement, Primus Investment Management Ltd. (IPO IMMF), The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Karachi.

Ghalib Nishtar, President of Khushhali bank Ltd, sponsor of the Idol Award, sent a special message:"Khushhali bank Idol Award is the recognition of the female role models who have succeeded against the odds and made the country proud. We support the mission of the LADIESFUND® to celebrate the success of these women who managed to elevate their status in society as the Women of Substance and we feel honored to support such initiatives. The recipient of this prestigious award will be an inspiration for those females whose struggles are to be recognized in the years to come.”

LADIESFUND® Advisory Council members include Amir Adnan, Byram Avari, Dr. Ishrat Husain, Khalid Mirza, Nasreen Jalil, Shafqat Sultana, Saad Khan, Sultana Siddiqui and Syed Ali Reza.The panel of the press conference included Tara Uzra Dawood, Nazneen Tariq Khan, Aminah Zaheer, Sayeeda Leghari and Laila Sarfraz.

Tara Uzra Dawood, President, Dawood Global Foundation, announced, “We are delighted to be holding the 6th LADIESFUND® Women’s Awards for Pakistan 2014 where we continue to honor the most dynamic and extraordinary women in our country.”

LADIESFUND® was established in 2007 as an initiative to provide financial security to women and to promote and train women entrepreneurs. It aims to integrate the entrepreneurial needs based on the economic and social aspects of the local communities, with respect to greater women participation in the workforce.

Platform and Robust Tool Suite Reduces Cost and Accelerates Time to Market

Intel Announces Family of Virtualization Platforms for Industrial Systems

                                                                                                                   

Islamabad: February 25, 2014 –Intel Corporation today unveiled the Intel® Industrial Solutions System Consolidation Series, providing an accelerated path for OEMs, machine builders and system integrator to implement state-of-the-art industrial embedded systems. This is the first pre-integrated, pre-validated embedded virtualization product that allows customers to merge and manage multiple discrete systems into a single machine. The new series enables industrial and automation design makers to reduce costs and deliver new products faster and more efficiently.

            As the first embedded virtualization product specifically designed for industrial and automation environments, the Intel Industrial Solutions System Consolidation Series allows customers to merge and manage multiple discrete systems into a single machine to deliver a low-risk path toward more efficient automation processes.

“More and more, the industrial sector is looking to technology for innovative ways to become even more efficient and competitive,”said Jim Robinson, general manager of Segments and Broad Market Division, Internet of Things Solutions Group at Intel. “By bringing together what have typically been multiple subsystems within industrial equipment into a single computing platform, Intel’s application-ready platform makes it easier and more affordable for OEMs, machine builders and system integrators to deliver consolidated, virtualized systems.” 

The Intel® Industrial Solutions System Consolidation Series offers a complete bundled solution containing an embedded computer with an Intel® Core™ i7 processor and apre-integrated virtualization software stack. The software stack includes Wind River Hypervisor* pre configured to support three partitions running two instances of Wind River VxWorks* for real-time applications and one instance of Wind River Linux 5.0 for non-real-time applications. 

Prior to this, consolidating solutions was a considerable challenge because many applications within the industrial segment require real-time performance or the ability to perform in a very predictable way. Virtualization addresses this by enabling secure partitioning of important workloads using multiple virtual machines. With three partitions, developers can consolidate multiple discrete subsystems onto a single device, offering reduced costs, increased flexibility and reduced factory space.       

Baosight*, one of the largest system integrators in China, used the IntelIndustrial Solutions System Consolidation Series to create iCentroGate*, a secure data collection and communication product that merged the tasks of two separate devices into one CPU. Using the Intel solution, the company reported saving an estimated 60 percent of development time and 50 percent of development costs.

            “The Intel Industrial Solutions System Consolidation Series is helping us provide a unique and innovative solution to our mainstream customers, which gives us a huge technological advantage,”said Dong Wensheng, general manager of Baosight’s R&D Division. “By starting with the Intel application-ready platform, our development cost and time have been reduced significantly.”

Later this year, Intel will offer the bundle with the same software and the inclusion of McAfee Embedded Control.* This product will be offered without the embedded PC and will be available to qualified embedded ODMs to enable greater customization and branding.

The Intel Industrial Solutions System Consolidation Series initial development kit recommended customer price is $3858 with 1 year of support and maintenance. The recommended customer price for the production kit is $2998 with 1 year of support and maintenance. Both will be available in Q2. 

New Software Tools for Industrial Systems

            Intel also released a new version of Intel® System Studio, a suite of software tools tailored to developers creating industrial embedded systems including those using the Intel Industrial Solutions System Consolidation Series. The new software and tool suite provides highly optimized build and performance analysis tools to help ensure functional reliability throughout the system life cycle. Intel System Studio is available free of charge for a limited time if purchased with the Intel Industrial Solutions System Consolidation Series.

            Intel System Studio is part of the Intel Developer Program for Internet of Things, announced yesterday. This comprehensive program provides hobbyists, students, makers and entrepreneurial developers with the resources needed to turn ideas into applications, and then introduce those apps into the market. 

Real Time Analytics

Intel Advances Next Phase of Big Data Intelligence: Real Time Analytics

Intel® Xeon® Processor E7 v2 FamilyDelivers Industry’s Most Advanced Technology

forIn-Memory Analytics to AccelerateMajor BusinessTransformations

Islamabad: February 19, 2014 –To help companies in a variety of industries from retail and healthcare to banking and transportation turn data into actionable insights, Intel Corporation today introduced the Intel® Xeon® processor E7 v2 family.

Using analytics enables businessesto make decisions that improve top-line and bottom-lineresults. The Intel Xeon processor E7 v2 family delivers new capabilities to process and analyze large, diverse amounts of data to unlock information that was previously inaccessible.

Big data and the Internet of Things (IoT) are providing enormous opportunities for many organizations to grow as they create revenue-generating services from the information they are able to derive. The big data technology and services market is expected to grow 27 percent annually through 2017 to reach $32.4 billion4. A leading driver ofthis growth isthe immense amount of data coming from connected devices making up the IoT,which is projected to grow to 30 billion devices by 20204. Investments in the highest performing technologies and analysis solutionscan also deliver significant cost savings. For example, Intel’s IT organization expects to achieve cost savings and increased bottom-line revenue of nearly half a billion dollars through use of analytics solutions by 2016.

The Intel Xeon processor E7 v2 family has triple the memory capacity of the previous generation processor family, allowing much faster andthorough data analysis. In-memory analytics places and analyzes an entire data set – such as an organization’s entire customer database – in the system memory rather than on traditional disk drives. This method is gaining in popularity due to the increased need for more complex analytics. Industry analyst firm Gartner expects 35 percent6 of mid- to large-sized companies will adopt in-memory analytics by 2015, up from 10 percent in 2012 and predicts at least 50 percent of Global 2000 companies will use in-memory computing to deliver significant additional benefits from investments in enterprise resource planning (ERP).

EBay, one of the world's largest and most complex online marketplaces,handles massive datasets of more than 50 petabytes (PB) for more than 100 million users. Based on initial testing of the new Intel Xeon processor E7 v2 and SAP’s HANA*in-memory analytics software, eBay has seen greater performance7 and understanding of larger data sets that will help drive additional revenue opportunities for its customers.

Built for up to 32-socket8 servers, with configurations supporting up to 15 processing cores and up to 1.5 terabytes (TB) of memory per socket, the new processor family achieves twice the average performance of the previous generation3. These enhancements help businesses that run mission critical applications including business support systems (BSS), customer relationship management (CRM), and ERP to operate more efficiently, at lower cost and with faster response times2. For example, a sales team with these capabilities can maximize revenue by pinpointing the best time to sell a product,or let an oil and gas company better predict whenits platformsrequire preventative maintenance.

To reduce data bottlenecks, the Intel Xeon Processor E7 v2 family features Intel® Integrated I/O,Intel® Data Direct I/Oand support for PCIe 3.0*, achieving up to four times the I/O bandwidth over the previous generation9 and providing extra capacity for storage and networking connections.

System uptime and reliability also remains a key requirement for mission critical applications. The Intel Xeon Processor E7 v2 family continues Intel’s tradition of delivering world-class reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS). Intel® Run Sure Technology10is designed for “five nines” solutions essential for business-critical data by reducing the frequency and cost of planned and unplanned downtime.

Success Story

Hafeez Bibi SuccessStory

Hafeez Bibi, a resident of Bahawalpur, is a well known and respected figure in the society for to her art of crafting ethnic woolen bed linen.Her prowess is not only known in the local town but buyers from other parts of the district also place orders with her owing to her creative and unique touch.HafeezBibi dedicates her success to her family members and Khushhalibank who supported her financially in the hour of need.

Life was once all together different for her as she was divorced soon after getting married. Her parents who were the only source of income for her family died early leaving Hafeez Bibi as the soul guardian for her younger brothers and sisters. Bereft, these were the tough times of her life because she was unable to get a decent employment due to lack of education.

Despite the odds she decided to harness her sense of aesthetics and skill with handicraft, starting her own business of making woolen bed linen. The major implication of this idea was dealing with a lack of financial resources to overcome which she reached out to relatives. Not surprisingly, Hafeez faced negative feedback regarding the social implications of a woman endeavoring on a financial venture alone.

It was by chance and luck Hafeez Bibi heard of Khushhalibank’s Microfinance scheme and true to its promise Khushhalibank not only fulfilled her loan request but facilitated her with the best possible entrepreneurship counsel.

Hafeez Bibi is now a role model for the deprived women of her society, a living testimony that the willingness to changing your destiny ultimately results in removing all the barriers. Looking at her success those people who were against her initial step towards financial dependence are now sending their own women to learn the art of making woolen bed linenfrom Hafeez bibi. 

Intel 2 in 1 devices

“2 in 1, twice the love!”

By Asma Aziz

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and what better time to fall in love with a new PC... But not just any PC! Why compromise with a device that keeps you chained up at home by a power cord.

Starting a relationship with a new device requires the same amount of forethought that you would give to starting a new ‘human’ relationship. Are you going to be able to take them places? Are they going to impress you, empower you, and make you laugh? Will they play you music to make you smile, know your favorite moviesthat make cry?

And most importantly, will they grow as you grow – change and adapt to any environment?Sometimes you want the best of both worlds and you think that might be too much to ask? WRONG.A 2 in 1 device is everything that you want in a PC partner – and more. It’s a tablet and a PC. A work colleague, and an entertaining companion.It’s a 2 in 1 love affair!

Whether you are curled up on the couch watching your favorite HD movie in tablet mode, or getting down to some serious business in laptop mode, a 2 in 1 device puts your every computing desire right at your fingertips.

There’s a host of 2 in 1 devices powered by Intel,fully charged and ready to meet you. So don’t be a slave to the power cord this Valentine’s Day – or compromise with a companion that doesn’t offer you your digital world on a platter, go forth and find your perfect 2 in 1 PC match. It’s the tablet you want plus the laptop you need.

What to look for in the perfect PC partner

-          Punctual: Ultrafast and responsive – a 2 in 1 device powered by Intel, starts up in seconds, so say goodbye to waiting around

-          Energetic: With up to nine hours battery life, can you keep up with your device?

-          Versatile: 2 in 1 gives you Intel level laptop performance and tablet mobility in one perfect package. So you can work when you need to and play when you want to.

-          Touchy Feely: A 2 in 1 lets you swipe, flick, pinch and move seamlessly between tasks, with the touch of a finger so you are always in touch with what matters most to you 

-          Protective: With built in security, your personal information stays personal.

-          The perfect catch: Powered by Intel, a 2 in 1 device will offer you amazing visuals, blazing performance, and battery life that lasts. It’s your perfect date!

    (The Author is the PR and Marketing Manager for Intel Srilanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan)

ECO-MARATHON AWARD

PAKISTAN TEAM SECURES ECO-MARATHON AWARD

Student vehicles improve mileage performance despite a more challenging street circuit

Islamabad: February 13, 2014: While Indonesia and Thailand won four and three titles respectively on the track at Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) Asia 2014, Pakistan walked away with an award for marketing and communicating their vehicles the most effectively.

Despite the challenges teams faced on a new street circuit in Manila, teams continued to set records in a number of fuel categories, on a track designed to test the boundaries of fuel efficiency in a real world environment, and who can drive the furthest on the equivalent of 1 kWh or 1 litre of fuel.

Team How Much Ethanol from Panjavidhya Technological College Thailand drove 2,730km on a litre of ethanol – the highest mileage recorded at this year’s competition and the equivalent distance from Manila to Jakarta. In the Urban Concept Gasoline category, team Universitas Indonesia set a new best performance of 301.7km/l – almost double their previous results.

In addition to 12 on-track awards, teams also competed for six off-track awards that tested various technical and creative skills, and the approach teams took to safety and sustainability. A panel of experts from various fields judged the students on a variety of categories that covered Safety, Communications, Technical Innovation, Vehicle Design, Perseverance and Spirit of the Event and the Shell Helix Tribology Award.

National University of Sciences and Technology, Karachi-PNEC NUST PROTOTYPE, who have participated in SEM Asia since 2010, won the Communications award for their innovative approach to creating awareness and support for their team for Shell Eco-marathon Asia. Besides important traditional media partnerships, they went to various public forums targeting college and school students, families and the community at large. They secured interest from local celebrities who helped attract a much wider audience through their own social media presence. Their communications mix and use of multiple channels and platforms were both effective and innovative in meeting their objectives.

“Although getting to the event is its own reward and a massive learning experience, winning this off-track award is an honour for us. We are proud to represent Pakistan in this international competition” said Ansharah Riaz, second year student at NUST.

Backing up Data

Backup, before it’s too late!

By Naveed Siraj

Everyday we’re working on something new or saving some new memory to our hard disk. What happens if you lose all your documents, photos and files? It’s important to have a backup of your most valuable files, the ones you can’t just re-install.

There are several options but before we get into them, we suggest always having multiple backups. Having a cycle of two or three different backups is usually a good idea.

Windows Backup

You can use the native backup function in Windows operating system. To begin, go to the Control Panel. Open the ‘Backup and Restore Center’ and decide where you wish to store the files. Once you have the desired location such as a recovery partition on your hard disk, select which files to back up. Assign a schedule to your backup so Windows will know how often to perform the task.

Manual Backup

This method requires you to physically copy everything onto an external hard disk or DVD. Simply copy the files you wish to backup and paste them into the media you are planning to use. It’s less precise than using ‘Windows Backup and Restore’ but it allows you to mix and match what you wish to save.

Online Storage

This is a newer method of saving your data. Upload your data to the Internet and you can access it anywhere with an Internet connection. Currently there are several free online storage solutions available. The most popular is currently ‘Dropbox’. Open an account and you’ll enjoy free storage up to several gigabytes. An advantage to online storage is being able to continue working anywhere, especially when paired with an Ultrabook™, perfect for a mobile office.

If you have a large media collection or work from a home office, the importance of backing up your data cannot be understated. If you are looking to upgrade your computer, discover what Intel® technology has to offer media buffs and smart workers.

Naveed Siraj is the Country Manager for Intel Pakistan.

Shell survey - Press Release

Shell surveys show Asia concerned about future energy needs amid constraints; gas among most-preferred source

Addressing energy-water-food challenges, Shell gathers Asia’s leading minds in a Powering Progress Together dialogue

                         

Islamabad - 3 February 2014 - Thailand, the Philippines and India top a list of nine Asian countries that say they are very concerned about future energy needs, amid increasing pressure for more energy, water and food to keep up with increased population growth. The results emerged from a series of Shell-commissioned Future Energy surveys in which 80 percent of the respondents ranked longer-term future energy needs alongside everyday concerns like public education and cost of living as important. The surveys covered 8,446 people in 31 cities and 9 regional areas.

These concerns have arisen amid growing energy pressures globally. By 2030, the world will need 40% to 50% more energy, water and food in tandem with rising demand and increased populations. Tremendous stress will be placed on these vital resources as energy is used to move and treat water; water is required to produce energy and both energy and water are required in the production of food.  

“It is encouraging to know that Asians view future energy needs as high priority, as this region will see one of the fastest growths in population and energy demand,” said Jeremy Bentham, Shell’s Vice President for Global Business Environment. “More than ever before, the industry, government and public all have a joint responsibility to create a better energy future, and must come together to collaborate and coordinate our efforts to meet these challenges for generations to come.”

Most survey respondents expect energy shortages and higher energy prices to have a significant impact on their countries. Issues seen as most pertinent are energy shortages in Thailand (91%) and Pakistan (90%), higher energy prices in India (91%) and Singapore (79%), water shortages in Vietnam (89%) and food shortages in Indonesia (86%).

The surveys indicate that Asia is in favour of a mix of future energy sources, with solar energy and natural gas leading the way in many countries. Solar energy is the most desired future energy source across most countries, which include Singapore (86%), Thailand (83%) and India (77%). Natural gas is cited as the most preferred future energy source in Brunei (87%) and is second most preferred in Singapore (52%), Indonesia (43%) and India (43%).

Survey respondents agree that collaboration between industry, government, and the public, as well as innovation and incentives for cleaner energy, are the most important factors in shaping future energy needs. In Pakistan, over 50% of 2000 respondents, identified effective government policy as the most important factor in building future energy solutions.

Asia’s future energy challenges and the survey findings will be discussed in depth on Thursday, 6 February 2014 at the Shell Powering Progress Together forum, a gathering of thought leaders from business, government, academia and civil society. Some 300 participants will join the event to address the world’s growing water, food and energy challenges. It is held in conjunction with Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2014 in Manila, Philippines. 

Key panelists include Hon. Carlos Jericho Petilla, Secretary, Philippine Department of Energy, Manila, Vinod Thomas, Director General of Independent Evaluation from the Asian Development Bank, Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, President and Chief Executive Officer of World Wildlife Fund Philippines and Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies, India Centre for Policy Research.

About the Survey

Shell commissioned Ipsos to produce the “Future Energy Survey” in nine Asian countries – Brunei, Korea, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – to assess Asian respondents’ views on the future of energy. 8,446 participants took part in the survey from January to December 2013. 

                                    

About Powering Progress Together

The POWERING PROGRESS TOGETHER conference will explore the nexus, the forces behind it and the inspiring collaborations that are making a difference. It will unite international speakers on interactive panel discussions with representatives from business, NGOs, local governments and tomorrow’s leaders.

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.