#CaptureRamadanMoonment with the All New realme C33

 The moon is a focal point each Ramadan and boy did it keep us hinged till the very end here in Pakistan? As the blessed month is swooshing past and people are busy commemorating moments, realme has kicked-off its #CaptureRamadanMoonment campaign. The campaign calls on people to share all their favourite moments (read: moonments) from Ramadan. The word moonment is a unique wordplay combining moments with the Ramadan moon.

For this purpose, the brand mascot realmeow has also donned a new avatar with new stickers depicting our feelings in Ramadan such as waiting for the moon to show up, feeling hungry and gobbling down food. The #CaptureRamadanMoonment campaign encourages people to use the realme C33 to capture their special Ramadan moments and share them with their friends and family. Additionally, the campaign offers customers the chance to win prizes by sharing their Ramadan photos on social media using the hashtag #CaptureRamadanMoonment.

The #CaptureRamadanMoonment campaign from realme is a great way to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. The realme C33 smartphone with its 50MP AI Triple Camera is a great way to capture stunning details, while the realmeow Ramadan avatar and stickers add a festive touch to the campaign. With prizes up for grabs, there has never been a better time to capture and share your Ramadan memories with your friends and family.

TikTok introduces a new way to refresh For You feed recommendations

     

Popular short-video platform TikTok has announced a new feature that allows users to refresh their For You feed if they feel that their recommendations are no longer relevant. This new feature is part of TikTok's ongoing efforts to ensure an enjoyable viewing experience for its users while also enabling self-expression.

The For You feed is a feature that helps TikTok users discover a diversity of content, creators, communities, and products. However, there are times when people's recommendations don't feel relevant anymore, or provide enough variety. To address this, TikTok is rolling out a way for users to refresh their For You feed recommendations, which allows them to view content as if they just signed up for TikTok. The recommendation system will then surface more content based on new interactions.

This feature adds to a number of content controls that TikTok users already have to shape their experience, including the ability to filter out videos that use specific hashtags or phrases from their For You feeds, and to skip future videos from a particular creator or that use a particular sound. Enabling the refresh feature won't override any settings users have already chosen to enable or impact accounts they've followed.

TikTok is constantly working to provide an enjoyable viewing experience and takes multiple approaches to help safeguard its platform. For instance, TikTok removes content that breaks its rules, makes inappropriate content ineligible for recommendation into For You feeds, minimizes recommendations of topics that could have a negative impact if viewed repeatedly, and filters out content with complex or mature themes from teen accounts.

An inherent challenge of any recommendation system is ensuring the breadth of content surfaced to a viewer isn't too narrow or too repetitive. TikTok is intently focused on this challenge and works to design a system that intersperses a variety of topics. The system generally won't serve two videos in a row made by the same creator or that use the same sound, and TikTok tries to avoid showing people something they've seen before.

TikTok understands that people express themselves in all sorts of ways on the platform – including when they're feeling down or are going through a difficult life experience. With this in mind, TikTok's approach is to remove content that promotes or glorifies self-injury or other policies, while allowing recovery or educational content, with limits on how often such recovery or educational content is eligible for a recommendation.

Over the last year, TikTok has implemented over 15 updates to improve its systems, along with expanding to support more languages. Its trust and safety and product teams partner to drive this work, which is informed by academic literature and consultation with experts, such as the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital in the US.

TikTok will continue these efforts as it strives to recommend a diversity of content to enable an enriching discovery experience. The platform is determined to provide both a welcoming space for self-expression and an enjoyable environment for its community.

Public sector finance professionals have key role in sustainability and addressing climate change

  

Finance professionals working in the public sector play a crucial role in addressing sustainability and climate change issues. ACCA’s (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Global Talent Trends survey shows three out of four public sector respondents agree that accountants will play a bigger part in helping organisations address this agenda in the future.

 

In one of the largest ever studies across the accountancy profession, ACCA’s inaugural Global Talent Trends Survey 2023 provides a unique and vital view of how people feel about working in the finance profession right now. Finance professionals working in the public sector share many of the same concerns as the wider profession, but there are some differences.

 

ACCA’s research highlighted seven key talent trends for the public sector.

1.      Inflation is fueling wage pressure: the impact of rising prices on salaries is more of a concern for public sector employees than for any other sector.

2.      Hybrid work is a work in progress: a significantly lower proportion of public sector employees have adopted hybrid and remote working practices compared to the private sector. 71% of public sector financial professionals are fully office based compared to 57% in all sectors.

3.      Addressing burnout must be a priority: just over half of public sector financial professionals (52%) believe their employers do not consider employee mental health to be a priority.

4.      Mobility is driving a possible talent crunch: public sector respondents indicated a similar level of mobility to the average of all sectors. However, amongst those planning to move roles, 4 in 10 public sector finance professionals expect to move internally in the next two years, while 5 in 10 are predicting an external move.

5.      Technology is empowering but training is key: 88% of those in the public sector want more technology training as they recognise the power technology has in supporting finance professionals to add more value. But 40% fear technology will replace all or part of their role.

6.      Inclusivity is strong but perceptions about social mobility are more troubling: 61% of public sector financial professionals think their organisation is inclusive (compared to 68% of all sectors), while 49% in all sectors (including public) have the perception that a lower socio-economic background is a barrier to progress.

7.      In turbulent times accountancy provides career security: public sector financial professionals see the key benefits to a career in this sector as the opportunity to gain a professional qualification (38%); having a job with purpose (27%) and the ability to make an impact (23%) – scores which outstripped all sectors at 33%,23% and 17% respectively.

Jamie Lyon, head of skills, sectors and technology at ACCA, said: ‘Developing the talent of tomorrow is one of the top priorities for the accountancy profession, especially in the public sector. ACCA's inaugural annual talent trends survey ensures the voice of those working in the profession – including the public sector – is heard and that the profession helps create a working environment where today’s professionals thrive and where tomorrow’s talent wants to be.’ 

 

As well as providing valuable insights the report sets out the ways in which ACCA supports employers, student and members, as well as the wider public sector.

 

Mark Johnson, senior subject manager, public sector, ACCA, said: ‘These findings have important implications for public sector employers as they seek to retain and attract finance professionals to careers in the sector. While the sector faces its challenges, those working in accountancy and finance in the public sector see the ability to make a real difference to people’s lives as a key aspect of their roles. This new report is intended to support a workforce of vibrant and dynamic public sector finance professionals to drive through essential public financial management reforms.’

 

"The timing of this research is appropriate for Pakistan, considering the growing emphasis on professionalisation, technology-driven value creation, and green budgeting in the public sector. These are recognised as crucial elements in achieving a significant improvement in public sector financial management," stated Assad Hameed Khan, head of ACCA Pakistan.

Governor of Punjab pays tribute to Tamgha-e-Imtiaz recipient Professor Kamal Munir from University of Cambridge for his contribution to education

                                           

Cambridge International, Pakistan recently organised an iftar dinner to pay tribute to Professor Kamal Munir, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, for his remarkable contributions in the field of education. Professor Munir is the first South Asian in 800 years to hold the coveted position of Pro Vice Chancellor for the University of Cambridge. The event was attended by His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman, Governor of Punjab, and other notable personalities from the education sector, including Former Federal Minister for Education, Shafqat Mehmood, Former HE Minister Punjab, Raja Yasir Humayun, and Former Federal Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan.

The Governor congratulated Professor Kamal Munir on receiving the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan this year, recognising his contribution to the field of education. During his speech, the Governor, emphasised the importance of education and how it is the key to unlocking opportunities and achieving dreams. He also commended Professor Munir's hard work and excellence, stating that he is an embodiment of the power of education.

 

Professor Kamal Munir expressed his gratitude towards the honourable Governor of Punjab, his colleagues from Cambridge International Pakistan, and the education community for the appreciation and the honour they bestowed upon him. He spoke with pride about being able to represent Pakistan on a global level through his work and association with the University of Cambridge.

 

Professor Kamal Munir said, “Pakistan has great talent and potential when it comes to students, education, and intellect, I believe that through concentrated efforts from the academia, the government and other stakeholders, this potential can be increased tremendously. I hope I am able to play my part in pushing the agenda for quality education forward.”

 

Sharing her admiration for the country’s talent, Uzma Yousuf, Country Director, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Pakistan, said:

 

“Pakistan is home to some of the most brilliant minds in sports, entertainment, education, sciences. We are proud to have individuals like Professor Munir associated with us and representing the country in a positive light globally. It is no small feat to hold such a coveted position with the University of Cambridge and be the first South Asian in 800 years to do that”.

 

The event was attended by members of key Cambridge schools in Lahore, including Beaconhouse School, Lahore Grammar School, Roots, City School and other educational institutes. Their presence was a testament to the ongoing collaboration and partnership between Cambridge and Pakistan in promoting quality education.

 

realme Pakistan Energizes the Underprivileged in Ramadan

                                               

The month of Ramadan is upon us - a month where kindness and generosity are in abundance. Keeping up with the month’s spirit, realme Pakistan has energized the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal Sweet Home in Lahore. The institution serves as an orphanage and realme is humbled to contribute in their assistance and empowerment.

The donation is aimed at helping the organization provide uninterrupted power supply to its residents, especially during the load-shedding hours of Ramadan. Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal Sweet Home is a government-run facility that provides housing, education, and medical care to orphaned and abandoned children. The organization relies on donations from individuals and corporations like realme to support its operations and ensure the well-being of its residents.

The batteries donated by realme Pakistan will provide backup power to the facility during electricity outages and ensure that the children's daily routine is not disrupted. The donation is part of realme Pakistan's ongoing commitment to supporting communities in need and giving back to society. This gesture also highlights the significance of contributing to the less privileged members of society, especially during challenging times like these. realme has always been committed to social responsibilities and philanthropy. realme has previously taken part in various social initiatives and other charitable activities in order to enable the unfortunate and underprivileged members of society.

Investors drive demand for sustainability assurance

                                          

Investors seeking to place reliance on corporate sustainability information are driving unprecedented demand for assurance in this emerging area.

 

This represents a challenge and an opportunity for the global accountancy profession. In response the profession is engaged in determining the framework within which assurance engagements should be carried out and who is best qualified to perform the work.

 

Using the core assurance skills obtained through the experience of auditing financial statements, the accountancy profession – alongside others performing assurance engagements – is well placed to satisfy this demand.

 

ACCA’s report Sustainability Assurance – Rising to the Challenge describes the landscape for sustainability assurance and introduces the extant standard and guidance issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Board (IAASB).

 

Sustainability Assurance – Rising to the Challenge sets out the key issues faced by practitioners providing this assurance work.

 

ACCA’s research – supported by evidence gathered from a series of virtual global roundtables held in 2022 and 2023, with assurance practitioners and other representatives involved with audit and assurance policy-related matters – sets out seven key messages:

 

·         To avoid a new ‘sustainability assurance expectation gap’ ACCA stresses the importance of international and national standard setters explain what ‘limited assurance’ and ‘reasonable assurance’ mean, and the key differences between the two.

 

·         Standard setters should consider the risk of misleading reporting – green washing – when developing reporting and assurance standards.

 

·         A concept to deal with estimates should be a key focus for the IAASB as much sustainability reporting and assurance work is often based on hypothetical scenarios.

 

·         The unprecedented dependence on subject matter experts (SMEs) for sustainability assurance engagements may suggest the need for further standards and guidance on how to rely on their work.

 

·         The assurance report – the end-product – should be seen as a key priority area by standard setters and policy makers, particularly in dealing with limited/reasonable differences.

 

·         Assurance skills obtained through audit experience remain vital in performing sustainability assurance engagements.

 

·         ISAE 3000 (Revised) and the Sustainability/EER guidance provide a strong foundation for those intending to undertake sustainability assurance engagements before the IAASB’s overarching standard is finalised.

Report co-author, Marianna Rogdaki, Audit & Ethics Lead, ACCA says: ‘ACCA recognises that  it can be a real challenge for practitioners new to this area to come to grips with both the risks and the opportunities of taking on sustainability assurance engagements. This report aims to raise awareness of the current landscape as a good starting point for practitioners to get involved.’

She adds: ‘It is clear that the demand for sustainability information is now higher than ever, with regulators across the globe considering mandatory reporting and assurance requirements.

‘Most notably in the European Union, the European Commission has replaced the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) introducing mandatory requirements for more entities, alongside requirements for assurance over published information.’

Report co-author, Antonis Diolas, Head of Audit and Assurance, Policy & Insights, ACCA, says: ‘In our roundtable the importance of professional scepticism was noted. Given the immaturity of sustainability reporting, professional scepticism is even more important where subjective statement often forms part of sustainability reports and are not backed up with sufficient appropriate evidence.’

The report commends the IAASB, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) for their respective swift responses to the call for international sustainability reporting, assurance and ethical standards, reducing the risk of fragmentation.

 

Read the full report here https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/professional-insights/global-profession/sustainability-assurance-rising-to-challenge.html

CBD Punjab Celebrated Pakistan Day with National Pride and Commitment to Country's Growth

A flag hoisting ceremony was held by Punjab Central Business District Development Authority to celebrate Pakistan Day with great fervor and patriotism.

The ceremony was held at Central Business District house Punjab to commemorate the day when All-India Muslim League moved a resolution that led to the establishment of Pakistan.    

The event was attended by the COO of CBD Punjab, Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua, Directorate heads and staff members of CBD Punjab. The flag hoisting was followed by the singing of the national anthem, which filled the atmosphere with an aura of national pride and honor.

While addressing the ceremony COO of CBD Punjab, Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua said, “Today is a momentous day in our nation’s history. As an authority, CBD Punjab has a crucial role to play in the development of Punjab and Pakistan. We remain committed in supporting the growth of our country by providing innovative business solutions thereby contributing to an overall development of the country”.

The event showcased the passion and dedication of CBD Punjab, towards betterment of the nation. It highlighted the importance of the day and how it is deeply embedded in the country's history. CBD Punjab has been instrumental in promoting modern business practices and infrastructure development in Punjab, by establishing Pakistan's first business district on vertical principles, which has contributed to the economic development of the region.