Tag: CEO

  • Pak Suzuki CEO reveals plan to export upgraded cars meeting WP-29 standards 

    Pak Suzuki CEO reveals plan to export upgraded cars meeting WP-29 standards 

    Hiroshi Kawamura, the Chief Executive of Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd. (PSMCL), recently shared insights into the company’s endeavours to enhance the export capabilities of their cars, aligning them with numerous WP-29 standards. This significant development was reported by The News on Friday. 

    During the second round of interactive meetings with key decision-makers, conducted under the Suzuki Motors banner, Kawamura underscored the transient nature of economic challenges. He reaffirmed the company’s unwavering commitment to delivering cost-effective vehicles to the ordinary citizens of Pakistan. Furthermore, he disclosed that the company was actively engaged in the development of hybrid vehicle variants. 

    In attendance at the meeting were prominent part manufacturers, and they unanimously advocated for the promotion of localization within the automotive industry while simultaneously pursuing global market expansion. In a call for collaborative efforts, Kawamura emphasised the vital need for collective action in addressing the mounting crises faced by the automotive sector, stating, “It is imperative to take stock of the escalating crisis collectively for the automotive industry. Nothing can be achieved without local partners.” 

    During the meeting, Usman Aslam Malik, Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM), expressed unwavering support for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in their endeavours to export auto components. 

    It is important to note that WP-29 standards represent a distinctive global regulatory forum operating under the auspices of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee. Three UN Agreements, adopted in 1958, 1997, and 1998, provide the legal foundation enabling contracting parties (member countries) participating in WP-29 sessions to establish regulatory frameworks governing motor vehicles and their equipment.

    These encompass UN Regulations, appended to the 1958 Agreement; United Nations Global Technical Regulations (UN GTRs), linked to the 1998 Agreement; and UN Rules, annexed to the 1997 Agreement. 

  • US lawmakers grill TikTok CEO over promoting harmful content to young users

    US lawmakers grill TikTok CEO over promoting harmful content to young users

    During a congressional hearing on Thursday, US lawmakers accused the Chinese-owned app TikTok of serving harmful content to young users, leading to emotional distress. The CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, was grilled on the company’s influence on teenagers.

    Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers from Washington began the hearing by stating that TikTok’s content algorithm promotes self-harm and eating disorder content within minutes of creating an account, and encourages dangerous challenges that can endanger kids’ lives. Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone from New Jersey added that content on TikTok has worsened children’s emotional stress.

    Chew, who made his first appearance before Congress, testified that the vast majority of TikTok users are over 18, but the company has invested in measures to safeguard young people who use the app. The hearing comes at a critical time for TikTok as the Biden administration faces increasing pressure from lawmakers to ban the app over national security concerns, as it is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese tech firm.

    Lawmakers questioned Chew on whether the Chinese government could access Americans’ user data and how the app prevented harmful content from reaching young users. Republican Rep. Bob Latta from Ohio mentioned a 10-year-old girl who suffocated herself while attempting a “blackout challenge” from videos on the app. Latta argued that TikTok should not be shielded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, a law that generally grants online platforms immunity for content created by users.

    Chew later stated during the hearing that TikTok prohibited dangerous challenges and similar content. TikTok has recently introduced more parental control features, and earlier this month, it announced that it was in the early stages of developing a tool that would enable parents to block their teens from viewing videos containing specific words or hashtags.

  • ARY News taken off air, CEO, journalists booked, head of news arrested

    ARY News taken off air, CEO, journalists booked, head of news arrested

    Karachi police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against ARY Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Iqbal in connection with the controversial remarks made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill during a news transmission.

    The police have also arrested Ammad Yousuf, the head of news and Senior Executive Vice President of ARY News.

    The FIR said that a clip of a news bulletin, aired on August 8 by ARY News, had gone viral on social media, in which Gill had made “hateful remarks” against the Pakistan Army. Producer Adeel Raja, Yousaf, and anchorpersons Arshad Sharif and Khawar Ghumman have also been nominated in the case registered on August 8.

    Meanwhile, ARY News reported that Yousaf was arrested in Karachi late on Tuesday night (August 9). Yousaf was arrested without a warrant from his residence located in Karachi’s DHA.

    “Police officers along with plain-clothed persons forcibly entered the house of Ammad Yousaf. The raiding team diverted the CCTV cameras of Yousaf’s house, and jumped into the house from the top of the main entrance,” reported ARY News.

    Arshad Sharif flies to Dubai

    After Yousaf got arrested, anchorperson Arshad Sharif left the country after his name was nominated in the FIR.

    ARY News distances itself from Shahbaz Gill’s statement about army

    ARY News and Salman Iqbal distanced themselves from Gill’s statement.

    In a statement read out by ARY’s senior anchorperson Kashif Abbasi on his show, ‘Off the Record’, said that Salman Iqbal and the management condemns Shahbaz Gill’s statement.

    Pemra issues show-cause notice to ARY News for airing ‘hateful, seditious’ content against govt

    The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to ARY News for airing what it called “false, hateful and seditious” content based on “absolute disinformation with a clear and present threat to national security by instigating rebellion within the armed forces”.

    Prior to the issuance of the notice, ARY News went off air in many parts of the country on Monday (August 8).

  • Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel believes Covid-19 pandemic could be over next year

    Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel believes Covid-19 pandemic could be over next year

    Moderna Chief Executive Officer Stephane Bancel believes that the coronavirus pandemic could be over in a year as the production of vaccines rises up to meet global demand, Forbes reported Thursday citing an interview with Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung.

    Bancel said in the interview that increasing vaccine production will help ensure that enough doses are available to get the entire global population vaccinated by mid-2022.

    While responding to a question on when he thinks things could go back to normal, Bancel said: “In a year, I assume.”

    Read More: Nurse makes chandelier with empty Covid vaccine vials

    The pharmaceutical executive pointed out that even people who don’t want to get the vaccination may “immunise themselves naturally” by that time with the highly contagious delta variant spreading fast across the globe.

    “The people who get vaccinated will enjoy a good winter while those who don’t will live with the risk of getting sick or even being hospitalised due to the variant,” predicted Bancel.

    He said that he feels that people would need a booster shot soon and the company’s version will contain half the amount of the original formulation.

    He said that Moderna is also testing a “Delta-optimised variant” of the vaccine that will serve as the foundation for booster shots in 2022.

  • Porsche Pakistan CEO ‘runs off’ with Rs80 crores in booked orders

    Porsche Pakistan CEO ‘runs off’ with Rs80 crores in booked orders

    The chief executive officer (CEO) of Porsche Pakistan in Lahore has been accused of running off with nearly a billion rupees after conning people in the name of advance booking for high-end cars, whereas the company has termed these claims “false”.

    According to the police, while victims of the scam have registered complaints against Abuzar Bokhari in different police stations across the city, the department has informed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), seeking their help in informing Interpol.

    Help from the international criminal police organisation is being sought for Bokhari’s extradition from England where he allegedly flew off to a few days ago.

    Police further say that Bokhari collected Rs800 million (Rs 80 crores) from people in the name of car registrations and fled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after which he went to England and has not returned since.

    While Bokhari is the founder and CEO of Lahore-based, and Pakistan’s only, Porsche dealership based in Lahore, media reports say he started off with two partners but continued alone with the venture when Porsche formally entered the Pakistani market.

    Porsche’s presence in Pakistan was provisionally launched in 2006 and then formally launched in 2008. Since then, it has been running its operations rather successfully and has grown significantly.

    However, the luxury carmaker has now reportedly removed its official website page on Pakistan.

    “Porsche official website removes page on Pakistan which has details of its Pakistan representative Abuzar Bokhari — accused of leaving the country with Rs800 million in booked orders — here is a screenshot of the cached version of the page,” journalist Omar Quraishi tweeted.

    ‘ALLEGATIONS ARE FALSE’:

    In a statement, Porsche Pakistan said the said claims are false. It said that its CEO doesn’t owe car booking money to anyone and all the registration money was received in the account of Performance Automotive Pvt Ltd (Porsche Pakistan) on behalf of Porsche AG as their appointed representative.

    It said Porsche AG was refusing delivery of the vehicles to Pakistani customers for two years.

    A lull in supply is due to attempts to discredit Porche Pakistan by a ‘controversia;’ business group.

    The statement said Porsche Pakistan was in a legal battle with Porsche AG for this “illegal” refusal on all legal forums.

    The statement alleged that the delay was due to Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE’s alleged understanding with a rival local party it called “an influential and controversial business group” that seeks to get hold of Porsche distribution rights in Pakistan.

    The company concluded, “Porsche Pakistan and its legal team are fully available for any concerned parties or investigative authorities for any information or clarification they may require.

  • Railways CEO differs on Rasheed’s claim, says Tezgam fire broke out due to short circuit

    Railways CEO differs on Rasheed’s claim, says Tezgam fire broke out due to short circuit

    Pakistan Railways (PR) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muhammad Leghari has differed on Federal Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad’s claim and said that the deadly Tezgam Express fire from last year broke due to a short circuit and the gas cylinder only exploded later on.

    As many as 73 passengers were killed, with 90 per cent of them burnt alive, and over 40 others injured when three coaches of the Rawalpindi-bound train caught fire near Liaquatpur in October 2019. The incident was called one of the most horrifying tragedies in PR’s history.

    According to the ministry, the fire was caused by a cylinder blast that occurred when passengers were preparing breakfast for themselves in a moving train, a claim heavily disputed by eye-witnesses. People had widely demanded Rasheed’s resignation while the minister himself had suspended a couple of officers on account of criminal negligence and letting passengers carry gas cylinders on the ill-fated train.

    With Rasheed making headlines as Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed observed that the minister should have resigned after the tragedy, and said that shutting down PR would be better than keeping it running under Rasheed, PR CEO Leghari’s claims have raised eyebrows over the government’s side of the story.

    Speaking to a private media outlet, Leghari said that the fire broke out when an electric kettle in a dining car of the train, malfunctioned. “It was an illegal power connection from another coach,” he said, adding that the fire engulfed the entire coach, which led to the cylinder explosion.