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LKMWT’s Fourth Medi-Health Clinic: A Testament to Its Commitment to Serve Humanity

Hamna Farrukh
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LKMWT’s Fourth Medi-Health Clinic: A Testament to Its Commitment to Serve Humanity

The Latif Kapadia Memorial Welfare Trust (LKMWT) has inaugurated its fourth Non-Profit Medi-Health Clinic in Khuda Ki Basti, Surjani Town, Karachi, Pakistan. The clinic offers affordable healthcare services to underprivileged people in the country. The clinic was inaugurated by Mr. Anwar Maqsood, one of the most prominent personalities in Pakistan and Mr. Ahmed Kapadia, Chairman of LKMWT.

Appreciating the Efforts that Matter

During the inauguration, Mr. Maqsood praised the clinic’s high-quality medical facilities and the late Latif Kapadia’s efforts toward improving the lives of people and the community. He also stressed the need for more initiatives to provide access to good medical services within reach of the people.

The newly opened LKMWT clinic in Surjani Town is equipped with modern medical tools and provides free medical consultations, diagnostic tests, and medication facilities to residents of Surjani Town and nearby areas. The project was ready within a year of laying the foundation stone, thanks to the dedication of LKMWT and its volunteers.

Mr. Ahmed Kapadia’s Commitment to Providing Affordable Healthcare Services

LKMWT’s mission is to enable basic healthcare facilities for less privileged communities. Mr. Ahmed Kapadia expressed his gratitude to donors and volunteers of LKMWT for their contributions. He also thanked Mr. Gulzar Mughal for providing the land for the clinic. He also acknowledged the efforts of other trustees of LKMWT, including Mr. Sabir Sami. In addition, he vowed to continue the mission of the trust by managing this welfare project and enhancing its future medical capabilities.

LKMWT was established in 2007 by a team of admirers of the renowned actor Latif Kapadia. Its main focus is to cater to the needs of underprivileged communities. Previously, LKWMT established world-class health clinics in Shah Faisal Colony, Khokhrapar-Malir, and Quaidabad-Landhi. These clinics provide medical checkups, consultations, and medications at only Rs. 40 per patient. Each year, over 120,000 patients take benefit from these Medi-Health clinics.

The fourth Non-Profit Medi-Health Clinic is a testament to LKMWT’s commitment to providing affordable healthcare services to underprivileged communities in Pakistan and fulfilling the vision of its late founder, Latif Kapadia. The trust will continue working for the betterment of society by promoting education, alleviating poverty, fighting socio-economic challenges, and paving the way for a high-quality healthcare ecosystem with the ambit of trust.

Keeping the Spirit of Latif Kapadia Alive

Since its inception in 2007, the charity has been helping underserved areas set up medical clinics. In the past, LKWMT has set up state-of-the-art medical facilities in the neighborhoods of Shah Faisal Colony, Khokhrapar-Malir, and Quaidabad-Landhi. Checkups, consultations, and medicines are all available at these clinics for only Rs. 40 per person. Medi-Health centers help More than 120,000 people a year.

The goal of LKWMT is to help those who lack access to high-quality medical care, as envisioned by the late ‘Latif Kapadia’. The trust will carry on its societal improvement initiatives, such as expanding access to excellent healthcare and reducing poverty and other economic and social stresses.

For more information, visit the LKMWT website: www.lkmwt.org

In Conversation With Ahmed Rafay Alam

Anusha Zahid
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In Conversation With Ahmed Rafay Alam

SYNERGYZER: Could you tell us a little about your professional experience and how did you get into environmental activism?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: I became a lawyer over 20 years ago, and I remember being one of the many enthusiastic idealists during that time. Eventually, I became a corporate lawyer (making rich people richer), but then, during the mid to late 2000s, came a series of experiences in my life which led to the idea of focusing on environmental law. Also, since there were many corporate/banking lawyers in the city, the move only seemed intelligent. Also, by that time, I had had a brush with environmental law (the action of it) since I had done some public advocacy. I think it has been a great journey so far. In Pakistan, there are very few environmental lawyers, and I am privileged to be one of them and also to have played a part in fighting against some of the major environmental issues of Pakistan in the last 15 years.

SYNERGYZER: What have been some of your achievements in environmental activism in these 15 years?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Well, we took an initiative (when I say we, I mean people from the civil society in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad) concerning the widening of the Lahore canal and the cutting down of trees alongside it. There was some public campaigning and some judicial activism, after which the Supreme Court directed the government of Punjab to pass the law to protect the greenbelt and trees along the Lahore canal. This law was passed in 2013 as the Lahore canal heritage Park Act. So, it is a success story for the civil society holding protests to engage with the state and getting the desirable result. More recently, I have also been a part of litigation involving the Ravi urban development authority, which is a blatant land grab (unfortunately) aided by the state, and I am proud to represent landowners from the areas who are standing firm in their belief that what is happening is incorrect.

SYNERGYZER: So, is it correct that most of your activism is centred in Punjab?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Not really. I was involved in some work in Peshawar some years ago with the Peshawar Clean Air Alliance, a civil society organisation which aims to look after the mountains of Peshawar Valley. I was really happy to coordinate with them, and our work together resulted last year in the publication of the air quality report about Peshawar, which was undertaken by the finance minister and the climate protection agency. After the publication of this report, they arranged to have air quality monitors installed in all 14 branches of the Bank of Khyber. That was a success, as again, the civil society’s collective efforts yielded a result. What was actually interesting and, at the same time, unfortunate, was that the air quality meters installed began revealing the levels of air pollution in Peshawar, and they were promptly taken down soon afterwards by the environmental protection agency for ‘certain specification checks’. So, the air in Peshawar is as injurious as anywhere else in Pakistan, but the government does not want to admit it. But that’s another story.

SYNERGYZER: There has been a lot of talk lately about climate change and its adverse effects. Can you tell us what makes Pakistan so vulnerable to climate change and whether it has anything to do with its location?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Well, first of all, when it comes to climate change, there’s no particular part of the world that is safe. About 30% of Pakistan was under floods last year; close to 80% of Nigeria was under floods; there were immense and historic heat waves in Europe and China as well as in Canada, which resulted in deaths, and there were forest fires in the Amazon. The effect of climate change is everywhere, and Pakistan is not an exception. The country’s geographical location has nothing to do with it. Our vulnerability stems from our poverty because we are a poor nation. You see, vulnerability is inversely proportional to your resilience. If you are resilient, you are not vulnerable. We, Pakistanis, do not have the ability to jump back. Today, if you see the roads, schools, and hospitals; everything is washed away after the floods. There’s a generation of Sindhis and Balochis who will grow up without education and healthcare. But we are not resilient. Also, resilience constitutes good governance and preparation, and I am afraid we do not have either of those. If you look at Bangladesh, the country witnessed cyclones of great magnitude, but the destruction of property and the loss of life was minimal because they were prepared.

SYENRGYZER: What has been Pakistan’s stance on climate change?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: The stance that Pakistan has taken is that the country is a very small contributor to the problem of climate change and yet, disproportionately affected. We have been consistently saying at climate meetings that we are not part of the problem, but since we are a poor country, please give us money. Last year was dramatically different because we saw unprecedented floods, and there’s an attribution report that says that up to 70% of the intensity of floods is caused by historical global warming, which Pakistan is not a part of, so this is very much a man-made disaster for which Pakistan is being made to pay. We have become the poster child of this loss and damage, which we were not prepared for. One can only be prepared to a certain extent. We have voiced our stance, lobbied well and showed tremendous leadership at the last COP27 meeting.

SYNERGYZER: Is there anything we are doing domestically to tackle such disasters?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Very little in terms of being prepared and to adapt. Also, it is not one department’s fault; the MET department should have told us what was happening, we should have had tents, rescue and response in place. We had none of that. Right now, if you look at Pakistan, the priorities are very different. We are giving subsidies to construction and the auto sector; we are bringing in new power plants; we are planning a road running from the Arabian Sea up through the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindukush mountain ranges – one of the most sensitive areas of the world when it comes to climate change – and we’re running trucks there. We are investing in fossil fuel energy; Sindh is investing in coal-fired power plants in the poorest districts of Pakistan; all of this is preposterous.

SYNERGYZER: So, it is a case of ignorance, then?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Well, I would say this is very much a case of poor governance. Pakistan has had a federal Climate Policy since 2012 and a Climate Act since 2017. But these policies and legislations deal more with Pakistan’s reporting to the United Nations about its compliance and obligations. However, many issues of climate change here are of climate governance, and they do not fall within the federal domain. There are issues of agriculture, irrigation, urban planning and health, which are equal responsibilities of the provinces. But the provinces do not have any particular aptitude for climate governance. Of the four provinces, two have climate action plans, and they are KP and Sindh. The other two don’t. And again, just having a policy is not enough. It is the active implementation of that policy that needs to be seen at the provincial level. We need to see the irrigation departments of all provinces working on conserving water and improving its usage. We need to have the transport department of all provinces switch to renewable energy and the urban departments prepare for heat waves so that people do not roast in cities. But alas, none of this is happening. Moreover, the Ministry of Climate Change is not focusing enough on holding people in the provinces accountable for not fulfilling the climate agenda. Pakistan lags in implementing these policies not just at the federal level but at the provincial level as well. Also, there is very little awareness of the climate change issue in the provinces. There are two provinces which have gone into politically-inspired elections (which is absolutely insane); there’s nothing happening in Balochistan, there are protests in Gwadar because there is no water; people are being evicted from their homes along the Malir and Gujjar Nala because they want people to get to Bahria Town quicker, and most of DHA does not have sewage. The level of climate change and environmental injustice that is being carried out in Pakistan is just diabolical.

SYNERGYZER: What role really is the Ministry of Climate Change playing in all of this?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Well, we used to have a Ministry of Environment up until

2013, which is when the 18th amendment was passed, and it devolved responsibility for the environment and climate change to the provinces. Subsequent to that, since Pakistan had all of these environmental and climate change agreements with the United Nations, a ministry was conceived, and its responsibility was to respond to the UN’s reporting requirements on its commitments. But right after the elections in 2013, due to an austerity drive, the ministry was downgraded to a division.

Its budget at that time was about Rs58 million (less than the cost of two SUVs). So, if you look at the responsibilities of the two ministries, it was and is to report to the UN and to participate in their climate conferences. The real responsibility of implementing policies belongs to the provinces, but no one is questioning them.

SYNERGYZER: Why do you think the government is not bringing the provinces to accountability?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: I think there is a certain lag between when a government takes the initiative and when it boils down to the implementation level. The PDM government became seized with the issue as late as July/August last year when the floods took place, and they only had a few months to reposition themselves to build a narrative, which incidentally has been very successful internationally. Now, it will take some time for this to filter down both to the federal and provincial governments. Apart from time, it will also take political commitment, which, unfortunately, we do not have. It is unfortunate that we have a Ministry of Climate Change, and everyone thinks the problems of climate change are just their problems. Also, one needs to understand that the issue is a bit nuanced in terms of the practicalities of climate change. For instance, the impact of climate change in Lahore is very different from what it is in

Sialkot or Karachi; this is why we need to have localized policies. There needs to be decentralization, along with governance for climate change, but no one is talking about that. All we are doing is talking about raising money because we have been impacted by climate change. But let’s not forget that there are millions of other factors with respect to climate governance and justice that need to be addressed, such as water conservation, heat wave management, air pollution etc. How are you going to get your crops to yield when you are seeing three to four degrees of temperature increase? How will you get water to farmers who need to water their crops before they fry up and die due to heat waves, which will last six to eight months? These are important governance questions that need to be asked at the

provincial level. Karachi had a heatwave in 2014, and a thousand people died within a week, and there are more such heat waves coming up. Thankfully Karachi has a heatwave management plan. It has flaws, but it has one. Other cities need to have a similar plan, but there is no conversation happening on this anywhere.

SYNERGYZER: What role can environmentalists like yourself can play to get the government’s attention and reset their priorities?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: I do give talks regularly. Also, let me remind you that it was a couple of years ago that there was a religious outrage when someone accused of blasphemy was released from jail. There was a civil society group that protested for two days, and they got the (then) Prime Minister of Pakistan’s and the Chief of Army Staff’s attention. I am not saying I agree with their tactics; I don’t think violence is necessary, but they got their message heard and got responded to in two days. From an activist’s point of view, I am envious because I have stood outside the roundabout at Liberty Market long enough with no result, only to realise that in order for the state to respond, you need to directly address it. I think the most successful civil society movements of the twentieth century were The Civil Disobedience in India, which led to the colonial empire leaving and the legislation in the United States regarding the advancement of coloured people. So as an activist, we also have to ask ourselves whether we are doing enough. Yes, I go around and give talks and try and raise awareness but there are still millions of people who are homeless in Pakistan right now and are facing a winter without shelter and food, but all I read in the newspaper headlines are about wristwatches being sold and Generals being transferred. I think the media is complicit in hiding how bad the effects of climate change would be. There is a willful ignorance of the issue.

SYNERGYZER: In the recent Cop27 conference, Minister Sherry Rehman demanded a global ‘Loss and Damage’ fund. How will it benefit Pakistan and the rest of the countries?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Well, imagine for a second that you are the president of Trinidad and Tobago or the Bahamas
 because these are some of the nations most vulnerable to climate change, and if nothing is done, these island nations will vanish from the face of the earth. Yes, you may worry about some other people being affected by floods, but for them, we can adapt and prepare to some extent, but what answer are you going to give to people whose nations are being wiped out? The ‘Loss and Damage’ fund is not just about Pakistan; it is about countries and people who are disproportionately affected by climate change due to the inaction of the global superpowers and their failure to fulfil their promise to mitigate greenhouse gases. Also, the UN system is slow and bureaucratic. It might take years for the money to come to Pakistan, and unfortunately, by that time, we will have many more floods and heat waves and air pollution. But know that these ‘loss and damage’ facilities are specifically designed so that they don’t come with strings or in the form of a loan. They come as reparation money owed to countries for the devastation they face right now, and Pakistan is one such country. About 70% of the rains that wreaked havoc in Sindh and Balochistan are attributed to greenhouse gases from other countries, primarily from Europe and the US. We are suffering the consequences.

SYNERGYZER: Can you tell us how will this ‘loss and damage’ fund operate?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Well, there are a lot of questions about this, for example: Who is going to pay into it? How much would each country pay? What formulas are going to be used? And most importantly, how are you going to get them to pay? Similarly, on the other side, there will be questions on how will the money be spent. If Pakistan gets this funding and puts it into debt relief so that the IMF gets their money back, would that be fair? So there are a lot of questions that have to be answered about the ‘loss and damage’ facility. Moreover, as I said earlier, this is an international process, and it is not going to transpire over the course of a couple of weeks. It will take a few years to answer these questions and get the accountability mechanisms robust enough for transparency. This is why, I think constant campaigning/raising awareness is necessary; constant media messaging is necessary around the world so that people do not forget about this.

SYNERGYZER: How will this awareness be raised? Do you think the common man knows about the adverse effects of climate change?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Of course. If you speak to any mother whose kids are suffering from asthma or to a father who wants his kids to go to school but because of the floods, they can’t; I think they all have a good sense of what climate change is and how it is affecting us. They may not be able to articulate it as well as I do, but please do not discount the fact that the common man is ignorant. As to how awareness can be raised, I think the media is one of the best ways to go about it. In a country where there is a low literacy rate, television can play an important role in leveraging your message. Or it can be done the traditional activist way; go to the labour unions, educational institutes or the press. Those are traditional forms of activism outlets. More recently, the internet and digital have made things a bit different, but traditional media is the best way to get your message through to people. But unfortunately, the media is complicit.

SYNERGYGER: What would you suggest should be the way forward?

AHMED RAFAY ALAM: Well, firstly, you have to understand the scale of the problem. We are 1.1/1.2 degrees warmer on average compared to where we were before the industrial revolution, and we are already seeing these catastrophic floods and heat waves. The temperatures are predicted to go past 1.5 degrees by the end of the decade and past 2 degrees by 2050, and the difference between a degree and a half and two degrees will result in 150 million deaths due to air pollution. I have written about it, I have voiced it on television, and even produced a documentary on it. I have protested before the Environment Protection Council, filed lawsuits, and even before the National Assembly standing committee on human rights on these issues, but to no avail. All I’d say is this climate crisis is driven by capitalism, colonialism, consumerism, and the fossil fuel economy, and unless you dismantle them and replace them with something else, you have no hope to combat the climate crisis.

Synergyzer Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Hamna Farrukh
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Synergyzer Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Synergyzer is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and we’re proud to have fostered creativity and innovation in the field.

As we look back on our history, we’re reminded of how far we’ve come as a company. In the beginning, Synergyzer was a niche publication aimed at branding and advertising professionals.

Over time, however, we’ve evolved into a leading source of branding and advertising insights and are now able to provide more comprehensive coverage than ever before. We pride ourselves on being able to provide readers with information that is both timely and relevant to their needs.

We’re excited about our future as well! As we celebrate this milestone, Synergy Group looks forward to continuing our service to readers and industry professionals alike.

Book Talk at Liberty Books: Rosita Armytage on ‘Big Capital in an Unequal World’

Hamna Farrukh
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Book Talk at Liberty Books: Rosita Armytage on ‘Big Capital in an Unequal World’

On February 16th, 2023, a thought-provoking discussion, ‘ Book Talk – Big Capital in an Unequal World: The Micropolitics of Wealth in Pakistan by Dr. Rosita Armytage’ took place at Liberty Books, Clifton Karachi. Liberty Books, the biggest book store in Pakistan, organized the discussion between Rosita Armytage, an author, and an economist and researcher, Asad Sayeed. The event drew a highly interested audience, with the main topic of discussion being Armytage’s book.

The author of the book, Rosita Armytage, is an anthropologist specializing in examining the interplay between politics, economics, and society, particularly in relation to inequality. She spent 15 months in Pakistan conducting research for her book. During her stay, she conducted extensive interviews with wealthy Pakistanis, including industrialists, financiers, and landowners, and their domestic workers and other employees.

The book is a comprehensive examination of the social, economic, and political factors that contribute to inequality in the country. It sheds light on the deep-rooted structural issues, how the wealthy in Pakistan use their wealth to exert power and influence in society, and how they maintain and reproduce their status over time. She examines the ways in which wealth is accumulated and distributed in Pakistan and the role of patronage networks, corruption, and political power in this process.

One of the key findings of Armytage’s research is that the wealthy in Pakistan are not a homogenous group but rather are divided along various lines such as region, ethnicity, religion, and business sector. She argues that these divisions are important for understanding the micropolitics of wealth in Pakistan, as they shape the ways in which the wealthy interact with each other and with the wider society.

The gathering at Liberty Books presented an outstanding opportunity for attendees to engage with the author and gain deeper insights. The audience took the opportunity to engage with Armytage and share their views on her research in Pakistan. The questions and comments further enriched the conversation and underscored the significance of the book’s message. Armytage’s command of the topic and her passion for it shone through during the discussion, making the audience feel more knowledgeable and inspired to effect change.

 

Aqsa Aqeel – Achieving the Unimaginable

Hamna Farrukh
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Aqsa Aqeel – Achieving the Unimaginable

 

Synergyzer got a chance to speak to Aqsa Aqeel, Manager Food Safety & Quality – Foodpanda, about her experience at the FIFA World Cup 2022. 

SYNERGYZER: Can you tell us about your background and how you became a food inspector?

AQSA: My journey started as a microbiologist and gradually progressed to becoming a supervisor, leader, and manager in different food manufacturing companies. Working hands-on in the industry for the past 13 years has given me an in-depth understanding of the various processes and procedures involved in ensuring the safety and quality of food products.

After developing expertise in the field, I decided to take my career to the next level by obtaining certifications in food safety, such as HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), FSSC (Food Safety System Certification), HALAL Standards, Highfield Qualifications Level 4 Food Safety Management for Manufacturing and FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act). This led me to secure a job as a food inspector/food Auditor/food professional.

As a food inspector, I am responsible for conducting regular inspections of the food establishments on our platform to ensure they are following all relevant food safety regulations and standards. This involves checking food storage, preparation, and handling practices, verifying the cleanliness and maintenance of facilities, and ensuring that all employees are properly trained in food safety.

I am committed to ensuring that the food served to the public is safe and high-quality. My 13 years of experience in the food industry have been invaluable in helping me succeed in this role and positively impact the community.

SYNERGYZER: What inspired you to pursue a career in food safety?

AQSA: I pursue a career in food safety motivated by a passion for protecting public health and a desire to ensure that the food we eat is of high quality. With a growing global population and increasing concerns about foodborne illnesses, the role of food safety professionals has become increasingly important.

Additionally, the food industry is a rapidly growing and evolving field, and many individuals are drawn to the challenge of keeping up with new technologies and regulations. The opportunity to work in a dynamic and ever-changing environment while also making a positive impact on public health is a strong motivator for many in the food safety field.

SYNERGYZER: How do you approach conducting a food safety inspection and determining if a food establishment meets regulations and standards?

AQSA: When conducting a food safety inspection, my approach is thorough and systematic. I begin by reviewing the establishment’s food safety policies and procedures, and then I observe their actual practices to ensure they are being followed consistently.

I pay close attention to key areas, such as food storage and preparation, employee hygiene, and facility cleanliness and maintenance. Also, I verify that all employees have received proper food safety training and understand the importance of following safe food handling procedures.

Once I have completed my observations and gathered relevant information, I evaluate the establishment’s compliance with regulations and standards. This includes comparing their practices to relevant provisional, regional, and global food safety guidelines.

If I find any non-compliances, I work with the establishment’s management to identify the root cause and develop a corrective action plan to address the issue. I also educate them on best practices and provide guidance on how to improve their food safety program.

My ultimate goal is to ensure that the establishment operates in a manner that protects public health and provides safe and high-quality food to the community. I approach each inspection with an open mind and a commitment to finding solutions that work for both the establishment and the community.

SYNERGYZER: How did you come across the opportunity to work at the FIFA World Cup 2022? What was the reaction of the management of foodpanda?

AQSA: I was really excited when I found out about the opportunity to work at the FIFA World Cup 2022, and after discussing the opportunity with my leadership, I was thrilled to take on the challenge. When I informed my Leadership team at foodpanda about my opportunity to work at the FIFA World Cup 2022, they were extremely supportive and proud of my achievement. They recognized the unique nature of this opportunity and encouraged me to take advantage of it.

SYNERGYZER: What was the selection process like, and how long did it take?

AQSA: The selection process for food inspectors at the FIFA World Cup 2022 required a combination of qualifications and skills assessment (Minimum of 8-12 years of experience in the Food Safety Inspection & Auditing Field. The candidates were required to have a good understanding of the relevant food safety laws and regulations along with adequate regional and catering experience. Sound knowledge of food safety manuals and ISO was also essential to the comprehensive selection process. It involved

  • a number of interviews and tests, which varied depending on the organization responsible for overseeing food safety at the event and the individual roles being filled.

In general, however, a food inspector role at a large event like the FIFA World Cup would require the candidate to have a strong background in food safety and experience working in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.

It could take several weeks to complete the selection process for a role such as a food inspector at a major event like the FIFA World Cup.

SYNERGYZER: How did you prepare for such a big role in one of the biggest international events in the world?

AQSA: Develop good communication skills: Good communication skills are crucial for a food inspector as you will interact with various stakeholders such as event organizers, food vendors, and government authorities.

Be prepared for long and demanding working hours: Events like the FIFA World Cup can be very physically and mentally demanding. Be prepared for long hours, including early starts and late finishes, and be ready to work under pressure.

Most importantly, a food safety inspector must ensure the food served at the event is safe and meets the necessary standards.

SYNERGYZER: Tell us about your experience working with Bureau Veritas Group.

AQSA: Bureau Veritas is a global leader in conformity assessment and certification services. The company provides a wide range of services, including quality control, food safety, environmental management, and health and safety.

Regarding the FIFA World Cup 2022, Bureau Veritas Group was contracted to provide food safety and quality control services. This would have involved inspecting food products, facilities, and processes to ensure they meet food safety regulations and standards.

The FIFA World Cup is one of the largest and most high-profile sporting events in the world, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world. Ensuring the food served at the event is safe and of high quality is critical to the success of the event, and Bureau Veritas Group’s expertise and experience in this area would have made a significant contribution to this effort.

SYNERGYZER: Can you share your thoughts on the significance of food safety in the context of major events like the Qatar World Cup?

AQSA: Food safety is of utmost importance in the context of major events like the Qatar World Cup 2022 or any other large-scale gathering of people, as it directly affects the health and well-being of the participants and attendees. With thousands of visitors expected to attend the World Cup, there is a heightened need to ensure that the food and beverages being served are safe and free from harmful contaminants.

In addition to ensuring the health of the individuals, food safety also plays a critical role in maintaining the reputation of the event and the host country. A foodborne illness outbreak can quickly spiral out of control, leading to health concerns along with negative media coverage that damages the image of the event and the host country.

Moreover, food safety is a legal requirement, and non-compliance can result in significant fines and legal consequences. Therefore, it is essential for the organizers of major events to prioritize food safety by implementing strict food safety measures and guidelines, such as regular testing and monitoring of food products, training food handlers and using only certified and trustworthy food suppliers, and medical certificates for all the food handlers.

SYNERGYZER: What, in your opinion, are some of the challenges pertaining to food safety in Pakistan?

AQSA: One of the major challenges in Pakistan is the lack of proper regulation and enforcement of food safety standards. There is a need for a strong and effective food safety regulatory framework. This can ensure the implementation of food safety measures. The current infrastructure also leaves much to be desired regarding proper food storage facilities, labs, and food safety training facilities, which can result in poor food quality and safety. Another challenge is the lack of awareness about food safety among the general public, food handlers, and food producers. This leads to the widespread practice of unsafe food handling and production methods, which can pose a significant risk to public health.

The use of harmful pesticides and chemicals in agriculture is a major concern across Pakistan. This can result in the presence of toxic residue in food products, similar to the abundance of contaminated water in some areas of the country. There is also a lack of investment in agriculture, which can result in outdated and unsanitary food production and processing facilities.

To address these challenges, it is crucial to establish a comprehensive food safety system that includes proper regulation and enforcement, investment in food safety infrastructure, education and training programs, and partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society organizations.

SYNERGYZER: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

AQSA: In the next 5 years, I see myself as a valuable and contributing member of foodpanda, having taken on additional responsibilities and significantly contributed to the company’s success. I am committed to continuously learning and developing my skills. I see myself in a position that allows me to make an even greater impact and drive positive results for the company.

foodpanda Partners with Tencent Games for a PUBG MOBILE Tournament for Riders

Hamna Farrukh
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foodpanda Partners with Tencent Games for a PUBG MOBILE Tournament for Riders

Pakistan’s leading online delivery service, foodpanda partnered with Tencent Games for a PUBG tournament to give over 2,500 riders in KLI a chance to compete for cash prizes. As the first-ever tournament of its kind, the rider competition had in-store cash prizes of PKR 20,000, 12,000, and 8,000.

PUBG MOBILE is one of the fastest-growing games in the country, and riders had the chance to win big while having a great time competing. In this first-of-its-kind collaboration between foodpanda and Tencent Games, over 2,500 riders registered themselves in the form of squads to compete against each other.

This marks yet another achievement for the Rider Experience Team at foodpanda which works tirelessly to offer its delivery heroes unparalleled opportunities to grow and prosper.

Pandamart – Driving the Q-commerce Landscape in Pakistan

Hamna Farrukh
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Pandamart – Driving the Q-commerce Landscape in Pakistan

Foodpanda, ever since its arrival in Pakistan, has undergone a massive transformation over the years, with customer satisfaction and convenience at the heart of its mission in Pakistan. With more than 8 verticals running today, foodpanda has taken over the q-commerce landscape in Pakistan with pandamart which kicked off during the lockdown.

Today, pandamart has blossomed into a full-fledged virtual supermarket where customers can order anything from, including everyday groceries, pharmaceutical products, and a complete range of unique products available nowhere else online. Their HACCP-certified systems allow for safe and healthy handling of vegetables and meat, which are completely sold out every day before the evening, ensuring completely fresh operations without compromise. Similarly, their specialized device and fail-proof internal protocols make for the orders to be processed efficiently with a 0.01% margin of error. From the moment an order is placed all the way through its packing, picking up, and final delivery, every step of the way is responsibly planned and executed to ensure the best customer experience.

Being mindful of the changing climate and sustainability, pandamart is completely dependent on solar energy, and even their delivery bags used for packing food and orders are unwoven, cloth bags to minimize the use of plastic use nationwide – a feat that is a testament to pandamart’s sturdy commitment to social responsibility.

Pandamart has always been at the forefront when it comes to taking the right steps at the right time to become the catalyst of change in the q-commerce landscape of Pakistan.

The Blurry Boundaries

Sumaira Mirza
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The Blurry Boundaries

“Having a permanent hybrid set-up initially came as a relief,” says Zainab, “After years of full-time office work, it felt like I finally had control over my work schedule and busy home life.”

The Covid-19 pandemic changed many aspects of our daily lives. The abrupt lockdowns of early 2020 not only altered how companies operated but also spurred significant changes in how employees worked. Many of these changes, such as staff members working remotely, will likely be part of the ‘next normal’ in some form. However, the next normal won’t be the same for workers across all sectors.

As the months rolled by, however, the novelty of hybrid work soon gave way to hassle and a jarring ‘one-day-in, one-day-out’ routine. Employees feel settled and focused on the days that they work from home, but by the evening they are dreading to go back in, sitting at the desk for eight hours a day in a noisy office, staring at a screen, readjusting to exactly how it was before Covid.

Zainab feels she now has two workplaces to maintain – one in the office and one at home. “It involves planning and a stop-start routine: taking my laptop to and from the office every day, and remembering what important things I’ve left where,” she adds. “It’s the psychological shift – the change of setting every day – that’s so tiring; this constant feeling of never being settled, stressed and my productive home working always being disrupted.”

However, as the novelty of hybrid working has faded, so too has workers’ enthusiasm. A predictable, consistent routine can help people cope with feelings of stress and uncertainty – especially during a pandemic. Hybrid, however, requires frequent changes to those daily habits: workers have to constantly switch things up, so it’s hard to find a routine when your schedule is always in-and-out the office. A familiar routine can act as a well-worn groove that allows flow, but carving out new daily habits – involving a less consistent schedule between workplaces – can chip away at cognitive resources. Moving to hybrid has the potential to disrupt someone’s home-working routine. Hybrid practices haven’t become second nature yet, so it takes greater energy, organization, and planning. You have to form new strategies – hot desking, planning commutes – that you wouldn’t need if you were fully remote or in-person.

Physically carrying work back-and-forth between home and the office may also come with a psychological impact for some. A recent study found that the majority of employees reported difficulties switching off from work and feeling “always on”; struggling to adapt to hybrid, and the permeable boundaries between home and work, were cited as a major factor.

The Elements of Hybrid
Figuring out how to do this is far from straightforward. That’s because to design hybrid work properly, you have to think about it along two axes: place and time.

The place is the axis that’s getting the most attention at the moment. Like Fujitsu’s employees, millions of workers around the world this year have made a sudden shift from being place-constrained (working in the office) to being place-unconstrained (working anywhere). Perhaps less noticed is the shift many have also made along the time axis, from being time-constrained (working synchronously with others) to being time-unconstrained (working asynchronously whenever they choose). To solve this problem, companies need to establish and incentivize clear expectations and boundaries. Develop policies and norms around response times for different channels of communication and clarify the work-life boundaries for your employees.

Setting work-life boundaries don’t mean that employees should never work outside of regular work hours. However, if such work after hours systematically happens more often outside of emergency situations, there’s a problem that you need to address.

One of the silver linings of the pandemic has been the culture shift to allow for full-time work-from-home (WFH) or hybrid arrangements where you only go into the office part-time.

The traditional 8-to-5 of being chained to your desk is becoming less common for many of us, replaced by more flexible options. In fact, the newer generations of office workers might not accept the more traditional setups anymore, as evidenced by what’s been called, the Great Resignation. Employers are more likely to attract and retain more people if they are willing to offer different working arrangements for their teams.

That said, flexible work arrangements and working from home come with their own challenges, the biggest one being: The blurring of boundaries between work time and
everything else.

Why Working from Home Blurs the Boundaries of Work and Your Personal Life

There are several reasons why it’s so easy to blur the boundaries of work and home:

1. There is No Physical change from Work to Home or Home to Work

Usually, the context change between work and home signals the beginning and end of work. But when you work from home, there are no clear breakpoints for a commute to and from the office. It’s easy for the time to blend with your home routines.

2. Setting Time Boundaries is Hard

Even when working in an office, most people are not good at setting time boundaries. They get booked for meetings at any time, check their emails constantly, allow themselves to be interrupted by instant messages and colleagues popping in randomly, and jump from fire to fire instead of planning out their days and week.

It’s Easier to Be Passive Than it is To Set Boundaries

When you work from home, it’s even easier to:

  • Let your work hours slip a little more and more into your home time.
  • Be distracted by work-related things when you are supposed to be engaged with your family or friends.
  • Sneak in some email or project work in the evening or on the weekends, just to “stay on top of things” because your laptop is RIGHT there.

These are often passive occurrences that happen without a ton of thought about the consequences. They are reactive and, in the short term, seem like no big deal. But over time, they become the norm. Suddenly you realize you are working all the time and neglecting the other important parts of your life.

3. Many Employers Haven’t Set Clear Work-From-Home Expectations

The expectations for what is acceptable when you work from home versus in the office are different in many ways and they need to be stated clearly by your leadership. If it’s not defined, it’s easy to feel uncertain and anxious about when work stops and home time begins, and what’s allowed/not allowed.

There is often a strong sense of obligation to work, which isn’t necessarily matched to the expectations of your employer. That said, no one wants to feel like they are sneaking around behind their employer’s back to drive the kids to school or go for a post-lunch walk.

During the lockdowns of 2020, workers in many fields worldwide switched to working from home. Once people realized that remote work could function as well as in-office, many companies made the switch permanent. Others incorporated a hybrid work model, blending the two modes and allowing their workers to commute to the office only on certain days of the week.

Working from home has plenty of benefits, like no commute, flexible schedules, and taking calls in your pajamas. But when your office is only a few feet from your living room, chances are that you sometimes struggle to maintain a clear line between your home and professional life. Your time boundaries may become eroded to the extent that you find yourself on the clock non-stop.

Benefits of a Balanced Work and Home Life

As a hybrid worker, you may have a sense that things are off-balance, but it takes some motivation to make the change. To give yourself the push to separate work life from home life, you should consider the positive effects you’ll enjoy.

Improved Mental and Physical Health

Your mental health can take a huge hit from a poorly balanced work and home life. You might notice trouble focusing or a feeling of being burned out, or even develop anxiety and depression When you’re able to separate them, you’ll feel more in control of your workday and your domestic responsibilities—and more relaxed, happy, and focused.

Re-setting the boundaries can provide great benefits for your body as well as your mind. You’ll be able to get more sleep and exercise, improve your diet, and reduce tension by improving your work-life balance.

Getting More Done

Believe it or not, letting work cut into your personal time could actually hurt your productivity. Working longer hours can lead to burnout, which will cause you to get less done and make more mistakes. When you keep work life separate from home life, you’ll increase your productivity and efficiency.

Better Relationships

Your relationships with your family and friends will all benefit from your improved work-life balance. Having more personal time will allow you to spend more time with the people you care about. Your quality time with loved ones will also be more meaningful because you won’t constantly be thinking about work.

But the experiences a lot of employees had, don’t necessarily mean that workers should head back to their office desks five days a week, or seek jobs that are permanently remote.

Hybrid can still be a perfect harmony for workers – so long as their employer gets it right. Where the arrangement goes wrong is when it’s a hybrid schedule dictated by a supervisor, employees end up with a working week they have no control over it’s like the fixed full-time office schedule of old, which just happens to be in the worker’s home twice a week.

It’s a broad definition that can be interpreted in many ways: from going into the office three days a week, to once a month. Hybrid can still be the future of work and represent the best of both worlds – but it still needs refining.

Hybrid can be successful when managers liaise with staff, likely on an individualized basis, about how the set-up would work best for them. It’s both employer and employee who need to set boundaries, but there needs to be autonomy for the worker to self-manage their schedule – flexibility needs to be dictated by the individual, not the boss.

Hybrid is a state of mind. It’s the idea that we seamlessly move and work from setting to setting. Therefore, mechanisms have to be in place to ensure employees have the right home-working software and tools.

Enter the Smart Workers


Sameen Rashid
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Enter the Smart Workers


Have you ever wondered why are some birds kept in a cage? Well, that’s pretty simple, so they don’t fly away. But what exactly are we saying when we act upon this? We cage something to stop it from leaving, which, when you think about it, is really a cruel thing.

The recent generation of employees might just be these same birds aiming to break free from the cage of corporate life. This could very well be due to the vicious cycle of agencies that have been designed to keep a person in the system and condition them to adjust to the inner workings of that particular place. The harm is being caused to the individual abilities of a person because in order to survive and climb that ladder, they have to put aside their individualism and cater to the needs of the clients and the culture of their agency.

Interestingly, the tables seem to be turning. Instead of going through the struggle that we have been conditioned to endure, the current generation seems to have taken the reins into their own hands and decided to work on their own terms, which has led to a great decline in the retention of creatives in the market.

Their solution is THE side hustle. Now how this works is the real story. Having a full-time job is the need of the hour in the current time when inflation is making it impossible to pay bills through just freelancing. But when you reverse this formula, it all starts to make sense. This current generation realizes that along with a full-time job, a side hustle is what is going to secure their future. As time passes, freelancing provides the person with so much of experience and contacts that people opt towards leaving their jobs and giving their complete attention to the business they have been building along the sidelines.

The profit they make increases with the consistency of the person running it, which is why when you look around today, you see a start-up in every corner. You see people taking even the most basic skill that they possess and turning it into a money-making machine, and with the help of social media, the world is at your fingertips.

So, when you think about it, the 9-5 job is just a mask, the real deal is the one happening on the side. And let’s face it, it’s smart. Let’s take most of our elders as an example, who worked their whole lives to create a secure future for themselves and their families, but in that process, they have somewhere or the other missed out on life. They put all their effort towards planting the seed and making it firm, but by the time it started producing the fruit, they were too tired and old to enjoy its sweetness.

One of the biggest dilemmas of an employer in today’s time is retaining an employee because rather than slogging themselves at a place that doesn’t value them enough, an employee opts to work on their own terms. The freedom of setting your own hours, dealing with clients in your own way, and being creative with your ideas is addictive, especially for those who are working towards breaking the generational cycle that has been followed till now.

One might think that it’s just about the above-mentioned points, but one key element that really makes a world’s difference in decision-making and transitioning is money. Most of the time it feels like the person is not being paid enough for the amount of work that is being done. In the name of ownership of work, it is expected that an employee will push back everything else in their lives such as family, social life, events and etc., to make sure that the work is delivered regardless of the hour.

Why would anyone want to work this way? And the employer who expects this to work, I have questions for them. Would they be willing to do so every single day? Are they willing to spend all their family time in the office? Are they willing to sleep after finishing their office work and waking up the next day to start working again?

If the answer is yes, then it needs to be pointed out that this toxic culture is so deeply embedded in our system that we don’t even realize the damage we are causing to ourselves and others. And if the answer is no, well then, treat others the way you wish to be treated. Gen Z is past being helpless and depending on their family for support while enduring negativity at the expense of their mental and physical health. They are the generation that is willing to go the extra mile for their dreams, not just with hard work but with smart work.

If you want to survive and really have something to enjoy in the near future, this is the golden hour. Figure out what is your forte and turn it into your side hustle, because it is those who start today that will be the winners of tomorrow. Starting small is the key, and being consistent is the recipe; the final dish will definitely leave you full and satisfied because you have to work hard either way, whether it be in a company or for your own business; so then why not work for something that will remain yours and has your name on it?

Freelancing is really about making the right contacts and understanding that there is a reason as to why a client is opting for a freelancer instead of an agency. It means that even if their psyche is changing, they are willing to take people individually instead of jumping into a big agency that has its own set of complications. The smart thing to do is to build your contacts and give face with the quality of your work.

Most agencies still follow the same formula that has been going on for years, but it needs to be updated with the changing times. Not changing leads to a difference of opinion. The client requires ideas that are new and that will not be possible if employees are not allowed to work freely and creatively. Mass-producing work leads to the death of creativity which is one of the biggest issues we face right now and is a genuine threat to our industry. You might now see it now, but in a couple of years, some of the biggest names would turn to a mere memory or an example used in conversations, and nothing more.

When the client won’t get what they are looking for, then they will automatically go for freelancers or smaller agencies that have the ideas and understanding that would connect with the current audience. It is this generation that is the future, it is by them that the world will go on, is it these people who are going to follow the rules, then why do you think they won’t have a say in making those rules?

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