Pakistani IT firms showcase AI, Big Data solutions at Amsterdam tech exhibition

The picture shared by the Pakistan embassy in The Hague on Oct. 3, 2024, shows participants attending AI and Big Data Expo Europe in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Pakistan embassy)
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Updated 03 October 2024
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Pakistani IT firms showcase AI, Big Data solutions at Amsterdam tech exhibition

  • Exhibition held from Oct. 1-2 was sponsored by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
  • Pakistan’s participation shows its growing expertise in AI, big data, says commerce ministry 

ISLAMABAD: Four Pakistani information technology firms showcased cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and big data solutions at an exhibition in Amsterdam this week, highlighting the country’s role as a key player in the global tech arena, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.

The AI and Big Data Expo Europe was held from Oct. 1-2 in Amsterdam, featuring next-generation technologies and strategies in the world of artificial intelligence. The event was sponsored by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and included various speakers from the fields of data science. 

AI technology enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem-solving, decision making and creativity. Big data refers to extremely large and diverse collections of structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data that continues to grow exponentially over time. Big data is used in machine learning, predictive modeling, and other advanced analytics to solve business problems and make informed decisions. 

“Four leading Pakistani IT companies Reach the Globe, ICILtek, NorthBay Solutions and Sofizar/ ConstellationCK proudly represented Pakistan at the AI and Big Data Exhibition Europe at the RAI Convention Center in Amsterdam,” the commerce ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Pakistan’s embassy in The Hague played an important role in promoting the participation of these companies by ensuring a “seamless setup” of the Pakistan Pavillion, the ministry said. It added that the embassy also facilitated booths for local companies and promoted Pakistani IT firms in front of visitors from different sectors. 

The Pakistani embassy hosted a networking dinner to bring together local IT firms and key stakeholders representing Dutch companies, the statement said. The dinner provided a platform for Pakistani and Dutch businesses to discuss collaboration opportunities. 

Muhammad Shafiq Haider Virk, Pakistan’s trade and investment councilor in the Netherlands, said the participation of the four local companies demonstrated the South Asian nation’s growing expertise in AI and big data.

“The Embassy of Pakistan in The Hague will continue to support and promote Pakistani businesses on the global stage, strengthening our trade ties with the Netherlands and Europe,” he said.


Pakistan PM expresses solidarity with Morrocco as building collapse kills 22

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Pakistan PM expresses solidarity with Morrocco as building collapse kills 22

  • Two adjacent four-story buildings, housing eight families, collapsed in Morocco’s Fez city on Wednesday
  • Such building collapses are not uncommon in Moroccan cities that are undergoing rapid population growth

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed solidarity with Morocco and prayed for rescue efforts on Thursday as 22 people were reported dead after two buildings collapsed in the country’s Fez city. 

Morocco’s state news agency, MAP, reported on Wednesday that two adjacent four-story buildings, which housed eight families, collapsed overnight in Fez. Sixteen people were injured and taken to the hospital as authorities said the neighborhood had been evacuated, and search and rescue efforts were ongoing. 

Moroccan authorities said they had opened an investigation into the incident, while MAP reported that the structures were built in 2006 during an initiative called “City Without Slums.”

“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the swift recovery of the wounded,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X. “We stand in solidarity with the Government and people of Morocco in this hour of grief, and pray for the success of the ongoing rescue efforts.”

https://x.com/CMShehbaz/status/1998940192879911417

Such building collapses are not uncommon in Moroccan cities undergoing rapid population growth. A collapse in May in Fez killed 10 people and injured seven in a building that had been slated for evacuation, according to Moroccan outlet Le360.

Building codes are often not enforced in Morocco, especially in ancient cities where aging, multifamily homes of cinderblock are common. 

Infrastructure inequality was a focus of protests that swept the country earlier this year, with demonstrators criticizing the government for investing in new stadiums instead of addressing inequality in health care, education and other public services.

With additional input from AP