DIG IT 2012

DIG IT 2012

This December, when the chill is beginning to swell, the hottest trend of marketing was coming under debate at DIG IT 2012. Organized by Pakistan Advertisers Society, the first of its kind, the Digital Marketing and Advertising Conference – DIG IT 2012 held on December 18th, 2012 at Sheraton Hotel. 

With the help of its engineering team, Wateen deployed a WiFi mesh at the venue to enable the expected guests attending the event, especially bloggers, in using social media at the conference. As the country’s leading converged communications provider, Wateen Telecom acted as one of the headline sponsors for the event. Mr Naeem Zamindar, CEO Wateen Telecom, also addressed the conference as a keynote speaker. Mr Zamindar spoke of the increasing importance and role of convergence in Pakistan’s telecommunications technologies during his address on Mobile Marketing. 

Pakistan Advertisers Society PAS initiated this conference as a platform that aims to bring the Pakistani marketing and advertising community together on the subject of reinventing and reshaping. The conference will be attended by CEO’s, VP’s, Directors, Senior Managers and professionals from different backgrounds related to Brand Management & Marketing, Advertising & Promotions, Communication & PR, Digital Strategy & Planning, Ad Agency & Media Buying, Web Design & Online Content Development, Research & Measurement Specialists, Publishers and Technology Providers etc.

Key speakers, panellists and moderators include Abrar Hasan, Chairman Pas, Javed Jabbar, Prominent Pakistani writer, advertising executive, intellectual and former Information Minister, Pakistan. Shakir Moin, Marketing Director, Naeem Zamindar – CEO, Wateen Telecom, Bilal Farrukh – CMO, e-Business (Pring), ASEAN, Coca-cola, Thailand, Farhan Qureshi – CEO Starcom, Nick Whetham – General Manager, Tribal DDB, Michael Leander – Master Trainer, Marketing and Advertising – Denmark, Kieran O’Sullivan – Head of Digital, JWT (MENA), Aly Mustansir – Head of Brand Management and Marketing, HBL, Hassan Shahid – Internet & Media UK and Visiting Lecturer, IBA, Mahmood Nanji – Advisor, Millac Foods Pvt. Ltd, Amin Rammal – Partner, The Brand Crew, Monis Rahman – VP, DPAP and CEO, Naseeb Networks, Richard Webb – CEO, Effective Measure – Australia, Babar Bhatti – CEO, MutualMind – USA, Salman Abedin – Consultant, JWT Fusion, Amir Paracha – VP Marketing HPC, Unilever, Adnan Syed – CEO, The GMA, Haroon Qassim – CEO, Shield Corporation, Amir Rauf – Chief Digital Officer, Lower & Rauf, Tyrone Tellis – Experienced Media Planning, Ahsan Afzaal – Diector Commercial – Ice Cream at Engro Foods Limited, Professional, Dr Istrat Hussain – Dean and Director IBA.

No-doubt event was well managed & organized. An organizer deserves round of applaud on organizing such event in Karachi.

Remembering 16 December

Remembering 16 December 1971

Most of my friends don’t know about 16 December and its importance. I personally think that it’s because of our biased course books of Pakistan studies which we are forced to study in our schools & colleges. Our 9^th grade Pakistan studies book got 10 pages and 24 headings on Kashmir issue, but 5 lines paragraph on war of 1971 & not even a single heading of separation of East wing! This is what I called BIASED. Why we are not teaching our children’s truth? Why we are hiding our mistakes? Ohhh… May be the reason is our great ARMY was involved in this whole scenario.

Reason for remembering 16^th December is may be my mother, who used to tell us about it, as members of our family have suffered from this incident. Blaming anyone after 41 years is completely foolishness. But remembering our mistakes and commitment not to make it again is necessary. BUT unfortunately neither we remember it NOR did we are committed not to make these mistakes again.

Surrendering of A.K. Niazi was one of the unfortunate events in the history of Pakistan. But yet, we are not able to figure who was the culprit of this unfortunate event. I am one of the biggest fans of BHUTTO (Real BBHUTTOS - Not FAKE one’s who are ruling us). But for me, Bhutto was also a part of this event. I even can’t give whole credit to BHUTTO but yes, so called government including military forces were also a part of it. I am yet confused that Why Gen. Yahya doesn’t handover country to Sheikh Mujeeb as his Awami league was in majority? What was the main reason? And why Bhutto acted stubborn? Why YAHA HUM WAHA TUM was introduced? I have hundread of questions which are yet unanswered and I think no one is on a state to answer me.

After independence, Bangladeshi’s have faced many unfortunate events. I was reading an article by a neutral foreign media, that lady journalist confirms that more than 1000,000 women’s give birth to unwanted (AMRY) children ( even she was not sure that wither it was Pakistani Army or Indian or Both). This shows that more than 2 million women got rape during this bloodily war. Pakistan was the only countries whose largest province was on eastern side and don’t have any direct land & sea route towards eastern province. At least at this stage, I can say, Partition like this (Eastern & Western without any connection) was a blunder. I just get to know that there is no border between INDIA & PAKISTAN! I know it sounds weird but it’s a reality, as the lines which we call borders are Line of Control (as all borders are disputed).

I have read many articles & books on war of 1971, but while reading I always felt that whatever happened was seriously worst of all. History won’t pardon us as we have set example of behaving worst. Our politicians badly need to wake up as almost same independence revolts are up in Baluchistan. Here I would like to give credit to Z.A.Bhutto & Indira Gadhi who understands all situations and free Pakistan’s civilians & army who were war prisoner by India.

I have that surrendering document which was signed by A.K.Niazi infront of Maj. Arora (India). Whenever I look on it, as a Pakistani I really feel ashamed. Whatever happened in Bangladesh was worst of all. But we youth really wants to know who were the real culprits & why they were not punished. Humood-ur-Rehman commission report was not published in Pakistan but it was published in Bangladesh & India. Pakistani government still doesn’t know how those secret documents were being transfered to those countries. Gen. Musharaff was the person who has guts to publish that report and he did it.

During visit to Bangladesh, Gen. Musharaf apologizes on 1971 incident. Many parties including Jamat-i-Islami started propaganda against him as well as this incident. I again appreciated Mr. Musharaf (although I don’t like him) who have guts to apologizes on behalf of Pakistani government & Army.

I would recommend you all if you really don’t know about Fall of Dhaka, do read about it. It’s necessary for us to remember what had happened and try to judge with neutral mind that who were its culprits. I would also like to recommend you one poem of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he wrote it after Fall of Dhaka, on his first visit after independence of Bangladesh. Nayyara Noor, one of the famous singers sings that poem with such emotions & feelings.

“Hum k Thehray Ajnabi, Itna Madarato k Baad.

            Phir Banay gaye Aashna, Kitni Mulaqato k Baad.” (Faiz)