By Naeem Ilyas Khanani
Knowledge Fest 2024 was organized with Saman-e-Shifa Foundation , Easy Health Tech, Quantum Bio Labs, REIT Academy Pakistan, IRADM, Climate Motion Pakistan, ,Commecs, Parents Pakistan, Pak Angels USA, MPF and APMF in collaboration with Sustainable Pakistan Movement organized a high powered Knowledge Festival “Knowledge Fest 2024” covering selected United Nations Development Goals knowns as Sustainable Development Goals.
Knowledge Fest 2024: To create societies where everyone has both access to key information and the ability to use it to understand and shape their lives, we must build knowledge into the heart of all of our activities. This is a big task which requires not just a global shift in mindset, but also that we build the tools and communities to make such a society possible.
This was the driving force of this year’s Knowledge Fest 2024, whose vision of “Open Minds to Open Action” will be based around three narrative streams inspiring from UNDP sustainable goals; Knowledge of pressing needs for society like economic sustainability through import substitution, Knowledge based Society for which a new dimension of AI enabled career development & counselling with building startup eco system and smart, safe and sustainable building technologies for sustainable Pakistan, Knowledge of physical fitness as a habit and lifestyle and not as fashion. There were five panel discussions with high powered panelists and thought provoking leaders.
Saman-e-Shifa Foundation (SSF) and Easy Health Tech organized first panel discussion of Knowledge Fest 2024 on “Made in Pakistan: Medical Device Development and Production in Pakistan”. Panelists from Saman-e-Shifa Foundation, HDAP, Easy Health Tech and medical devices companies panelists shared their thoughts as Thought Leadership talks.
A thrilling Panel Discussion led by Naeem Khanani of Easy Health Tech was well presented by known thought leaders and key opinion leaders such as Dr. Abdul Bari of Indus Hospital Health Network, Prof. Dr. Syed Shahid Noor, Chairman Saman-e-Shifa Foundation, Masood Ahmed and Syed Omar Ahmed of HDAP, Kamran Mudassir, Zafar Mahmood, Dr. Rashid Mazhar, Dr. Aqif Anwar, Bader Munir, Akbar Allana.
Recommendations from first panel discussion were: a) medical devices registration fast track processing and allowing medical device companies toll manufacturing through portal, b) facilitation to such companies to be provided through SSF and HDAP on ISO 13485, CE Marking and Quality Management System c) Easy Health Tech will make Yellow Pages for Medical devices with the help of SSF and HDAP d) Policy intervention through National Medical Device Policy Working Group e)Regular meet ups of stake holders.
Second Panel Discussion on “Smart, Safe & Sustainable building technologies for sustainable Pakistan” was organized by REIT Academy Pakistan, Climate Motion Pakistan and IRADM. Leading experts Like Prof. Dr.Noman Ahmed OF NED University, Ar. Ejaz Ahed, Engr.Fahim Iqbal Siddiqui of FND Consulting Engrs, Rizwan Karim of TPL Developments, Muhammad Ejaz of Arif Habib Dolmen REIT Management Ltd,Kamran Mahmood of Gridizen and Amer Qureshi discussed global climate change and the need to bring innovative solutions for sustainable real estate development in Pakistan. Panelists discussed LEED Certifications for sustainable buildings and infrastructure.
Panelists also discussed on Environmental, social and governance (ESG) which refers to a collection of corporate performance evaluation criteria that assess the robustness of a company’s governance mechanisms and its ability to effectively manage its environmental and social impacts. Examples of ESG data include the quantification of a company’s carbon emissions, water consumption or customer privacy breaches. Institutional investors, stock exchanges and boards increasingly use sustainability and social responsibility disclosure information to explore the relationship between a company’s management of ESG risk factors and its business performance.
Third Panel Discussion on “Idea to Invoice: Building start up eco system for Sustainable Pakistan” , moderated by Founder Parents Pakistan Naeem Khanani and co-moderated by M.Anwar Khan of Pak Angels Mr.M. Younus Dagha, Care taker Minister Sindh on Revenue, Industries Commerce inaugurated the Knowledge Fest and appreciated the efforts made by promoters of Knowledge Fest 2024.The Chief Guest, M. Younus Dagha announced a landmark project of e-Services under his ministry which will be launched soon in Sindh, a practical step towards Digital Pakistan. This initiative will certainly improve the governance and operating efficiency of provincial government.
Forth Panel Discussion on “Career Development & Counselling by Industry experts & professionals” were moderated by Naeem Khanani and co-moderated by Mrs. Pernia Rehan Choudhry, Ahmar Azam CEO Trifit, Naeem Qureshi, Ar.Shehreesh Danish, Raheel Rahman and Shoaib Ibrahim were the industry experts and professionals as panelists discussed their thoughts on the subject matter.
Fifth Panel discussion on “Physical Fitness as Habitand lifestyle and not as fashion” were organized by Parents Pakistan with Trifit. Ahmar Azam, CEO Trifit with his team members and Yogi Wajahat were the panelists. The panel was followed by live performance by Robin Bond, ReinHard, Hamza and Risha Zia.
Abdul Razzak Pardesi of Sustainable Pakistan Movement and Naeem Khanani Founder Knowledge Fest 2024 presented Shields to worthy speakers/panelists at the closing ceremony.
