Communications Award

Award Code No:

This award would be presented to the most innovative application of ICT that has been providing some form of communications service.

Entries could be made for applications of software, hardware or its combination relating to the transmission of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, voice, video, data, or intelligence of any nature by digital or analog, electromagnetic or electronic signals through existing and emerging media (e.g., radio, telephone, television, facsimile, SMS, MMS, GPRS, Internet, Wi-Fi, WiMax, 3G, Bluetooth, RFID).

The application must be developed specifically for the Communications Industry, and should be one that could easily be converted and used by any other industry.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

E-Government Award

Award Code No: EGOV-01

This award would be presented to an outstanding ICT innovation dedicated to delivering improved government services or other electronic initiatives to the community.

Entries could be made for:

• applications of software, hardware or its combination supporting a community in the society with the aim of promoting the rights and needs of particular group(s) or
• applications of software, hardware or its combination enabling efficient, effective, transparent and low costs of Government operations or
• applications of software, hardware or its combination implemented by a Governmental or Public Service institution to provide best valuable services to the public or
• applications of software developed to meet the specific need of providing better public services by a Governmental institution

The application could be one that has been developed by a private or governmental institution, or a government owned company and/or funded by the Government or a foreign donor, and is still in pilot implementation. While the application may not necessarily be in full-scale implementation, a Governmental or Public Services Institution should already be using it.

An application that has been developed for the use of a Government/State owned company or any business purpose could not fall under this category.

Evidence of acceptance or recognition of application's implementation must be presented by the user at the time of entry nomination.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

New Media and Entertainment Award

Award code no: MEEN-06

This award would be presented to the best ICT innovation delivering superior outcomes in media and entertainment industry.

It may be any application of software, hardware or its combination relating to the process (the technology innovation is the main criteria to evaluate the product) of combining text, sound, pictures, and videos, to create a diversion that holds the attention (entertainment), in the form of multimedia, infotainment, and immersive and interactive media. Also, this category includes applications that are delivered through mediums such as Internet and mobile devices, for example a technology innovation to develop advance human characterization in the animation film is the area to evaluate not the final film itself.

In addition, entries are made for applications of software, hardware or its combination providing management and technical support to the news and entertainment industry such as Television Broadcasting, Radio Broadcasting, Cinema, Live Entertainment, Publishing, Newspaper and Internet News.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

Research and Development Award

Award code no: REDE-13

This award would be presented to the most outstanding ICT R&D project.

Entry can be made for any Information and Communication Technology research and creation, primarily undertaken to discover and invent new knowledge, products, processes, and services or to create new and improved products, processes, and services required by market needs.

This may include any Information and Communication Technology product or creation that has been fully completed but has not been actively marketed yet or is already being actively marketed but no customer or installation at the customer site is provided till date, and the marketing has been carried out for less than one year since the product completion.

In addition, the entries could be made for any Information and Communication Technology product or creation that has not been completed yet but can be demonstrated to show its features and functionality. Funding of this product can be either from internal funding and/or customer/user funding.

The company must own IPR of the Research and Development product nominating the product entry.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Tourism and Hospitality Award

Award code no: TOHO-05

This award would be presented to recognize the most outstanding ICT innovation designed to deliver superior outcomes in the tourism or hospitality industry.

It may be any application of software, hardware or its combination that supports services based industry that are comprised of a number of tangible and intangible components such as transport, food and beverages, tours, souvenirs and accommodation, health-tourism, culture, adventure or simply escape and relaxation.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Tools and Infrastructure Award

Award code no: TIAP-12

This award would be presented to the most innovative nomination for an ICT solution, providing tools for management or creation of hardware or software infrastructure.

Entry can be made for any software program designed to operate hardware through basic operating systems and programming languages, increasing the efficiency of systems personnel through system performance measurement tools and improving the operating capabilities of the hardware system by routing the flow of data among machine units. Thus, handling data entry and delivery to insure program integrity through maintenance and converting programs from one language to another, and organizing data resources through sort/merge products, or by monitoring machine usage.

In addition it may also include any software program designed to allow users to retrieve, organize, manage and manipulate data and databases. This group is divided into four sub-categories: data access/retrieval, data management, data manipulation, and program design, development. It includes all database management system (DBSM) software; decision-support and executive information system (EIS) programs; spreadsheet programs; front-end and back-end CASE tools; and emerging areas like cooperative processing and/or object management application development tools.

Furthermore, the entry may include any software program designed as a software tool to develop another application or database or an operating system or a software program designed to monitor integrated Information Technology System operation to improve systems and performance for increased reliability of systems.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

E-Health Award

Award Code No: EHEA-14

This award would be presented to the most innovative ICT solution that has been supporting superior outcomes across a broad spectrum of services and any activities delivered by the healthcare professionals.

Entries could be made for applications of software, hardware or its combination, related to the services provided to individuals or communities by a health care system or professionals to promote, maintain, monitor, or restore health. Healthcare contains a broad spectrum of services and activities delivered by a team of health personnel.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

E-Inclusions and e-Community Award

Award Code No: EIEC-16

This award would be presented to the most innovative ICT solution that best supports, promotes or encourages social inclusion or community cohesion.

Entries could be made for applications of software, hardware or its combination supporting a community in the member economy's society with the aim of:

• promoting the rights and needs of particular groups; or
• improving the wellbeing, quality of life and standard of living of the community with the ultimate intent to bridge the digital divide developed by an organization that is private, commercial or non profit and is one not owned by the government.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Secondary Student Project Award

Award code no: SESP-03

This award would be presented to the most outstanding ICT project undertaken by a secondary student or group of secondary students.

Entry can be made for any Information and Communication Technology project or research performed by a student or group of school students comprising from any span of grades beginning with the next grade following an elementary or middle-school (usually 7, 8, or 9) and ending with or below grade 12. Generally refers to the years of formal education prior to entering a College or University.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Security Application Award

Award code no: SECU-11

This award would be presented to recognize the most outstanding contribution to the security industry made by an ICT innovation.

Entries can be made for applications of software, hardware or its combination that are providing authentication support, intruder detection and prevention of antivirus, anti spyware, data and/or system protection and counter security checking system, applicable to the information technology environment as well as to other security systems at large.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Financial Industry Application Award

Award code no: FIAP-08

This award would be presented to the most innovative ICT solution offered to the financial industry.

Entries can be made for applications of software, hardware or its combination, supporting and enabling the process of transferring and managing capital or funds or monetary related entities within or across the enterprise in various related industry such as banking, insurance, stock exchange, and multi finance.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Service and Local Industry Award ?????

Award code no: ELEA-02

This award would be presented to the most successful and innovative application of ICT delivering education and training.

This category is open for applications of software, hardware or its combination that serve the needs of learners to acquire knowledge and skills through information and communication technologies used in schools, universities, or other educational institutions and corporations. This could include interactive, personalized and distributed learning resources creating active e-learning communities and target models and solutions.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

e-Learning Award

Award code no: REDE-13

This award would be presented to the most successful and innovative application of ICT delivering education and training.

This category is open for applications of software, hardware or its combination that serve the needs of learners to acquire knowledge and skills through information and communication technologies used in schools, universities, or other educational institutions and corporations. This could include interactive, personalized and distributed learning resources creating active e-learning communities and target models and solutions.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

e-Logistics and Supply Chain Management Award

Award code no: ELOG-10

This award would be presented to the most innovative nomination for an ICT solution that best enhances supply chain and logistics related activities.

Entries could be made for applications of software, hardware or its combination supporting and enabling the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, effective flow and storage of goods, services, and related information from the point of origin to the point of consumption in order to meet customers requirements.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Start Up Company Award

Award code no: STUP-15

This award would be presented to recognize the most outstanding ICT company that is still in the start up phase of development.

Start-up Company refers to an Information and Communication Technology company that develops an innovative and potential superior ICT Product and could be one that would still be considered at the early stage of inception.

The Start-up Company must meet the following criteria:

• It should be registered under company eligibility for nomination rule.
• The registration must not be more than 3 years from the date of APICTA competition.
• The founder of the company and/or the product developers must still be the major shareholders of the company.
• It must not be a subsidiary of a well-established parent company.
• It must not have received substantial funding from VC or any other investor, and should solely be self-funded.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Tertiary Student Project Award

Award code no: TESP-04

This award would be presented to recognize the most outstanding project undertaken by a tertiary (undergraduate) student or a group of students.

Entry can be made for any Information and Communication Technology project or research performed by a student or a group of students registered as active undergraduate students in higher-learning institutions, such as colleges or universities

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Industrial Application Award

Award code no: FIAP-08

This award would be presented to recognize the most outstanding ICT innovation that best delivers improved outcomes in industrial processes or activities.

Entries can be made for applications of software, hardware or its combination improving the performance of the process of creating products and services, increasing efficiency and productivity e.g. Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM), optimization devices and system, process effectiveness monitoring tools, data acquisition software, SCADA, process and discrete manufacturing, oil and gas etc.

Application Form

Judging Criteria

This entry will be judged on following criteria, each having its own attributes:

Green & Sustainable IT

Award code No: SGIT-17

Specific Category: Sustainability and Green IT

Product Definition:

An application of software and/or hardware and/or processes and/or related products or services that addresses sustainability issues inclusive of but not limited to climate change, environmental conservation and impact and/or Green IT initiatives such as life-cycle management, resource management, carbon emission reduction, environmental performance monitoring or renewable energy management. Sustainability is measuring metrics, based on economic, environmental and social outcomes.

This category seeks to award the most innovative application of Information Technology to undertake any activity in a more sustainable manner and/or maintain a neutral or positive its overall environmental impact; addressing issues inclusive of but not limited to measuring enterprise emissions, reducing emissions associated with customers and suppliers to reduce the value-chain footprint. The overall goal is to reduce the IT footprint to build credibility and demonstrate tangible benefits and ultimately transform operations to operate in a low-carbon economy.

1. Sustainability /Sustainable

Sustainability /sustainable refers to the ability to continue a process/operation or service [product] indefinitely that meets the needs of the present without compromising eco-systems and ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Climate change

Climate change refers to the effect of global warming attributed to the increase of Green House Gases and aerosols from human activity (GHG) in the earth's atmosphere. Activities contributing to increase of GHG in the atmosphere include, but are not limited to, deforestation, consumption of natural resources, industrial and farming activities and unsustainable business practices.

Environmental conservation

This refers to the practice of protecting the environment by an individual, organization and/or government for the benefit of natural environment and/or humans. Environmental conservation ensures the environment is preserved over time.

Environmental impact

Refers to the potential or actual positive or negative effect on the environment. Impact includes, but is not limited to, deforestation, consumption of natural resources, industrial and farming activities, recycling, sustainable resource management and reforestation.

Environmental issues

Refers to issues that have a negative effect on the environment.

Issues include deforestation, GHG emissions, consumption of natural resources, unsustainable business practices and socio-economic factors that negatively impact the environment and are not limited to these.

Application Form

Best in Animation Award

Application Form

Best in HR Excellence

Application Form

Best in Managed Services Award

For this category, nominations will be accepted for such IT companies that have worked with local customers on managing a particular service function during the past year or the year preceding the Awards. The service provider must prove that the services provided have directly improved efficiency in the vendor organization and provided relief in terms of excess workload for senior management and line managers.

Application Form

Best in Mobile Application Award

Application Form

Best in BPO

Application Form

Best in Brand Development Award

For this category, nominations will be accepted for such IT Companies that have significantly improved their brand value over the past year from October 31st of the year immediately preceding the Awards or before in terms of its image, the collateral developed, advertising and/or its measured/documented market perception.

• How have you significantly developed your brand in the past year?
• What has been the measured improvement in your Brand Perception & Image of your Organization?
• What collateral in terms of brochures, newsletters, giveaways & other branding tools have you used to improve your organization's image?
• What has the organization done in terms of improving online presence or using social networking tools, or activities to improve brand recognition?

Application Form

Best in CSR Award:

For this category, the nominated company must:

• Demonstrate one or several CSR initiatives it has taken during the past 24 months which have brought benefit to a particular segment of society
• Photographs/videos and testimonials to this effect would assist judges in determining which organization has best fulfilled the CSR objective.
• The organization vying for this must be a local IT company.
• Productivity: How your Company compares to existing or competing businesses in terms of staff/financial turnover
• Satisfaction Levels:
• Internal Satisfaction 1. By Independent Survey 2. By comparing staff turnover ratios with similar businesses in the same sector
• External Satisfaction: Client Feedback

Application Form

Best in Export Growth Award

Nominations for this category will be accepted for:

• Companies that operate primarily as Product or Service organizations.
• Companies that have a significant component of exports as part of their sales mix.
• Have demonstrated/documented notable growth percentage year on year during the relevant period.
• The company must have had positive financial growth for each of the 3 previous years.
• The financial growth in the immediate previous year (from 31st October) must be significantly higher than previous years.

Application Form

Best in Service Innovation Award:

For this category, the following requirements must be met:

• The company or the business unit in whose respect the nomination is made must primarily be operating as a service business.
• It must demonstrate a successful business model that is strikingly different from others in its chosen market segment, or else have created a successful market segment of its own where none existed earlier.
• Service Description: Must clearly delineate area of service in which nominee excels.
• Differentiator: How your Company compares positively to existing or competing businesses in terms of clear differentiation
• Market Indicators 1. By Independent Survey 2. By comparing turnover or growth with similar businesses in the same sector 3. By showing how nominee has successfully created a distinct new market segment.
• f. Sustainability: Demonstrated scalability or expandability of the concept/franchise

Application Form

Best CIO of the Year Award (Private Sector)

For this category, the nominated company must have worked effectively and seamlessly with an IT firm in Pakistan to implement a solution beginning from October 31st of the year preceding the Awards or before, having a positive impact on the operational efficiency of the Company.

Application Form

Best CIO of the Year Award (Public Sector)

For this category, the nominated company must have worked effectively and seamlessly with an IT firm in Pakistan to implement a solution that improved the efficiency of the organization and had a direct impact on citizen services.

Application Form

Best in Project Management Award

For this category, the following requirements must be met:

• The company must have been operating as a legal entity for the past three years.
• The company must demonstrate which project was implemented and how it was proven to be a smooth & successful implementation.
• The company must demonstrate how customer and vendor engagement was handled through the process.
• The company must demonstrate how the project improved the processes within the customer organization.

Application Form

Best in Gender Diversity Award

Nominations in this category will be accepted from:

• Companies that are in the IT domain
• Companies that can demonstrate that they have a diverse gender balance in terms of employee numbers.
• Companies that can demonstrate that these numbers have been growing over the past few years.
• That they have developed programs and initiatives that attract a diverse workforce.
• That promotions, training and opportunities have been provided to women as well as men.
• That women are being encouraged to join management positions in the organization

Application Form

Best in Social Media Award (IT Company)

For this category, the following requirments must be met:

• Companies must be in the IT domain.
• They must be able to demonstrate that they have used Social Media effectively for brand equity, to obtain customers, sell products and services; network for outreach and/or add value to the company's business.
• Details of the Social Media campaign must be provided.

Application Form

Best in Social Media Award (Non-IT Company)

For this category, the following requirments must be met:

• Companies can be from any business or government segment.
• They must be able to demonstrate that they have used Social Media effectively for brand equity, to obtain customers, sell products and services; network for outreach and/or to add value to the company's business.
• Details of the Social Media campaign must be provided.

Application Form

Best in Company Ownership Award

For this category, the following requirements must be met:

• The company must be registered in Pakistan
• The company can be a 100% local company and/or has foreign shareholding of not more than 49% ownership.

Application Form

PLATINUM SPONSOR

• Logo on Backdrop as Platinum Sponsors in Awards Ceremony
• Video Showcase
• Note of thanks by MoC at the event
• Branding message on inside front of event catalogue (Full page)
• Logo on Event catalogue back page
• Mention in all Pre-event coverage
• Mention in all Post-event coverage
• Logo on Event Badges
• One back page, full color advertisement in Tech Talk, P@SHA's bi-monthly Newsletter
• Banner Ad placed on Event Website
• 2m x 2m Stall (bare space) near the registration desk for the whole event with a table and 2 chairs

PKR 2,500,000*

*All rates exclusive of taxes

GOLDEN SPONSOR

• Logo on Backdrop as Golden Sponsors in Awards Ceremony
• Video Showcase
• Note of thanks by MoC at the event
• Branding message on inside front of event catalogue (half page)
• Logo on Event catalogue back page
• Mention in all Pre-event coverage
• Mention in all Post-event coverage
• Logo on Event Badges
• One inside-back, half page full color advertisement in Tech Talk, P@SHA's bi-monthly newsletter
• Banner Ad placed on Event Website
• 2m x 2m Stall (bare space) near the registration desk for the whole event with a table and 2 chairs

PKR 2,000,000*

*All rates exclusive of taxes

SILVER SPONSOR

• Logo on Backdrop as Silver Sponsors in Awards Ceremony
• Video Showcase
• Note of thanks by MoC at the event
• Branding message on inside front of event catalogue (half page)
• Logo on Event catalogue back page
• Mention in all Pre-event coverage
• Mention in all Post-event coverage
• Logo on Event Badges
• One inside-back, half page full color advertisement in Tech Talk, P@SHA's bi-monthly newsletter

PKR 1,500,000*

*All rates exclusive of taxes

BRONZE SPONSOR

• Logo on Backdrop as Bronze Sponsors in Awards Ceremony
• Video Showcase
• 1 Standee placed at a key location
• Note of thanks by MoC
• Logo on Event diary back page
• Mention in all Pre-event coverage
• Mention in all Post-event coverage
• Logo on Event Badges
• One inside Back, Half page full color advertisement in TechTalk, P@SHA's bimonthly newsletter
• Banner Ad placed on Event Website

PKR 1,000,000*

*All rates exclusive of taxes

CONFERENCE LUNCH SPONSOR

• Logo on Backdrop as Conference Lunch Sponsor
• 1 Standee at the Conference
• Note of thanks by MoC
• Video Showcase
• Banner Ad on the Event Website
• Logo on Event diary back page
• Mention in pre-event and post-event coverage

PKR 500,000*

*All rates exclusive of taxes

TERTIARY STUDENT SPONSOR

• Logo on Backdrop as Tertiary Student Sponsor
• 1 Standee placed at a key location
• Logo on Event diary back page
• Mention in all Pre-event coverage
• Mention in all Post-event coverage
• Logo on Event Badges
• Logo placed on Event website

PKR 350,000*

*All rates exclusive of taxes

OFFLINE SPONSOR

• 1 Standee placed at key location
• Logo on Event diary back page
• Mention in all Pre-event coverage
• Mention in all Post-event coverage

PKR 150,000*

*All rates exclusive of taxes

ONLINE SPONSOR

• Logo displayed in Video Showcase Mention in all Pre-event coverage
• Mention in all Post-event coverage Logo placed on Event website
• 1 Standee placed at key location Logo on Event diary back page
• Mention in all Pre-event coverage Mention in all Post-event coverage

PKR 100,000*

*All rates exclusive of taxes