Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, informed the National Assembly on Friday that Pakistan's ICT services export remittances recorded a 28% increase, reaching approximately $1.86 billion during the first six months of the current financial year.

During the question hour, she attributed this growth to improved internet usage and speed in the country.

However, she acknowledged that internet users are facing challenges, emphasizing that efforts are underway to address these issues.

'At present, WhatsApp is fully functional, and all VPNs are operational,' she said.

The minister highlighted that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) operates a 24/7 service center to register complaints, assuring that technicians are dispatched promptly to resolve issues. 'My primary duty is to protect and promote the IT industry,' she added.

The minister said that Pakistan's current internet bandwidth operates at 274 MHz, which limits accessibility. The government plans to add 562 MHz, recently vacated through court proceedings.

She appreciated the efforts of the Law Ministry and Special Investment Facilitation (SIFC) for working to resolve these legal hurdles.

She also shared that Pakistan has eight submarine cables, one of which has reached the end of its lifespan. She announced that the world's largest submarine cable has now arrived in Pakistan, expressing optimism that it will help address connectivity problems.

She further mentioned that the Pakistan-China optic fiber cable is currently operational.

Highlighting the government's achievements, the minister pointed to foreign direct investment in the IT and telecom sectors.

She also emphasized the importance of VPN registration for the freelancing and IT industry. 'PTA has made VPN registration free of cost, and to date, over 31,000 IPs have been registered,' she said.

Islamabad: British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ms. Jane Marriott paid a visit to the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) with an aim to strengthen collaboration between the leading higher education institutions in UK and NUST.

Rector NUST, Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif greeted the British High Commissioner upon her arrival at the NUST main office.

During the meeting, the two sides expressed their commitment to strengthening collaboration between NUST and the leading higher education and research institutions across UK.

They particularly examined potential partnerships to enhance knowledge-sharing and drive impactful advancements in various fields.

Earlier, the High Commissioner, along with other members of the delegation, visited the National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) at NUST, and interacted with several startups, including LearnObots, Orbit-Ed and Vyro.

She expressed her admiration for the innovation-driven startups making meaningful contributions to sectors such as edu tech, smart tech, energy tech, etc.

Later, the delegates visited NUST School of Interdisciplinary Engineering and Sciences (SINES), which houses 10 international laboratories.

They also visited the Centre for Emerging Technologies (CEMTECH) at NUST, wherein the briefing highlighted the center's leading work in AI, Chip Design etc.

Overall, the visit provided delegates with an opportunity to learn about the university's cutting-edge research capabilities and its emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration across various scientific fields.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Friday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs), which approved business plans for the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV).

'The plans are aimed at addressing key operational challenges and outlining roadmaps for sustainable development, including organizational growth, financial sustainability and improved services. These were prepared in compliance with the directions of the CCoSOEs and the format prescribed by the Central Monitoring Unit (CMU) of the Finance Division,' a news release said.

The business plan submitted in respect of PBC mainly focused on a number of measures aimed at ensuring income generation through improved program content, better signal quality, utilization of seven large unutilized concrete spaces and six large tracts of open lands located in different cities as well as installation of ATM booths and advertising billboards at appropriate sites of the Radio Pakistan.

The committee was told that the PBC would be able to achieve a break-even in two years after the execution of the proposed business plan.

For the PTV, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting submitted a business plan featuring measures and interventions targeting digital expansion, content licensing, profitable marketing partnerships, public-private partnerships, and utilization of PTV properties for maximizing operational efficiency and overall revenue potential.

The committee was apprised that out of 5,442 sanctioned posts of PTV, around 1,232 posts had also been abolished to save costs.

The CCoSOEs deliberated on both plans and approved them, emphasizing the importance of achieving operational excellence and the need for timely implementation of planned actions to achieve desired results.

The committee also advised the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to work through administrative boards of both

PBC and PTV to proactively make use of their unutilized spaces, assets and open lands, preferably selling them to private sector instead of engaging in a real estate activity at the cost of their core functions as state broadcasters.

The committee deliberated on the reconstitution of the Board of Directors of Karachi Tools, Dies, and Mould Centre (KTDMC) under the Ministry of Industries and Production.

It approved the appointment of five principal candidates from the private sector, along with ex-officio directors, for a term of three years.

Abdur Razaaq Gauhar was appointed as the Chairman of the Board. This reconstitution aims to improve corporate governance and ensure effective decision-making for the entity.

The reconstitution of the Board of Directors of the Technology Upgradation and Skills Development Company (TUSDEC) was also approved.

The committee appointed six principal candidates from the private sector, along with ex-officio directors, for a term of three years.

Muhammad Noor ud Din Daud was selected as the Chairman of the Board. This reconstitution aligns with the SOEs Ownership and Management Policy, 2023, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and aligning the company's goals with national priorities.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Minister for Maritime Affairs; Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister for Housing and Works; Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Economic Affairs; Federal Secretaries; and senior officers from relevant ministries and divisions.

Islamabad: British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ms. Jane Marriott paid a visit to the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) with an aim to strengthen collaboration between the leading higher education institutions in UK and NUST.

Rector NUST, Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif greeted the British High Commissioner upon her arrival at the NUST main office.

During the meeting, the two sides expressed their commitment to strengthening collaboration between NUST and the leading higher education and research institutions across UK.

They particularly examined potential partnerships to enhance knowledge-sharing and drive impactful advancements in various fields.

Earlier, the High Commissioner, along with other members of the delegation, visited the National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) at NUST, and interacted with several startups, including LearnObots, Orbit-Ed and Vyro.

She expressed her admiration for the innovation-driven startups making meaningful contributions to sectors such as edu tech, smart tech, energy tech, etc.

Later, the delegates visited NUST School of Interdisciplinary Engineering and Sciences (SINES), which houses 10 international laboratories.

They also visited the Centre for Emerging Technologies (CEMTECH) at NUST, wherein the briefing highlighted the center's leading work in AI, Chip Design etc.

Overall, the visit provided delegates with an opportunity to learn about the university's cutting-edge research capabilities and its emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration across various scientific fields.

Johar bahru: The Pakistan women's under-19 cricket team completed final preparations for their first World Cup match against the United States, scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) at the Johor Cricket Academy Ground.

The players practiced for four hours at Marlborough College Ground, focusing on running, batting, bowling, and fielding.

Head coach Mohsin Kamal supervised the session, aided by coaches Muhammad Hanif Malik, Nahida Khan and Asfandyar who provided valuable tips to the players.

The match is set to take place at the Johor Cricket Academy Ground, starting at 2: 30 PM local time.

Team captain Komal Khan expressed confidence in her team's abilities, stating, "We will try our best to win the group matches." She added that the coaches have supported the players at every opportunity.

Head coach Mohsin Kamal noted that the players' confidence is higher this time compared to previous competitions. "The World Cup is a big event, but our players' preparation is good," he said.

The Pakistani team is ready to make a strong impression in the tournament.

Islamabad: British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ms. Jane Marriott paid a visit to the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) with an aim to strengthen collaboration between the leading higher education institutions in UK and NUST.

Rector NUST, Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif greeted the British High Commissioner upon her arrival at the NUST main office.

During the meeting, the two sides expressed their commitment to strengthening collaboration between NUST and the leading higher education and research institutions across UK.

They particularly examined potential partnerships to enhance knowledge-sharing and drive impactful advancements in various fields.

Earlier, the High Commissioner, along with other members of the delegation, visited the National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) at NUST, and interacted with several startups, including LearnObots, Orbit-Ed and Vyro.

She expressed her admiration for the innovation-driven startups making meaningful contributions to sectors such as edu tech, smart tech, energy tech, etc.

Later, the delegates visited NUST School of Interdisciplinary Engineering and Sciences (SINES), which houses 10 international laboratories.

They also visited the Centre for Emerging Technologies (CEMTECH) at NUST, wherein the briefing highlighted the center's leading work in AI, Chip Design etc.

Overall, the visit provided delegates with an opportunity to learn about the university's cutting-edge research capabilities and its emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration across various scientific fields.