Category: Information Technology

Pakistan cricket team has spent the majority part of the past few months in a bio-secure bubble. Pakistani players toured England amidst the pandemic in July, then played the National T20 Cup under strict COVID-19 protocols followed by the series against Zimbabwe and PSL 5 play-offs. The team is currently in New Zealand, again under strict COVID-19 restrictions.

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Staying in a bio-secure bubble for a long time can have an adverse impact on mental health and it adds to the already high mental stress due to the pressure of representing your country. PCB, in an effort to relieve some of the mental pressure, has decided to conduct online psychotherapy sessions for the players currently under quarantine.

The players themselves have made complaints to PCB regarding the situation.

Pakistani players are finding it hard in New Zealand as the quarantine regulations are very strict. The players have limited interaction with each other and are confined to their rooms. They are receiving their food in boxes and are only getting a few minutes to walk.

Some players have called it a prison sentence and are unhappy about the harsh welcome by the New Zealand authorities.

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Restrictions Eased For Pakistan Squad After 3rd Round of Testing

Pakistan team was expecting to be allowed to train on the ground after spending three days in isolation, but six players tested positive for COVID-19 in the first round of testing, hence, the authorities changed the plans to control the spread.

PCB is concerned for the players as they have spent a lot of time in isolation and have not been allowed to train. According to reports, PCB is more concerned about the mental aspect rather than their physical fitness and performance on the pitch. So, PCB has taken the step to conduct online sessions with psychotherapists for the players, as it will help them get in a better mental shape.

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The Executive Chairman of John Menzies, Phillip Joeining, met with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday to discuss various proposals regarding the promotion of linkages between aviation, airport services, and tourism.

The PM appreciated the interest shown by international firms in the establishment of tourism services in Pakistan and said that Pakistan is blessed with abundant sites that can be developed into world-class attractions in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner.

The Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, was present during the meeting. Additionally, proposals for the establishment of skiing facilities and mountaineering were also discussed in it.

John Menzies is the holding company of Menzies Aviation – an aviation services business based in Edinburgh, Scotland, that provides ground handling, cargo handling, cargo forwarding, and into-plane fueling.

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Discussions between Islamabad and Kabul are underway for preferential trade agreement (PTA) and trade under Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) with a focus on bringing back the share of trade to Pakistan, which was lost to Iran and India, a national daily reported on Monday.

Speaking to a media outlet, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood said,

In the wake of incompetence in decision-making, irrational and faulty policies on behalf of Pakistan in the past, Kabul diversified its import regime and abandoned the reliance on imports from Pakistan, which is why 50 percent country’s export share glided to Iran and India.

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In 2010-11, Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan stood at $2.6 billion, which reduced by half to $1.3 billion in 2018. During July-October 2020, the exports to Afghanistan stood at $344 million, which showed an increase of 15.6 percent year over year, compared to the exports of $287 million in the same period in 2019.

The adviser further added, “he was confident that Pakistan will win back the lost share in Afghanistan’s market as for Kabul to import from Pakistan is the most economical.”

Pakistan held two-day talks with Afghanistan, in Kabul, on November 16-18 with a focus on the finalization of the draft for APTTA, signing of PTA, free movements of goods in both countries, as well as trade issues related to port, customs, and banking.

During the recent discussions, Afghanistan asked Pakistan to allow Indian goods to pass through the Wagha border. However, Pakistan refused on the grounds that these talks were meant to discuss the trade details between Pakistan and Afghanistan and not regarding other countries.

Pakistan also informed Afghanistan of the tension between Pakistan and India stemming out of the Kashmir issue, which is another reason that Pakistan will not be open to this demand. “Then Kabul side took back its demand and talks went smoothly on PTA and APTTA,” the adviser informed.

Once the preferential trade agreement is signed, Pakistan will be able to bounce back to the export level of $2.6 billion and eventually boost it further to $5 billion in the next five years, Mr. Razak remarked. Furthermore, he added that the same agreement will also be useful in formalizing and documenting the major chunk of informal trade that is currently taking place between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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The issue of smuggling through the Pak-Afghan border was also discussed during the talks, and Razak Dawood said that in case of smuggling of goods, under the new APTTA, Pakistan will give six months’ notice to the Kabul administration.

In case no required action is taken, Pakistan will have the right to scratch down the agreement, he said. Adding that Pakistan will also have the right to place restrictions in trade under the APTTA if the smuggling of goods from Afghanistan to Pakistan continues.

During the detailing of the PTA, Kabul demanded tariff concessions primarily on products like vegetables, fruits, and dry fruits while, Islamabad sought tariff concessions on engineering goods, construction industry materials, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, among others.

The adviser informed that PTA and APTTA talks would conclude by the end of January 2021.

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The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has finalized the ‘Personal Data Protection Bill 2020’ aimed at realizing the goal of the full-scale adoption of e-government, increase users’ confidence, and protect users’ data from unauthorized access or usage.

This was confirmed by the Secretary Ministry of Information information and Telecommunications, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui.

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He said that the draft bill is almost finalized and will be presented for the approval of the Cabinet very soon, adding that the legislation will facilitate users through the protection of their data.

The government has also proposed the constitution of a ‘Data Protection Authority’ to curb the misuse of data and to protect citizens’ personal information. However, the Secretary said that the Data Protection Authority has not been finalized yet.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication had drafted the ‘Personal Data Protection Bill 2020’ and sought feedback from all its stakeholders while proposing a fine of up to Rs. 25 million for those who process or cause to be processed, disseminate, or discloses personal and sensitive data in violation of any of the provisions of the proposed legislation. The proposed legislation had been drafted in 2018 but was delayed numerous times.

The proposed legislation will govern the collection, processing, use, and disclosure of personal data; and will establish and make provisions for offenses related to the violation of individuals’ right to the privacy of data by collecting, obtaining, or processing personal data by any means.

It is also expedient to provide for the processing, obtaining, holding, usage, and disclosure of data while respecting the rights, freedom, and dignity of natural persons with special regard for their right to privacy, secrecy, and personal identities, and for matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto.

Furthermore, a data controller will not process personal data including the sensitive personal data of a data subject unless the subject has consented to the processing of the personal data.

If personal data is required to be transferred to any system beyond the territories of Pakistan or to a system that is not under the direct control of any of the governments of Pakistan, it will be ensured that the country where the data is being transferred offers personal data protection that is at least equivalent to the protections provided under this Act; and that the transferred data will be processed in accordance with this Act; and where applicable, consent to it is given by the data subject. Additionally, critical personal data will only be processed in a server or data center within Pakistan.

The proposed legislation states that the digitization of businesses and various public services employing modern computing technologies involves the processing of personal data. The growth of technological advancements has made the collection of personal data easier and has also enabled the processing of personal data in numerous ways that were not possible in the past.

Personal data is often being collected, processed, and even sold without the knowledge of the person in question. In some cases, such personal information is used for relatively less troublesome commercial purposes like targeted advertising. However, the data thus captured or generated can be misused in many ways like blackmail, behavior modification, phishing scams, etc.

To realize the goal of the full-scale adoption of e-government and the delivery of services to the people at their doorsteps, and to increase users’ confidence in the confidentiality and integrity of government databases, it is essential for users’ data to be fully protected from any unauthorized access or usage, and that they are provided remedies against the misuse of their personal data.

With the advent of 3G/4G in Pakistan, an accelerated increase in the use of broadband has led to an increasingly enhanced reliance on technology, calling for the protection of people’s data against misuse, and thus maintaining their fearless confidence in the use of new technologies.

Although Pakistan has sectoral arrangements/frameworks exist for the protection of data in addition to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 that deals with the crimes relating to unauthorized access to data, it is necessary to arrange for a comprehensive legal framework in line with the constitution and international best practices for personal data protection.

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Protecting personal data is also crucial to the provision of legal certainty to businesses and public functionaries regarding the processing of personal data in their activities.

The desired legal framework will clarify the responsibilities of the data collectors and processors, and the rights and privileges of the data subjects along with institutional provisions for the regulation of activities related to the collections, storing, processing, and usage of personal data.

Within six months of the enforcement of this Act, the federal government will, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish the Personal Data Protection Authority of Pakistan to perform its functions.

This Authority will be a statutory corporate body having perpetual succession and a common seal; and may sue and be sued in its own name and; subject to and for the purposes of this Act, may enter into contracts and may acquire, purchase, take and hold moveable and immovable property of every description; and may convey, assign, surrender, charge, mortgage, reassign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of or deal with any moveable or immovable property or any interest vested in it; and will enjoy operational and administrative autonomy except as specifically provided for under this Act.

It will be responsible to protect the interest of the data subject and enforce the protection of personal data, prevent any misuse of personal data, promote awareness of data protection, and will entertain complaints under the Act.

Moreover, the Authority will be an autonomous body under the administrative control of the federal government, with its headquarters in Islamabad.

The post MoIT Finalizes Draft for Personal Data Protection Bill 2020 appeared first on .

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Star all-rounder, Imad Wasim, looks set to sign with Big Bash League outfit, Melbourne Renegades. According to reports, Imad Wasim is waiting for No Objection Certificate (NOC) from PCB before signing for the Renegades.

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Pakistani players have been ignored so far in this edition of BBL due to scheduling conflicts. Pakistan is set to take on New Zealand in a three-match T20I and two match Test series scheduled to take place in December. Imad will potentially be the first Pakistani to be signed in this edition.

Three players from Pakistan have previously represented Melbourne Renegades, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq played in the 2011-2012 season and fast bowler, Usman Khan Shinwari, was part of the title-winning squad in 2018-2019.

Imad Wasim is a highly sought-after player in the T20 leagues around the world. He recently captained Karachi Kings to their first-ever PSL title and ended a long wait for the franchise to be crowned as champions. He has represented various teams in competitions such as Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He also recently won the T20 Blast in England with Nottinghamshire.

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Last year in the BBL, Pakistani pacer, Haris Rauf, set the tournament alight with his excellent bowling spells and was named in the official team of the tournament. Haris was replaced by Dilbar Hussain when he was representing Pakistan against Bangladesh.

Fourteen Pakistani players have taken part in the BBL since it’s inception. Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Haris Rauf, Usman Shinwari, Dilbar Hussain, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah, Rana Naved, Shoaib Malik, Yasir Arafat, Usman Qadir and Azhar Mahmood have participated in the tournament previously.

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Having utilized the entire Rs. 3.6 billion of the Coronavirus Emergency Fund (CEF), the Sindh government has no funds at its disposal to deal with the second wave of COVID-19.

In March this year, the Sindh government had set up the CEF to fight the Coronavirus outbreak in the province. It also notified the formation of a high-level committee headed by Chief Secretary Sindh, Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, to manage the CEF. Both the public and private sectors generously contributed to the CEF to support the fight against the disease by mobilizing required resources.

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According to Finance Department Sindh, the CEF committee had released Rs. 133.94 million and Rs. 30 million for setting up field isolation centers at the Expo Center and PAF Museum respectively.

It also disbursed Rs. 2.05 billion for immediate acquisition of essential medical equipment including PCR testing kits, rapid testing kits, PPE suits, oxygen cylinders, N-95 and surgical masks, suction machines, thermal guns, defibrillators, BP apparatus, medicine, sanitizers, and biohazard bags.

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Besides, the CEF committee also hired a renowned external auditor for transaction review to ensure transparency in the management of the fund. It also signed an agreement with a quality assurance firm for the inspection of the essential medical equipment purchased by the provincial health department.

CM Sindh’s Law Adviser, Murtaza Wahab, has said that the provincial government will discuss its plans about the CEF as soon as the CM recovers and resumes office.

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Apple is already one of Samsung’s biggest customers when it comes to Smartphone parts, but this partnership may move another step ahead with a recent update. The Cupertino giant is now looking to cooperate with Samsung for its periscope lenses to improve the optical zoom on future iPhones.

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Samsung is known for employing highly capable periscope lenses on its flagship phones, most notably the Galaxy S20 Ultra with its 100x Space Zoom. Other companies also have similar features on their flagship devices including the Huawei P40 Pro, Vivo X50 Pro+, OPPO Find X2 Pro, Huawei Mate40 Pro, and more.

Samsung has also acquired Corephotonis, an Israeli optics company that developed zoom technology for smartphones. This might also be one of the reasons that Apple is looking to strike a deal with Samsung.

It is unclear whether the two companies have reached a deal for periscope lenses. However, even if Apple and Samsung finalize a deal, it remains to be seen whether we will see a periscope lens on the iPhone 13 series.

The deal has not been finalized as of yet, but Apple’s partner for periscope lenses is likely going to be Samsung.

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Samsung has been rumored to discontinue the Galaxy Note series in 2021. This is because reports have suggested that other lineups including the S series and Fold series will soon get S Pen support, eliminating the need for the Note lineup.

However, a contradictory report has now appeared on South Korean media which claims that Samsung will launch the Note 21 series next year. Citing information from an industry source, the report says that Samsung will only launch one model of Note 21. It remains unclear whether it will be the last Note phone for Samsung.

However, the report also corroborates with previous leaks hinting at S Pen support for the Galaxy Fold and S21 series. Rumors suggest that there will be a dedicated slot for the S Pen on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the company may end up migrating the Note series to the Fold series

The Galaxy S21 and S21+ are not expected to have S Pen support and it may remain exclusive to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. However, the report says that the phone will not have a dedicated slot for the S Pen.

The Galaxy S21 lineup is expected to debut in January next year and more information is expected to surface as 2020 comes to an end.

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