SHC Challenges Law that Exempts Motorbike Side-view Mirrors

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has demanded an explanation from the provincial government and the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sindh Traffic Police Department regarding a petition that challenged the provincial law that exempts motorbikes from having side-view mirrors.

Notices were issued to relevant government representatives and the DIG Sindh Traffic Police on Wednesday to submit their remarks about the petition.

The petition was heard by a two-judge bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar. The petitioner’s lawyer informed the judges of the exemption and stated that a helmet-wearing motorcyclist’s vision is highly compromised, especially in the absence of side-view mirrors, which often causes accidents.

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Backed by this statement, the lawyers have requested the bench to consider repealing the law and introducing fines for motorcycles without side-view mirrors. The SHC has requested the government officials and the DIG Sindh Traffic Police to submit their comments on the matter by the next hearing.

Last week, the SHC reportedly sought a written explanation from the provincial government for the continued use of CNG cylinders in vehicles and was ‘furious’ at the government for recurring CNG cylinder-related accidents. The court reportedly admonished the concerned authorities for not formulating and ensuring safety standards for the installation and use of CNG kits.

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A representative of the transport sector told the court that the ban on CNG cylinders in public transport vehicles is still in place. In response, one of the petitioners, Advocate Tariq Mansoor, said that the recent CNG cylinder-related accidents imply that the ban is not being imposed effectively.

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Vivo Introduces Its New OriginOS Android Skin for Smartphones

At its annual developer’s conference in China, the Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has announced its new Android-based operating system dubbed the OriginOS. The new platform comes with a complete design overhaul that prioritizes widgets and supports advanced gestures as well as memory optimizations.

In a statement, Vivo said,

The genesis of OriginOS centers around three frontiers based on smartphone consumer demands: design, smoothness, and convenience. OriginOS repurposes familiar features with new exciting designs to create the ultimate smartphone experience.

New Widgets
The Vivo FuntouchOS was pretty much inspired by iOS. It featured a similar notification design, color palettes, and the use of transparency. OriginOS also follows a similar path.

It comes with a grid-like layout for widgets, which looks a lot like what Apple introduced with iOS 14. Vivo claims that the new design was inspired by Huarong Dao, the Chinese variant of Klotski sliding block puzzles. The home screen can be easily rearranged even if there are multiple widgets of mismatched sizes.

In their simplest form, these widgets are designed to change their look to convey information. For example, a sun or a rainy cloud for the weather app, shifting message bubbles for the SMS app, etc. Moreover, the widgets can update themselves with notifications called “nano alerts.” Users can reveal more information by tapping on the widget.

Gestures
The new OS comes with 26 gesture combinations that start with a tap at the bottom of the screen. There is a new feature called SuperCard that can be summoned by tapping anywhere on display for quick and easy mobile payments.

Performance gains
According to Vivo, the OriginOS has lower RAM requirements and is less resource-intensive. It comes with Multi-Turbo 5.0, a collection of memory optimization techniques, and Memory Fusion, which is basically a swap that adds up to 3 GB of extra RAM by shuffling data to the flash storage.

Visual Flare
The new OS features complex wallpapers called “behavioral wallpapers” that simulate complex motions—for example, swaying of each individual petal of a flower. These wallpapers can also be optimized to match the weather outside by drawing an accurate representation of clouds.

Vivo hasn’t said anything about a release date or which devices will be updated yet.

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Firefox Will Now Automatically Switch You to Secure HTTPS Sites

With its latest browser Firefox 83, Mozilla has rolled out a new feature that will ensure that users are establishing secure connections to every website via an HTTPS only mode. If the website does not have an HTTPS version that the browser can load, users will be notified.

Once the HTTPS only mode is turned on, the browser will automatically connect to the HTTPS version of a page even if the user types HTTP in the address bar. In case an HTTPS version of the site does not exist, the browser will ask users for permission to load the page along with a message detailing the security risks of connecting to a non-HTTPS website.

Moreover, if the website has certain HTTP elements, such as images that don’t load in HTTPS Only Mode, users can temporarily disable the feature by clicking on the lock icon next to the URL in the address bar.

To switch the feature on:

Go to “Privacy & Security” in Preferences
Choose “Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows.”

Apart from the new security feature, the upgraded browser also introduces pinch-zooming on devices without touchscreens via touchpads and fast forward/rewind using arrow keys in the browser’s Picture-in-Picture windows. According to the company, the update has also improved the search features and page load performance. Firefox 83 now loads websites up to 15 percent faster and uses up to 8 percent less memory than older versions.

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FBR to Use Video Analytics System at Manufacturing Sites to Curb Tax Evasion

According to the news report of a national daily, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has selected seven vendors, under Video Analytics Rules 2020, for installing video analytics equipment at the premises of revenue-generating production units of industry sectors like sugar, cement, beverages, and tobacco among others.

This measure is aimed at incorporating technology to accurately measure the real output of these important sectors and preventing tax evasion. Video equipment will be installed to ensure electronic monitoring to curb tax evasion.

Another innovative technological solution, Track and Trace System, has already been in the works by FBR for over a decade. This system puts electronic stamps on production output, which can then be tracked in any part of the country with the help of a barcode.

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However, this system has been at the receiving end of much criticism from the industry players and authorities. The last time FBR came close to its installation, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) struck down the bidding process of the system and directed the FBR to conduct fresh bidding.

“Now the FBR has hired an international consultancy firm M/S Ideco Biometric Solution belonging from South Africa that is going to supervise the whole procurement process so that a fool-proof process could be followed keeping in view best international practices,” shared an FBR official on Wednesday.

The official further remarked,

We are making efforts to accomplish the awarding contract of the Track and Trace system till December 31, 2020. Then the system will be run on a pilot project basis for six months so this system will become fully operational from July 1, 2021 (the next fiscal year 2021-22).

The FBR has selected vendors for allowing units of each sector to avail video monitoring systems from the selected seven firms.
The decision was made after FBR advertised for bids. Seven companies applied, and the authority decided to take all of them on board for this project.

These seven companies are as follows:

M/S AJCL-Authentix-MITAS Consortium.
M/S CNS Engineering.
M/S COMMTEL Pakistan.
M/S DWP Technological (Pvt) Ltd.
M/S Focus Technologies (Pvt) Ltd.
M/S NRTC and GCS.
M/S TPL Trakker Ltd.

The FBR official further said, “In the first phase, the sugar sector is the first one where the video analytics system would be installed.

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The FBR and Pakistan Sugar Mills Association had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and the sugar mills would be installing a system from their liked ones out of selected seven vendors”.

FBR will now sign agreements with other sectors in concern as well, in a phase by phase process.

This video analytics technology will allow real-time video analytics data monitoring of production from the manufacturing units. This would enable FBR to use the collected data for tax calculation purposes.

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Shakib Al Hasan Forced to Apologize For Hurting Religious Sentiments in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi all-rounder, Shakib-Al-Hasan, has landed in another controversy and had to publicly apologize. Shakib caused a stir in Bangladesh after he was found attending a Hindu ceremony in Kolkata, India.

Shakib received death threats from his home country and Islamic scholars warned him to not celebrate ceremonies of other faiths. Shakib was then forced to apologize publicly.

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“I was on the stage for barely two minutes. People are talking about this and thought I inaugurated it, I did not do this and being a conscious Muslim I would not do this. But, maybe, I should not have gone there. I am sorry for this and apologise,” he said.

“As a practicing Muslim, I always try to follow religious customs. Please forgive me if I have done anything wrong,” he added.

Shakib received death threats on social media and people criticized him for hurting their religious sentiments. The person who sent the death threats has since been arrested by the authorities.

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Former number one all-rounder in the world was earlier banned for two years from playing any sort of cricket for failing to report match-fixing approaches by corrupt parties. Shakib is eligible to play cricket once again as his one-year sentence has been served, with one year of his sentence suspended.

Shakib will be looking to resume from where he left off and try to regain his world number one ranking.

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Xiaomi’s Multifunctional Smart Electric Kettle Preserves Heat for More Than 12 Hours

MIJIA’s Multifunctional Smart Electric Kettle is an energy-efficient product entry in the market, suitable for convenient food recipes. The kettle features 10 different power adjustment settings, ranging between 100W-1000W high power heating.

Design and Support
Since the kettle is a smart product, it can be controlled remotely on your phone through the MIJIA Mobile application. Users can set timers and control temperature in real-time with built-in programs and recipes. Each built-in program is optimized to match ideal cooking environments for different foods like tea, soup, and a few simple desserts. Custom recipes are optional, so check it out if you decide to buy the kettle.

A minimalist design runs around the exterior which resembles a typical electric kettle. The majority of the kettle’s surface is transparent, giving it that pristine, glowy look. The kettle offers solid heat preservation control that lets users keep the temperature gauge anywhere between 45-86 degrees Celsius. This function maintains warmth, and the heat is preserved for 12 hours, give or take.

Xiaomi’s new MIJIA product will hit shops with a $26 price-tag. The all-new Multifunctional Smart Electric Kettle is currently in a crowdfunding phase for $21.

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Pfizer Becomes the Most Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Based on Trial Reports

The final sessions of Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine trials reported a remarkable 95% success rate, with over 2 months of safety data collected for due-diligence. Recent vaccine developments under Pfizer have potentially paved way for a definitive vaccine shot in the next few months.

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Boasting the highest efficacy rate for any candidate in late-stage clinical trials so far, medical experts with knowledge about Pfizer’s interim vaccine developments have reportedly expressed encouragement for a vaccine shot with over 90% success rate.

According to Pfizer, 43,000 individuals volunteered for taking beta-shots. Among the straddling list of volunteers, there were 170 cases of active COVID-19 contractions in the trial phase, and the vaccine was administered to 8 people with advanced symptoms.

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Pakistan to Get its First Ever Motorsports Arena Soon

Despite the seemingly immature and developing car market in Pakistan, the local car culture is comparatively quite mature. However, for a long time now, Pakistan’s community of car enthusiasts has been missing a proper platform to fulfill its passion for motorsports.

The government of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) has decided to build the country’s first-ever motorsports arena in Kheshgi, Nowshera.

As per reports, the provincial Sports and Tourism Department has shared a detailed plan for the mega-project with the KP Chief Minister, Mahmood Khan. The model indicates that the project consists of a drag race track, practice tracks for on-road and off-road driving, off-road track circuits, asphalt track circuits, practice tracks for on-road and off-road driving, and a go-cart track.

The arena will also have other facilities like workshops, service stations, garages, and petrol stations.

Credits: Pakwheels.com

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For the spectators, the plan includes towers with viewing terraces, a pavilion with a 3000-people capacity, food courts, and shopping malls within the arena.

The relevant officials reportedly informed the Chief Minister that the project will cover 147 acres of land and that the building cost will be approximately Rs. 100 million.

Khan has reportedly approved the plan and termed it as “a necessary step for the promotion of sports in the province”.

However, details about when this project will be completed are yet unknown.

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The motorsports lovers have the means to purchase and even build sports cars but do not have a place to fully enjoy themselves. With a proper platform for the public, the car culture is likely to grow stronger in the coming days, with the possibility of automakers bringing more modern sports cars to Pakistan as well.

Therefore, this project is a much-awaited step that will boost both the community and the automotive industry in Pakistan.

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Cokefest Brings Pakistan’s First Digital Music Festival

Cokefest is returning, and this time you can experience the music festival from your homes. Partnering with two of the country’s top tech companies, Cokefest has put together the first-of-its-kind digital music festival to deliver a concert-going experience. Through this first-ever digital music festival in the country’s history, the innovative company has found a safe way to entertain the masses with some great music.

Fahad Ashraf, GM Pakistan, and Afghanistan at The Coca-Cola Export Corporation said, “Coca-Cola is disrupting the new normal by creating a virtual event enabled through latest technologies. With CokeFest 2020, we wanted to avoid large gatherings whilst still keeping the spirit of music alive. So we brought some of the best musical talents in Pakistan together with the country’s leading tech companies, to bring you a virtual experience that feels as close as possible to attending an actual musical concert”.

Starting on 20th November, the three-day digital festival is powered by Patari and Tapmad, and promises a live concert experience.

Yassir Pasha, CEO of Tapmad, a local video streaming platform, explains what the aim was behind the platform’s tw-way communication experience. “Our strategy was to create dynamic two-way communication in terms of content integration with the user.”

Explaining how this will pan out he said, “The concept is that you can watch content on the player while you can shop the look (you can buy what the artist is wearing!!!!) and if you’re hungry you can shop the food options below. Basically, we managed to integrate promo-codes literally raining on user screens for them to catch and avail, all the while experiencing Cokefest!”

Sharing her thoughts on the need for providing underground artists with a launching pad like Cokefest, Patari CEO Zarlasht Faisal says, “Many of the artists in this line-up have not been picked up by mainstream brands before,” said Faisal, “but Coke has been super supportive and trusted our instinct.”

Explaining how the Cokefest 2020 line-up was built, she said, “We selected the artists based on what people were listening to on our platform. Each one of these artists has been in the top trending list on Patari and we are confident that this emerging talent will set the (digital) stage on fire!”

Here’s a sneak-peek at the 12 extremely talented artists that Cokefest 2020 is going to feature:

SomeWhatSuper

This Lahore-based new-age music group comprises Talha Dar and Feroze Faisal, and is best known for the smash hit single called ‘The Sibbi Song’. Released in early 2017, the song went on to share the stage with Atif Aslam at the Lux Style Awards!

This musical duo has been making waves and capturing hearts along the way, promising a fun-filled selection of EDM music for their Cokefest audience.

Young Stunners

The pioneers of Urdu rap in Pakistan, Young Stunners first released their music in 2013 with major hits like Burger-e-Karachi and Maila Majnu before rising to stardom. The band’s duo, Talha Anjum and Talha Yunus, are best known for their rude but brilliant lyrics and are hailed as the naked-voice of the youth.

Kaky Thousand

At the helm of Kaky Thousand is a 9-year-old Baloch rapper Waqas Baloch. The music prodigy has shown the country that he is a superstar in his own right and is here to stay – loud and proud! He has been practicing rap with his older brother – who gave him the name ‘Kaky Thou$sand’ – since he was five.

Inspired by Bohemia and his Punjabi rap, this little star has shown Pakistan that age is literally just another number – talent can come from anywhere, at any time. Rattling expectations of hearing grievances, his debut track Apna Daur Ayega is not only inspirational and uplifting, but it also puts all faith in hard work – we hear you!

ESharp

Music that couples a good sense of humor is this Karachi-based indie-rock band’s forte. With three albums under their belt, the band members Ahmed Zawar, Anwaar Ahmed, Qumber Kazmi, Asher Minhas Damanwala, and Rajil enjoy a huge national fan-base.

The third album, Choti Choti Khushiyaan, can literally turn that frown upside down. Their infectious onstage energy will have you wanting to sing and dance along – so if you don’t know the words to their songs – look them up right now!

Abdullah Siddiqui

Abdullah is many people and talents in one: an electronic pop-rock singer, a songwriter, and a producer. The talented 20-year-old has collaborated with some of the biggest artists in the country. Abdullah is based in Lahore and has set his genre of music apart from any other likely to be seen in the country. His collaboration with fellow Cokefest artist, Shamoon Ismail was instantly loved by all who listened.

He also partnered up with Meesha Shafi to produce a deeply melancholic track called Magenta Cyan. This will be his first appearance on Cokefest and is bound to be transcendental.

XPolymer Dar

Apart from being a solo artist, the Islamabad-based Punjabi rapper Mohammad Dar aka XPolymer Dar is also co-founder of the band Rap Engineers, a veteran rap group that started producing music in 2005. One of his famous productions includes the OST for Verna featuring Mahira Khan. Xpolymer is also known for introducing rap-battle in Pakistan through the They-See Battle League and has become a pillar of recognition for Pakistan’s rap scene.

Shamoon Ismail

Having entered the local music scene six years ago, this man hardly needs an introduction. Creating his own genre called Jutt Blues, Shamoon has managed to bag nominations at the Lux Style Awards for two consecutive years; Singer of the Year in 2019 for Marijuana and Song of the Year in 2020 for Late Night from Brown Sugar!

Natasha Baig

Hailing from the breath-taking valley of Hunza, Natasha is one of Coke Studio’s multi-talented artists; an athlete who played under-19 cricket as an off-spin bowler in district matches, who is now pursuing a successful career singing sufi-rock. With her single Jawab-e-Shikwa on Coke Studio, she showed-off the strength in her beautiful voice, taking the world by storm, quickly becoming an international favorite!

Sirine Jahangir

Sirine has an inspiring story. She started losing her eyesight when she was 9-years-old but refused to let that stop her from living out her dream. For her, music is salvation; and the world agrees! She made it to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent, and has since given one powerful performance after another. While Sirine will not be flying into Pakistan due to corona, she is excited to reach out to her Pakistani fans and has promised to give a virtual performance to remember!

Ali Noor

This veteran rockstar’s riveting music pumps loud and proud from literally every car-stereo in Pakistan! With an entire entourage of original songs, this man is ready to knock the shoes off of our feet!

“A lot of the line-up chosen is a mix of younger, hotter acts like Kaky Thousand, Young Stunners, and being given the opportunity to play at a trendy platform like Cokefest is a dream come true for them and a party on our screens for us!” says Faisal. Moreover, all these brilliant Cokefest artists will also be revealing the coveted Coke Studio 2020 lineup!

To register for the event all you have to do is follow these simple steps:

Download the Patari app on Android or iOS
Register and sign-up for Coke Fest (Patari x Tapmad)
Use the unique code provided to view all three days of the event on the Tapmad app or website! (Android | iOS)

You can buy official merchandise and avail crazy food discounts, witness the hottest acts in Pakistan perform live, and get a peek into Coke Studio 2020! Sign up for the party of a lifetime starting November 20th-November 22nd.

See you all there!

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Pakistan’s Foreign Reserves Reach $20 Billion After Almost 3 Years

Pakistan’s liquid foreign reserves, which continued to build up in the past couple of weeks with the consistent inflows of foreign exchange through loans or other receipts, now stand at over $20 billion.

The reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan have increased to $12.93 billion as of November 13, 2020, which is the highest level since February 2, 2018.

The reserves maintained by commercial banks stood at $7.15 billion. The total liquid foreign reserves held by the country rose to $20.08 billion, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

A.A.H Soomro, Managing Director at Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari, tweeted:

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