Tech and Telecom

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has accused India of ball tampering during their Super 8s match against Australia. Speaking on a local news channel talk show, Inzamam urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to “open their eyes” and investigate against the alleged misconduct. He emphasized the need for strict scrutiny and fairness in the game, expressing disappointment in what he perceives as a lack of vigilance by cricket’s governing body. “Arshdeep Singh was getting a reverse swing in the 15th over. For me, that is not logical as he doesn’t have the pace nor the bowling action that Bumrah possesses. I…

realme, one of the world’s leading smartphone brands, has announced the launch of its latest smartphones, the realme 12 and realme 12+ 5G in Pakistan. These devices are set to revolutionize the market with their advanced features and competitive pricing, posing a formidable challenge to existing competitors. The realme number series has been appreciated by users globally since its debut, and after a two-year hiatus, it has returned to Pakistan. The series has been perceived as premium in the Pakistani market, with a focus on advanced photography features and now on excellent chipset capabilities. The realme 12+ 5G is the…

The federal government has decided to install smart meters to prevent theft from oil and gas pipelines. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif chaired a meeting today in Islamabad focused on the affairs of the Petroleum Division. Participants were briefed that a plan of action would be developed to increase the production of tight gas. Smart meters will be installed to prevent theft from oil and gas pipelines. Meanwhile, policies on electric bikes, cars, and home appliances are under development, and proposals for deregulating the petroleum sector will be explored. Shehbaz emphasized the need to promote alternative energy sources, particularly solar energy,…

Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has announced that the provincial government will start conducting drug tests in educational institutes in July. Earlier, the minister had announced that the provincial authorities would conduct random drug tests at educational institutes in Karachi. According to Memon, random tests of some students will be conducted and their names will be kept confidential. “If a student tests positive for drugs, then their parents would be contacted and the student will be asked who provided them the drug,” he added. However, the government will not be taking legal action against such students. The minister also…

A Saudi diplomat was barred from boarding his flight at Islamabad International Airport due to having foreign currency above $5,000. Sources close to Customs Collectorate Islamabad told ProPakistani that this incident happened on May 29. 2024, when a Saudi diplomat while traveling to Riyadh via Saudi flight No. SV-725 presented a letter from the Embassy stating that he was carrying SAR 958,125/- as he had sold his personal vehicle. The Embassy vide above mentioned letter issued by the Director Protocol and Public Relations had requested for relaxation in this regard and had also clarified that this letter was issued at…

The federal government has withdrawn proposal to impose 25 percent sales tax on hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in Finance Bill 2024. The existing tax rate of 8.5 percent will continue on HEVs after strong opposition by the Ministry of Industries and Production for scrapping the 25 percent sales tax rate. The Engineering Development Board (EDB) and Ministry of Industries had requested the Finance Division and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to restore the 8.5 percent sales tax, arguing that the 25 percent tax contradicted commitments made in the Auto Industry Development and Export Policy (AIDEP) 2021-26. The government previously…

Former Pakistan Chief Selector Mohammad Wasim has been appointed as the new head coach. Wasim, a former Test cricketer with extensive coaching experience, is expected to bring a fresh perspective and renewed vigor to the team. Joining Wasim’s coaching staff are former international players Junaid Khan and Abdur Rehman, who will serve as the fast bowling and spin bowling coaches, respectively. Junaid Khan, known for his left-arm pace and ability to swing the ball, will focus on honing the skills of the team’s fast bowlers. Abdur Rehman, with his rich experience in spin bowling, is set to enhance the team’s…

The federal government has scrapped a proposal to increase the retirement age of public sector employees, military personnel, and civil and judiciary workers in Finance Bill 2024. The possibility of increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62/63 for civil employees has been significantly reduced, however, pension reform proposals including changes to pension payment provisions remain under consideration, reported a national daily. Elsewhere, the government is still planning to abolish a number of ministries and to convince provinces to share the burden of social protection initiatives like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). A high-powered committee led by Finance Minister…

The government is likely to block bank accounts of non-filers and has also decided to fix the amount of sales tax on the import of mobile phones, replacing 18 percent sales tax under the amended Finance Bill 2024. Sources told ProPakistani that the proposal to freeze bank accounts of non-filers was part of the original Finance Bill 2024, but the same was not passed. In cases where non-filers are not responding to notices, the government may consider a proposal to block bank accounts of non-filers till they appear on the Active Taxpayers List (ATL). Non-filers will still be able to…

The federal government has decided to cut the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of Rs. 1.4 trillion for the fiscal year 2024-25 by Rs. 250 billion to create fiscal space for withdrawing certain taxes. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday that the government has to follow stringent conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a bid to secure a new loan program. The minister said that the decision to cut the development budget has been taken to protect the public from more taxes. After the cut, the development budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be down…