Tech and Telecom

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $800 million in financing for two programs in Pakistan – the Pakistan Program for Affordable and Clean Energy, and the Second Securing Human Investments to Foster Transformation. The Pakistan Program for Affordable and Clean Energy (PACE) is worth $400 million and focuses on measures to improve the financial viability of the power sector and support Pakistan’s transition to low-carbon energy. ALSO READ MSCI Proposes Downgrading Pakistan from Emerging Markets To Frontier Markets The PACE prioritizes actions needed to initiate critical power sector reforms focused on the reduction of power generation costs,…

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has exonerated Attaullah, the principal of a private school, who had been sentenced to 105 years of imprisonment in 2018 for multiple counts of sexual offenses including rape, blackmail, and child abuse. The offender’s appeal was initially heard by a PHC bench comprising Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Mohammad Nasir Mahfooz. Both judges had reservations about the plaintiff from the outset and the case was later referred to Justice Roohul Amin Khan as referee judge, who then cleared the accused of all the charges against him. ALSO READ SHC Bans TikTok in Pakistan Again…

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has extended the travel ban on flights coming from Pakistan and thirteen other countries till 21 July 2021. According to a notice issued by UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the inbound flights from fourteen countries will be suspended till 21 July amidst the coronavirus pandemic. GCAA in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Sunday, notified about the suspension, adding that the cargo, business, and charter flights are exempted from the travel ban. ALSO READ Vaccination Certificate Now Mandatory for Travel on BRT Peshawar Here are the fourteen countries facing UAE’s travel ban till 21…

The repatriated profits on foreign investments in Pakistan increased by 23 percent to $1,496 million during July 2020-May 2021, from $1,215 million recorded during the same time in the previous fiscal year, data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed. This higher outflow of profits and dividends can create pressure on the foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan. However, on the other end, it shows profitable investment opportunities in the country by foreign investors, which may lead to increased investment in the near future. ALSO READ Govt to Take Special Measures to Generate Rs. 120 Billion Tax Revenue During…

COVID-19 vaccination certification is now mandatory for all BRT commuters traveling via the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). According to the spokesman for the Peshawar BRT, commuters will need to show their coronavirus vaccination certificates from 1 August 2021 to travel on the BRT. He added that all the BRT buses and stations are disinfected on a daily basis as a safety precaution to protect passengers against coronavirus. ALSO READ KP to Launch More Social Welfare Projects Under Ehsaas Program He also urged the public to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and partake in fighting against the coronavirus pandemic.…

The Redmi Note 10 family is slowly expanding in Pakistan and its latest member is the Note 10S. Note 10S sits right in the middle of the Note 10 and Note 10 Pro in terms of specifications as well as price. The device will be available through Mi Store for Rs 39,999 in blue, white, and black colors. The only memory option is 8GB/128GB. Upfront, there is a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with 1080p resolution, but there is no high refresh rate like the Pro model. A punch-hole front camera and side-mounted fingerprint sensor sit on the phone just like the…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to shift the 2021 T20 World Cup to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman. The tournament is likely to begin on 17 October, with the final scheduled to be played on 14 November. ALSO READ Pakistan Cricket Team Leaves for England Tour Although the official schedule of the mega tournament has not been announced yet, it is highly likely that the tournament will be played between these dates. BCCI has decided that the tournament will start just days after the final of the postponed Indian Premier League (IPL). The…

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) will lift the ban on dine-in services on 1 July. A delegation of the All Karachi Restaurant Association (AKRA) met with the Director-General (DG) of the NCOC, Major General Asif Mehmood Goraya, in Islamabad on Friday to request the ban on dine-in services to be lifted after a reduction of the coronavirus positivity ratio in Pakistan. ALSO READ Quetta Bans Entry of Unvaccinated People in Public Places DG Mehmood assured the delegation that the ban would be lifted on 1 July. Earlier, NCOC had permitted outdoor dining at restaurants, had announced the reopening…

The Xiaomi Mi 11 is now official in Pakistan as one of the most powerful phones available in the country. For Rs. 144,999 you get one of the best smartphone displays available on the market, extremely loud and clear speakers, and top-tier performance with no compromises. This display is a 6.81 inch AMOLED panel with curved sides, 2K resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate. It has support for 10-bit colors, HDR10+, 1500 nits peak brightness, and is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus for scratch and shatter resistance. In terms of quality, it goes toe to toe with Samsung’s top-of-the-line…

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has allowed Asset Management Companies (AMCs) to invest on behalf of equity-oriented Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) in units of unlisted or privately placed real estate investment (REIT) Scheme. SECP has issued circular No.I9 of 2021 on Friday on the issue of the investment in Units of Unlisted or Privately Placed REIT Scheme by Equity Oriented Collective Investment Schemes. The commission, in the exercise of powers conferred under section 282 B (3) of the Companies Ordinance 1984 read with Regulation 55(15) of the Non—Banking Finance Companies and Notified Entities Regulations 2008 (the “Regulations”)…