Tech and Telecom

The Pakistani rupee (PKR) ended its 2-day win streak against the US Dollar today after opening trade at 278 in the interbank market. It was bearish all day and closed in red against the greenback. It posted losses against most of the other major currencies during today’s session. The interbank rate stayed at 278/$ most of the day before closing at the same level. Open market rates across multiple currency counters were strictly at 278 today. The PKR depreciated by 0.03 percent and closed at 278.6 after losing nine paisas against the dollar today. On a fiscal year-to-date basis, the…

When it comes to cancer, early detection is often emphasized. Regular mammograms, prostate exams, and colonoscopies, though unpleasant, can be life-saving. However, these screenings do not apply to brain cancer. You may have never heard of screening guidelines for brain cancer, and there’s a reason for that. “To date, there are no approved screening tools—laboratory or imaging—that can detect brain cancer at early stages, contrary to mammograms, colonoscopies, or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) markers used for other tumors,” says Dr. Mina Lobbous, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute. “It is crucial to be mindful of symptoms that require urgent evaluation,…

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue was held under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwala today to discuss various tax proposals in the Finance Bill 2024. Senator Faisal Vawda opposed increasing the tax rates on electric and hybrid vehicles, arguing that this technology was being encouraged all over the world. He lamented that unexpected policy changes were creating problems, mentioning the 25 percent sales tax on vehicles worth over Rs. 15 million. He further complained about the discrepancy in tax rates between imported and locally manufactured vehicles. Vawda said if someone’s shipment was due in…

A tragic fire ripped through a house in Sharifpura, Faisalabad late Wednesday night, claiming the lives of two children and leaving seven other family members with severe burns. The fire is believed to have been sparked by a laptop battery explosion. Rescue officials from 1122 report that the incident occurred while a family member was using a laptop plugged in for charging. They suspect the battery overheated due to prolonged charging, leading to an explosion that ignited the room. The fire was further intensified by a functioning air conditioner in the same room. The blaze resulted in nine family members,…

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), the country’s largest telecom and ICT services provider, proudly announces Pakistan’s inaugural trial of Symmetric 50G-PON technology, marking a significant stride towards ushering in next-generation fiber-optic broadband services in the country. This achievement is the culmination of PTCL’s strategic collaboration with Huawei, a global leader in information and communication technology. Symmetric 50G-PON can provide 50 Gbps connectivity in downstream as well as upstream transmission simultaneously. Symmetric 50G-PON provides an edge over the Asymmetric 50 G-PON which supports 50 Gbps in downstream transmission only. PTCL also inaugurated Asymmetric 50G-PON for the very first time in Pakistan…

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a month’s salary bonus for the officers and staff involved in a three-day special cleaning campaign conducted on the eve of Eidul Azha, as reported by 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday. In her message to the team, CM Maryam Nawaz commended their efforts, stating, “Well done team Punjab, well done.” She praised the team for their dedication and hard work, particularly in the sweltering heat, highlighting their commitment to public service as a proud moment for the province. The Chief Minister expressed her gratitude to all municipal institutions, waste management companies, including…

The National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has issued a warning about a cyber threat targeting government organizations in Pakistan. According to the advisory, investigations have found that deceptive WhatsApp messages are being sent to high-level officials, falsely claiming to be from Md. Amin, Deputy Director at the Prime Minister’s Office. The fake messages pretend to be invitations to a SIFC Committee Meeting on Power, allegedly chaired by the Prime Minister. These messages include a WinRAR file with a login password. Extracting this file activates malware that can steal sensitive information. According to the NCERT, the attackers aim to gather…

Senior Journalist Mubasher Lucman has posed serious allegations of match-fixing on the Pakistan team and various other cricketers after their exit from the T20 World Cup. The journalist claimed in his recent YouTube video that Babar Azam bought an Audi worth 8 crore rupees yet he claimed that it was a gift from his brother which was suspicious at the time. He also named cricketers such as Wahab Riaz, Shahid Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Inzamam Ul Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, and Mushtaq Ahmed claiming that they were all involved in match-fixing at some point in their careers. “I tried to investigate what…

The government may amend Finance Bill 2024 to impose phase-wise sales tax on infant formula etc. The phase-wise taxation under the new tax policy would be considered by the budget markers during the finalization of the recommendations under the Finance Bill 2024. Finance Bill 2024-25, recently introduced by the government, has withdrawn the zero-rating (Serial no.12(xvii) and 17 of the Fifth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act 1990) and imposed an 18 percent sales tax on locally produced infant formula, baby food, and fortified child nutrition milk powders. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, in his budget speech, emphasized the importance of…

Power generation in the country went up by 2.7 percent YoY to 12,617 gigawatts per hour (GWh) in May 2024, but down 1.9 percent YoY to 113,705 GWH in 11MFY24 compared to the same period last year. On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, power generation in the country went up by 46 percent from 8,639 GWh recorded in April 2024. The cost of fuel for power generation decreased by 10 percent YoY to an average of Rs. 8.74/unit in May 2024. During May 2024, the actual power generation was 11.3 percent lower than the reference generation, said Arif Habib Limited. This…