Tech and Telecom

Pakistan will lock horns with Ireland in their last match of Group A in the T20 World Cup at Lauderhill, Florida as both teams play for pride in a dead rubber game. Both the teams were knocked out of the T20 World Cup on Friday following the game between the USA and Ireland that was washed out due to heavy rain in Florida. Pakistan lost to the USA in the first game of their World Cup campaign in the Super Over and then suffered a heart-breaking defeat against their arch-rivals India by 6 runs in New York. Although they won…

Australia defeated Scotland by 5 wickets at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia in their Group B match of the T20 World Cup qualifiers. Mitchell Marsh won the toss and decided to field first against Scotland but the strong batting line-up of Scottish skipper Richie Berrington stole the show. George Munsey provided a strong start with 35 quickfire runs while Brandon McMullen scored 60 runs off 34 deliveries with a strike-rate of 176.47. Richie Berrington provided the impetus in the middle order as he smashed 42 runs off 31 balls to help Scotland reach a total of 180…

On June 16, 2024, the first unit (Unit 4) of Pakistan Suki Kinari Hydropower Station, the largest hydropower power station invested in and constructed by China Energy Construction Overseas Investment Co., Ltd, was successfully started and formally entered the wet testing phase. Personnel from China Energy Construction Overseas Investment Co., Ltd, SK Hydro Co., Ltd, and participating construction units jointly witnessed this exciting moment on site. Representatives of the resident military and the owner’s engineers also attended the startup ceremony. Unit 4 of SK Hydropower Station successfully passed a series of tests after starting up, with a smoothly running state,…

The Sindh government has raised the provincial sales tax on services to 15 percent, effective July 1. The expected revenue impact from this hike is estimated to be Rs. 120 billion, bringing the total sales tax collection to Rs. 350 billion in fiscal year 2024-25. Professional tax on personal income and some services has been increased by 300 percent, now set at Rs. 2,000 per year. Meanwhile, taxes on imported and locally manufactured vehicles have gone up to Rs. 450,000 per unit. The professional tax on petrol pumps and CNG stations has increased to Rs. 20,000, while tax on domestic…

The Telecom Operators Association has expressed serious concerns over the coalition government’s budget proposals for 2024-25, warning that increased taxes will drive foreign investment out of the country. In a letter to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Telecom companies also raised concerns over the Income Tax General Order which demanded telcos to block SIMs of non-filers. The letter pointed out that the telecom sector should not be held responsible for the tax issues of non-filers. The association warned that the telecom sector is already suffering and the proposed measures in the new budget would be things much…

Have you ever thought about the chemistry of the donuts?  Well, a new startup in town seems to follow in the footsteps of Walter white. However, they are making something that is way more delicious than the blue meth. Located in Islamabad, Crusteez Donuts is one of its kind for having a Research and development department or we should call it a donut lab. Interestingly, Crusteez doesn’t just throw random flavors to make donuts that you get in almost every other coffee shop. Instead, they experiment with different elements and flavors in their innovative donut lab to create something new…

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) received 18,261 complaints from telecom consumers against different telecom operators and cellular operators in May 2024, out of which, 18,095 (99.1 percent) were resolved. Official data revealed that the complaints were received against various telecom operators, including cellular mobile operators (CMOs), Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), long-distance international (LDI) operators, wireless local loop (WLL) operators, and internet service providers (ISPs), during May. Cellular mobile subscribers constitute a major part of the overall telecom subscriber base. Therefore, the maximum number of complaints belongs to this segment. The total number of complaints against CMOs by May stood at…

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue convened for its 5th session to study the provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 as outlined in Clause 6 of the Finance Bill 2024. The committee members were apprised of the introduction of a new category termed “Late Filer” under the Income Tax Ordinance, targeting individuals who sporadically file returns without consistent adherence. The committee underscored the need to impose stricter penalties, proposing a 10 percent tax levy and withdrawal of previous concessions. Chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, the meeting saw the participation of committee members including Senator Sherry Rehman, Mohsin…

The number of cellular subscribers in Pakistan increased from 192.19 million by end-April to 192.32 million by end-May 2024. The number of 3G and 4G users in Pakistan increased from 132.73 million by end-April to 133.26 million by end-May 2024. Cellular teledensity — the number of connections for every hundred individuals in the country, decreased from 79.55 percent by end-April to 79.48 percent by end-May 2024, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) data revealed. The Regulator data revealed that total teledensity also decreased from 80.6 percent by end-April to 80.5 percent by end-May. Next Generation Mobile Service (NGMS) penetration increased from…

Following whispers and FCC certification last month, Vivo has officially unveiled the Y28 4G in Singapore. This new addition joins its previously launched 5G sibling and offers a budget-friendly option for smartphone users. Design and Display The display provides a smooth user experience with its 6.68-inch size, 720 x 1608 resolution, and 90Hz refresh rate. It also gets brighter than average with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. Additionally, the Y28 4G boasts an IP64 rating, signifying its resistance to dust and water splashes. Internals and Software Powering the device is MediaTek’s Helio G85 processor, supported by 8 GB of…