Tech and Telecom

President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan has conferred the esteemed Nishan-e-Pakistan award upon Prince Rahim Aga Khan. The prestigious accolade was presented during a formal ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad, attended by numerous prominent figures and dignitaries. President Asif Ali Zardari conferring the award of Nishan-i-Pakistan upon Prince Rahim Aga Khan in recognition of his services for Pakistan, at Aiwan-e-Sadr. The honour was bestowed upon Prince Rahim for his visionary leadership in pioneering transformative initiatives across various sectors in Pakistan. Through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), he has played a crucial role in enhancing commercial banking,…

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has started punishing those taxpayers, who file complaints with the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) against the FBR. The FTO has issued a unique kind of order where illegal notices have been served to taxpayers, who went to the FTO against the maladministration of the FBR. Based on the above report of malpractices, the FTO initiated Own Motion investigation taking strength from Section 9(1) of the FTO Ordinance. The FTO’s order stated that “The instant OM pronouncement should be read carefully by the FBR top management for the chances of slippages are now minimal. Chasing…

The Fruit Juice Council in a letter to PML-N President and former Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has requested his intervention to advise the federal government to recommend abolishment of 20% Federal Excise Duty (+18% GST) on packaged fruit juices in the forthcoming Federal Budget 2024- 25, as it is directly impacting the rural economy of fruit farmers in Pakistan, especially Punjab, the value chain comprising pulping units and fruit juice manufacturers and also threatening USD 100 million export potential till 2028. “We are appealing to PML-N leadership, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif sahib and Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held delegation-level talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People on Friday. During the talks, the two leaders discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and discussed regional and global developments of mutual interest. They noted that the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership was characterized by mutual trust, shared principles, and strategic convergence. CPEC in focus Premier Li congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Pakistan’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for each other on core issues and expressed continued…

The total public debt stock of the federal government increased by 12.8 percent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in April 2024 as compared to the same month of the last year. According to the monthly data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the debt stock increased to Rs. 66.083 trillion in April 2024 as compared to Rs. 58.599 trillion in April 2023, an increase of Rs. 7.484 trillion. On a month-on-month basis, the total public debt stock of the federal government increased by 1.1 percent from Rs. 65.374 trillion recorded in March 2024. The data shows that the…

The federal government is installing a national firewall to control social media content and block unwanted content from reaching a wider audience. The new firewall will inspect information from different internet protocol addresses, identify locations generating propaganda material, and block or reduce the visibility of such content, reported TheNews. The system will include keyword filtering to detect and camouflage undesirable content, preventing it from being visible to outside users. This firewall will monitor Facebook, YouTube, and X. Measures are also being prepared to control Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Despite the government blocking X for several months, many users continue accessing…

Xiaomi today unveiled Redmi 13, the latest member of its Redmi family, setting a new standard for entry-level smartphones. Crafted for discerning users seeking both style and substance, Redmi 13 delivers a sleek, stylish design packed with a host of enhanced capabilities that defy expectations. One example is its 108MP super-clear main camera, aimed at elevating the photography experience for avid enthusiasts, content creators, and those who prioritize capturing life’s moments with exceptional clarity and detail. As a first for the Redmi number series, Redmi 13 debuts a 108MP super-clear main camera, equipped with 3x in-sensor zoom to provide users…

Remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis increased by 54 percent year-on-year (YoY) to $3.2 billion in May 2024 compared to inflows of $2.1 billion registered in the same period last year, according to the data on remittances released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday. This is the highest-ever inflow of remittances recorded for a singly month. On a month on month basis, remittances increased by 15 percent compared to $2.8 billion in April 2024. The growth in inflows was reported as seasonal as overseas Pakistanis remit more than the usual amount ahead of Eid ul Azha to their…

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced plans to introduce a smart car parking system in Islamabad. This decision was made during a meeting presided over by CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Thursday. The meeting highlighted that the introduction of smart parking technology would not only address existing parking problems but also generate income for the authority. “It will be an automated car parking system at various locations in Islamabad,” said Chairman Randhawa. The system aims to enhance the efficiency and convenience of parking in the city, utilizing technology to streamline the process. In addition to the smart parking…

In a block-buster match at the Grand Prairie Stadium, the USA triumphed over Pakistan in a Super Over tie, leaving former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh baffled by Pakistan’s team management’s decision-making. The thrilling encounter on Thursday saw the hosts set a daunting target of 19 runs in the Super Over, capitalizing on a shaky start by Pakistan’s bowlers. Muhammad Amir, representing Pakistan, struggled under pressure, delivering three consecutive wide balls to the left-handed batter Harmeet Singh. This gave the USA a significant advantage, which they did not squander. Harmeet Singh, displaying remarkable composure, capitalized on Amir’s mistakes, ensuring that the…