Tech and Telecom

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday ordered an extension of market timings ahead of Eidul Adha 2024. During the hearing, Lahore High Court Judge Justice Shahid Karim granted permission for markets to remain open until 1 AM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and until 12 AM on other weekdays. In addition to extending market timings, the Lahore High Court also ordered the opening of the Bagh-e-Jinnah water channel. Furthermore, a report from the Punjab Food Authority was presented to the court during the proceedings. The first day of Eidul Adha 2024 in Pakistan is expected to fall on June…

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced plans on Thursday to upgrade the main runway at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. An agreement was formalized at the Civil Aviation Headquarters for the reconstruction and enhancement of the main runway at Jinnah International Airport. The project, scheduled to begin after Eid, intends to extend the runway length by 1,000 feet, reaching a total of 11,500 feet. The extension will enable the runway to accommodate widebody aircraft up to category 4. Furthermore, the upgraded runway will feature centerline lights and a Category One airfield lighting system, enhancing both safety and operational efficiency. In separate…

Promoting cricket in the USA was always going to be a tough ask, especially when the USA team is made up of expats, full-time engineers, and part-time cricketers. But this is Pakistan we’re talking about, a nation that loves to defy the odds. And after last night’s game, the ICC owes them big time because that was one hell of a way to introduce cricket to the American audience. As one of the oldest cricketing nations, Pakistan feels a certain responsibility to promote the sport and give new nations a smooth entry into top-level cricket. Just ask Ireland (2007) or…

The federal government will likely approve a higher budget ceiling of Rs. 15.87 billion for the Ministry of Climate Change in the upcoming budget, sources told ProPakistani. It has been proposed to increase the climate change budget by Rs. 11.82 billion from Rs. 4 billion last year to Rs. 15.87 in FY2024-25. Sources said key priorities include the continuation of the Green Pakistan program, previously known as the Ten Billion Trees Tsunami Program. Most of the climate budget i.e. Rs. 15.62 has been earmarked for this initiative. Launched in 2018, the project has an estimated total cost of over Rs.…

They say that first impressions are usually the last. Whether you want your home to stand out for guest visiting or want to list the property for prospective future owners, there is no other element that makes a statement quite like a fresh coat of paint. Most people opt for a fresh coat of paint because it can instantly transform the look of a property’s exterior, boost kerb appeal, and add value to it. Painting is the way to go if you’re looking to give your home a facelift. The Importance of Exterior Paints Summers are a particularly harsh season…

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has so far blocked 105,000 SIMs of non-filers of income tax returns. Sources informed ProPakistani that the tax machinery is sending data of 5,000 non-filer individuals to telecom operators on a daily basis. So far, 18,902 citizens have had their mobile phone SIMs restored after filing their income tax returns. Last month, FBR set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) of tax officials and telecom operators to enforce the Income Tax General Order (ITGO) No 1 of 2024 and streamline the process blockage of SIMs of non-filers. Leading telecom operators only started blocking non-filer…

The International Monetary Fund will support a homegrown program for Pakistan under a new Extended Fund Facility (EFF). This was stated by Julie Kozack, IMF’s Director of Communication while briefing media persons. She stated, “We recently had staff visiting Pakistan. The staff was there May 13th through 23rd. We made significant progress toward reaching a staff-level agreement on a homegrown program that can be supported under a new Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with the Fund. Those discussions are continuing virtually”. Pakistan has requested a new bailout package of up to $8 billion for at least 3 years under the Extended…

Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited Huawei Headquarters in Shenzhen on Wednesday, and met with Liang Hua, the Chairman of Huawei’s Board of Directors, during his visit to China. The prime minister toured the company’s exhibition hall which featured cutting-edge technologies. He was briefed on Huawei’s contributions in Pakistan over the past 26 years, supporting industrial digitalization and sustainable development through advanced ICT solutions and services. The delegation ­­included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Petroleum Minister Dr Musaddik Malik, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Food…

Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) data has revealed that the country experienced 66% below average rainfall in May. This made the month of May the second driest one since 1961. It is pertinent to mention that last month’s average rainfall was 5mm. Kakul in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw the highest single-day rainfall of 56.0mm on May 13, 2024. Over the entire month, Kakul recorded the highest total rainfall, reaching 63.0mm. In May 2024, Pakistan experienced a national mean monthly temperature of 30.44°C, marking a deviation of 1.50°C from the average of 28.94°C. During the daytime, the maximum temperature averaged 38.33°C, indicating an…

Ather Zahid won the Fight Or Die Championship with his finisher move, The Desert Slam, at the WrestleMax 3 event held last month on May 4th, 2024 at Kashmir Park in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Following this victory, he has earned a place in the upcoming tournament in Nepal, where he will face an Indian wrestler later this year. Since winning the championship, Ather has become a media sensation, appearing on radio shows and multiple morning shows for interviews. His charismatic presence and compelling story have captivated audiences, establishing him as the next breakout superstar in professional wrestling. Ather, a 28-year-old…