Tech and Telecom

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has implemented significant changes to the building regulations for high-rise buildings in the federal capital. The CDA board has approved an increase in the floor area ratio (FAR) for large commercial plots, facilitating the construction of additional floors in commercial buildings. According to the revised regulations, the FAR for plots ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 square yards has been increased from 1:8 to 1:10. For plots exceeding 5,000 square yards, the FAR has been raised to 1:12. These adjustments aim to accommodate more floors in commercial buildings, potentially transforming the urban landscape. The new regulations…

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Department (HED) has announced summer vacations for colleges and universities. The provincial HED announced that educational institutes in the summer zones will enjoy vacations from June 15 until August 3. On the other hand, colleges and universities in the winter zones will remain closed from July 1 until July 3. Previously, the Department of Education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had announced the official schedule for summer vacations in both public and private educational institutions. According to the notification, primary schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will begin their summer vacations on June 1st and continue until August 31st.…

The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has extended financial and technical assistance to 15 IT/ITeS software companies for ISO27001 and ISO27701 certification in the ongoing financial year to date, according to a document available with ProPakistani. PSEB expects the certification process for these companies to be completed by the end of FY2023-24. In an effort to standardize the Call Center industry, PSEB has also provided financial and technical assistance to 20 call centers aiming to achieve ISO18295 certification. Furthermore, 304 call centers have been facilitated for IP whitelisting through PSEB One Window to enhance their ability to serve cross-border customers.…

The United States wants to provide debt financing for the Reko Diq mining project in Pakistan. The Export-Import (Exim) Bank of the United States wants to give a loan for the development of Reko Diq. The project’s estimated cost is around $6.5 billion, with roughly $3.5 billion needed in debt financing. The exact contribution from the US Exim Bank isn’t confirmed, reported Express Tribune. The financing proposal includes a condition that the Exim Bank be granted preferred creditor status. The loan would likely be used for procuring earth-moving machinery from the US. Discussions are ongoing, with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb…

Today, on May 30 at 4 PM Pakistan time, Vivo is set to unveil the S19 and S19 Pro officially. Leading up to this highly anticipated event, the company has been steadily releasing teasers via its Weibo account, maintaining the buzz surrounding the upcoming devices. One noteworthy feature of the S19 is its slim design, measuring just 7.19mm in thickness despite housing a substantial 6,000 mAh battery. Additionally, it is promoted to feature what Google’s machine translation describes as “the first studio-level full focal length portrait” camera. Even in freezing temperatures as low as -20°C, the S19 series promises seamless…

The fourth T20 International between Pakistan and England, scheduled to be played at the Kennington Oval in London, faces a significant threat of disruption due to the weather. The latest weather updates indicate a 32% chance of rain, raising concerns over the last match of the series. The series has already been heavily affected by the weather considering the first T20I in Leeds was washed out, while the third T20I in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff was abandoned as well due to heavy rain. However, the second T20I at Edgbaston, Birmingham, saw England triumph over Pakistan by 23 runs, giving them a…

The Sugar Advisory Board here on Wednesday decided that the final decision for exporting sugar will be taken after the consultation with various government departments. The Sugar Advisory Board meeting was chaired by the Federal Minister of Industry and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain noted that the decision in this regard will be taken in the coming days to harness the benefits of the international market situation. The meeting was attended by the Federal Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Secretary National Food Security, and the representatives of provinces, Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), sugarcane farmers, and other federal departments. The…

Tragedy struck the Manawan area on Wednesday as two young siblings, Maryam and Rafay, died shortly after consuming instant noodles. The incident has raised serious concerns about food safety and the potential presence of toxic substances in consumables. According to a police official, the children’s mother had purchased two packs of instant noodles from a shop in Baghbanpura bazaar. Upon returning home, she prepared the noodles for her children. However, immediately after eating the meal, both Maryam and Rafay’s health deteriorated rapidly. The children were rushed to a local hospital, but despite efforts by medical staff, they were pronounced dead…

The Board of Directors of Lucky TG (Private) Limited, a subsidiary of Lucky Core Industries Limited, has allowed the company to buy back its shares, Lucky Core Industries Limited (PSX: LCI) informed the main bourse on Thursday. According to the stock filing, the buy-back will be in proportion to LCI’s current shareholding (i.e. 51 percent) in Lucky TG. LCI will continue to retain 51 percent shareholding in Lucky TG following the buy-back. “Lucky TG will continue to remain solvent and be able to meet its financial obligations subsequent to the buy-back of shares,” the filing added. Lucky TG is a…

The local manufacturing/assembling plants manufactured/assembled 10.85 million mobile handsets during the first four months (January-April) of the calendar year 2024 compared to 0.65 million imported commercially. Official data revealed that the locally manufactured/ assembled 10.85 million mobile phone handsets included 4.38 million 2G and 6.47 million smartphones. Besides, as per the PTA data, 61 percent of mobile devices are smartphones, and 39 percent are 2G on the Pakistan network. Local manufacturing and assembly of mobile handsets declined by approximately 4 percent in 2023. This decline is attributed to import issues stemming from restrictions on opening letters of credit (LCs) for…