Pakistan IT

NADRA Successfully Executed Phase-I of Watan Card; said Tariq Malik

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:24:44 +0000

“1.645 million Flood affected families were disbursed PKR 30.3 Billion rupees through Watan Card”

National Database & Registration Authority, NADRA is all set to start second phase of Watan cards after issuance of over 1.6 million Cards effectively and transparently resolving all complaints of flood victims by using its efficient Complaints Redressal System. This was stated by Deputy Chairman NADRA Mr. Tariq Malik.

“National Disaster Management Authority estimated around 1.68 million families affected by flood, and we have given Watan Cards to over 1,645,262 million, which means we have done 99 per cent of our job. Now after successful completion of the first phase we are determined and hopeful that this achievement would pave the way for the successful completion of second phase.” said Tariq Malik.

The Second Phase regarded as Citizen’s Damage Compensation Programme (CDCP) will provide Cash transfers to more than One million flood affectees households.

We are working with all Provincial Government to quickly start second phase. Good news is that World Bank has already approved $125m for second phase, said Tariq Malik.

He said NADRA in the first phase has disbursed cash assistance of Rs. 30,350,275,877 to flood affected families across the country which is a big achievement and first ever disbursement of its kind in history. NADRA has set a global example in helping people and giving them a mechanism for disbursement of cash assistance transparently.

Tariq Malik said that the Complaint Redressal System’s objective was to address the complaints from genuine and legitimate beneficiaries who were unable to get registered for Watan cards and the system has been successful in doing so. He said NADRA received 300,000 complaints from flood affected population who had been facing different problems in getting Watan and resolved them in all provinces.

He said that throughout the process NADRA ensured strong checks in the software so that only deserving families belonging to provincially notified calamity hit areas could obtain Watan Cards.

Tariq Malik said that using its multi-biometric system, NADRA has ensured transparency and thwarted several attempts of misuse of the Watan Card from miscreants. “About 1.3 million ineligible people visited NADRA Registration Centers to obtain Watan Cards but due to vigilant NADRA system they were not able to do so,” he added.

“Had our system not rejected 1.3 million ineligible applicants, government of Pakistan would have lost 26 billion rupees,” said Malik. “This is a perfect example of good governance and efficient service delivery recognized by international donors and agencies like World Bank,” he added.

He said that NADRA issued 608,825 Watan Cards in Punjab to disburse around Rs. 11.98 billion. In Sindh, the number of Watan Cards issued was 651,990 with a disbursed amount of Rs. 11.38 billion.

In Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, the number of Watan Cards issued stood at 120,918 and 243,208 with disbursed amount of Rs. 2.19 billion and Rs. 4.40 billion respectively.

In Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, 9,378 and 10,943 cards were issued disbursing Rs 155.99 million and Rs. 212.06 million respectively.

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PTCL to invest Rs16 billion in next five years: Walid

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:23:37 +0000

Pakistan Telecommunications Company (PTCL), would invest about Rs16 billion in telecommunications sector in next five years in Pakistan, this was stated by the President and CEO PTCL Walid Irshad.

Addressing a luncheon meeting at Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Irshad said that PTCL is going to introduce super-speed internet very soon in Pakistan and it would be started from Korangi Industrial Area.

“The era of conventional telephone exchanges is now over and most modern exchanges would now be installed in Pakistan. PTCL is not being run just as Phone Company but as an investment-oriented company which is striving hard to introduce most modern telecommunications services,” he said.

He said that first ever new generation telephone exchange would be introduced in Karachi He said that PTCL has already minimized the subscribers’ complaints and with the introduction of new services and new generation telephone exchanges, the complaints would become nil.

The Chairman, KATI, Syed Johar Ali Qandhari said in his welcome address that telecommunications plays vital role in trade and industry and PTCL has improved its performance over the years.

He said that sometimes industrialists face hardships in broadband and internet which needs to be improved. He said that PTCL should set up a full-fledged cell at KATI so that subscribers’ woes should be addressed.

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Warid, Wateen Headquarter May Shift to Islamabad

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:22:33 +0000

The managements of Warid Tel and Wateen, the two major telecom and broadband operators of Dhabi Group, are mulling to relocate companies’ headquarter to Islamabad as a strategy to boost up their operations and business with accelerated pace.

Sources in the Dhabi Group told Telecom Recorder that management of two companies have planned to shift their head offices in Islamabad from Lahore for better coordination with telecom regulator, concerned ministry and different operators of telecom sector.

Though operator have its regional office in Islamabad, which maintain liaison with headquarter over policy issues of telecom sector directly but the new management want to establish main office in Islamabad as all four cellular operator headquarters are based in Islamabad.

Sources said the new management deliberated that the relocation of their head office may help them to implement the policies and regulations of the telecom authority with better understand as top brass will look after day to day affairs and operations in the capital of the country.

Previously, they added, the key officials Pervez Shahid and Bashir Tahir were based in Lahore, therefore, the companies head offices remain functional in their residential cities.

Sources confirmed, Zohair Khaliq the Executive Director of the Dhabi Group and former CEO Mobilink, has proposed the idea taking in confidence his fellow board members on relocation of headquarter.

According to them, he said the operations of the company will be streamlined in well connected manner if they are based in capital of the country.

Warid Tel launched its services in 2005 whereas its sister organization Wateen commenced its services in 2007.

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Samsung Puts Smart TV in the Palm ofYour Hand

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:20:55 +0000

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics,has today introduced their latest convenience for their customers, the Samsung“Smart View” application. This new application enables users to view images from a Samsung Smart TV or other input device right on their mobile devices.

Availablenow for the Samsung Galaxy S2 Android smart phone, the free Smart Viewapplication displays Smart TV images right onto mobile devices via wireless Ethernet—whether consumers are enjoying cable broadcast programs or contentfrom a Blu-ray player, camcorder, set-top box or other input device.

Inaddition, users can browse any currently installed Smart TV applications fromtheir mobile devices, bringing even more functionality and convenience to theSamsung Apps experience. The company has once again strengthened convergencebetween Smart TV and mobile devices through this latest Smart View appoffering.

“SamsungSmart TV is leading the “smart revolution” not only with the features of SmartTV itself—such as rich content, 2D and 3D picture quality, smart functions anddesign—but also with input devices using our Qwerty smart remote control, theSamsung Remote app, and now with Smart View,” said Hee Chang Yee, MD SamsungElectronics Pakistan. “The distinctive functionality of Samsung Smart TVs willcontinue to deliver the most convenient TV watching experience toconsumers—enabling them to truly enjoy a smarter life.”

TheSamsung Smart View is now available in the Android Market for Samsung Smart TVD7000, D8000, and D9500 series, as well as the Galaxy S2 smart phone, and willbe available for the Galaxy player (YP-GB70) in July, along with the Galaxy Sand Galaxy Tab later this year.

Samsungwill continue to update the Samsung Smart View application with various remotecontrol functions, optimally designed for Smart TV, to ensure customers use theunique features of Smart TV in increasingly convenient ways. A “Channel List”option, which lets users search program information and change channels ontheir mobile devices, will be added going forward.

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Techlogix Kicks Off Implementation Of Oracle-PeopleSoft Enterprise Campus Solutions (ECS) Across ASEAN

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:18:06 +0000

Revisiting fundamentals, introducing any form of change to an institution is only possible if the benefits are multifold at a cost fractional to it. Aiming to bring a change into the education sector, Techlogix, a globally leading Consulting and IT Services Company and an Oracle Platinum Partner, moderated a deployment of Techlogix Enterprise Campus Solutions across 9 universities of Pakistan previously. Taking the technology across ASEAN, De La Salle University from Philippines has recently jumped board for a replacement of its homegrown system with the same with a Project Kick Off Ceremony on the 27th of April, 2011.

Expanding its outreach in the ASEAN region, Techlogix has carried out similar sign-offs with leading universities in Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand as well. Present at the DLSU Enterprise Campus Solution Project Kick Off were Rizwan Rashid, Vice President for Professional Services at Techlogix, Darren Rushworth, Managing Director at Oracle Philippines and Vice President at Oracle Asia Pacific, Narciso Erguiza FSC, President of DLSU, Edler Panlilio, Sales Country Manager at Oracle Philippines, and Abigail Yap-Ang, Chief Executive Officer at ABS.

Key modules to be deployed as part of Techlogix Enterprise Campus Solutions at the DLSU include PeopleSoft Enterprise Student Administration, PeopleSoft Enterprise Campus Self Service, PeopleSoft Enterprise Contributor Relations and PeopleSoft Enterprise Campus Solutions Warehouse. Making mundane tasks interactive, collaborative for the faculty and the management, PeopleSoft Enterprise Campus Solutions will centralize the entire Student Information System, provide a calendar view of a faculty’s teaching schedule, enable one-click email to a select group of students, and help review the students’ academic progress through degree audit. For the student, PeopleSoft Enterprise Campus Solutions will avail access to and track application status, view class and exam schedules, request record of transcripts, courses, and make online credit payments amongst other facilities.

Involving 15,000 students and over 1,000 faculty and staff members, the project is expected to complete in 12 months.

As Salman Akhtar, CEO at Techlogix observes, “DLSU has engaged Techlogix to enable it to achieve a flexible system that can quickly adapt to the changing requirements of higher education, and we look forward to delivering on it as we have done previously with various other academic institutions.”

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PTCL’s Manager PR Farah Hussain sacked

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:16:44 +0000

On request of PTCL’s public relations agency we have removed the post.

Update

PTCL clarifies

In reference to the news item appearing in Telecom Recorder dated May 27, 2011 regarding Ms Farah Hussain Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, PTCL management clarifies that Ms Hussain resigned of her own accord to pursue better career opportunities for which management of PTCL wishes her success in her future endeavours.

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PTCL broadband Users Double, Coverage Area Expanded Fivefold in 16 Months

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:14:27 +0000

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has broadband subscribers base doubled to increase 100 percent and network coverage areas expanded to five times in past 16 months.

The PTCL enjoys the unique status in Pakistan for providing Broadband services in over 1000 cities across the country to over 600,000 customers, according to a press release. The biggest broadband company has attained the overwhelming position in the market in the span of four years of successful DSL service operations across the country.

Since its Broadband launch in May 2007, PTCL has made the broadband technology affordable by offering low-cost packages and by geographically bringing the service within the reach of a common user of Pakistan.

PTCL has been instrumental in making the service available to general public across the country, through hugely investing in expansion and extension of its Broadband services. Before PTCL launched its Broadband services it was only restricted to three major cities of the country.

PTCL’s Broadband facilitates the segment that relies heavily on high speed connectivity i.e. the students.

Special packages for this segment along with services such as free dial up service for its Broadband customers and free access to movies, music, classical Pakistani dramas and cricket matches, educational and religious content for its Broadband customers-branded under ‘PTCL BUZZ’, a complete web infotainment content portal is available exclusive only to PTCL Broadband subscribers.

PTCL offers a free personalised e-mail account exclusively to its Broadband users. PTCL is also providing a host of data services including Smart TV and Quad play connection with I Sentry surveillance camera and a range of Broadband data rates starting from 256 kbps and up to 50 mbps speeds suited to the needs of its wide strata of customers.

PTCL’s SEVP commercial Naveed Saeed said PTCL has always been the first to introduce and provide the benefits of latest technologies to the customers.

“We have many innovative products and for our valued customers which we intend to introduce periodically in the near future.

PTCL’s EVP Wireline Business Aasif Inam said PTCL being a customer centric organisation has always strived to address the needs of its valued customers with the intention and aim to provide affordable high speed internet connectivity to each and every individual of the country.

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Budget Proposals for 2011-12: PCA Seeks Drastic Reforms In IT sector

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:12:31 +0000

IT sector in Pakistan is still nascent and needs to be patronized for a reasonable time period therefore the government ought to introduce drastic reforms and curtailed the tax rates on computer hardware equipments and accessories in the upcoming budget

Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) in its budget proposal suggested the government to reduce the tax on computer screens and value-added products in order to increase the penetration of IT education in the small cities of the country.

The government should waive GST on computer screens couple with FED and import duties on different equipments, the body said.

The taxes and duties for this important sector of economy must be rationalized and government should announce computer and IT friendly policies in the budget 2011-12 because of the fact that computer and IT industry is considered as backbone of the economy in the countries who are rapidly on the path of progress and development.

The import of used IT equipment has played a vital role in the nation’s development. The imported used and low cost computers are used by IT educational institutions, middle class and lower middle class students and families. Likewise, hospitals, clinics, departmental stores and all types of small andmedium size business enterprises, even all types of schools, even madrisas depend on used computers due to affordability for the middle and lower middle class.

Used Computer System Imports

The industry is aware of the fact that the used IT equipment is not more than three years old and it still have a functional life of 5+ years and all available software can be operated on these machines and fulfills business and education needs at a very low cost. Thus, resale of used/Refurbished PCs is not only popular in developing countries like Pakistan but also in the developed nations like USA, England, Europe, Canada and Australia are widely using these computers.

According to a conservative estimate, Pakistan can save a huge foreign exchange by encouraging used computers and IT equipment as used computer cost on an average is less than $40 as compare to the cost of new ranges from $300 to $600. Currently there is no indigenous production of IT equipment and its parts in the country. Therefore, import of such equipment by no means is threat to any local industry. As said earlier there are only assemblers, some are small one having one shop and some have big installation, but both are assemblers and nothing is produced in our country.

Computer Usage

Majority of people belongs to middle class and lower strata of the society can not afford a new computer at a price of 25,000 to 45,000/ and they opt for a used desktop PC at an average price of 5,000 to 10,000/-. The laptops market presents similar picture where average price of a Dual Core new laptop in HP/Dell/Acer is around 45,000 to 55,000/- whereas the same in used is available at a price of 27,000 to 30,000/- and in Centrino technology even more cheaper upto 22,000/-.

We simply cannot ignore the fact that Pakistan is a third world poor country and majority of the people are living below the poverty line and it is not possible for them to afford a new PC. It has been observed that a great number of students and professionals are using these used computers and laptops. The initial users and beginners don’t need a hi-fi computer rather a normal low-end PC works fine for this purpose.

Not withstanding national needs and aspirations, some multinational firms engaged in computer hardware manufacturing are trying to get import of used IT equipment banned to make quick and big money. However, the sitting government ought to consider that any such ill-advised step would result in large public outcry and loss of precious foreign exchange.

The proposal of imposing any type of ban on used IT equipments is absolutely unnecessary as Pakistan is not producing / manufacturing any computer then what industry we are talking about: there are only assemblers. As a matter of policy we should not look at someone’s personal business or cartel of few companies, rather we should think about the wellness of majority, people at large and national interest.

Curb Smuggling and Afghan Transit Trade

PCA demands that the menace of growing smuggled goods in Pakistan from neighboring countries is also hurting the local business badly, which must be curbed as it discourages local manufacturers as well as documentation of business activities. Thus, it is causing huge loss to the government exchequer.

The duty structure of the goods prone to smuggling should be rationalized so that legal imports could be encouraged. He said that Afghan Transit Trade needs to be strictly regulated as it will help curbing the duty free smuggling of many items back to Pakistan.

The central president of PCA said that government should evolve a proper strategy for broadening the tax net instead of enhancing existing taxes. The ratio of direct tax should be improved to save mitigate the burden indirect taxes which add to miseries of poor masses.

Broadening of Tax Base

Instead of adding any further burden upon already heavily under burdened sectors of the economy, the government needs to broaden the tax base. The government should also curb tax evasion and give incentive to tax payers so that a tax culture could be flourished in the country.

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Mobile operators to generate billions in revenues from hypochondriacs

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:11:01 +0000

The global market for machine-to-machine (M2M) healthcare applications will be worth €69 billion in 2020, a large portion of which could go to the mobile operators, according to a new report from Machina Research.

The company predicts that connected devices in the healthcare space will number 774 million by the same date, identifying people’s concern for their health and well-being as “the single most significant driver behind the largest M2M healthcare opportunities,” in terms of connected devices. In other words, healthcare monitoring devices for the market segment known as the “worried well” will be very popular.

Consumer-oriented devices will make up 76% of the total connected devices, or 586 million units, but the revenue opportunity will be greatest in the non-consumer space, where devices cost significantly more.

As a result, the lion’s share of M2M healthcare revenues will go to established medical equipment manufacturers. However, that still leaves a significant sum for other players, including mobile operators, to fight for.

“We expect that €3.1 billion of this [€69 billion] revenue will go to mobile network operators for provision of data carriage services,” said Jim Morrish, director at Machina Research and author of the report,Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Communications in Healthcare 2010-20.

“A further €36 billion will be contested between systems integrators, device manufacturers, mobile operators and other service providers,” Morrish answered, noting that medical equipment makers stand to capture €30 billion.

Realistically, the analyst firm puts the opportunity for mobile operators at around €26 billion, if they position themselves well in the value chain. It advises mobile operators to “focus mainly on the consumer connected healthcare market, where brand assets, distribution channels and billing and customer service capabilities can be leveraged most effectively.” However, they should also consider partnering with systems integrators and medical kit makers in certain areas, such as clinical remote monitoring of patients in their homes and assisted living solutions.

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Blackberry Internet Service Black-Out Completes 1 Year

Pakistan IT — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:10:12 +0000

The ban on Blackberry Internet service has completed its one year in May with no hope of restoration by the cellular operators in the country.

The corporate and high end users have been facing black out for more than one year of blackberry internet services on different network as cellular operators and telecom authority are not keen to lift the restriction on it.

The users at large have customized different setting on their Blackberry sets for accessing internet services. The Blackberry users have been growing in large number in the country and they are the committed and revenue-generating subscribers for operators.

BIS black out

On yesteryear May 17, the cellular operators asked their network partner, Research in Motion (RIM), on to block the Facebook on their networks abiding by judicial verdict on the proliferation of blasphemous content in social networking sites.

On the request of all cellular operators, RIM blocked the overall Blackberry Internet Services (BIS) because it is lacking of any mechanism that restricts specific website. Though the Blackberry Enterprises Services (BES), a service it provides for email and messenger chatting, was restored after suspension of few hours of overall services.

The ban on Facebook was lifted on May 31 throughout the country but BIS could not be restored so far.

Cellular operators’ stance:

Cellular operators said that they did not receive any sort of permission by the authority, therefore, they are bound to keep the block out on the BIS.

Some of them have indicated at technical constraints on the part of RIM that delayed the service restoration.

Issues could be raised:

The Blackberry Internet Service (BIS) is operated by RIM, which is unable to block the URLS, WebPages and links declared restricted by PTA. The RIM needs to develop a separate system for Pakistan in order to continue internet service on Blackberry, otherwise, the blockade will keep maintaining. In this regard, the cellular operators should effort jointly, which will be workable in future.

Why Censorship:

The Blackberry internet services are beyond the access of authorities and intelligence agencies of the country, which poses threats to national security as being a secret communication tool for enemy.

It faces ban in several different states because its data is immediately exported off-shore, where it is managed by a foreign, commercial organizations.

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