Getting Back: How the PSEB and Others Are Facilitating Companies
September 25, 2008
I can’t think of an agency, organization or an individual who won’t condone and severely condemn the September 20th act of senseless violence. What a loss. What a tremendous waste. A large part of Pakistan has been hurt in the incident, but as things go, strong citizens who know what is at stake, get up and do what it takes to restart. [Read more]
PSEB issued LOI for Establishment of First National IT Park in Islamabad
July 15, 2008
Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has issued Letter of Intent (LOI) to International Consortium (TelcoNet, Axor Group Inc Canada and Technopolis Plc, Finland) for the establishment of first state-of-the-art National IT Park, at Chak Shahazad, Islamabad. [Read more]
Mistakes We Cannot Afford: Dr Aamir Matin, GM Cisco Pakistan Comments on the STP Eviction
June 4, 2008
Some 35 IT companies with almost 2000 employees have been asked to vacate the IT Park Islamabad. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) issued a notice on 23rd of May. The companies were asked to leave the building in seven days, which was supposed to be 31st of May. However, no action has been taken until now, but this situation has created a completely new situation for the rapidly growing IT industry. [Read more]
Manning Technology: Umair Naeem
May 12, 2008
When we talk about technology augmenting day to day life and making things easier and more convenient for people from various walks of life, the ball often falls onto technology itself for being unreliable, particularly in a country like Pakistan where state of the art facilities are rare. This can often be a very unfair statement, as it is the very facilitators of the technology who are responsible for ensuring its effectiveness in doing what it was supposed to be doing.
What often happens is that technology and facilities are in place, but the people who are supposed to be manning them and people who are supposed to maintain them end up being the unreliable ones. On a recent trip to Lahore, I had the misfortune of trying to connect to a Wireless internet network at the Karachi Airport. A few minutes of trying, and I looked for someone to help me out, but none of the airport personnel knew what was going on. I gave up, as my flight was about to board. On the way back, I found myself waiting at the Islamabad Airport, and spotted the free Wateen Internet Kiosks. There were two on one side, and two on the centre of the hall. From the two on the side, one was being used, while the other was free, so I tried to access my email from it, but lo and behold, there was no connection. Of the other two kiosks, one was off and the other was not working as well. Out of 4 possible kiosks, only one was working.
Whether Wateen is to blame, or the Airport authorities, it hardly matters. What matters is that technology should be a smooth and easy to use facility, not something that you would end up tearing your hair out over. And this is the responsibility of those who have put up the technology in question and those who are supposed to maintain it.
Let’s move to another example. Colgate Palmolive has a number for Consumer Affairs, on the back of its products (most specifically detergents), and when recently I needed some information regarding its products, I figured I’d give their consumer affairs a try. Unfortunately when I called, no one answered, and that’s been the case for the past few days. It’s truly insane when you have put out a number and you have no one manning it. Unilever’s Raabta Service is much better in this regard, even though their operators need to ensure that they have more detailed information regarding their products.
I have mentioned time and time again before about how important I feel it is to have Consumer Awareness in order for big businesses to feel continually responsible for the services that they offer. The encouraging thing is that Pakistan is moving towards that direction, but until and unless we, as consumers do not stand up for what we is our right, we shall remain static.
This week’s Rant goes out to the wonderfully original people behind the Mobilink Jazz Ad Campaigns. Did I mention how creative I think they are? Of course they must be! How else can they come up with a another Jazzy Tableau Theme with a song and dance routine with guys and girls jumping around and singing about how wonderful Jazz is? And of course, the height of creativity, having Wasim Akram join in and sing as well. It’s truly brilliant! How can it fail?! It has people singing and dancing about Jazz?!
It’s time like these that its true when people say there’s no creativity in Pakistan. I still don’t think that’s the case, but the ‘creative’ are certainly proving their point. What’s more ironic is that I thought the Mobilink ‘Join Us’ campaign was actually nice. Anyway, till next time, stay safe and Believe.
Pakistan poised to become lucrative market for mobile handset manufacturers
February 1, 2008
Pakistan is poised to become a lucrative market for manufacturers of mobile handsets and other telecom equipment as 20 per cent of mobile users in Pakistan change their handset thrice a year. The imports of cellular mobile sets with battery shot up have increased from 144.1 million dollar in 2004 to 670.2 million dollar in 2007. During the period, about 4.2 per cent of imports were for the telecom sector while this ratio was only 2.4 per cent in 2003.
The spending of 1.347 billion dollar on import of cellular mobile handsets and other telecom apparatus last year put burden on country’s foreign reserves and caused increase in trade gap. [Read more]
Fresh guidelines to cellular companies issued
February 1, 2008
Telecom authorities on Friday issued fresh guidelines to cellular companies, directing them to maintain an identification data of their subscribers, a move officials said would help restrict communication liaison among terrorists and criminals.
Necessitated by the use of unidentified mobile numbers by “miscreants”, the renewed policy directives called upon the mobile operators to block all such connections issued to unidentified subscribers. [Read more]
Telenor launches environment friendly initiative
January 31, 2008
ISLAMABAD (January 29 2008): Telenor Pakistan has launched another environment-friendly initiative by using solar energy to power one of its repeater sites in the NWFP. Telenor Pakistan is the country’s first mobile communications services provider to have started using solar energy to power a commercial site. The pilot site, which is in Buner, is a solar-electricity hybrid system that runs entirely on solar energy during the day and switches to electricity or battery power at night.
Such Telenor Pakistan’s use of alternate energy sources in its operations is of particular significance considering that the company has the fastest growing network in the country. “Telenor Pakistan continues its efforts to roll out modern networks in a socially responsible manner, delivering on environmental and health and safety standards,” says Chief Technical Officer Telenor Pakistan Peter Anthony Dindial. “We are first in the industry to have started using solar energy to power a commercial site. We aim to help reduce the load on the national power grid through innovative solutions and in longer term we mean to upscale this pilot project to other parts of the country after assessing its success. He said, such solutions are more eco-friendly and less of a burden logistically in difficult terrains, where mobile coverage might be needed the most, and constant generator refuelling might be an issue. The industry must boldly experiment with alternate energy solutions to connect the remote, unconnected populations of Pakistan in a sustainable manner,” he added.-PR
Mobilink allowed to install PCOs at railway stations
January 31, 2008
ISLAMABAD (January 17 2008): Pakistan Railways (PR) has allowed Mobilink to operate and install PCO facility at the railway stations across the country, source in the Ministry of Railways told APP on Wednesday. Source said, “We are taking this initiative on a number of complaints received from the passengers, who travel by train.”
Taking serious note over this essential facility at the railway stations, Mobilink has been allowed to install PCOs, which will facilitate over 80 million passengers.
The mobile PCOs would also be introduced in near future that would enable rail passengers to be in contact with their families while they are onboard, the source said. The government has been open to public-private partnership as it brings investment and creates job opportunities.
“Pakistan Railways would also engage private sector to invest in all sectors of railways, including freight operations and handling to bring competitiveness and efficiency,” source added. National Logistic Cell (NLC) in collaboration with a UAE based group, having experience in freight handling has already offered Pakistan Railways.
IDL, FSC launch new laptop with advance features
January 31, 2008
RECORDER REPORT ISLAMABAD (January 25 2008): Ideal Distribution Line (IDL) and Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC) on Thursday launched a new laptop with advance features. Fujitsu Siemens Computers is the leading European IT provider with a strategic focus on next-generation Mobility and Dynamic Data Centre products, services and solutions. With a platform and services portfolio of exceptional depth, our offering extends from handhelds through desktops to enterprise-class IT infrastructure solutions and service. In this connection, a ceremony was held, which was attended by the representatives of leading local and foreign computer companies. The speakers informed that the IDL and FSC have joint hands to promote FSC branded computers, laptops, Servers and storage solutions in Pakistan. The manufacturing and shipments would be from Germany, which assures quality and stability at reasonable prices. The IDL is a professional IT distribution Company in Pakistan. Incorporated in 1997 Head office in Karachi and branch offices are in Hyderabad, Lahore and Islamabad. The FSC products are now available across the country. These new computer products are highly affordable for low income groups as well besides being as much useful as the equipment’s of other brands, speakers added.
Sukkur to get USF, Mobilink services
January 23, 2008
ISLAMABAD: A contract signing ceremony was held here on Tuesday between Universal Service Fund (USF) and Mobilink for extending telecommunication facilities in un-served areas of Sukkur division.Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest caretaker federal minister for Information Technology Dr Abdullah Riar said telecom revolution would now be broadened to the far-flung rural areas of the country.
The telecom sector of Pakistan has achieved an unprecedented success over the last few years, benefits of which were being reaped by the citizens of Pakistan. Through prudent policies of the government, the telecom sector has created several business activities across the country and still has the potential to improve further. [Read more]