Collaborating Details for the Earthquake
October 30, 2008
In an attempt to pool resources and information for the earthquake relief (and other things Pakistani), Sabahat Asharaf (alia: iFaqeer) forwarded this link:
By way of background, WikiPakistan is an , Pakistanis and the diaspora. It is hosted by Wikia, a community destination supporting the creation and development of wikicommunities and is run by a lot of the same people who run the Wikipedia–the largest encyclopedia in the world. The site is at ttp://pakistan.wikia.com/ and background information can be seen at http://pakistan.wikia.com/wiki/Pakistan:About . Like other wikis such as the Wikipedia, WikiPakistan is an open database that anyone can edit and is developed under a Free Document License.
[Contributors should be aware that if they choose to post material there directly, they are agreeing to release it under the GNU Free Documentation License. Please see www.wikia.com and WikiPakistan for further details.] Contributors are encouraged to click on the “Create an account or log in” link in the top righthand corner of every page and create an account. You do not need to provide any personal information.
One place. One source of information. Less confusion leading to more effective relief. We’ll plug in more updates on this as we get them.
Pakistan, China may sign civil nuclear deal
October 15, 2008
LAHORE: Pakistan and China are expected to sign a civil nuclear agreement during President Asif Ali Zardari’s maiden state visit to the Communist nation, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Beijing Masood Khan said on Tuesday.
Both countries have always supported the peaceful use of civil nuclear energy and an agreement in this connection is expected to be signed during the president’s visit to China which began on Tuesday, Khan said.
The two countries will ink several agreements in the fields of technology, agriculture and minerals. They will also sign an investment protocol to their existing free trade agreement to boost investments in Pakistan, he told a private TV channel.
The government is under pressure from domestic political circles to seek a civil nuclear deal with China to match the atomic pact finalised between India and the US.
Recent reports have suggested that Pakistan will seek help from China for establishing a satellite communications system and building two more atomic reactors at its Chashma nuclear project.
The project already has two power plants built with Chinese assistance.
The two proposed nuclear reactors are expected to cost over Rs139 billion, including a foreign exchange component of Rs99.538 billion.
Experts believe only an “all-weather ally” like China could assist Pakistan in the nuclear sector at a time when the country is grappling with a crippling economic crunch.
The first nuclear reactor at the Chashma site now generates 300 MW of electricity and the second reactor is currently being completed. The two new reactors are expected to be completed in eight years.
Pakistan also plans to set up a nuclear power fuel complex at a cost of over Rs51 billion to fabricate fuel to be used in future nuclear power plants. Under its Energy Security Action Plan, Pakistan aims to increase the share of nuclear power from one per cent to 5.4 per cent by creating the capacity to generate 8,800 MW of nuclear energy by 2030.
Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari was given a warm welcome when he arrived here Tuesday on his maiden state visit to hold talks with the Chinese leadership, giving renewed impetus to the already existing strong and time-tested bilateral bonds between the two countries and cooperation in various fields.
The president was received and greeted at the airport by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue and senior Chinese officials and Pakistan Embassy officials.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik, Secretary Foreign Affairs Salman Bashir , Ambassador Masood Khan were also present on the occasion.
The president was presented a guard of honour. A Chinese girl presented him a bouquet on the occasion.
The formal welcome ceremony for the President will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Great Hall of the People, where he will be received by Chinese President Hu Jintao.
During his four-day stay, the president will hold talks with the Chinese leadership on matters of bilateral interest and issues of regional and international concern.
On the bilateral front, the parleys will focus on strengthening Pakistan-China strategic partnership and the existing time-tested relations and cooperation in diverse fields including trade, investment, defence, banking sector, science and technology etc.
Besides his talks with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, President Zardari will also hold meetings with Chairman National People’s Congress, Wu Bangguo and Chairman Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Jia Qingling.
Back-to-back engagements of the president also include meetings with a number of Chinese business executives, heads of various financial institutions and corporate leaders. The focus of these interactions will be on wooing the Chinese investors to take advantage of Pakistan’s conducive investment climate and trade opportunities.
Both sides will sign a number of agreements, memoranda of understanding and protocols to propel bilateral cooperation in different sectors. A joint statement will also be issued at the conclusion of the president’s state visit.
Chinese assured of conducive environment
Associated Press of Pakistan
BEIJING: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Tuesday assured Chinese investors of enabling environment in Pakistan for broadening economic cooperation and for repatriation of their profits. Talking to media after visiting the Huawei Technologies office, the minister said that the Chinese world renowned IT, which is service provider, had greatly contributed to introduction and promotion of modern tele-communication in Pakistan. He said that Huawei had invested $ 500 million in Pakistan and annually contributed $ 23 million to the national exchequer in taxes.
The minister said that it had also provided job opportunities to 25,000 people, adding that Huawei had established IT centers in Pakistan and imparted training to 200 IT engineers.
He said that the company also contributed Rs one billion for University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore in terms of provision of equipments.
“My idea was to send the message to Chinese companies that Pakistan is keen to broaden economic ties with China,” he said.
The minister assured liberal visa regime for Chinese investors and proper security protection in Pakistan.
The Chinese side appreciated the initiatives taken by Pakistan’s foreign minister for setting up Economic Diplomacy Wing to facilitate investment and economic growth in Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari has agreed to chair a special task force for fast track implementation of Chinese projects in Pakistan, the Foreign Minister said.
Pakistan, he said was proud of friendship with China.
Earlier welcoming Pakistan’s Foreign Minister the Senior Vice-President of Huawei Technologies Guo Tianmin said that his company had the honour to lay the Karachi-Hong Kong Optical Fiber network for the PTCL.
The minister was also informed that the company was among the leading IT companies of the third generation 3-D that can cater to the needs of future GSM.
He also welcomed the visit of President Zardari to China and said that it would help carrying the friendly ties to new heights.
“Pakistan is one of our best friends in the world,” he said.
Pakistan, China have huge potential to boost trade, investment
August 14, 2008
LAHORE: The Ambassador of China in Pakistan Luo Zhaohui has said that Chinese embassy is planning to open its commercial office in Lahore soon to facilitate the people in general and the business community in particular. [Read more]
Firefox Achieves Guinness Record for 8,002,530 Downloads in a 24-hour Period
July 3, 2008
So it’s official! Firefox created history by spreading the word through massive viral spin across the globe and landed itself into the Guinness Book of World Records as the Most Downloads in a 24-hour period. Click here to read the official release, but we have a whole different angle to press upon our readers and here’s what the real heading of this article should be: Pakistan contributes 34,893 Downloads To FireFox’s World Record.
The PTA rants that we’re at some 80million mobile users. Even if you take this at face value and divide by an obnoxious percent, you’d still get maybe 10 million active users through dialup, wireless, GPRS, Narrowband or Broadband. We’ve got a whole bunch of telecom companies that are making major investments into infrastructure building, laying out all sorts of fiber, turning the metropolitan cities in Pakistan into ultra-meshed hubs of connectivity. So despite all the issues we keep complaining about, the problem doesn’t lie in the court of the service providers.
It lies in the clickable behavior of our people. Like most other things, we’ve been blessed with ample opportunities to change our own fate in the international media. For countries like Pakistan, the internet is the way out we’ve been looking for. How many television channels or newspapers really represent the thoughts and ideals of an individual citizen? When we finally have the power to create our own image online and push it out to the entire world, we go ahead and choose not to participate.
Am I really over-reacting here because only an odd 34 thousand people bothered to click on Firefox? I don’t doubt it. What kind of role should the participation have played? It makes a mammoth online population sit up and take notice of us as an inclusive people. We have a lot of users! We have a lot of people that care about seeing Pakistan as a successful country in the eyes of the world’s most popular and democratic browser!
But I shouldn’t be ungrateful and ignore the .2% of the internet population that actually contributed to the success of Firefox. Places in Africa, South America and Mongolia had fewer downloads than us. And that in itself, is hopeful news.
Congratulations to Firefox for bringing the world together. And to that, we dedicate a spoofed version of Blue’s popular number one song, One Love:
‘One Click’ for the download time
‘One Click’ for the times we cried
‘One Click’ for the record times….
Of all downloaded files….
Pakistan’s PC/Server Market Experienced Weaker First Quarter with 4.2% Growth: Springboard Research
July 1, 2008
Portables fuel market growth in a period of reduced government IT spending
Islamabad/Singapore, July 1, 2008: Pakistan’s PC/Server market registered 157,140 unit shipments in the first quarter of 2008, marking a growth of 4.2% over the same quarter a year ago, according to the latest data released by Springboard Research, a leading innovator in IT market research industry. Per Springboard’s Asia Emerging Countries Tracker report, a strong demand of portables continued to lead the overall market growth in the quarter with the segment growing 58.3% Year-to-Year (YTY). [Read more]
Podcast: Week In Review (week ending June 21 2008)
June 22, 2008
We’re kicking off the Week In Review Podcast series this week - Below is some of the text or you can just click below and listen to the podcast itself!
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority planned a programme of holding Customers Facilitation Camps at different Places in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for keeping closed contacts with its customers. This plan aimed to provide all kind of PTCL’s services and facilities at the doorsteps of customers.
The customers appreciated this new plan as a successful attempt to extend and promote PTCL services and products. For customers, the most attracting services of PTCL remained IPTV and broadband internet. PTCL is trying to get back in the market with its telephony but the idea of having a landline with a lot of distorting sounds keeps the customer away from PTCL.
Motorola has announced the regional availability of the award-winning ROKR E8. This is a pretty different device as compared to others of its category. ROKR E8 serves the user with only those controls, which they need at the time. It transforms instantly from Music Player to a Phone with the touch of a single button. It is an Mp3 player as well as a phone and it definitely works best in both categories
Telenor grabbed the second position in cellular phone market, which is a shocking news for the Ufone, which started in Pakistan long before Telenor. According to a report, released by PTA, subscribers of Telenor have notably increased than the subscribers of Ufone.
Now Telenor, with 17.84 million users stands second and Ufone with 17.80 million subscribers now holds the third position in Pakistan Telecom Sector. Latest figures show that the number of cellular subscribers in Pakistan has reached to 86.6 million.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority announced the auction of 30 attractive Universal Access Numbers (UAN) on June 30, 2008. According to PTA, the demand of UAN was increasing by private and public organizations as well as individuals in view of their significance. That is why PTA has selected 36 numbers, out of which one has been categorized as platinum, 10 diamonds and 25 gold. These numbers are attractive, easy to remember as well as to pronounce with high level of repetition. These numbers will be auctioned on June 30, 2008.
Senate Committee declared that it will take action against all the mobile service providers that failed to block unregistered SIMS by June 30. Authorities have found 3.5 million more unregistered subscribers that were supposed to be blocked until now. The official deadline was May 22, but it has been extended to June 30 for Mobile companies’ convenience. Strict action will be taken against the company that fails to meet the deadline.
Moreover, Chief Executive of Senate Standing Committee told that Senate Committee has not been provided with any database of the blocked SIMS or the unregistered ones. A notice has been issued to all mobile companies to provide the data as soon as it is possible for them.
NetSol has made a breakthrough in European Market by signing an agreement with a major European Bank. According to the terms and conditions of the agreement, NetSol will implement its LeaseSoft within the Bank’s financial leasing unit.
This is the first-ever agreement signed by NetSol in the European market and it suggests a further opening up of this market for LeaseSoft, NetSol’s flagship product.
LeaseSoft shortens the time to retails and wholesale markets by providing flexibility in the configuration of financial products. It also enhances organizational productivity by efficiently managing the complete lifecycle of the contract in an extremely cost-effective way.
NetSol also announced that it has started trading of its dual-listed common shares on the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX).According to its announcement, NetSol will trade on the DIFX under the symbol “NTWK”, complementing the company’s current listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
M&C Saatchi, the global network, announced a new partnership in the country with Pirana, one of the country’s fastest growing agencies. Pirana was founded in May 2006 and it has become one of the Pakistan’s fastest-growing agencies. Pirana is currently working with a staff of 50 members; it has three running offices in Karachi, Lahore, and Dubai. Pirana client portfolio includes local and blue chip businesses.
This move into Pakistan is the latest part in M&C Saatchi Asia CEO Chris Jacques’ strategy to build the M&C Saatchi footprint around the core geographies of the subcontinent and China.
The representative of Business Software Alliance (BSA) Ali Haraka said that BSA would help to provide the licensed softwares to all companies and business consultancies. This project had started on 17th of April and its end date has been extended until 27 June due to requests of many companies. The representative said that all those companies that oppose the copyright law, will be charged with 0.2 million rupees and prison for at least three years.
The Chairman, PTA, Shehzada Aalam Malik has announced that the licenses to introduce 3G services in Pakistan will be issued to all the mobile companies before the end of this year. He said that the number of mobile centers in Pakistan has increased form 360 to 19 thousands and it has been increasing with the addition of 3 to 5 thousand every year. The current status of Telecom industry is the most reasonable to launch 3G services.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has served a legal notice to Zong, a China Mobile Company for violation of the Franchise Termination Agreement. The notice requires the company to reply back within seven days with an explanation as to why it has closed its 160 franchises under the wrong implication to its franchise holders, which the company had done so under legal requirements. While PTA has termed it a violation of its determination number DG/ (LE)/9/ (2-24)/COORD /pta/02 VOL-111 and SOP (Standard Operating Procedures).
The notice has also warned that failure to submit written detailed information of its illegal procedures would be considered as a blatant violation.
Pakistan Software Export Board, in collaboration with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is making significant efforts in order to frame effective guidelines for the call centers in the country.
Managing Director PSEB, Talib Baloch said that call centers can continue their operations uninterruptedly as these centers are the source of income for thousands civilians. The call centers posses a large share in the country’s annual revenue. According to Talib Baloch, the number of call centers registered with PSEB is only 516.
Inbox Business Technologes and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited have signed an agreement for providing technology infrastructure products to the bank. According to the statement of the bank, the Inbox Business Technologies would provide technology infrastructure products to the bank.
Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) is planning to launch Senior Experts Advisory Service (SEAS) to provide the manufacturing sector access to a comprehensive advisory service with particular focus on providing guidance in technical and management fields. According to TUSDEC representative, 38.24 million SEAS project would assist manufacturing industries. The scope can be broadened but it totally depends on the success.
China Mobile, the world’s largest telecommunication organization will invest $800 million in Pakistan. China Mobile has already invested $800 millions in setting up the infrastructure of Zong mobiles and now it intends to enhance its services in each corner of Pakistan.
President of China Mobile Mr. Wang said that besides investing in Pakistan, he is also trying to pursue internationally acclaimed companies such as Sony-Erricson to take part in the development of Telecommunication sector in Pakistan.
Samsung Electronics announced the launch of Samsung OMNIA SGH-i900, which brings together high performance business content and styles along with fun. It offers a dynamic multimedia experience and variety of other features that ensure that the consumer stays connected both at home and at work.
It will be available in the market in last week of June 2008. The new Samsung OMNIA allows users to switch seamlessly between Microsoft outlook email and productivity application that replicate the look and feel of their PC.
It also comes with a five-mega pixel CMOS camera with the latest value-added features, which include auto-focus, face and smile detection and auto-panorama shot. The additional features include GPS, including navigation and geo-tagging capabilities, so users can get their bearings wherever work or life takes them.
The Internet Sides with Samad Khurram
June 22, 2008
A couple of years ago, and the fact that Samad Khan had refused his Harvard University scholarship award presented to him by the American Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, it would have taken a few days for the Pakistani news media to figure out how to fit that embarrassment into the headlines. Today, the story is a different one.
We’re constantly reminded of the intense power and reach of the internet, that has shot Samad’s stand to international acclaim. Bloggers helped to throw the spotlight on the action - the reasoning and the story. [Read more]
Salman Ansari’s Keynote at the Dawn Financial IT Conference
June 18, 2008
Here’s Salman Ansari’s Keynote at the Dawn Financial IT Conference, on th 17th of June, 2008
Help Firefox Set A World Record: Can Pakistanis REALLY make a significant contribution?
June 17, 2008
Here’s the deal: June 18 is “Download Day” – If you can download a copy of Firefox 3 during the day today, you may just help Firefox go down in history for having the most downloads in one day. A world record. [Read more]
Dawn Takes ‘Citizen Journalism’ Seriously!
June 11, 2008
Finally!! Someone in the mainstream media takes the Web2.0’s most popular concept of Citizen Journalism, seriously! Dawn has to be the first mainstream print media to actually acknowledge the fact that it has 160million potential collaborators around Pakistan, and is reaching out to them.
Considering all the television channels, radio stations and print houses that are opening up, do you really think everyone can keep up with the monotony of running similar content on their screens or front pages? And there are only so many people that can be hired on their teams to write, record or film only so much that is going on within their “known surroundings”. [Read more]