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Pakistan's Progress In Information And Technology

LinkedIn to set up offices in Pakistan

KARACHI: LinkedIn, an international professional networking platform, is planning to establish its offices in Pakistan, Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Saleem H Mandviwalla revealed here on Monday.
Mandviwalla said that the move would help LinkedIn promote Pakistan on its widely-used website. He said he hoped that LinkedIn’s offices would be operational in Pakistan either by the end of this year, or by the beginning of next year. This will lead to the setting up of LinkedIn’s proper operations in Pakistan, he said.
The BOI chief believed that the initial investment by the company would be to the tune of $10 million, and that LinkedIn is focusing on Pakistan as one of its important markets. “This is of great interest to us,” Mandviwalla added.
He said he had been informed that around 1.2 million Pakistanis connect to LinkedIn’s website, which includes overseas Pakistanis, besides those living in this country. Mandviwalla said the concept of the website is to connect professionals and businessmen with each other. “In my view, this is a very serious network,” he noted; adding that finding job for subscribers is one of the website’s major activities.
“The BOI would like to use LinkedIn as an effective tool and important platform,” he said. Mandviwalla said he had had a detailed discussion with LinkedIn Director Fredrick Berscl regarding the move.

FAKE NEWS:

LinkedIn refuted the claims of a story filed by the state-owned wire service Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), which quoted the Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla saying that Linkedin was planning to establish its offices in Pakistan and invest $10 million by the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013.
“While we are exploring some commercial opportunities in Pakistan, we currently have no plans to open a local office,” LinkedIn spokesperson Darain Faraz told The Express Tribune.


LinkedIn denies plans to enter Pakistan – The Express Tribune
 
FAKE NEWS:

LinkedIn refuted the claims of a story filed by the state-owned wire service Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), which quoted the Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla saying that Linkedin was planning to establish its offices in Pakistan and invest $10 million by the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013.
“While we are exploring some commercial opportunities in Pakistan, we currently have no plans to open a local office,” LinkedIn spokesperson Darain Faraz told The Express Tribune.


LinkedIn denies plans to enter Pakistan – The Express Tribune

Ok Now delete Your post Self edit As i delete Mine Issue Resolved

Or else i will think An Indian came here with his back bum burning On Flames only to ruin this good thread!!
 
Civil Wireless Network launched
LAHORE - Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Mujahid Sherdil on Saturday said that on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Civil Wireless Network System has been made functional at a cost of Rs 7 million in the PDMA building for coping with any kind of disaster and providing immediate relief to the affectees in the province.
Addressing inaugural ceremony of the Civil Wireless Network, Sherdil said that initially Civil Wireless Network System has been linked with seven districts including Multan, Muzaffargarh, DG Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Mianwali and Sialkot.
Furthermore, he said that the staff of Rescue 1122 has especially been selected for the provision of training in this wireless network system while other institutions will also play an important role in making this network a success. He said that this system will be supervised by the DCO and District Response Force at district level. He said that soon the scope of this system will be expanded to other districts. He was hopeful of positive results as an outcome of this new system.
 
Zong is the Most Progressive Telecom Co'
ISLAMABAD: China Mobile Pakistan, the fastest growing network of Pakistan, has been awarded the Most Progressive Telecom Company for the year 2012 by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).

CMPak started its operations in April 2008 and in a short span of time, it has become the most progressive player in the market. This aggressive stance is reflected in the rapidly increasing subscriber base and the revenue achievements.

Zong CEO Fan Yun Jun said, “We are thankful to RCCI for acknowledging our efforts in Pakistan. When we started our operations in the country, we were very confident that we will not only be able to grow our business operations here but will also be able to provide many opportunities to the nation. It is our honor that our friends appreciate our humble efforts and we ensure them that Zong will always continue to work for mutual progress and growth.”
 
IT revolution inhibited due to 20th century mindset
KARACHI - With globalization uncoiling at supersonic speeds when compared to a couple of decades ago, new technologies are being programmed everyday that enable communication and information sharing within seconds with aid of software’s and APPs.
However the cohort aged 40 and above who commands the economic and political decisions in the country, prefer working with old technologies and are reluctant to adopt new trends, said Farrukh Nizami, an IT expert while addressing a seminar on Cisco Certified Network Association (CCNA) held at Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), on Sunday. He pointed out that Internetworking has grown rapidly during the last few decades with major objective of connecting several related networks jointly so that each user could share the same packet of information with multiple others in real time. He said that Internetworking involves connecting networks which use different protocols and how different nodes in a network are connected to each other and how they communicate. He said that “there is no scarcity of jobs in the market for networking/IT professionals, however adequately skilled candidates are not available in the market”. He said that Cisco Networking Academy is a global education programme which teaches students how to design, build, troubleshoot, and secure computer networks for increased access to career and economic opportunities in communities around the world. He said that Networking Academy provides online courses, interactive tools, and hands-on learning activities to help individuals prepare for ICT while and networking career is a requirement now days virtually in every type of industry.

IT revolution inhibited due to 20th century mindset | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia
 
Pakistani Professor wins ISESCO Science and Technology Prize 2012

ISLAMABAD: The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ISESCO has decided to award "ISESCO Prize in Science and Technology 2012" to Pakistani academician, Prof. Dr Tasawar Hayat.

This award is being awarded in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of mathematics.

His name has also been included in the list of "ISESCO Science and Technology Laureates".

The ISESCO prize would be consisted of an award of US $ 5,000 and a certificate on which major contributions of the prize winner are mentioned.

The prize would be presented at a special ceremony during the 6th Session of the Islamic Conference of ministers of higher education and scientific research scheduled to be held on 20-21st November 2012 in Khartoum, Sudan.

To encourage innovative talent and to reward distinctive works for the solution of scientific and technological problems of socio-economic importance, the Islamic educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -ISESCO- awards, every two years, prizes to Muslim scientists and technologists from its member states who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

ISESCO Prizes are awarded in Basic Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics) for outstanding research contributions in these fields, and in technology for important innovations.

Prof. Dr Tasawar Hayat who is HEC Distinguished National Professor at the Department of Mathematics, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad termed this honour as an outcome of reforms and initiatives undertaken by HEC during last ten years in higher education sector of Pakistan which enabled the Pakistani academicians and scholars to win laurels for the country at international level, he added.

The senior management of Higher Education Commission Pakistan has congratulated Pakistani nation and Prof Dr. Tasawar Hayat on this great meritorious achievement.

The Head of ISESCO Center for Promotion of Scientific Research (ICPSR), Wafaa El Alami has also congratulated him over this important achievement.

The establishment of HEC has brought a number of revolutionary reforms in higher education sector of Pakistan which have been recognized throughout the globe.

Pakistani researchers have been facilitated in creating linkages with their counterparts in every leading university of academically advanced countries including US, UK, China, Germany, France, Australia, Korea, etc.

In addition, more than 5,000 Pakistani scholars have been facilitated to present their research work in leading conferences of the world.
 
Social media: ‘Smart phones will take Pakistan into a new era’
KARACHI:
So grateful was a man that Facebook enabled the Egyptian youth to mobilise at Tahrir Square on January 25 that he named his daughter after the popular social networking site. Telenor’s marketing director, Usman Javed, said that odd baby names are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the power of social media.
At the seminar on Tuesday, Javed discussed how Facebook has fundamentally altered not just the way we communicate, but behave as well. He then showed a clip which contained a plethora of interesting statistics about social media, including the fact that if all of Facebook’s users were to comprise a country, it would be the third most populous one on the planet. The clip also contained a quote by American columnist Erik Qualman, who said, “We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media – the question is how well we do it.”
Javed also discussed how social media has morphed the marketing industry and the way in which people promote their products. Some telecommunication companies have even started projects to provide internet access to underprivileged students in rural areas via mobile phones. “The quickest and easiest way to get someone to use the internet is through a smart phone.” Though Javed did not endorse any particular smart phone, he was optimistic that the gadgets would take Pakistan into a new era of social media usage.
The next person to take the stage was the chief of The Home Shopping Network, Shayaan Tahir. The site has become a popular stop for people looking to purchase the latest gadgets that come out of Silicon Valley and other hot spots for technology development. “I started the business out of my bedroom at a young age.” He now has three retail outlets throughout Pakistan and a staff of around 50 people. “I have benefited from social media a lot and I’m still learning from it every day.”
The flip side
But there is a dark side to social media as well. The head of CcureIT, Ateeq Khan, said, “There is too much information on the internet which can fall into anyone’s hands.” Hackers can not only steal your identity, but deceive you online. “The more technology grows, so do the risks.”
Khan spoke about ‘robot networks’ (BOTNETS) which have become a serious threat to users of social media. “If you think that installing anti-viruses and malware agents is going to save you, you’re wrong.” He added that unless people become aware of the threats, they will provide a safe haven to hackers and identity thieves. “I don’t believe in online privacy at all any more.”

Social media:
 
Technology brings benefits, harm: minister
KARACHI: Technology does not bring only benefits, it can also cause harm to society, said Sindh Information Technology Minister Muhammad Raza Haroon while addressing the concluding ceremony of the Fourth International Council for the Life Sciences (ICLS) - Dr AQ Khan Institute of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (KIBGE) conference on Science, Technology & Engineering: Innovative, Yet Responsible!” held at KIBGE, University of Karachi (KU) on Thursday. KU Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Qaiser presided over the ceremony.

The conference focused on engineering and various key issues concerning safety, security, ethical considerations and effective commercialisation of engineering. Haroon said that he was delighted to see so many young researchers taking keen interest in ethics and code of conduct of various disciplines of science. He also appreciated the efforts of ICLS and KIBGE in making the science, technology and engineering rather safer for the mankind and society. He praised the anchored role of KIBGE in collaboration with ICLS, to train the young scientists. He wished and hoped ICLS and KIBGE to do more events of this series in collaboration in future.

Farhan Anwar, an urban planning and management consultant discussed the planning context for making Karachi a more sustainable city. He shared his broad scale research on climate change with reference to the mega city. He informed audience that the climate change was occurred significantly in urban areas and mega cities.

Dr Naeem-Uz-Zafar from IBA reviewed the renewable energy options for Pakistan. He compared the conventional energy with the renewable sources in Pakistan perspective.

Prof Ali Raza Jafferi and Prof M A Haleem, Chairpersons of Biomedical Engineering Departments, NED University of Engineering and Technology and Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology respectively, underscored the importance of Bio-Medical Engineering as how to make it safe and secure for the progress and benefit of mankind.
 
PTCL launches first Wi-Fi enabled USB
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Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) has introduced Pakistan’s First Wi-Fi enabled USB ‘3G EVO Wingle’ that connects multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously at hyper speeds of up to 9.3 Mbps, says a Press release.

PTCL 3G EVO Wingle is a perfect work and travel companion providing a powerful Wi-Fi experience on the go, connecting 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices to PTCL’s revolutionary 3G EVO Wireless Broadband. The tremendous ease and comfort of 3G EVO Wingle with its state of the art Wi-Fi capability and fast internet browsing brings an unparalleled experience for PTCL customers.

“3G EVO Wingle will revolutionize the way people connect and surf on the go”, said Senior Executive Vice President (SEVP) Commercial, Naveed Saeed. “Being the largest telecommunication company in Pakistan PTCL has always been the trendsetter for other companies”.
3G EVO Wingle launch comes with a special bundle offer of 3 months unlimited internet and free Wingle device for just Rs 7,500. PTCL also offers customers the flexibility to opt for various post and prepaid packages based on their needs and requirement and access to broadband internet anywhere anytime.
“We are constantly bringing products that provide maximum utility to our customers” said Executive Vice President (EVP) Wireless, Omer Khalid. “PTCL has specially taken this initiative so that our valued customers can work play and surf on the go”.

PTCL 3G EVO Wingle provide customers seamless roaming experience at speeds up to 9.3 Mbps in over 200 cities, with auto switch over to 3.1 Mbps speeds in over 250 cities. The devices come with secure password protection to ensure optimal connection security.
 
The Youth Republic brings laurels to Pakistan

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The Youth Republic (TYR), Global Youth Network, which is an innovative platform founded by Hina Hazrat from Chitral, Pakistan has successfully made Pakistan's way to WITSA's 18th World Congress on IT, in Montreal, Canada.
TYR has been selected as runner-up of the World Summit Youth Award 2012 from over 1,224 submissions from 122 UN member states which entered into the global contest.
TYR team includes, Zar Nigar from Morkhun, Naureen Bhamany, Abiha Zehra and Fakhar Bokhari from Karachi, Hussain Roomi from Gojal, Muhammad Innamuddin and Mujeeb Saboor from Chitral. The Youth Republic is having network spread in many countries of the world. TYR provides youth with a platform to stay united, let voices be heard and amplified, enable youth share opportunities, strengthen inter-cultural dialogues, stay pluralistic, spread love for cultures, traditions and religions all over the world, respect diversity, support multi-lingualism, work for a better tomorrow and an inclusive future by developing global partnership, hence paving a way towards achieving the mission of a better tomorrow and impacting 100 percent of the world altogether.
An international jury consisting of 21 young multimedia, IT-experts and social entrepreneurs from 15 countries and all continents, selected the very best entries in each of the six WSYA categories and the Youth Republic from Pakistan has earned UN wide recognition.
The official public celebration of the winners and runners-up will be at the WSYA Winners' Event which will be held for the first time in the framework of WITSA's 18th World Congress on Information Technology, in Montréal, Canada.
Congratulations Pakistan!
 
Microsoft launches Windows 8 in Pakistan

Microsoft recently announced the availability of Windows 8 for its customers in Pakistan and around the world. The new operating system will be available for download to upgrade existing PCs in over 140 markets and 37 languages and at retail outlets, including Pakistan.
“With the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft is unveiling a reimagined Windows to the world,” said Windows Business Group Lead, Microsoft North Africa, East Mediterranean and Pakistan Sherif Morsi, in a press release issued on Monday.
“Whether you want a tablet or a PC, whether you want to consume or create, whether you want to work or play – Windows 8 delivers a personalised experience that fits your unique style and needs,” Morsi added.
Over 250,000 PCs are available at more than 1,000 retail stores throughout Pakistan, including Hyperstar, Metro, E4U, Makro and Compsi.
According to the release, Windows 8 will be available in two versions, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. Meanwhile, business customers can avail the Enterprise edition of Microsoft’s latest operating system which offers new possibilities in mobile productivity with features like Windows To Go, DirectAccess, and BranchCache, as well as enhanced end-to-end security with features including BitLocker and AppLocker.
Simultaneously, Microsoft has also launched a new member of the Windows family designed for ARM-based tablets, called Windows RT, which will be available pre-installed on new devices.
A few salient features mentioned in the release were: A new fast and fluid Start screen that gives user one-click access to apps and content they care most about, an entirely new version of the Internet Explorer (10) that has been designed around touch, and built-in cloud capabilities which link up with SkyDrive.
Consumers can also enjoy a wide range of apps on Windows Store, which stocks more than 1,000 apps for Windows 8 certified PCs and tablets.
 
Ebad lays foundation for AK IT Project


KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Saturday laid the foundation stone for Arfa Karim IT Project being executed under the Sindh Information Technology Department here and also launched e-Policing project for the province of Sindh.

The ceremony was held here at Governor House where provincial Information Technology Minister, Raza Haroon, Additional IG Falak Khursheed and Dr. Naushad Shaikh, Secretary IT Department Saleh Farooqi were present besides police officials.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ebad said by launching the facility of e-Policing, the province of Sindh has outperformed other federating units.

"The project of e-Policing will not only facilitate people towards lodging of First Information Report (FIR) online but it will also help maintain a computerized record of the accused and detainees besides that of e-Driving License," he said.

The Governor continued that CCTV cameras would also be installed in various markets and industrial areas under the project which will help put a curb on terrorist activities.

On the occasion, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad also laid the foundation stone for Arfa Karim IT Project in Education City.

He ordered the concerned authorities to carry out work on the IT Project on a priority basis.

Born in 1995, Arfa Karim got the honor of being World’s Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional when she was only 9 years old in 2004. Bill Gates, the Chairman of Microsoft, invited Arfa to visit the Microsoft Headquarters in the USA in the age of 10 only.

Later, in August 2005, Arfa was also honored by the Pakistan Government for the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology which she received from then Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

She was also honored with Salaam Pakistan Youth Award in 2005 which has been set up by Pakistan’s only Nobel laureate Dr Abdul Salam. Moreover, Arfa has won the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance.

Arfa Karim, Pakistan's one of the brightest brains, lost her life at a young age of 16 after suffering an epileptic seizure and cardiac arrest.

Ebad lays foundation for AK IT Project - thenews.com.pk
 
PITB launches data centre, cloud computing services
LAHORE: The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has launched its data centre and cloud computing services, according to a statement on Saturday.

The launching ceremony was held at the Arfa Software Technology Park, it said. This marks the establishment of the government’s first public cloud by PITB.

The PITB cloud will offer all required services of a Tier-III (International Standard) compliant data centre to host applications and services of public and private sectors at the Arfa Software Technology Park Data Centre, it said. During the event a detailed description was given to the participants regarding the technological features, services, and benefits of the cloud computing services.

The cloud computing services project, which is named “Cloud for everyone”, offers public and private sectors four diverse packages VPS hosting, hosted exchange, sharepoint hosting and website hosting, according to the statement.

These services have the capability to cater to hosting and IT needs of well-established businesses, as well as start-ups at an affordable price range.
PITB launches data centre, cloud computing services - thenews.com.pk
 
It was doing Telecommunications Engineering from Pakistan- it was my second semester- I saw a khatara dented smashed corolla 99 with a green board behind it saying- Chairman of PTA- i myself was in corolla 2002- i thought wth- Maybe dady was right in trying to force Electrical Engineer on me-

I Just Remembered it while reading the title PTA- :lol:-
 
Bucking trends, Teradata invests in Pakistan
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KARACHI: Pakistan was not on the radar of global technology companies back in the day when they rushed into India in search of affordable and competent human resources.
But Teradata was an exception. An American company, which provides analytic data solutions like integrated data warehousing, big data analytics and business applications, Teradata invested heavily in Pakistan despite reluctance from within the company, according to Chief Technology Officer Stephen A Brobst.
“I was one of the people pushing for (investing in Pakistan). Everybody was running to India, which is bigger and certainly more advanced technologically. But Pakistanis are more agile with technology compared to Indians,” he told a select group of journalists on Monday.
The first client of Teradata in Pakistan was the government itself. It helped the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) build a repository of data for all citizens, which is now being used for multiple purposes.
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With a staff of over 500 people in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, Teradata now maintains a “significant presence” in Pakistan, says Brobst.
“Almost all the telecom companies, major banks and beverage companies are our clients. If you think of a company, which has lots of customers and lots of data, it is probably a Teradata client,” he said, while refusing to share actual revenues the company generates from Pakistan every year.
Teradata’s revenues from its global operations in 42 countries were $2.3 billion in 2011. The company’s website says the number of its implementations worldwide is in excess of 2,600.
“The number of Teradata implementations in Pakistan is in tens, not hundreds. We target only the largest banks, telecoms, airlines, etc,” he says.
But have Teradata’s revenues from Pakistan been tapering off because profits of both telecoms and banks are no more increasing as rapidly as they were a few years ago?
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“Don’t confuse their revenue growth with our revenue growth. When the times get tough, they need analytics even more,” Brobst observes, adding the years following the global financial crisis, which wreaked havoc on big banks, were Teradata’s best growth years as far as its clients from financial services are concerned.
“When everything is going well, nobody has to do anything different. It’s when the times are tough, they need to get smarter. And to get smarter, you need data. So tough times are generally good for our business,” he adds.
Brobst says businesses that are highly competitive in nature – such as telecommunications and banking in Pakistan’s case – generate revenues of analytics companies like Teradata.
“I have friends in Pakistan who have three SIM cards and they rotate them within a single handset. It’s not something done in most economies. That’s extreme competition, and that’s very good for us,” he says.
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Teradata also manages its Afghanistan and Bangladesh operations from Pakistan. “We are focusing on growing Bangladesh now. Sri Lanka is a potential next step. We’re doing some business in Afghanistan already, but it’s not nearly as mature as Pakistan,” he says.
Brobst is one of the 12 Americans appointed to Barack Obama’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology, which is tasked with giving recommendations on where and how the government should make investments to improve the quality of life for American citizens.
Citing his experience of serving on the council, he says the use of data to improve the quality of healthcare is insufficient in both Pakistan and the United States. “Healthcare costs are increasing faster than GDP, and having sophisticated data is the only way to have higher quality healthcare at a low cost,” he says.

Bucking trends, Teradata invests in Pakistan – The Express Tribune
 
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