Pakistan Telecom and IT updates

[ghazi52]

Etisalat’s $263m settlement offer rejected​

UAE telecom giant offered only one-third of outstanding proceeds of PTCL privatisation

Shahbaz Rana
December 21, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday turned down an offer from Etisalat for the settlement of a privatisation dispute with payment of $263 million, which was only one-third of the outstanding dues, and asked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) company to double the amount.

The offer made by UAE’s telecom giant Etisalat is even lower than the price it was willing to pay six years ago. A delegation of Etisalat met Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for the second time in two months to find a solution to the 17-year-old privatisation dispute.

The company owes $800 million in privatisation proceeds of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). However, no Pakistani government has taken the buyer to the international court of arbitration.

“Both sides agreed to proceed with the resolution of all outstanding issues between Etisalat and the Privatisation Commission in a spirit of goodwill,” said the Ministry of Finance. But it did not share terms of the offer.

 

[Luosifen]

Pakistan clinches 2nd position in Huawei ICT Competition 2022​

By Mian Abrar | Gwadar Pro Dec 22, 2022

Huawei ICT Competition 2022 Middle East Awarding Ceremony
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 23 (Gwadar Pro)- Pakistan clinched second position in the Huawei Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Competition 2022 held in Muscat, Oman on Thursday.
According to the statistics, 12,000 students from 135 universities attempted the nationwide test in which two teams comprising six students qualified for the Middle East Regional Finals.
Pakistan Team One including Team Lead Faeez and Asad Anwar Arain from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Jamshoro and Maryam Fareed from Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) under the Team Instructor Faheem Yar Khan Khuhawar secured the second position in the Middle East contest.
While Pakistan Team Two consisting of Team Lead Umar Raza from FAST National University, Eman Yaqoob from LCWU and Fatima Shafique from MUET, Jamshoro under the Team Instructor Zeeshan Iqbal could not bag any position in the finals.
The instructors told that the students had high spirits as they burnt midnight oil to prove their mettle at the international competition and add one more feather to the national repute.
Expressing gratitude to Huawei Pakistan, Team Lead Faeez said he had no idea that he would be given such a massive platform to demonstrate his abilities and further necessary training to polish his skills in the ICT sector.
It is worth mentioning here that the Jordan Team comprising students Hamzah Al-Zubaidi and Aws Al-Rayya from Princess Sumaya University for Technology and Yazan Al Shannik from Yarmouk University won the first prize of $20,000.
Besides Pakistan, Iraq Team One comprising Sadeem Moulood from Ninevah University, Mohammed Shakr from Salahaddin University and Mohammed Hussein from the University of Anbar got the second position.
The third prize went to the United Arab Emirates Team comprising Eyasu Araya and Smon Ftwi from Higher Colleges of Technology and Meriem Aoudia from the University of Sharjah, the Bahrain Team comprising Dana Kamal, Husain Hasan and Joud Ebrahim from Bahrain Polytechnic, and the Kazakhstan Team comprising Nikolay Zhilaykov from Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications, Aida Begaldarova from al-Farabi Kazakh National University, and Algerim Turarbekova from International Information Technology University.
In addition, there were 15 teams of the brightest young tech talents from 11 countries across the Middle East and Central Asia including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordon, Lebanon and Kazakhstan.
The top winners will represent the Middle East and Central Asia in the Huawei Global Finals Competition that will take place in Shanghai, China next year.

Pakistan clinches 2nd position in Huawei ICT Competition 2022

Huawei ICT Competition 2022 Middle East Awarding Ceremony ISLAMABAD, Dec. 23 (Gwadar Pro)- Pakista

gwadarpro.pk

 

[ghazi52]

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It has been reported that the Government of Pakistan plans to introduce two-year IT Programs in universities across the country. These programs will aim to provide students with the technical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the rapidly growing field of information technology.

The move is seen as an effort to boost the country's economy and help bridge the gap between the demand for IT professionals and the supply of qualified workers.

It is also expected that this will help in providing the industry with a pool of trained professionals who can help in the growth of IT sector in the country. However, the details on the implementation of this program and its impact still needs to be seen.

 

[Ali_Baba]

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It has been reported that the Government of Pakistan plans to introduce two-year IT Programs in universities across the country. These programs will aim to provide students with the technical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the rapidly growing field of information technology.

The move is seen as an effort to boost the country's economy and help bridge the gap between the demand for IT professionals and the supply of qualified workers.

It is also expected that this will help in providing the industry with a pool of trained professionals who can help in the growth of IT sector in the country. However, the details on the implementation of this program and its impact still needs to be seen.

Most international companies that outsource overseas - do review degree qualifications and univesities of the countries they are relocating to - there are minimum standards they set to their recruiters - and they insist on the 3 year minimum in a STEM based discipline. A 2 year MSc on top a "proper" BSc is fine - but the pretence that 2 year Bsc Pakistani courses can complete with IT/Technology degrees in the 3-5year band is "absurd" and shows a fundamental lack of knowledge of what constitutes a knowledge industry.

 

[ghazi52]

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Mobile phone industry to get boost under CPEC:​

January 25, 2023

Development Board (EDB) and Pakistan Mobile Phone Manufacturing Association (PMPMA).

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Industry and Production, Makhdoom Murtaza Mahmud on Tuesday said that the mobile phone manufacturing industry would flourish more under the second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He said that the country was passing through a hard time, but it was everyone’s responsibility, including politicians, the private sector and stakeholders to work together, adding that mobile manufacturing was a new industry, therefore, they were facing difficulties.

He was addressing a summit titled “Mobile Device Manufacturing” organised by the Engineering Development Board (EDB) and Pakistan Mobile Phone Manufacturing Association (PMPMA).
Mahmud said that by improving the mobile industry, the country’s needs could be fulfilled from domestic production.

He said that the devaluation of the rupee had reduced labour costs and added that the export could be increased by enhancing mobile manufacturing.

He said that Pakistan will come out of these situations in the short term, but “we have to make a long-term policy”.

Meanwhile, Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Production highlighted that in 2020, a policy was launched to increase the production and half the journey had been completed while half was left.

 

[ghazi52]

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https://twitter.com/x/status/1621419239344062464

 

[ghazi52]

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For security purposes, the Pakistan telecommunication authority (PTA) Has taken the initiative of ‘multiple-fingers’ biometric verification.

It will discourage the use of illegal SIM sales.

The number of cellular subscribers in Pakistan decreased by 0.61 million to 194.14 million by end-September compared to 194.75 million by end-August 2022.

 

[ghazi52]

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UNLOCKING THE MAGIC OF CHATGPT IN THE CLASSROOM​

Even as OpenAI’s power chatbot prompts fears of cheating on assignments and running teachers out of business..

BY NAJAM SOHARWARDI |
FEBRUARY 07, 2023

KARACHI: A softly lit classroom brims over with the palpable energy of hope. The 20-some-year-old teachers, such as Bilal Rashid and Dua Fatima, who teach chemistry and physics respectively, sat in disbelief watching a ChatGPT demonstration unfold before them at a teachers training session I conducted at Off The School (OTS), a Karachi-based nonprofit institute and an online platform making formal and technical education accessible to all.

As the advanced language model generates customised lesson plans, age-appropriate answers, educational games, and a variety of question papers on the projector screen, a mix of shock and uncertainty crosses their faces. “ChatGPT could increase teaching efficiency and provide education to out-of-school children,” I told them, and their expressions softened into smiles.

Unlocking the magic of ChatGPT in the classroom | The Express Tribune

Even as OpenAI’s power chatbot prompts fears of cheating on assignments and running teachers out of business

tribune.com.pk

 

[ghazi52]

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Google's much-anticipated AI chatbot, Bard, recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The self-proclaimed arch-rival of AI Chatbot ChatGPT caused a significant loss in market capitalization for Google's parent company, Alphabet, when it provided an incorrect answer in its advertisement.

As reported by Reuters, shares of Alphabet plummeted 8% or $8.59 per share, totaling a loss of over $100 billion in market value. The error in Google's ad, which was launched on Monday, centered around which satellite first captured images of a planet outside of the Earth's solar system. This led to analysts expressing concerns about the AI search event and the lack of detail on how it would address the competition from Microsoft's ChatGPT.

 

[ghazi52]

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A Saudi telecom company TAWAL has started operations in Pakistan with a telecom infrastructure acquired from a Pakistani operator.

TAWAL had announced acquisition of TAWAL Telecom, a telecom company in Pakistan, as part of its international expansion drive in February, 2022.

A delegation led by Emmanuel Leonard, chief international officer of TAWAL called on Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque in his office on Wednesday to give a vote of thanks. The minister congratulated the company and appreciated its ambitions for the telecom sector in Pakistan and assured his full support and co-operation.

“We hope that TAWAL would play an active role in providing avenues for foreign investment and job opportunities through present expansion of network and for future networks like 5G and IBS [in-building solutions],” he said.

Haque applauded the company over its determination to expand the network across Pakistan with a special emphasis on reaching out to unserved and unconnected masses in far-flung areas in the country.

 

[ghazi52]

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Saudi prince formally launches $100mn tech house in Pakistan​

BR

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Fahad bin Mansour Alsaud formally launched the $100-million Saudi-Pakistan Tech House (SPTH) in Pakistan on Monday, with the aim to create over 1,000 jobs at a total project value of $100 million in the IT sector over the next five years, according to a statement.

The SPTH launch event was organised by the Saudi embassy in Islamabad with high-ranking officials, including Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), prominent CEOs from the IT sector and other dignitaries attending the event.

 

[ghazi52]

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China’s Sunwalk Group to invest $2bn in Pakistan’s optical fiber network: Federal Minister Syed Amin-ul Haque​

• Sunwalk has already invested about $5m in installing Optical Fiber Cable in Pakistan

BR
March 14, 2023

Sunwalk Group, a Chinese telecom infrastructure company, plans to invest $2 billion in Pakistan’s telecom sector for the deployment of an optical fiber network, encompassing an area of 100,000km.

“Sunwalk has obtained the license to be a telecom infrastructure provider (TIP) in Pakistan. The company will lay 100,000km of fibre cable in Pakistan with an investment of $2 billion,” said Federal Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Amin-ul Haque, during a meeting with a delegation led by the Chairman of Sunwalk Group, Hou Xingwang, on Tuesday.

During the meeting, there was a detailed discussion regarding investment opportunities and the telecom infrastructure sector in Pakistan, read a statement released by the Ministry of IT and Telecom.

It was learnt that Sunwalk has already invested about $5 million in installing Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) in Pakistan.

In the first phase, 5,000km of OFC is being laid to connect different cities of the country.

Chairman Hou said that the company enjoys long-standing relations with Pakistan and provides services to various sectors.

During the meeting, the Sunwalk delegation shared that there are difficulties in laying optical cables along railway lines, highways and motorways.

Amin-ul Haque briefed the delegation that consultation with the Ministry of Railways and Highways Authority is ongoing regarding the right of way to lay OFC. He assured the delegation that all obstacles in this regard will be removed soon.

The meeting was attended by Member Telecom Muhammad Omar Malik, DG Wireless Jahanzeb Rahim while the Sunwalk delegation comprises; Lou Vice President of Sunwalk Group, Tony Li (Assistant to Chairman), Chen Dianbo (COO of Sunwalk Pakistan) and Afshaan Malik (CBO of Sunwalk Pakistan).

 

[ghazi52]

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IT exports to Africa to hit $1b in two years: experts​

Urge govt to attract African IT companies through incentives

Usman Hanif
June 01, 2023

KARACHI: Pakistan’s IT industry has the potential to achieve $1 billion in exports to Africa within a couple of years, according to experts. Muhammad Zohaib Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), highlighted this opportunity during the launch event of GITEX Africa 2023 in Morocco.

Africa, with a population of 1.3 billion people spread across 54 countries, boasts a nominal GDP of $2,260 per capita and a purchasing power parity GDP of $6,370 per capita. Khan emphasised the significance of establishing strong connections with African governments and the private sector to tap into this immense potential. “This is huge, and Pakistan can achieve $1 billion in IT exports to Africa alone within a short span of 2 years,” he said.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Si Global CEO and a member of the Pakistani delegation, Noman Ahmed echoed this sentiment, pointing out that Pakistan has over one million skilled IT professionals who can meet the demands of African businesses. Additionally, Pakistan’s lower cost of living compared to developed countries makes it an attractive outsourcing destination. The Pakistani government has also made substantial investments in the IT industry, including the creation of special economic zones for IT companies.

P@SHA, in collaboration with the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MoITT), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and Tech Destination Pakistan, has organised a delegation of Pakistan’s top IT companies to participate in GITEX Africa. The event serves as a platform for showcasing the achievements and opportunities of Pakistani IT firms and fostering valuable relationships within the global tech ecosystem spanning 80 countries.

The P@SHA chairman emphasised the importance of GITEX Africa in connecting Pakistan’s entrepreneurial and innovation economy with the African continent, which is rich in resources vital for Pakistan’s digital economy mission. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his optimism in the IT industry’s potential to stabilise the country’s economy by addressing the trade deficit and attracting foreign exchange.

Ahmed highlighted the rapidly growing African economy and the increasing demand for IT services in the region. To achieve $1 billion in IT exports to Africa, Pakistan needs to enhance its visibility and promote its IT industry through trade missions, exhibitions, and marketing initiatives, he said. Additionally, attracting African IT companies to set up operations in Pakistan can be achieved through incentives such as tax breaks and access to skilled labour. Developing partnerships with African businesses and providing IT services through joint ventures and outsourcing arrangements are also key strategies.

As the digital economy continues to flourish in Africa, IT companies in Pakistan are poised to benefit from the expanding opportunities. With the increasing number of IT companies in Pakistan, businesses now have more options to choose from, fuelling further growth in the industry, he said.

 

[Jango]

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IT exports to Africa to hit $1b in two years: experts​

Urge govt to attract African IT companies through incentives

Usman Hanif
June 01, 2023

KARACHI: Pakistan’s IT industry has the potential to achieve $1 billion in exports to Africa within a couple of years, according to experts. Muhammad Zohaib Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), highlighted this opportunity during the launch event of GITEX Africa 2023 in Morocco.

Africa, with a population of 1.3 billion people spread across 54 countries, boasts a nominal GDP of $2,260 per capita and a purchasing power parity GDP of $6,370 per capita. Khan emphasised the significance of establishing strong connections with African governments and the private sector to tap into this immense potential. “This is huge, and Pakistan can achieve $1 billion in IT exports to Africa alone within a short span of 2 years,” he said.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Si Global CEO and a member of the Pakistani delegation, Noman Ahmed echoed this sentiment, pointing out that Pakistan has over one million skilled IT professionals who can meet the demands of African businesses. Additionally, Pakistan’s lower cost of living compared to developed countries makes it an attractive outsourcing destination. The Pakistani government has also made substantial investments in the IT industry, including the creation of special economic zones for IT companies.

P@SHA, in collaboration with the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MoITT), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and Tech Destination Pakistan, has organised a delegation of Pakistan’s top IT companies to participate in GITEX Africa. The event serves as a platform for showcasing the achievements and opportunities of Pakistani IT firms and fostering valuable relationships within the global tech ecosystem spanning 80 countries.

The P@SHA chairman emphasised the importance of GITEX Africa in connecting Pakistan’s entrepreneurial and innovation economy with the African continent, which is rich in resources vital for Pakistan’s digital economy mission. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his optimism in the IT industry’s potential to stabilise the country’s economy by addressing the trade deficit and attracting foreign exchange.

Ahmed highlighted the rapidly growing African economy and the increasing demand for IT services in the region. To achieve $1 billion in IT exports to Africa, Pakistan needs to enhance its visibility and promote its IT industry through trade missions, exhibitions, and marketing initiatives, he said. Additionally, attracting African IT companies to set up operations in Pakistan can be achieved through incentives such as tax breaks and access to skilled labour. Developing partnerships with African businesses and providing IT services through joint ventures and outsourcing arrangements are also key strategies.

As the digital economy continues to flourish in Africa, IT companies in Pakistan are poised to benefit from the expanding opportunities. With the increasing number of IT companies in Pakistan, businesses now have more options to choose from, fuelling further growth in the industry, he said.

The headline does not have any relation to what the PASHA chairman actually said.

Anyways, we have to focus all our efforts on Africa and South America. Razzaq Dawood had the right idea, but it could not be implemented due to various reasons.

Agri equipment, chingchi, motorcycles, buses (Hino, Daewoo, local), trucks, and much more can be exported to African countries, the potential there is immense.

 

[ghazi52]

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Telecom Sector generated Rs 378 billion in revenues in July-Dec FY 2023​

By Tahir Ali
Jun 16, 2023

ISLAMABAD- As the telecom sector remained a significant source of revenue generation for the country, the sector contributed Rs 378 billion (provisional) to the national exchequer in the form of general sales tax, withholding tax, regulatory fees, initial and annual license fees, and other taxes during July to December FY2023, according to Pakistan Economic Survey (PES) 2022-23.

According to PES, the telecom sector drew over $ 6.3 billion in investments in Pakistan during 2018 to 2022. Telecom investments reported by telecom operators in FY2022 reached a significant amount of $ 2,073 million due to spectrum acquisition and network expansion, however, it remained low at $ 422.0 million (provisional) during the first two quarters of FY2023.

China Mobiles’ Zong 4G (CMPAK) is one of the main players in Pakistan’s telecom sector with its quality services and a growing number of subscribers, contributing revenue to the national exchequer. At the end of March 2023, the total telecom subscriptions (mobile and fixed) in the country were 197 million with total teledensity of 83.2 percent, according to PES 2022-23.

Zong 4G, which is the pioneer of 4G services in Pakistan, currently holds 24.07% of the total market shares. During the first ten months of FY 2022-23, the market share of Zong 4G has increased from 22.71% to 24.07%, according to statistics available on the official website of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). As per PTA’s statistics, by April 2023, Zong 4G has 44.19 million subscribers in the four provinces of Pakistan and 1.5 million subscribers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB).

As 5G is a transformative technology, allowing communities to avail socio-economic benefits of an advanced and data-intensive digital economy, PTA and Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) and MoITT, are synergizing for the successful launch of 5G in Pakistan.

FAB has already identified the available spectrum in the maximum bandwidth. Zong 4G has successfully conducted trials in Pakistan and has become the first and only operator to officially test the 5G services in the country.

Zong with 5G services will bring more profound and long-term changes to Pakistan’s economic transformation, social progress, and people’s livelihood improvement in the future. It is also expected that 5G will have an impact on health care, agriculture, and education.