The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) are at odds over blocking SIM cards for half a million non-tax filers in Pakistan. PTA has opposed blocking SIM cards, claiming that it is not compatible with their system. A large number of SIMs are used by women and children registered under men’s names, PTA states. In Pakistan, only 27% of SIMs are registered under women’s names, the telecom authority adds. Legally, PTA is not obliged to block SIMs and the Income Tax Ordinance 2021 does not apply to PTA. Blocking a large number of SIMs will significa ..read more

Vivo V30 Lite is launching in multiple Asian markets but under a new name called the Y100 4G. Since the new Y100 4G is a rebrand, it features the same specifications and design as the V30 Lite, including the Snapdragon 685 chipset. The Y100 4G is similar in design to several other vivo models. However, while most related models feature a 5G-capable Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset and an 8MP ultrawide secondary camera alongside a 50MP primary camera, the Y100 4G maintains the 50MP main camera but pairs it with a simpler 2MP secondary camera. Vivo has outfitted this phone with a 6.67-inch AMOLED dis ..read more

New AI models that seek to challenge the dominance of OpenAI’s renowned GPT 4 large language model (LLM) seem to spring up every now and then and the latest one comes from a Chinese firm called SenseTime. The company has unveiled its latest AI model called SenseNova 5.0 which claims to beat GPT 4’s performance in benchmarks. Of course, real-life performance and benchmark results are two different things, but for what it is worth, SenseNova 5.0’s test results show that it can surpass OpenAI’s flagship AI in logical reasoning, creative writing, and more. It is also able to understand and generat ..read more

On Friday, the federal government resolved to take legal action against any telecom operator or other entities that obstruct the deactivation of mobile phone SIMs belonging to over half a million people who have not filed taxes. This resolution came about during a visit by Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to the headquarters of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The Attorney General of Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, also attended the meeting. Government representatives reported that the FBR had informed the finance minister about plans to deactivate the mobile phone SIMs of 506,671 ..read more

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has categorically denied recommending a complete ban on the popular social media platform, X. Earlier reports had suggested that the PTA, along with law enforcement agencies, had recommended a complete ban on X due to its failure to comply with Pakistani laws. However, a spokesperson for the PTA has now clarified that no such recommendation has been made. The spokesperson said: The news circulating about PTA recommending a complete ban on X is baseless and untrue. We have not initiated any discussion with the Ministry of Interior or any other ins ..read more

Chinese tech giant Huawei has somehow managed to launch a brand-new MateBook X Pro laptop powered by an Intel chip despite US sanctions that limit its access to American hardware and technology. Undoubtedly, this has sent a flurry of heated reactions in the US. This is because Huawei has been under America’s trade blacklist since 2019. Huawei’s latest step has rekindled intense discussions about international trade policies and concerns over national security. As a result of Huawei’s new MateBook X Pro launch, U.S. legislators, especially those from the Republican party, have quickly and stro ..read more

Systems Limited, Pakistan’s premier provider of IT and IT IT-enabled services, had the distinct honor of hosting the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, His Excellency Mr. Donald A. Blome. Mr. Asif Peer, CEO of Systems Limited, along with Mr. Aezaz Hussain, Founder and Chairman of the Board, warmly welcomed U.S. Ambassador Blome, U.S. Consul General in Lahore – Kristin Hawkins, Political Economic Officer Douglas Johnston, and Commercial Specialist – Hassan Raza, providing them with insights into the ongoing U.S.-Pakistan collaborations in the IT sector and future plans of Systems Limited. Since its i ..read more

The federal government has set up the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to deal with cybercrime in the country. The NCCIA will exercise jurisdiction under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act, 2016 and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will cease to perform functions as a designated investigation agency under the Act. Under the ordinance, all personnel, cases, inquiries, investigations, assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, privileges, and matters related thereto or connected therewith subsisting immediately before the com ..read more

Google, the US tech giant, has announced new education initiatives that will see the establishment of 50 smart schools in Pakistan’s federal capital, Islamabad. In collaboration with its local partner, Tech Valley, the Google for Education team recently met with the Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to discuss upcoming plans for Pakistan’s education sector. According to reports from the state news agency, these 50 smart schools in Islamabad will be equipped with 30,000 Google for Education IDs. These IDs will feature AI-powered practice sets and a range o ..read more

Zong 4G, Pakistan’s top telecom operator, has joined hands with D3 Communications to eliminate the digital divide in Pakistan and empower the public through high-speed internet connectivity. D3 Communications stands at the forefront of the industry as a premier supplier of IT infrastructure and network deployment services, specializing in comprehensive support and implementation of voice, data, video, and wireless solutions. This joint effort will ensure the provision of dependable, high-speed, and secure internet connectivity throughout Pakistan, thereby fostering limitless opportunities for ..read more