As the opening day of the new fiscal year 2024–25, Monday, July 1, 2024, shall be marked as a bank holiday and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) would not be open for business. Therefore, during the bank holiday, all banks, development finance institutions (DFIs), and microfinance banks (MFBs) would be closed to the public. In this regard, a circular from the central bank is anticipated today. All bank, DFI, and MFB staff would, nevertheless, report to work as usual.
Author: Iqra Khan
Large Language Models (LLMs) based in Urdu, Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Machine Learning (ML)F are just a few of the cutting-edge technologies that PTCL Group (PTCL & Ufone 4G), Pakistan’s largest provider of ICT and telecommunication services, has partnered with STech.ai to integrate into its customer services system. By offering richer consumer sentiment analysis and insightful data, the platform seeks to improve quality management systems and propel PTCL’s entire customer experience strategy. The strategic project demonstrates the PTCL Group’s dedication to providing exceptional customer service. At PTCL Group, the importance of the customer experience drives…
Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima said that the current government is working to advance information and communications technology (ICT) in the nation because its development is essential to advancement. She was speaking at the Swedish tech businesses at the Ministry of IT & Telecom’s Roundtable on IT and Digitalization on Thursday. Henrik Persson, the Swedish ambassador to Pakistan, was in attendance, as were representatives of several Swedish businesses, including Ericsson, Need Insights, LCC/Talkpool, Quixel, Saab, and Mahaana Wealth Ltd. According to Shaza Fatima, the Ministry of IT & Telecom is trying to realize the vision of…
Today marks the inauguration of Innovate47, a new initiative that will enable Pakistani business owners to address climate change.The goal of the three-month virtual program is to provide participants with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to design and implement environmentally beneficial projects. Orbit Startups’ Managing General Partner William Bao Bean emphasized the significance of sustainable economic transformation: Pakistan’s economy is undergoing a technological revolution. In order to protect the environment even while the economy grows, it is imperative that we implement this shift in a sustainable manner. The CEO of Invest2Innovate (i2i), Sarah Munir, stressed the importance of…
The government of Sindh has declared its intention to apply a sales tax of 3% to educational establishments that charge yearly tuition rates above Rs 500,000.Moreover, a three percent tax will be levied on doctors who bill more than Rs3,000 and private hospitals that charge Rs25,000 per day for private rooms. This was declared by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah during the provincial assembly meeting on Thursday. The plan, which was part of the 2024–25 Sindh budget, is awaiting approval from the provincial legislature. As of July 1, the Sindh Revenue Board is expected to begin collecting taxes.Finance Minister…
Despite their disappointing first-round exit in the T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s cricket team continues to enjoy a positive financial outlook. Each player stands to earn Rs1,674,336 in match fees, along with a daily allowance exceeding Rs550,000. Additionally, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will distribute approximately Rs70 million among the 15 players and their management, amounting to over Rs4.3 million per individual. Furthermore, the players will receive an extra Rs17.5 million in total for their two match victories, equating to about Rs1.1 million per player. These financial gains stem from successful negotiations for the 2023-24 central contracts, where players secured a…
Renowned Pakistani actress and TV host Nida Yasir responded to criticism regarding her Hajj photos and videos by praying for her critics’ enlightenment. Following their recent performance of Hajj, Nida Yasir and her husband Yasir Nawaz shared their journey on social media through photos and videos, which sparked controversy among some social media commentators. In addressing the backlash, Yasir expressed a hope “May Almighty Allah show the right path to the critics of our photos.” She emphasized the importance of learning from such experiences during the pilgrimage. Yasir Nawaz echoed her sentiments, stating they were unperturbed by the criticism. “We…
The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa faces the likelihood of rain affecting the match. Scheduled for Saturday in Barbados, rain is forecasted throughout the day until 6 PM local time. A reserve day has been allocated for Sunday due to the expected weather conditions, though rain is also predicted between 11 AM and 5 PM on that day. The match’s official duration spans from 10:30 AM to 1:40 PM, with provisions allowing play to extend until 4:50 PM, totaling an additional 190 minutes over both days. Despite these measures, if weather disrupts both scheduled…
The Inter Provincial Netball Championship concluded with Punjab and Sindh teams clinching the men’s and women’s titles at the Liaquat Gymnasium of Pakistan Sports Complex. Punjab defended their men’s title with a 20-15 victory over Sindh in the final, while Sindh’s women’s team secured their title with a 20-10 win against Punjab. The closing ceremony was graced by Shoail Baqai, Director of The Cloud Service, as the chief guest, alongside Pakistan Netball Federation Patron Captain (R) Zafar, Chairman Mudassir Arain, President Samin Malik, and Secretary General Riyaz Ahmed. The championship featured seven teams from across Pakistan, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber…
Kishmala Talat, a trailblazing young athlete from Pakistan, is gearing up to make history at the upcoming Paris Olympics. At just 21 years old, she’s set to become the first woman from Pakistan to compete in Olympic shooting events, aiming to clinch a medal in the 10m air pistol and 25m pistol disciplines. Talat’s journey is not just about personal achievement but also about challenging societal norms and stereotypes prevalent in Pakistan. Despite modesty codes and cultural barriers that often discourage women from pursuing sports, Talat has broken through as a role model for aspiring female athletes in her country.…
