Author: Mawadat Fatima

Islamabad, Nov 21: The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has expressed concerns that the government’s decision to ban Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) could severely harm the country’s IT industry. In an interview with P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed described the move as a “death blow,” forecasting a loss of $1 billion within the first year alone. He warned that this ban would cripple the industry’s operations, making it extremely difficult for businesses to function, which would have long-term negative effects on its viability. While the government justifies the VPN ban citing national security issues and terrorist activities, Syed acknowledged the…

Islamabad, Nov 21: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will provide $1 billion in climate financing to Pakistan after the first economic review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) loan program in March 2025, subject to meeting key targets. If approved, this financing will make the current loan program the largest in Pakistan’s history. However, recent discussions with the IMF mission showed limited progress on climate-related funding, according to sources. The IMF has agreed to Pakistan’s proposal to allocate 1% of GDP annually to climate change initiatives, including disaster management and early warning systems under the National Adaptation Plan. The release…

Islamabad, Nov 21: The federal government will launch the Cambridge Education System in four government model schools and colleges in Islamabad, starting in April 2024. Led by the Ministry of Education, the initiative aims to provide top-tier education at no cost to students enrolled in these institutions. Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui called the move a milestone for improving education standards. Secretary of Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani announced that teacher training for the program will begin within the next 10 days and that Grade 6 students will be eligible for enrollment. Wani added that the program will expand to additional…

Islamabad, Nov 21: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced that 35,000 laptops will be distributed to outstanding students under the Chief Minister Laptop and Honhar Scholarship Program, with the distribution set to complete within 90 days. According to 24NewsHD TV channel, the initiative aims to provide Core i7, 13th-generation laptops to top students, including 2,000 from minority groups. The laptops will be awarded to matriculation and FSC position holders, 20,000 university students, 14,000 college students, 4,000 students from the industry and agriculture sectors, and 2,000 medical and dental students. Moreover, 32% of the recipients will be from South…

Islamabad, Nov 21: The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) has announced the recipients of its first round of funding, awarding over $1 million to DEMO Pakistan for its efforts to bridge the gender digital divide. DEMO Pakistan aims to empower 10,000 female university students in remote and underserved regions by providing digital entrepreneurial training, promoting financial independence, and closing the digital gap for women. The gender digital divide continues to disproportionately affect women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 244 million more men than women used the internet globally last…

Islamabad, Nov 21: Banks Achieve 44% Gross ADR as They Race to Avoid Additional Govt Taxes The Banking Sector’s Gross Advance to Deposit Ratio (ADR) increased to 44% as of October 25, 2024, up from 39% on September 27, 2024. According to Topline Securities, gross advances grew by 11%, reaching Rs. 13.4 trillion, while deposits declined by 1% to Rs. 30.5 trillion during this period. This rise is significant as the government has imposed an additional tax on banks failing to achieve a 50% ADR threshold by December 2024. Currently, the sector’s ADR stands at 44%. Few Banks Exceeding the…

Islamabad, Nov 21: Norwegian authorities have introduced a plan to allow cities to implement “visitor contributions,” or tourist taxes, to manage the increasing number of visitors. According to Schengen.News, the proposal aims to fund public infrastructure and services that face higher demand due to tourism. The measure is currently under consultation, with no final decision yet. Cecilie Myrseth, Norway’s Minister for Business, highlighted the long-standing calls from tourist-heavy municipalities for such a tax. She believes this initiative will benefit both locals and visitors by alleviating the strain on public resources, especially during peak seasons. Myrseth explained, “Even a small contribution…

Islamabad, Nov 21: The November 19 edition of WWE NXT brought intense matches and pivotal developments, setting the tone for the highly anticipated Deadline event on December 7. From Iron Survivor Challenge qualifiers to a decisive No. 1 Contender’s match, the night reshaped the NXT landscape. Frazer Secures Spot in Iron Survivor Challenge Nathan Frazer defeated Eddy Thorpe in an Iron Survivor Qualifying Match, showcasing his agility and quick thinking amidst chaos at ringside. Frazer sealed his spot at Deadline with an impressive Phoenix Splash, adding a new layer of excitement as one-half of the NXT Tag Team Champions. Vaquer…

Islamabad, Nov 21: A concerning scam targeting Microsoft users has emerged, exploiting a vulnerability in the Microsoft 365 Admin Portal to send fraudulent emails from what appears to be a legitimate Microsoft.com address. These deceptive emails bypass spam filters, land directly in primary inboxes, and use tactics of fear and urgency to demand payments, typically in Bitcoin. The scammers use a strategy called sextortion, claiming to possess compromising images or videos of the recipient. They threaten to expose this content unless the ransom is paid. Some emails include personal details, such as birthdays, to enhance their credibility, though these details…

Islamabad, Nov 21: OpenAI has introduced Advanced Voice Mode for web browsers, allowing users to interact with ChatGPT through voice commands. Kevin Weil, the company’s Chief Product Officer, shared the update on X. Initially, the feature is exclusive to paid subscribers of Plus, Enterprise, Teams, or Edu plans, but it will soon become available to free-tier users. This development follows the September release of Advanced Voice Mode on iOS and Android devices. Harnessing the power of GPT-4’s audio capabilities, this feature enables fluid, real-time conversations with ChatGPT. It can recognize non-verbal cues such as speech pace and respond with a…