Petition seeking permanent ban on Facebook filed

News Paper: Business Reorder

LAHORE (July 27 2010): A petition has been filed before the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking permanent ban on Facebook, a social networking website, in Pakistan pointing out introduction of another anti-Islam competition by the website. The website had already faced an interim ban in country for holding a blasphemous caricature competition.

The petition was filed by Chairman Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) Muhammad Azhar Siddique stating that the website "Facebook" has again announced a contest named "Everybody Burn-Quran Day" and also displayed blasphemous pictures of Khana-e-Kaaba. In view of the facts submitted above, it is respectfully prayed to block/ban Facebook permanently in Pakistan. He also prayed that the authorities in Pakistan be directed to this effect that no material with respect to blasphemy of any religion be published, displayed, visualised or aired in country.

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Foreign entrepreneur keen to invest in IT sector

News Paper: Business Reorder

ISLAMABAD (July 26 2010): Foreign entrepreneur of computer sector has assured the Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) for making huge foreign investment in the computer and Information Technology sector in view of huge potential of computer industry in Pakistan.

During a meeting between Philip Lau, General Manager for Asian Emerging Countries, HP International and the PCA here on Sunday, GM of Philip Lau had shown willingness to invest in computer sector. He said that the computer and Information Technology sector has tremendous potential to grow and it has shown remarkably performance despite the challenging law & order situation.

The delegation led by Munawar Iqbal, Central President of PCA comprised senior members of the association, including Abdul Rehman Tahir and JamalYouaf.

While talking to the delegation of the PCA, foreign investor said that Philip Lau Pakistan is rapidly emerging in Computer and IT sector. Hence, it offers unbound opportunities for international investment. He said that HP International has always considered Pakistan as an important country to initiate new ventures and its focusing on Pakistani market and would soon bring substantial investment in the sector. He said that with growing literacy rate in the country, computer and IT sector is expected to expand further more briskly.

Lau said that the role of universities in Pakistan, besides the efforts of computer industry is commendable for the growth of this vital sector of the economy. He assured the delegation that HP would develop a strong network in Pakistan aiming at maximum benefit to end users and cultivate effective business mechanism with local industry, especially, to resolve vendors' related issues amicably. Zahid Farooq Zahid, PSG country Manager and Arshad Arain, Partner Business Manager were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, Munawar Iqbal presented a detailed outlook of computer and IT industry in Pakistan. He said a better devilry system and expanded network of international companies would enhance the overall productivity and performance of the sector. He apprised Lau about the role of PCA as a vibrant platform of the computer vendor's community across Pakistan. Lau lauded the efforts of PCA and assured the delegation that his company would make resolution of all issues pertaining to computer industry on priority basis.

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Dell organises road-shows for notebook lovers

News Paper: Business Recorder

KARACHI (July 21 2010): Dell, a global leader in computers, notebooks and net-books technology, Tuesday held road shows in Karachi and Lahore for notebook lovers in these cities. Dell's innovative products, Inspiron 3010, 4010 and 5010 were showcased along-with Dell Studio high-end notebooks at fantastic prices along with enticing promotions on purchase. Drawing large crowds, this exciting activity also featured, through lucky draw, gift hampers for participants as well as bumper prizes including a Dell notebook.

Through these consumer interactions, Dell aims to encourage notebook enthusiasts to gain more insight into cutting-edge products. The aspiring customers now have the freedom to confidently choose the best-suited information-technology tools for themselves.

Being an innovative brand, Dell has always tried to engage Pakistani consumers through innovative, exciting and fun filled activities, thus introducing them to the latest, most reliable technologies. Marketing Head for CSMB at Dell, Nubla Iftikhar was also present at the road-shows
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Government urged to encourage branding process

News Paper: Business Recorder

ISLAMABAD (July 20 2010): To revive industry in Pakistan, government should encourage branding process in Pakistan. Ibrahim Qureshi, the president of Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) Lahore Chapter said this while speaking at the meeting of PCA, which was aimed at evaluation of post-budget business activities in Pakistan.

Qureshi said that the IT and computer sector of Pakistan has immense potential however, the governments, both federal and provincials need to encourage local computer brands in Pakistan.

He said that the role of governments in every country is primarily to protect the interests of its people. However, he said, it's an irony that the decision-making at official levels in Pakistan does not reflect this approach. He said that instead of encouraging local industry, multinational companies have been given undue advantages on the cost of local manufacturers.

He urged the government to facilitate and encourage branding in Pakistan, as it would attract considerable foreign and local investment as well as creation of new job opportunities and overall economic uplift of the country
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Pakistan top on porn search: Google denies

ISLAMABAD: Google officially denied the accuracy of its search trends that declared Pakistan as the top nation searching for illicit material on the internet, according to Dawn sources.

Internet Service Provider Association of Pakistan has also declared statistics regarding pornography in Pakistan as flawed.

Referring to the news about illicit search trends in Pakistan, Google’s public affairs head of South-East Asia said that the statistics were based on limited data therefore they cannot be regarded as final opinion.

There are eight million users of internet in Pakistan which makes only five per cent of the country's total population.

-www.dawn.com

wi-tribe offers summer packages

KARACHI (July 17 2010): wi-tribe, country's most reliable wireless broadband internet service, has launched a series of tempting summer packages for all customers, both new and existing. In addition, wi-tribe's 'Upsize GB' offer lets all internet users spend more time online doing what they enjoy most, whether it's chatting with friends or downloading from their favourite sites.

That's because for just Rs 99, customers can increase their monthly volume by an additional 5 GB. Talking about the new offering, wi-tribe Pakistan's Director of Marketing, Ali Fahd said, "We wanted to offer something useful and relevant, but at the same time special, to our customers. Demonstrating the level of commitment we have towards all our customers, we think this new offer will really enrich everyone's multimedia experience." For more information on wi-tribe's 'Upsize GBs' campaign or the new summer packages, please visit www.wi-tribe.pk/upsize
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Government urged to open more IT universities

LAHORE (July 15 2010): Chairman NetSol Technologies Limited, Salim Ghauri has urged the government to open more Information Technology (IT) universities in the country. In a statement issued on Wednesday, he said there was a time when medicine and engineering were considered only viable options for students pursuing higher education.

However, degrees in business, IT, media and arts were now are in vogue, as students pursue jobs that pay well. Attractive and lucrative packages in these disciplines, particularly in IT industry due to widening dollar-rupee parity, were alluring great number of youngsters and there was a need to establish IT universities in the country.

Ghauri also appreciated the role of Higher Education Commission (HEC) in catering the different choices in education pursued by students within the last decade and said a change in education policy has played vital role, as the HEC extended licences to 84 universities throughout the country since 2000, with an emphasis on developing disciplines that were not explored before. He said this shift in national policy has helped in development of new industries since late 1990s.

He further said the number of institutions catering to higher education, especially in information technology and business had increased from 18 to 78 in 1998 since steps were taken to improve higher education system. He also appreciated the government for encouraging students for international scholarship programmes, leading to a sea change in IT industry of Pakistan.

Since 2000, he said, around 16 universities were set up in Karachi, Out of which two are not operational and four are being run by the government while the rest are being run privately. He said it was a matter of great satisfaction that most of them cater to students who wish to pursue degrees in IT, commerce, business studies and fine arts.
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Subscriber base of WiMax, EvDO shows 73 percent growth

ISLAMABAD (July 14 2010): The subscriber base of WiMax and EvDO services of WLL sector has shown 73 percent growth in last 6 months while the subscriber base has jumped from 190,947 in October 2009 to 331,416 in April 2010 according to the data compiled by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The PTA is fully supporting the telecom industry and making efforts in all possible ways to help operators.

PTA is supportive of mergers and acquisitions, and has been approving such requests on case to case basis. The Infrastructure sharing between the operators, pursuing cases with the Government to standardise procedures for obtaining NOCs from various federal/provincial government departments for deployment of infrastructure and to reduce taxes on telecom services are some of the areas where PTA has supported operators.
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Bridging digital divide: Microsoft starts computer literacy programme RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI (June 17 2010): To bridge the digital divide in Pakistan, Microsoft has started computer literacy programmes to equip the people with technology skills, said Marketing Lead, Microsoft, Shoaib Khalil. Briefing media on Wednesday at a local hotel, he said, Microsoft had initiated a larger programme to train the locals in Gilgit-Baltistan. "Some 700 students have been imparted the computer literacy so far," he added.

He said Microsoft would further widen the computer literacy scale in the northern areas of Pakistan this year. He said Microsoft was also working in Punjab, Sindh and other provinces of the country for improving the computer literacy rate.

Microsoft is also providing training to the local private sector and working close with academia under the same objective. Shoaib also informed the media men about the upcoming products of Microsoft, which soon would appear on the global markets. Technology Consultant, Microsoft Pakistan, Jibran Jamshed highlighted the growing significance of technology in the businesses and other sectors in the modern day environment.

He said Microsoft had a range of products in all categories to meet the soaring demands of all sectors. He also highlighted the significant features of Windows 7 with the help of a video presentation, saying the operating system was easier to use. Microsoft- mouse mischief, he said, was another prime feature of Windows 7, which helped school kids learn and express their opinions. Later, Shoaib told the reporters about the Microsoft's initiative to also help the orphan children of the society learn computer education. A presentation video about the Microsoft's initiative was also shown
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First Pakistani elected IMSUG member

ISLAMABAD (June 28 2010): First Pakistani citizen has been elected as the member of Management Committee of International Mail Service User Group (IMSUG). Fazle Sattar Khan, Director General Postal Services Ministry, will represent Pakistan as a member of IMSUG, said an official.

Jean-Marc Coeffic, Secretary of the IMSUG, Telematics Co-operative Secretariat has confirmed the composition of IMSUG management committee, consisting of Denmark, India, Pakistan and Togo.

"The election was conducted through postal ballot in which a number of countries, including Nigeria and Senegal, participated," he added. It is a great honour for Pakistan that Fazle Sattar Khan from Pakistan Post has been elected who will make efforts to take Telematics Co-operative's Mission to new heights, he concluded.
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Proximate Global launches face2face RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI (June 30 2010): Proximate Global Inc, on Tuesday officially launched a social networking application, which is named face2face. Founder and CEO of Proximate Global Inc, Hameed Khan said the social networking application, run on mobile phones like smartphone, iPhone, Android and J2ME, BlackBerry etc, was a proximity-based one.

Giving a presentation at the launching ceremony of face2face at a local hotel, he said the application also solved the rapidly growing problems of privacy and safety, which were plaguing current alternatives. He said until face2face, over-exposure had been an inevitable result of migrating social and business networks to the physical world.

He said face2face was a free application, which instantly enables users to consolidate their existing social networks Facebook, Linkedin, MySpace and Twitter. "Once these networks are brought into the face2face platform, users are made aware when friends are nearby, and can connect to them via instant messages, phone or text and, of course, meet face-to-face," he added.

Users can also view and comment on aggregated news feeds and can update their status across networks, he said. "Unlike other location applications, the user doesn't have to go through the hard arduous process of creating a new network. And unlike other apps, face2face does not reveal the user's precise location -or those of the user's friends; it respects and values privacy. Reciprocity is a core value of face2face; no one can see you, unless you can see them," Hameed pointed out.

With face2face, he said, users could make themselves available to some friends and not to others on an individual basis. He said a powerful cross-network 'friends of friends' feature allowed users to meet new people through trusted relationships, while ensuring the same benefits of "social selectivity."

He said with face2face users were automatically connected to their friends, and friends of friends in a controlled environment. "So you're always in charge, and at the same time, never far from someone to share a moment with," he adds. Hameed said the face2face application was built to work simply and elegantly with smartphones. The application has been developed by Proximate Global Inc, in Pakistan and the United States and will be launched globally, he said.

Provincial IT Minister, Raza Haroon assured the Proximate Global Inc, of all support for spread and growth in the province. He said the country had earned name globally through growth of telecom sector, and the government was ready to help the private sector. He hoped the Proximate Global Inc, would incorporate new ideas in the exiting application to facilitate the users.
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SAP launches eAcademy in Pakistan for executive level training RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI (July 09 2010): The world's leading provider of business software SAP has launched its eAcademy programme aimed at setting new standards in the executive level training programmes. The launching ceremony was held at a local hotel on Thursday with a signing of a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) by the four partners of SAP Pakistan - Abacus Consulting, VMS (Virtual Matrix Synergies), Siemens and SuperNova Solutions - as the official providers of eAcademy training in the country.

Welcoming the launch of eAcademy in Pakistan, the chief guest, Sindh Minister for Information Technology, Raza Haroon noted that the role of information technology was limited in the country. There is a dire need to have a national IT policy, which would definitely help in increasing the role of new technologies, he said.

Informing about the performance of Sindh IT Department, the minister said that despite limited resources the Sindh government had successfully completed e-Policing and e-Government besides automation of the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) and the Advocate General (AG) Sindh office. "We (IT Department) is trying its best to facilitate the foreign companies in coming to the country particularly in Sindh province for the promotion of IT", Haroon added.

Vice President, Field Services SAP South Asia, Mike Bramwell said that the SAP had its first customer from Pakistan in 2002 that helped in further extending business partnership. SAP's eAcademy was successfully operational in neighbouring countries like China and India.

Pakistan is a strategic market for the SAP and the launch of the eAcademy will prove to be the most effective in encouraging more and more people to obtain SAP certification and pursue an attractive career, Bramwell added. Director Field Services SAP Pakistan, Waqas Naved Siddiqi said that the SAP was very keen to promote skilled education and to ensure that people who were getting SAP certification could take advantage of the flexi schedule and avail the option of learning at their own pace with online high quality standardised training.

Whether the participant's area of interest is human resources, finance, sales & marketing, manufacturing or programming, SAP eAcademy offers courses to match each individual's career path. The courses are especially designed so that students can participate on their preferred schedule, he said.

At SAP eAcademy centres, the participants have access to upto 200 hours of e-Learning academy curricula. SAP's online learning solutions offer an efficient way to transfer knowledge. Each course provides interactive "snapshots" of business processes, along with simulations, exercises, pre and post evaluations. The participants can seek assistance through dedicated online support available via web-based chat, voiceover IP, Net Meetings, as well as global learner discussion boards, Siddiqui added.

With SAP certification, consultants are empowered to demonstrate superior expertise, giving an organisation a powerful competitive advantage. The certified professionals become part of a distinguished community of experts recognised globally and more than 140,000 consultants and users world-wide are part of this exclusive community, said the Director Field Services SAP Pakistan.

Taha Rizvi of the Abacus Consulting, one of the leading SAP partners, explained how it would facilitate SAP in offering eAcademy training in the country and provide participants with an opportunity to gain real-life understanding through local studies as value addition to the training programme.
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Government lauded for introducing IT in postal service RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE (July 09 2010): The NetSol Technologies Chairman Salim Ghauri has appreciated the government for introducing information technology (IT) in postal service. Ghauri, in a statement on Thursday said that only a vibrant plan of introducing latest information technology in postal service could bring this national organisation out of abyss of ignorance.

An organisation like Pakistan Post with 48,000 employees and more than 13,000 post offices besides an extensive network with such huge numbers of postal employees was a valuable strength of the organisation and no courier company could match the postal organisation with such a huge infrastructure.

He, however, lamented that a hesitation from within the organisations like Pakistan Post is a hurdle in bringing about radical changes in public sector. He urged the Pakistan Post should also effectively use the information technology and the quality software to facilitate its customers. He said timely automation of Pakistan Post would make it a vibrant and effective organisation, able to compete with private sector efficiency besides going for further innovation in its specific areas of activity.
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First Pakistani social website introduced

LAHORE (July 09 2010): Information technology engineers have successfully launched a social network website like Facebook and proved their talent. Yousaf Fayyaz, one of the engineers who developed the website named BuddyFlick.com told APP here on Thursday that they had introduced the website with a vision and aim to prove the world that Pakistani engineers were talented enough to run and maintain their own social network.

He said that running a social network was not an easy task as it required a lot of resources, adding the site would provide most of the features which were found on Facebook. He stated that he could not compare it with Facebook as owners of Facebook were more experienced and had more resources than anyone else in the social networking industry.

He said the Buddyflick.com was still in early stages of development but it offered the features like photos, videos sharing, chat rooms, wall posts, games, quizzes, fan pages, groups, events, photo tagging, custom profile designs, twitter integration and some more services.

BuddyFlick's creator said the site had been designed to provide a place where Muslims could spend time without the fear of being humiliated. He remarked the site was focused on helping people stay in touch with friends, discover new people, and things that were important to them, including he added anyone could connect with friends, family, school, social groups, activities and interests from this website.
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