December 2013

08 | EDITOR'S NOTE
Editorial

09 | READER'S RESPONSE
Letters to the Editor

INTERVIEWS
24 | Coca-Cola Pakistan spreads happiness & harmony 37 | Govt must introduce a common education system 53 | Tycoon Sawiris to invest in Egypt, fears economic collapse

TELEPEDIA
10 14 16 20 22 30 40 41 57 | | | | | | | | | Mobile phone silent, public cry Upaisa achieves Mobile Money Global Award 2013 Telenor Easypaisa downfall begins Is texting helping or hurting relationship? Warid becomes the most socially dedicated brand Huawei becomes world's 3rd largest smartphone vendor LG joins curved smartphone race with G Flex phablet Warid supports breast cancer awareness campaign Motorola aims at new markets with Moto G smartphone 26

COVER STORY
26 | Pakistan offers hospitable terrain for global investors

INSIGHT
12 13 17 18 32 36 38 42 46 52 56 | | | | | | | | | | | PSEB plans to expand IT industry to $ 10 billion Grey traffickers be brought to book: Anusha Wise Com uses unfair means as it involved in grey traffic PM Angueshes over negative role played by social media Shadi Online fever grips Pakistan Much delayed Cyber Crime Bill to finalise soon Pakistan lags behind Bhutan and Nepal in internet speeds Bill Gates eyes Norway's $800 billion fund Twitter IPO sparks speculation on who could follow E-cigarettes rising, but risks still unknown

EVENTS
21 33 34 41 44 45 49 50 | | | | | | | | Mobilink Foundation introduces education on wheels Zong arranges mini-marathon for healthy lifestyle Onduline participates in Build Asia Conference Warid supports breast cancer awareness campaign Ufone organises blood donation drive for noble cause Nokia investors voted for sale of handset business Glow sponsors Social Pagal drama Dubai wins bid to host 2020 world expo

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Glow sponsors Social Pagal drama

21

COMMERCE
29 | EU grants GSP Plus status to Pakistan

MOSAIC
60 | National Mosaic 76 | International Mosaic

NEWS
64 | National News 78 | International News

44 Ufone organises blood donation drive

Dubai wins bid to host 50 2020 world expo

TECH TOOLS
82 84 86 90 92 93 94 95 96 98 | | | | | | | | | | Mobile Rates Mobile Review Current Mobiles Upcoming Mobiles High Range Mobiles Low Range Mobiles Computers Laptops Accessories Gaming Zone 29

24 Coca-Cola Pakistan spreads happiness & harmony

43rd Tokyo Motor Show 77

Public wants Nawaz do more

Nawaz Sharif was sworn in to become not only the 27th Prime Minister of Pakistan but also the first ever politician to assume the office of the countrys chief executive for the third time. After assuming his office, Nawaz Sharif is giving top priority to overcome energy crises, security issues and bring foreign direct investment (FDI) to put Pakistan on a fast track to attain sustainable economic growth. No doubt, the efforts of Prime Minister of Pakistan are commendable but there are need to control price-hike, introduce free education system, free healthcare projects because common man is depressed and wants some relief from the government. The soaring prices of commodities have not only upset consumers but also hit the market. The rise in prices of fuels, gas, electricity and other commodities have affected the household budget which common man hit hard. The rise in prices of all the commodities, including petrol, diesel, vegetables, fruits, gold and silver, have created a new record. In the last few months, petrol price has been increased many times. If one day petrol increases our hypertension, the next day vegetable prices worry us. Businessmen have blamed government for skyrocketing prices of commodities. Senior United Nations official has advised Pakistan that instead of striving to trade with Europe and the West the country should concentrate on trade within the region. Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan Marc-Andr Franche said trade with neighbours and sharing of experiences and innovations also help reduce the poverty. The UNDP chief was of the view that one of the major factors of poverty in Pakistan was inequality in access to social services especially health and education. He informed that Pakistan is spending even less than Congo as percentage of GDP on education and is also spending less than India and Bangladesh. He said other countries that fare well in UN Human Development Index achieved success by spending more on health and education human resource development effectiveness in governance transparency and accountability. He was of the veiw that Pakistan should divert resources from less productive sectors to increase funding for social sector. He hoped that the 18th Constitutional amendment devolution of power and resources to provinces and holding of local bodies elections would bring efficiency to the overall system.
Zubair Ahmed Kasuri A. Javaid Ismail Qureshi Usman Yaqoob Director Marketing Syed Farhat Ali Manager Marketing Zafar Khan Afridi Senior Graphic Designer M. Naeem Mughal Graphic Designer Azhar Javed General Manager Lahore Office 46J-Gulberg III, Lahore-Pakistan. Ph: +92-42-35555511 | 35880183 | 32112352 Fax: +92-42-35880183 Islamabad Office Phone: +92-51-3000012 | 2254548 Kasur Office Phone: +92-49-2723099 | 0608-600000 Karachi Office 14 Star Marketing & Production 32-1-C-1/6, Block 6 PECHS Main Shahrah-e-Faisal. Tel: 021 343117813 | 34228885 Registration No PCPB/105 (Vol. 10 Issue:4) Price Rs: 400 URL: www.flare.pk Email: flare.mag@gmail.com Colour Sepration: Fotoscan Process, 25-C Lower Mall, Lahore. Ph: 042-37111906, 37234042. Editor Assistant Editor Senior Sub-Editor

Editor s N ote

December 2013

Zubair Ahmed Kasuri, (Editor-in-Chief) publisher of FLARE leading telecom magazine, printed it from Qasim Naeem Art Press, Near Bank Road, Main Bund Road, Lahore and published from 46J, Gulberg III, Lahore.

wing to security concerns, mobile phones fell silent on 9th and 10th of Muharram across the country to thwart terror attacks as militants often use cell phones to detonate bombs. The cellular services suspended in 16 districts of Punjab on 9th and 10th of Muharram in Chakwal, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Jhang, Narowal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Layyah, Rahimyar Khan, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Multan, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot and Pakpattan. The federal government shutdown cellular phone services in major cities to protect gatherings and processions held in connection with Yaum-eAshur. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had sent the list of cities to mobile phone companies. According to sources, mobile phone service remained shut in Karachi, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sehwan, Nawabshah and Larkana for two days. In restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there was no mobile phone service in Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Hangu, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and parts of Peshawar.

Mobile phone silent, public cry

TELEPEDIA | Flare Report

Owing to security concerns, mobile phones fell silent on 9th and 10th of Muharram across the country to thwart terror attacks as militants often use cell phones to detonate bombs

Sindh and Balochistan wrote letters to the federal government, requested to close mobile phone services in Quetta and five cities of Sindh on Yaume-Ashur. Owing to security concerns, mobile phones fell silent on 9th and 10th of Muharram across the country to thwart terror attacks as militants often use cell phones to detonate bombs. The sources disclosed that the security agencies informed the Federal Interior Ministry that there was a potential threat that terrorists could target processions on Ashura processions. By profession, I am journalist and performed night duty, on that day, we observed fasting of Ashura and sleep near to dawn. On 9th Muharram, I was sleep and about 8.00 am, I received call that the Babar Naeem expired due to sudden cardiac arrest and his Nimaz-e-Janza will offer after Zohr prayer at Ghulam Muhammadabad Colony, Faisalabad, he was my fast cousin. We were on the way and unexpectedly the mobile phone service shutdown around 10.15 am in Lahore area and disable to contact each other. I received call of my cousin in Shahkot area, he said, my car faulty and there was no mechanic, I tried to fixed the problem you wait for us until solve the problem, I waited around one hour for them and contacted again, he said the car was repair and now we were moving towards Faisalabad after two hours they reaches Faisalabad but due to security purpose, mostly roads blocked by the police. We forget the road lead to his home and searching the home in the Faisalabad city and asked the people about the road lead to Peoples Colony. Angle disguise a man met there and helped us around 2.00
10

The suspension of mobile services created panic among the people and they were of the view that in the absence of cellular services, they would not be able to contact rescue 1122 or 15 in case of any emergency

pm. He said you must reach Ghulam Muhammadabad graveyard as the funeral would reach there. When we reached the graveyard and found some relatives wait outside the graveyard for funeral after very much struggle and efforts, we offered Nimaz-eJanza. This was the one incident of victim of cellular suspension, there were millions of people affected

already called licensing as life line for PML-N government. It is pertaining to mention here that on Eidul Azha there was no suspension of mobile phone service and not a single untoward incident happened. Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan ruled out the mobile phone services shut on Eid because it would cause difficulties for the masses. The interior minister had said that bomb attacks cannot be stopped by simply shutting down phone services. This was the first time PML-N govt took such measures since coming into power following the May 11 general elections.

the mobile service suspension. The government should find alternate to the security. The suspension of mobile services created panic among the people and they were of the view that in the absence of cellular services, they would not be able to contact rescue 1122 or 15 in case of any emergency. Pakistan is already face financial crunch and the shutdown may be reviewed by foreign investors very critically especially when cash starved government is extremely desperate for awarding 3G licenses to save its financial skin. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has

Mobile services had been shut down during Eid during the previous government as well. In recent years, former interior minister Rehman Malik had given the go ahead to shut services citing security concerns and fears that terrorists would use mobile phones while plotting to carry out attacks. n

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PSEB plans to expand IT industry to $10 billion

INSIGHT | Flare Report

Official sources said to achieve the task, Pakistan Software

Export Board (PSEB) has identified eight strategic areas with missions and annual targets

achieving US$ 3,774.285 million IT services exports in the next five years. In 2013-14 the IT services exports have been fixed at Rs 414.389 million, $ 530.418 million in 2014-15, $689.543 million in 2015-16, $ 910.197 million in 2016-17 and $ 1,229.738 million in 2017-18. A total of 17 private enterprises of the country have achieved the targets of exceeding one million US dollars in IT services exports, the data said. Pakistan's IT services exports were US$ 333.51 million with the growth rate of 21.07 percent in financial year 2012-13. In the financial year, 2011-12,

the country's exports grew by 16.35 percent, and remained US$ 273.814 million. The IT services growth were 14.93 percent, while total exports were US$ 235.334 million in the financial year 2010-11. Likewise, in 2009-10, the country's IT services exports were US$ 204.763 million, a growth of 1.41 percent. In 2008-09, the country's exports were US$

billion. The PSEB, an attached department of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, is also in process of reclassifying the revenue stream under Information Technology (IT) services to give a significant boost to IT exports.

akistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has proposed a four-year draft of strategic plan to help increase size of Information Technology (IT) industry to $10

They said the Pakistan Software Export Board has provided an export plan to Planning and Development Division for incorporation into Pakistan's overall export strategy and targets. The sources said in conjunction with stakeholders, the industry association, Planning Commission, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), industry and Ministry of IT, PSEB has developed a vision and strategic roadmap to fast-track the IT industry's growth. They said one of PSEB's major objectives is to enhance Pakistan's software export, and these targets are annually set for it by the Ministry of Information Technology. PSEB has consistently exceeded expectations for the last two years.

Official sources said to achieve the task, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has identified eight strategic areas with missions and annual targets. These include facilitation, human resource development, industry finance, marketing, office space provision, public policy, quality and telecom bandwidth provision.
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With regard to IT services exports, the sources said the country plans to increase them by 271 percent in the next five years. It said 25 percent growth ratio in IT services would be achieved in 2013-14, 28 percent growth in 2014-15, 30 percent in 201516, 32 percent in 2016-17, 35 percent in 2016-17 and 35 percent IT services growth targets have been set for the financial year 2017-18. As per data, the country has set the targets of

In 2013-14 the IT services exports have been fixed at Rs 414.389 million, $ 530.418 million in 2014-15, $689.543 million in 2015-16, $ 910.197 million in 2016-17 and $ 1,229.738 million in 2017-18

201.903 million-thus having a growth ratio of 19.46 percent. Over 100 countries are procuring IT services from Pakistan. The USA is getting 40 percent IT services from Pakistan while other major countries are United

Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK), Netherlands, China, Bahrain, Singapore, Canada, Germany, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Switzerland, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland and South Korea. n

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Flare Report

TELEPEDIA

hensive plan of action there would be a substantial decrease in the quantum of Grey Trafficking in coming weeks; it was also reiterated that all those culprits who are allegedly involved in the phenomenon, must be brought to book
rey Trafficking should be controlled at the earliest and those allegedly involved must be brought to book, said Ms. Anusha Rehman, State Minister for IT & Telecom while chairing a follow up meeting regarding monitoring of Grey Trafficking. Mr. Akhlaq A. Tarrar, Secretary IT, Mr. Azmat Ranjha, Additional Secretary IT, Dr. Ismail Shah, Acting Chairman PTA and representatives from law enforcement institutions were also present in the meeting to discuss the counter strategy regarding Grey Trafficking as well as the respective role of all stakeholders. The State Minister for IT, Ms. Anusha Rehman, being the chair of meeting, welcomed the participants. While lauding the performance of all concerned officials, the State Minister acknowledged the very fact that Grey Traffic had started to decrease considerably due to the onerous efforts of PTA and FIA under the umbrella of ministry but stressed on taking measures for its further control at the earliest since it was the need of the hour. During the meeting the participants were given a detailed briefing regarding the Grey Trafficking whereby it was endorsed by all that there was a dire need of checking this menace. It was mutually agreed and fully endorsed by all stakeholders that with the help of a comprehensive plan of action there would be a substantial decrease in the quantum of Grey Trafficking in coming four weeks. Moreover, it was also reiterated that all those culprits who are allegedly involved in the phenomenon, must be brought to book. It is worth mentioning here that the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications had issued a policy directive last year to establish the International Clearing House (ICH)

Grey traffickers be brought to book: Anusha

It was mutually agreed and fully endorsed by all stakeholders that with the help of a compre-

Exchange for international incoming calls for Long Distance International, Fixed-Line Local Loop, Wireless Local Loop and Mobile Operators: In furtherance to the Ministrys directive a committee was constituted by the Federal Investigation Agency to function in coordination with the PTA so that to curb nuisance of grey traffic.

and seizure of illegal exchange by the joint team of FIA and PTA was a result of the initiative taken by the IT Ministry, under the leadership of Ms. Anusha Rehman, the State Minister for IT.

Accordingly, in the month of May, this year, a separate committee constituted with the mandate of investigation and detections of illegal setups, planning of raid actions and follow-up of the cases, comprising of officers from both of the agencies i.e. the PTA and the FIA. The recent raid

Grey trafficking is a major issue for telecom operators as according to a rough estimate approximately 500 million minutes of illegal calls are made every month from Pakistan to abroad. Since the PTA has the mandate to stop grey trafficking, a vigilance cell of the Authority has already started working formally to monitor grey trafficking while law enforcement agencies are tasked with legal interception of calls

Grey trafficking is a major issue for telecom operators as according to a rough estimate approximately 500 million minutes of illegal calls are made every month from Pakistan to abroad. Since the PTA is mandated to stop grey trafficking, a vigilance cell of the Authority has already started working formally to monitor grey trafficking while law enforcement agencies are tasked with legal interception of calls. n

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akistan mobile banking industry has been recognised as impressive locally and globally. In the prestigious Mobile Money Award 2013, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Upaisa won the award for Best Bank-Led Mobile Money Programme. Upaisa is a joint initiative of Ufone and Ubank. Since its aggressive start from July this year, Upaisa, a joint venture of Ufone and U Microfinance Bank, has given impetus to branchless banking industry of the country with its innovative services and targeted unbanked areas as now it has been recognized globally with award for Best Money Mobile Development in Asia at the most prestigious Mobile Money Global Awards 2013 in Dubai, UAE. Mobile Money Global Awards 2013 is a renowned and glamorous platform for companies to showcase their achievements to industrys top 500 executives from the mobile money sector. The ceremony took place between 5th to 7th November as part of the Mobile Money & Digital Payments Global conference. The ceremony was held to recognize organizations that develop, establish and deploy mobile money programmes. The winning procedure of the awards was purely voting based.

Mobile Money Global Awards 2013 is a renowned and glamorous platform for companies to showcase their achievements to industrys top 500 executives from the mobile money sector

Upaisa achieves Mobile Money Global Awards 2013

TELEPEDIA | Flare Report

14

This award is a testimony of our robust operating model, especially the innovation which we brought in the mobile money programme. The aim was to provide convenience, simplicity and security to our customers combined with functionality and real time transactions for instant response which Upaisa has achieved successfully. We will continue to bring improvements in the mobile money sector in Pakistan by introducing new and innovative services for our users. said Salman Wassay, Chief Commercial Officer, Ufone. Etisalat the Parent company of Ufone and Ubank and Master Card also won the award for Best Mobile Money Deployment in the Middle East for the launch of Flous in Egypt. Upaisa, which was launched in Pakistan recently with the largest agent network of more than 10,000 agents across the country, has reached a record high of Rs6.4 billion worth of transactions. The facility is becoming increasingly popular in Pakistan as it allows the customer to conduct transactions wherever and whenever its required.

It is a quick and convenient method of transferring money for the unbanked population. HBL has been given the same award of Best Money Mobile Development in Asia for its branchless service of HBL Express at Mobile Money Global Award. Besides ACLEDA Bank of Cambodia, Indonesia telecommunication company, PT INDOSAT, and Infobip, a global provider of mobile solutions were also conferred the award under the same category. The Chief Commercial officer of Ufone, Salman Wassay, said, This award is a testimony of our robust operating model, especially the innovation which we brought in the mobile money

programme. The aim to provide convenience, simplicity and security to our customers combined with functionality and real time transactions for instant response which Upaisa has achieved successfully. We will continue to bring improvements in the mobile money sector in Pakistan by introducing new and innovative services for our users. Etisalat, the parent company of Ufone Pakistan and Ubank, and Master Card also won the award for Best Mobile Money Development in

the Middle East. This title was awarded for launching Flous in Egypt. Upaisa was launched few months back. It has the largest number of agents of about 10,000 across the country. Till now Rs 6.4 billion has been transacted through this service. This service is gaining popularity day-by-day and the main reason is the ease of transaction as it could be done anywhere anytime. It is the most quick and convenient method of money transfer especially for the people who do not have a bank account. n

We will continue to bring improvements in the mobile money sector in Pakistan by introducing new and innovative services for our users. said Salman Wassay, Chief Commercial Officer, Ufone

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asypaisa was launched jointly by Telenor Pakistan and Tameer Microfinance Bank in October 2009 but did not retain number one due to its marketing strategy, nonserious attitude with customers and retailers. Upaisa is another branchless banking system in Pakistan after Easypaisa, UBL Omni, Zong Timepey, Mobilink Mobicash and HBL Express. There is hard-hitting competition amongst these companies and only survive which provide good and cheap services otherwise it will collapse. Easypaisa, a joint venture of Telenor Pakistan and Tameer Bank could not win the award under the category of Best Bank-Led Mobile Money Programme due to its poor service and anti-country statement issued by its high management. Mostly customers are complaining that the payment did not receive in time and sometimes the system totally collapses. Mostly franchise of Easypaisa disable and force to clients send money through Easypaisa shop which is totally illegal and unauthorized to collect the money. Some months ago, Telenor Pakistan usually the preachers of breaking the silence against the social odds through its Khamoshi Ka Boycott slogans has backed down from its earlier stance and said that all the recent statements appearing in media citing the CEO of Telenor Pakistan are not true. A rather confused Telenor took U-Turn when Tore Johnsen, former CEO of Telenor Pakistan and currently the Senior Vice President, Telenor Group, was urgently sent Islamabad to disavow and disown aggressive statements by Lars Christian Luel, CEO, Telenor Pakistan.

TELEPEDIA

Flare Report

Telenor Easypaisa downfall begins

Telenor is facing agitation where retailers have stopped selling EasyLoad and EasyPaisa services owing to a sudden decrease in retailer commission on EasyLoad which has now been fixed by company at 2.8 percent

Tore Johnsen, along with a delegation from Telenor Pakistan met with Anusha Rehman, Minister for Telecom and IT and negated all the reports that appeared a day before in press citing Telenor Pakistan CEO. Furthermore, as per a statement issued by Ministry of IT and Telecom, Tore Johnsen appreciated the various steps for creation of business friendly environment taken so for by the new Government in Pakistan. It maybe recalled that Lars just couple of days ahead had said that Telenor might reconsider its decision of investing in Pakistan for 3G rollout due to tightening regulations and increased taxes. Lars had condemned Supreme Courts decision of imposing a limit of registering maximum of 5 SIMs on one CNIC and the ban on night packages. He had said that its easier to buy a gun in Pakistan than SIM cards. Telenor Pakistan CEO had threatened Pakistani government by saying that his group might not invest in Pakistan again due to unfavourable business conditions and increasing taxes. In another chapter, recently, erroneous routing of calls from a cellular company aimed at Rescue 1122 to the offices of Punjab Police Headquarters, Lahore, has not only been irritating the genuine emergency callers but also letting the officials to develop acquaintances with the female prank callers. Most of the callers were girls who dialled for gossip with the operators of Rescue 1122 from Telenor numbers. In another move, Telenor had lost its major corporate clients Lesco and many others recently due to overcharging and poor service. Lesco have changed its all existence Telenor mobile phones to
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Easypaisa, a joint venture of Telenor Pakistan and Tameer

Zong mobile phones. Sources in the PEPCO revealed that we are planning to switch over the all existence Telenor mobile phone numbers Zong mobile phone numbers. In this regard, paper work is in progressing and soon we finalise it. Telenor Pakistan is losing its major corporate clients gradually. What is the future of Telenor in Pakistan, it is time to think high management of Telenor otherwise it collapse in Pakistan like India. did not look more than a political commitment that Telenor Pakistan appears to had made with a political party, knowingly or unknowingly. The start of the TV commercial is a total dismay as few pessimist creators of the ad tried to cash the disturbance that prevails in our society. The ad starts with a guy (thumb) ready to commit suicide due to what? He had no job, no girl. And when he was about to jump an SMS from Telenor saves his life that simply states; you are not alonemillion of young people are standing by you for their rights. Right after this, Telenor asked young mobile subscribers of all the five operators to come forward, use your thumb and vote for the hope. This was an emotional statement that Norwegian company was using to play with the sentiments of frustrated young people. Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Senator Ishaq Dar had registered a complaint with Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against Telenor Pakistan for supporting a specific political party without naming it (it might be Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf). Telenor is facing agitation where retailers have stopped selling EasyLoad and EasyPaisa services owing to a sudden decrease in retailer commission on EasyLoad which has now been fixed by company at 2.8 percent from an earlier figure of 3%. Over all, Telenor has decreased its commission structure by 30% during past two years which was standing at 4% prior 2010. n

Bank could not win the award under the category of Best BankLed Mobile Money Programme due to its poor service and anticountry statement issued by its high management

Telenor uses new trend as what was wrong with Telenor Pakistan and why they were not keeping up with their standards being a Norwegian telecom company. The thought struck people minds after watching their new Djuice TV commercial which

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tocol addresses, 1,382 mobile SIMs and 3,160 phones/devices through their International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers

PTA in its continued efforts to curb grey traffic has blocked more than 200,000 Internet Pro-

Wise Com uses unfair means as it involved in grey traffic

T ELEPEDIA | Flare Report

akistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) jointly conducted a successful raid on the one of its Long Distance & International (LDI) operators, M/s. Wise Communication (Pvt.) Ltd in Rawalpindi. This activity was carried out after thorough investigation and analysing the traffic pattern terminated on various other operators by the said licensee. A clear irregularity was observed during the investigation which mainly consisted of adding local numbers instead of international numbers. As per initial estimates a total of 11 million minutes per month were being illegally brought into Pakistan by Wise Communication (Pvt) Ltd. In another two successful raids conducted in Karachi, PTA along with FIA confiscated nine (09) gateways. This important activity is part of PTA's commitment to curb the menace of grey traffic in the country. The government is incurring huge financial losses due to illegal landing of international calls into Pakistan also known as grey traffic. It is done through bypassing the legal routes for the international calls. According to PTA list of LDI operators, there are 14 companies as World Call Telecom Ltd, Redtone Telecommunications Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd, Link Direct International (Pvt.) Ltd, Callmate Telips Telecom (Pvt.) Ltd., TeleCard Ltd. DV Com Ltd, Wise Communication Systems (Pvt.) Ltd, Dancom Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd, Wi-Tribe Pakistan Ltd, Wateen Telecom (Pvt) Ltd, Telenor LDI Communications (Pvt.) Ltd, Circle Net Communications Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Multinet Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd and 4B Gentel International (Pvt) Ltd. On the other hand, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in its continued efforts to curb grey traffic has blocked more than 200,000 Internet Protocol addresses, 1,382 mobile SIMs and 3,160 phones/devices through their International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers. The grey monitoring system has been operational since early October 2013 and has the capability to automatically block those IPs which are not in the

PTAs whitelist. In this connection, a high level meeting was chaired by Chairman PTA to review the progress of grey traffic monitoring system. Furthermore, after the installation of Grey Traffic monitoring equipment, as per the directions of Grey Traffic Monitoring Committee, PTA has conducted an extensive audit of the whitelist IPs. Now whitelisting of IPs is being done after a very stringent check and a strict SOP has been made in this regard. As a result the IP whitelist has been rationalized and reduced from 51000 to 10,360.

As per initial estimates a total of 11 million minutes per month were being illegally brought into Pakistan by Wise Communication (Pvt) Ltd

In addition to this, PTA has launched a 24/7 complaint center. Complainants can lodge their complaints through email (complaint@pta.gov.pk), toll free phone (080055055), fax (051-2878127) and free sms (668) wherein they can report numbers in case any local number appears when receiving an international call. Through this facility 1944 complaints have been received till date. The numbers reported are not only blocked, but are also analyzed for legal action. In a recent case, grey traffic was detected by PTA and on further analysis it was established that a LDI (Long Distance and International) operator M/s Wise Communication (Pvt) Ltd. was involved in grey traffic. A joint raid was conducted by PTA and FIA and illegal terminating equipment was confiscated and culprits apprehended. Flare has appreciated the efforts of State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rehman to control the grey traffic across the country. Grey trafficking should be controlled at the earliest and those allegedly involved must be brought

to book, she said, while chairing a follow up meeting regarding monitoring of Grey Trafficking. Representatives from law enforcement institutions were also present in the meeting to discuss the counter strategy regarding grey trafficking as well as the respective role of all stakeholders. The State Minister acknowledged the very fact that grey traffic had started to decrease considerably due to the onerous efforts of PTA and FIA under the umbrella of ministry but stressed on taking measures for its further control at the earliest since it was the need of the hour. During the meeting the participants were given a detailed briefing regarding the Grey Trafficking whereby it was endorsed by all that there was a dire need of checking this menace. It was mutually agreed and fully endorsed by all stakeholders that with the help of a comprehensive plan of action there would be a substantial decrease in the quantum of Grey Trafficking in coming four weeks. Moreover, it was also reiterated that all those culprits who are allegedly involved in the phenomenon, must be brought to book. It is worth mentioning here that the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications had issued a policy directive last year to establish the International Clearing House (ICH) Exchange for international incoming calls for Long Distance International, Fixed-Line Local Loop, Wireless Local Loop and Mobile Operators: In furtherance to the Ministry's directive a committee was constituted by the Federal Investigation Agency to function in coordination with the PTA so that to curb nuisance of grey traffic. Grey trafficking is a major issue for telecom operators as according to a rough estimate approximately 500 million minutes of illegal calls are made every month from Pakistan to abroad. Since the PTA is mandated to stop grey trafficking, a vigilance cell of the Authority has already started working formally to monitor grey trafficking while law enforcement agencies are tasked with legal interception of calls. n
17

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rime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his dismay at failure of police to act against provocative and objectionable propaganda, which led to riots in Rawalpindi. Hate propaganda regarding sectarianism is totally unacceptable, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said while presiding over a high level law and order meeting in Islamabad. While taking note of the negative role played by the social media during the tragic incident, the Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to present draft Cyber Law within days. Stressing the need for greater unity among all segments of the society, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the country's future depends on internal unity and promoting the culture of harmony and co-existence. He urged all segments of the society to forge unity among their ranks to counter nefarious designs of the anti-social elements.

INSIGHT

Muhammad Imran
framed charges against four bloggers for making derogatory comments about Islam on social media. The four bloggers, who are now on bail, pleaded not guilty and demanded justice. If convicted in the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court, each of them will face 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk 1 crore, under the Information and Communications Technology Act, 2006. The cabinet, however, had approved the draft ICT (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, proposing that the maximum jail term for an offence covered by the law be increased to 14 years. The four are Subrata Adhikari Shuvo, 24, a masters student at Dhaka University; Russel Parvez, 36, a teacher at an English medium school; Mashiur Rahman Biplob, 42, a resident of the capitals Pallabi area, and Asif Mohiuddin, 28, an ex-student of a private university.

PM anguishes over negative role played by social media

their personal gains. This seems to be a perfect opportunity for anti-state elements to instigate the sectarianism and apparently they arent behind in achieving the goals. DCO Rawalpindi explicitly stated last evening that the facts presented on Facebook over the total number of killings in Rawalpindi are not correct. He further said that information updated on Facebook is not reliable and that anti-state elements are involved in promoting falsified information.

The Chief Minister appreciated Ulema and Mashaikh for playing their role in defusing tension which emerged after the Ashura incident. The Nawaz government and all seculars belong to any sects are trying to tackle present situation amicably and avoid further any untoward incident in the country. Rawlpindi's tragic incident on the occasion of Ashura a well-planned conspiracy against the country and we should united to expose the culprits involved in the killing of innocent people. The people of the country to demonstrate patience and tolerance in present situation as the government will make all-out efforts in all provinces for reconciliation. Although, electronic and print media have not highlighted the incidents and provided balance coverage but social media of the country did not feel the responsibility and upload clips and news of Ashura tragedy. To keeping in view, the government has decided the take action against the social media and will stern action to be found guilty and spread violence related news and clips. Government of Pakistan has directed Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to strictly deal with anyone propagating sectarian conflicts via mobile phones, Facebook, Twitter or any other online platform. Following the conflicts in Rawalpindi that left nine people dead and over 80 injured on Moharram 10th, government has now decided to take on the elements that are inciting sectarian differences by posting fake and fabricated information on Facebook and Twitter. It has become a norm in Pakistan that people propagate wrong information on social media for
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While taking note of the negative role played by the social media during the tragic incident, the Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to present draft Cyber Law within days
Shuvo, Parvez and Biplob were arrested on April 2, under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in different areas in the capital on suspicion of making derogatory comments about Islam. Police later filed a general diary against the trio for uploading contents insulting to Islam on social media platforms.

An official from MoIT confirmed that they are not only going to block provoking profiles online but will hunt down the people behind the propaganda. Anyone can report hate speech on Social Media by emailing the URL to complaints@pta.gov.pk. It maybe recalled that there is no cyber law in the country. Currently theres no way of prosecuting those involved in cyber crimes, however, FIA can nab the culprits by charging them under Pakistan Penal Code. It is remembered that a Dhaka court

Government of Pakistan has directed Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to strictly deal with anyone propagating sectarian conflicts via mobile phones, Facebook, Twitter or any other online platform

Asif was arrested on April 3 at an Uttara hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for fatal stab injuries he had sustained in an attack on January 14. The arrests coincided with a countrywide hate campaign by so-called groups who alleged that atheist bloggers were behind the Shahbagh movement that demanded death penalty to war criminals. There was fierce criticism on social networking sites, with many users observing that the government had made the arrests in fear of angry reactions from the Islamist groups. n

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exting has become such a normal way to communicate that its hard to imagine that we ever used our voices to tell our better halves, "Hey, I got the milk." But when it comes to a committed relationship, researchers say its better not to lean too heavily on the texts for the tough stuff. Stick to "I <3 U" rather than "I M sooo disappointed in you!!" Texting terms of endearment really seems to help. Affirmations like that are associated not just with a more stable and satisfying relationship, but with mitigating hurts and frustrations. But texting more isn't always better. Women who texted their partner a lot considered the relationship more stable, while men who received those texts or texted a lot themselves said they were less satisfied with the relationship. "That surprised us," says Lori Schade, a marriage and family therapist at Brigham Young University, who led the study. Sending more texts may be a sign of a failing relationship. That might sound counterintuitive, she says, but it may be a way for men to back out of the relationship, or at least stay out of the line of fire. "Maybe it was a way for then to check out or not have to show up, by using their cellphone instead." Schade and her colleagues surveyed 276 young adults. All were in committed relationships; more than half were either engaged or married. Almost all texted their partner multiple times a day. That didn't surprise Schade. She sees couples in therapy, and has gotten used to having one person whip out their phone to prove their partner's awfulness. "They'll come in and want to show me the hurtful messages." A lot of time those nasty texts are sent to get

Is texting helping or hurting relationship?

TELEPEDIA | Randy Dotinga

Sending more texts may be a sign of a failing relationship. That might sound counterintuitive, she says, but it may be a way for men to back out of the relationship, or at least stay out of the line of fire
quickly without a lot of thought. But there may be unintended consequences." Indeed, real life has a lot going for it when it comes to negotiating the intricacies of a long-term relationship. In texting, people "tend to keep responding," Schade says. "They have time to think about it and stew about it and then respond again. It's almost harder to disconnect." And texts don't fade with time. It's easy to create an archive of slights and scroll through them, reviving the hurt. So moving the discussion offline can be a good strategy, Schade says, especially when tackling tough issues. "Just slowing down is good," she says. "You may need ways to say, 'This is getting too heated for me. I need to talk with you later about this in person.' " Women were more likely than men to use texting to try to manage the relationship, whether to apologize, work out differences or make decisions, the study found. But that approach was associated with poorer relationship quality, too. Schade says that's probably another example of work best left done face to face. The results, which were published online in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, are exploratory. They don't prove that the texting behavior caused relationship issues, but give a first glimpse. One other interesting finding: Couples almost never communicate with each other on Facebook. Sending lots of love or lighthearted comments tended to buffer the negatives, the researchers found. That warm fuzzy glow can spread far beyond the tiny screen, too. So for connubial bliss, go for an electronic update of an old saw: If you can't think of something nice to say, don't text it at all. n

the partner's attention, Schade thinks. But it can backfire. "Face to face you can raise your voice,"

she tells Shots. "The way to do that with texting is to be more aggressive in the language. They do it

Sending lots of love or lighthearted comments tended to buffer the negatives, the researchers found. That warm fuzzy glow can spread far beyond the tiny screen, too.

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EVENT

ow, underprivileged school children of Islamabad to read and have access to books, a progressive initiative has been taken by Mobilink by handing over a Mobile Library to the students of Pehli Kiran School System (PKSS). The Pehli Kiran School System (PKSS), operating under the Jahangir Akhtar Qureshi Trust now has the facility of a Mobile Library available for its students who are mostly residents of katchi abadis (slum areas) in and around Islamabad. cess to books. The Mobile Library filled the gap by providing a designated vehicle to carry books and an unmatched way of taking education to students of JAQ Trust in the form of a library. The Mobile Library has been set up in a vehicle to carry story books, activity books, fairy tales and general knowledge books for children. The Mobile Library will carry books across eight campuses in Is-

senior management, Mobilink torchbearers, JAQ Trust Board of Trustees and school children of PKSS. Omar Manzur, Head of Corporate Communication Mobilink said on the occasion, Our partnership with JAQ trust is part of Mobilink Foundations broader commitment to provide education opportunities for the under-privileged children of Pakistan. We hope that the Mobilink Mobile Library will go a long way in developing childrens interest in book reading and understanding the benefits of education. This initiative is the first step towards making sure that school children have access to books and develop an interest in reading and learning. The Mo-

The JAQ Trust students did not have access to a library. The absence of a proper storage place, the static nature of a typical library and the cost associated with developing one for each campus were the factors that kept away the children from frequent ac-

lamabad and the adjourning areas for more than 1,400 students to read and learn from; a first of its kind of education initiative in the country and one that is aimed at making a difference in the way children adopt and learn every day. The key to the Mobile Library was handed over in a ceremony held at the Mobilink head office in Islamabad. The ceremony was attended by Mobilink

bile Library will travel between the PKSS Islamabad campuses as a means to providing them books during their reading periods each week. The vehicle will also serve as a means for travel for PKSS teachers and JAQ trust volunteer staff for holding interactive sessions using the Mobile Library. The schedule of the vehicle is designed to provide maximum and frequent access to books for the children of PKSS. Mobilink has led by example and set the bar high for other organizations. We hope that the example set by Mobile Library stirs other organizations and similar initiatives trigger more such projects to ensure that education is accessible to every child in Pakistan. n

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Warid becomes the most socially dedicated brand

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arid Telecom has been ranked as number one socially devoted brand on Facebook during October 2013, said a report published by Socialbakers.com. Socialbakers is the most popular provider of social media analytic tools, statistics and metrics for Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and LinkedIn. With its around 635K fans and growing, Warid Telecom has retained its top slot for socially devoted brands on Facebook since July 2013. Average response rate for queries posted on Warids Facebook page remained 83 percent during October, which once touched 91 percent mark in July 2013.

Average response rate for queries posted on Warids Facebook page remained 83 percent during October, which once touched 91 percent mark in July 2013.
The average response rate is calculated by number of questions brands answered minus question that went unanswered on its Facebook wall. Moreover, response time for responding queries

These new channels are allowing companies to interact with masses on personal level. And this is exactly where Warid has topped the charts in local brands.

posted by Warid customers on its Facebook page stood incredibly well at 267 minutes during the month of October 2013. Not surprisingly, telecom brands have scored better amongst all sectors. Facebook, lately, has become a hub for customers to raise voice over general and individual issues. Brands, at the same time, are taking such platforms more seriously in order to make sure that customers are reached and satisfied in person. These new channels are allowing companies to interact with masses on personal level. And this is exactly where Warid has topped the charts in local brands. Below is the month-wise ranking of socially devoted brands on Facebook:

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Rizwan U. Khan who says Coca-Cola is a strong No. 2 player in Pakistan, with a growing business. We continuously strive to diversify our beverage portfolio by introducing new drinks and ensure that we provide our consumers with a beverage for every occasion as well as lifestyle
Flare: Tell us about your professional career? Rizwan: Where do I start, I have a diverse work experience in field of sales and marketing, I started my career as a sales manager at Pearl Continental, Lahore. Currently, I am General Manager of CocaCola Export Corporation (Pakistan & Afghanistan region). I joined the Company in 1996 and served in a number of different business functions during my early career, including operations, marketing, customer services and Public Affairs and Communications (PA&C). As the PA&C Manager, I passionately worked towards steering Coca-Cola Pakistan into one of the leading socially responsible organisations in the country. In September 2005, I was appointed as CocaColas General Manager for Pakistan and Afghanistan. I was a key catalyst in the formation of the American Business Forum, an association of leading US organisations in Pakistan, which I also head as its President. Flare: We believe that Coca Cola holds a major market share in the beverage market of Pakistan, can you please quantify Coca Colas market position as of now? Rizwan: Coca-Cola is a strong No. 2 player in Pakistan, with a growing business. We continuously strive to diversify our beverage portfolio by introducing new drinks and ensure that we provide our consumers with a beverage for every occasion as well as lifestyle. Currently, our beverage portfolio ranges from sparkling beverages to low-calorie drinks as well as juices and stills. Moreover, we have very strong brand PR and CSR portfolio that further augments our market share. Flare: What are the successful marketing/PR campaigns of Coca Cola in Pakistan? Rizwan: Personally, I feel that all our marketing/PR campaigns have been successful in their respective terrain. No one can doubt the paramount success of our music asset Coke Studio, but apart from that we have had very successful unprecedented campaigns that cater to every age group and socio-economic bracket. a positive story relating to one individual from a different region of the country. The Ho Yaqeen series complements the reasons to believe campaign by spreading moments of inspiration and positivity and reasons to believe in a better Pakistan. Fanta Rocks brought music and play together by partnering with the imminent Pakistani Rock band; Noori, to recruit tweens to perform in the Fanta Rocks music video. Fanta Rocks team visited more than 250 schools across the country with a set up for performances and fun-filled activities in the quest to find its Fanta Rockstar. Flare: You are regarded as the driving force behind Coke Studios concept, how was the idea of Coke Studio conceive at Coca Cola? Rizwan: Coca-Cola integrates dynamism and societal trends and vigorously builds innovative platforms that resonate with Coca-Cola Pakistans spirit of success. Being the 6th most populous country in the world, we at Coca-Cola felt that there was a dire need to provide the youth of Pakistan a form of expression that not only resonated with them but also offered something unique and relatable. We found our answer through music, and that gave form to Coke Studio as a concept and since then there has been no turning back. Never before did Pakistanis have an asset that could spread the message of harmony, peace, fusion, unity and friendship, while also highlighting the rich culture of our country, and it gives the Coca-Cola team immense pleasure to regard themselves as being bold in their thought leadership to

Coca-Cola Pakistan spreads happiness & harmony via Coke Studio

Flare panel talks to General Manager Coca-Cola Export Corporation Pakistan and Afghanistan,

Sprite Cricket Next employed street cricket as a passion point was extremely popular amongst the youth of Pakistan and generated immense PR value for the brand as well as for the Company. The Ho Yaqeen series was another which celebrated Pakistans unsung heroes by documenting their stories, each of the six documentaries being

One can say that Coke Studio and Coca-Cola are part and parcel of the same genesis, both, stand for bringing people together by being inclusive, authentic, connected, infusing optimism and being uplifting

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Flare Report
conceive this . Flare: What target market does Coca Cola plan to target with Coke Studio? Rizwan: Coke Studio is targeted towards everyone, but with a special focus on the youth; music transcends all barriers, by using the passion point of music we aim to target everyone to bridge barriers, bring optimism diversity, and in the process open happiness for our consumers. The notion of being Pakistani concerns every citizen of Pakistan and through music we aim to target everyone to project a culture of positivity and optimism. Flare: How the platform of Coke Studio translates into brand ethos for Coca-Cola? Rizwan: Coke Studio stands for something extremely unique and beautiful; it is about inspiring and uniting people despite their odds and differences.It is an effort to bridge barriers, to bring people from all genres together and create music that transcends all societal barriers and in doing so opening happiness amongst Pakistanis. One can say that Coke Studio and Coca-Cola are part and parcel of the same genesis, both, stand for bringing people together by being inclusive, authentic, connected, infusing optimism and being uplifting. The reason why both Coca-Cola and Coke Studio go so well together is because they both instill the same message of opening happiness, inspiring people and creating shared moments that will last with you forever. Flare: Will it be possible to list down the benefits of Coke Studio to Coca-Cola as a brand? Rizwan: Every campaign aims to achieve market share, share of heart, brand score but most importantly we wanted to have a clear standpoint which would serve to differentiate us from the rest; hence we focused on instilling moments of inspirations for our consumers which we successfully achieved through the aid of music. Coke Studio has fortified Coca-Colas position as one the leading beverage companys by building brand love which has translated into improved brand scores and brand equity. With rising anti-American sentiment, an asset such as Coke Studio has strengthened the image of the Company and successfully established itself as a localized entity in Pakistan. The stats enlisted below are a testament of the benefits of Coke Studio to Coca-Cola:o 2 million + fans on Facebook making it one of the biggest Facebook groups in Pakistan No. 1 YouTube music channel in Pakistan 90

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million + views on YouTube Global audience 44% of the audience is international Recognised by international media - Wall Street Journal, BBC, Aljazeera, you name it and we have been there o In 2010, Coke Studio was certified as the best thing to come out of Pakistan in this decade by Newsweek. Flare: Quite recently we have seen other countries adopting Coke Studio for their respective audiences, your comments on this? Rizwan: Coke Studio has transcribed itself into an international franchise, and that speaks volumes for itself. It is being replicated in India, Middle East and four countries across the Africa

Region. On a personal level it is quite an accomplishment to see that an idea that was conceived in Pakistan is being replicated worldwide this just goes to show that when great minds come together we can conquer the world. What gives me immense joy is that because of Coke Studio, the Pakistan branch is being hailed as a creative hub. Coke Studio is a huge source of pride for us, as Coca-Cola Pakistans teams efforts have been recognized at an international scale. I would like to thank Rohail and all the other people who were in the process to make this initiative a huge success, without them this would not have been possible. Flare: What should patrons expect from Coke Studio Season 6? Rizwan: Coke Studio Season 6 will be bigger, bolder and better with a diverse and dynamic lineup of 17 Artists. Songs being performed in 7 different languages ;(Purvi, Urdu, Punjabi, Siraiki, Balochi, Turkish, Bengali, Dari) and the show being aired on more than 40 channels nationwide. This year Coke Studio will set out to trace the cultures and musical histories that have had an influence on Pakistani music. Additionally, the new season will take Pakistani music to other regions, allowing for mutual appreciation and sharing of music. Furthermore, Coke Studio season six, will give international musicians a chance to add their own interpretations to Pakistani music and create unique harmony to share with the world. Flare: Apart from Coke Studio, what are some of the future marketing campaigns that Coca-Cola has planned for the Pakistani market? Rizwan: We have a diverse marketing campaign portfolio. We continuously endeavor to own occasions and translate them into platform assets. Currently we have Sprite Nights which will be an experiential campaign, through the campaign we intend to celebrate the night culture of Pakistan with Sprite. In the beginning of 2014 we will initiate our Coke Culture Campaign, which instills moments of happiness and inspiration for a better Pakistan. On top of that we have our other campaigns such as Coke & Meal, Ramadan and Refreshment. n

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C OV E R S T O RY

Zubair Kasuri

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M Nawaz Sharif invited foreign investment in the upcoming spectrum auction for next generation mobile services (3G) and ICT related projects as establishment of technology parks. "We invite foreign companies to be our partners in harnessing the rich potential of our country that is open for business and keen on working with international investors," the Prime Minister said in his key-note address at the Connect Asia Pacific Summit 2013. PM said the Government of Pakistan was committed to accelerated digitisation of the country to enable socio-economic development, creating a knowledge-based economy and promoting economic growth. He said Pakistan accorded the highest priority to development of information communication technology (ICT) for the provision of quality services, education, employment, generation and women empowerment. He said the telecom infrastructure comprised over 129 million mobile users, three million fixed lines, three million WLL subscribers, 19.8 million internet users, 15.7 million mobile internet users, and 2.9 million broadband subscribers. He said the government through Universal Service Fund, national ICT R&D Fund and Virtual University had initiated a range of successful programmes to promote ICT opportunities to achieve these goals. He said some of these programmes were models and were being replicated by other countries. The Prime Minister said with the population of 180 million, Pakistan was strategically located on the crossroads of south and central Asia and energy-rich Middle East. He said Pakistan offered 100 per cent equity ownership, full repatriation of capital and dividends and income tax exemption on IT exports until 2016. He said the ready availability of skilled professionals, a comprehensive ICT infrastructure, coupled with affordable rates for connectivity and the government's business-friendly investment policies, made Pakistan an exceptional destination for foreign investors. Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan was proud of its longstanding association with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the work that had been collectively done to promote the mandate of this specialized organization of the United Nations. He said since its creation, the ITU had played a vital role in promoting dialogue and developing consensus on critical issues concerning the development of telecommunications and information technologies across the globe. He lauded that through its 'Connect the World'

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initiative, the ITU was sharing the best practices and successful outcomes pertaining to the sector across national boundaries. He said deliberations at such forums facilitated formulation of effective strategies that ultimately result in providing critically important services and benefits to people across the world.

C OV E R S T O RY

standardization and equipment manufacturing. Earlier, addressing the summit, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the summit was being held to achieve a common goal to develop better and wider links between nations and peoples. She said the ICT had progressed by expanding to cover other utilities, appliances in household and

Nawaz Sharif said the Asia-Pacific region was home to some of the largest and most prosperous economies of the world and contributed 40 per cent of the world's GDP growth, which was set to grow further.

He said a well-connected ICT and telecommunications infrastructure was one of the major factors contributing to the development of these economies. He mentioned that the region also had global leaders in the development of e-services and e-applications and was also spearheading technology

Government of Pakistan was committed to accelerated digitization of the country to enable socio-economic development, creating a knowledge-based economy and promoting economic growth

databases around the world and "we need to ensure that people of all nations have greater access to it." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the Asia-Pacific was a vast and diverse region, which had numerous centers of innovation in manufacturing and information and communication technologies. He said several nations in the region had experienced faster economic growth yet there was a stark contrast in prosperity and development between high income countries and the least developed. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) after completing necessary rigorous process of evaluation of the technical and financial proposals of interested companies has so far selected Value Partners Management Consulting Limited as consultant to materialise the much-delayed spectrum auction for next generation (3G). Value Partners is a UKbased global management consulting firm active worldwide. It has nine offices across three continents and consultants from 23 countries. As per procedure, the number of days from the date of appointment of consultant to the announcement of winners of the Spectrum Auction is 67 days. The selected consultant will be responsible for providing professional analysis, input and advice/ recommendations on the whole auction process as per the PTAs RFP and ToR, and for the successful completion of auction in a transparent manner, averting collusion, ensuring competition and complete transparency in the auction process, he added. The agreement with a consultant to auction the multimillion dollars next generation technology will be signed after 10 days as per the rules of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA). Pakistan is already one of the top performing telecoms markets in terms of reach, teledensity, call rates and product and service offerings. With the advent of 3G, Pakistan telecom performance will be further enhanced and strengthened and it will greatly enrich end-user experience. Under the previous government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority the telecom regulator responsible for 3G licencing failed thrice to hold the auction. In another achievement of the government China's Western Power Company will install two plants of 660 MWs in Sahiwal and 150 MW plant each in Lahore Faisalabad and Multan. A Solid
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C OV E R S T O RY

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the development of E-services and Eapplications. The region is also spearheading technology standardization and equipment manufacturing. Madam Chairperson, The Government of Pakistan is committed to accelerated digitization of the country to enable strategically located on the crossroads of South & Central Asia and the energy-rich Middle East, providing a unique platform for investors eyeing opportunities in the country and the region at large. Pakistan offers 100% equity ownership, full repatriation of capital and dividends and income tax exemption on IT exports until 2016. The ready availability of skilled professionals, a comprehensive ICT infrastructure, coupled with affordable rates for connectivity and the Governments business-friendly investment policies, makes Pakistan an exceptional destination for foreign investors in the ICT sector. The Government of Pakistan encourages foreign investment in the upcoming spectrum auction for next generation mobile services, establishment of Technology Parks and local manufacturing of ICT equipment. We invite foreign companies to be our partners in harnessing the rich potential of our country that is open for business and keen on working with international investors. Madam Chairperson, Pakistan will continue to support initiatives that will help ITU member states in this region to narrow down the ICT application gap between communities and to improve living standards. I would like to invite leading business houses to invest in Pakistan, where the government is fully committed to give protection to investment and facilitate them in establishing a business infrastructure. My cabinet colleagues and I are available to discuss such business opportunities. I would like to conclude by congratulating the International Telecommunications Union for building a network of cooperation among regional states. I would like to again thank the hosts and organizers of Connect Asia Pacific

Waste Power Plant will also be established in Punjab. Pakistan and China signed dozen documents of cooperation in various areas of economy for furthering already strong economic and technical ties between two friendly countries. Pakistan and Turkey signed 12 memoranda of

understanding (MoUs) and agreements to further bolster mutual cooperation in various fields.The agreements signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Text of speech of the Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at ITU Connect Asia Pacific Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand Madam Prime Minister, Secretary General of the ITU, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honor for me to address this eminent gathering of leaders of the Asia - Pacific Region, high level dignitaries, and professionals of Telecom Industry to share my thoughts on our future cooperation in this sector. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has convened the ITU Connect Asia Pacific Summit 2013 in Bangkok, with the help of the Government of Thailand. I would like to thank, in particular, Her Excellency, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra for the warm hospitality extended to us and for her unwavering support to the organizers of this event. I express my deep gratitude to her for her initiative and personal indulgence for the success of this event. Madam Chairperson, Pakistan is proud of its longstanding association with the ITU and the work that we have collectively done to promote the mandate of this specialized organization of the United Nations. Since its creation, the ITU has played a vital role in promoting dialogue and developing consensus on critical issues concerning the development of telecommunications and information technologies across the globe. Through its Connect the World initiative, the ITU is sharing best practices and successful outcomes pertaining to the sector across national boundaries. Deliberations at such forums facilitate formulation of effective strategies that ultimately result in providing critically important services and benefits to people across the world. The Asia-Pacific Region is home to some of the largest and most prosperous economies of the world. This region contributes 40 percent of the worlds GDP growth and this is set to grow further. A well-connected ICT and telecommunications infrastructure is one of the major factors contributing to the development of these economies. Our region also has global leaders in
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socio-economic development, creating a knowledge based economy and promoting economic growth. My government accords the highest priority to development of ICT infrastructure and applications for the provision of quality services, education, employment generation, and women empowerment. Pakistan telecom infrastructure now comprises over 129 million mobile connections, about 3 million fixed lines, 3 million WLL subscribers, 19.8 million internet users, 15.7 million mobile internet users and 2.9 million broadband subscribers. The nation now has a sophisticated telecom network providing voice and data services across the length and breadth of the country. We have come far but we are fully committed to going further. The Government of Pakistan through Universal Service Fund Company, National ICT R&D Fund Company and Virtual University, has initiated a range of successful programs to promote ICT opportunities to achieve these goals. Some of these programs are models and are being replicated by other countries. In fact, improved access to information and knowledge, education and delivery of public service through state of the art ICT facilities has greatly helped in promoting growth and minimizing poverty in Pakistan. With a population of 180 million, Pakistan is

PTA after completing necessary rigorous process of evaluation of the technical and financial proposals of interested companies and has so far selected Value Partners as consultant to materialise the much-delayed spectrum auction for next generation (3G).

Summit for such elaborate and seamless arrangements. Excellency Madam Prime Minister, I am personally grateful to your government for such warm hospitality to me and members of my delegation. Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen.

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akistan has moved a step closer towards achieving the European Unions Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus status, as the EU Parliaments International Trade Committee has voted 17-12 in favour of Pakistans inclusion in the scheme for duty-free access to European markets. The International Trade Committee of the European Parliament approved the Single Delegated Act which aims to give greater trade access to ten countries including Pakistan under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP Plus). The Single Delegated Act will now be approved by the European Parliament in December 2013. After approval by the European Parliament, the Act will come into effect from 1st of January 2014. In the run up to the voting in the Trade Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Embassies abroad, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, ran a focussed campaign to enlist support by the EU Governments and members of European Parliament, the Foreign Office statement said. European Union is Pakistan's key partner in peace and development. The approval of the GSP Plus reflects the commitment of the European Union to its relations with Pakistan. Foreign Office spokesperson said we are grateful to all European institutions and members of the Parliament for their support on the GSP Plus. President PPPP and former Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim has welcomed the European Union's decision to allow duty free access to Pakistni goods in European markets as a step forward to meet our struggle to acquire the EU Generalized Scheme of Preference (GSP) Plus status. In a statement, the former Commerce Minister said that he was pleased to learn about the favorable vote of the EU Parliament's International Trade Committee. Minister of State for Commerce Textile and Privatization Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan has

pean Parliament in December 2013. After approval by the European Parliament, the Act will come into effect from 1st of January 2014

The Single Delegated Act will now be approved by the Euro-

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said GSP Plus status will provide Pakistan a level playing field to compete with other regional competitors in European markets. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad the State Minister said economic diplomacy of foreign and commerce ministries have done an excellent job in securing this status which will help

EU grants GSP Plus status to Pakistan

enhancing the country's trade to European Union up to one billion US dollars. Pakistan says approval of the GSP Plus reflects the commitment of the European Union to its relations with Pakistan. In a statement Foreign Office spokesman said Pakistan is grateful to all European institutions and members of the Parliament for their support on the GSP Plus. The International Trade Committee of the European Parliament approved the Single Delegated Act which aims to give greater trade access to ten countries including Pakistan under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP Plus). The Single Delegated Act will now be approved by the European Parliament in December

Minister of State for Commerce Textile and Privatization Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan has said GSP Plus status will provide Pakistan a level playing field to compete with other regional competitors in European markets

2013. After approval by the European Parliament, the Act will come into effect from 1st of January 2014. In the run up to the voting in the Trade Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Embassies abroad, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, ran a focussed campaign to enlist support by the EU Governments and members of European Parliament, the Foreign Office statement said. At present any importer in the EU who imports Pakistani textile products has to pay 11 percent duty, which makes Pakistani products uncompetitive. GSP Plus will allow almost 20 percent of Pakistani exports to enter the EU at zero tariffs while a further 70 percent will be allowed to enter at preferential rates, he added. The sole purpose of the GSP Plus scheme is to help poor countries by making it easier for them to export their products to the EU at reduced tariffs. In 2004, the GSP regulation was simplified from five to three arrangements including GSP standard, GSP Plus and everything but arms and ammunition (EBA) in order to better focus on need-based countries. The schemes will no longer end every three years. Rather, they will last 10 years which will give confidence to importers and exporters. The new GSP legislation has set enhanced monitoring of the conventions (every two instead of three years) and with scrutiny by the European Parliament. Pakistan can earn an additional $550-700 million per year through GSP Plus status, according to our calculations, said Mohammad Tahir Saeed at Topline Securities. n
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Huawei becomes world's 3rd largest smartphone vendor

uawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, emerged as the world's third largest smarthphone vendor. A press statement said. According to a recent research at the Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments grew 45 percent annually to reach a record 251 million units in the third quarter of 2013. This was the first time ever that smartphone shipments exceeded a quarter-billion units in a single quarter. Smartphones accounted for 6 in 10 of all mobile phones shipped worldwide. Woody Oh, Senior Analyst at the Strategy Analytics, commented, "Huawei was a star performer as global shipments grew 67 percent annually to 12.7 million units in Q3 2013. Huawei captured 5 percent market share and became the world's third largest smartphone vendor. The popular P6 and G610 models have been among the main drivers of Huawei's success. Huawei has been working in Pakistani market since 2009. It has sold approximately 10million smartphones in 2009 and 14 million in 2012. "The high-growth smartphone market, though dominated by Samsung and Apple, still presents ample opportunities for challengers," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst at IDC. He said newcomers like Huawei used their unique market advantages, such as lower-cost devices, and rapidly gained market share, especially in emerging markets.
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Huawei was a star performer as global shipments grew 67 percent annually to 12.7 million

units in Q3 2013. Huawei captured 5 percent market share and became the world's third largest smartphone vendor
Taiwan-based smartphone vendor HTC dropped from the top five, the IDC ranking showed. Analysts pointed out that the company lost market share in the North American market after it was involved in a lawsuit with Apple last year. ZTE, another Chinese telecom company, also performed well, IDC said. ZTE was the fifthbiggest smartphone manufacturer globally in the fourth quarter, with a 4.3 percent market share. "The fact that Huawei and ZTE now find themselves among the top five smartphone vendors marks a significant shift for the global marnovative applications and experiences, he added. Wan Biao, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Huawei Device Co Ltd, said in a previous interview with China Daily that it would ship 100 million mobile phones in 2012, including 60 million smartphones. Though Huawei did not disclose how many smartphones it sold last year at its latest financial results briefing, Cathy Meng, Chief Financial Officer of Huawei, said that the company's consumer business unit, mainly made up by the mobile phone business, achieved sales of 48.4 billion yuan in 2012. The figure is about 22 percent of Huawei's total annual sales last year. "It is still a notable progress for Huawei, since the company started looking beyond the traditional telecom equipment business and began exploring the mobile phone market only a few years ago," said Li Yanyan, an analyst with the Beijing-based Analysys International. In 2011, top management at Huawei Device revealed Huawei's ambition to become one of the world's top three mobile phone vendors in three to five years. "Huawei also hopes to become the world's number one player in terms of hardware quality over the next three years," Wan said last year. In the global smartphone market, vendors shipped 219.4 million units in the fourth quarter of last year, which represented 45.5 percent of all mobile phone shipments, the highest percentage ever, IDC said. n

ket," said Ramon Llamas, research manager with IDC's mobile phone team. "Both companies have grown volumes by focusing on the mass market, but in recent quarters they have turned their attention toward higher-end devices," Llamas said. In addition, both companies have pushed the envelope in terms of industrial design with larger displays and smaller form factors, as well as in-

Huawei has been working in Pakistani market since 2009. It has sold approximately 10million smartphones in 2009 and 14 million in 2012

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he days had gone when the parents worried about their children marriages. They asked the people to find the suitable boy or girl for their son and daughter. Dozens men and women have engaged in the business of marriage arrangement between two families but now internet makes so easy just one click to find your partner. Shadi Online is new termed used in Pakistan and Urdu speaking countries like India, Bangladesh, who know what "Shadi" stands for? Shadi or marriage is the dream of every young man and woman and nowadays people start thinking about their marriage at very young age. This is not the era when people hesitate to talk about their marriages. Online marriage bureaus have thousands of registered members and number is increasing day by day as registration for new members is totally free. Also members can contact one another using our messaging service. Members can also find new friends privately hosted email system. This lets new members to communicate with other members to find out more about each other and develop a strong relationship. People are now becoming social recluse s on the ground only to be very socially active online. Internet users find for themselves such activities as playing games online to discussing and debating and expressing their own heart out through personal blogs and tweets. Chatting is also a common engagement for netizens who are very involved in finding like-mindedness around. Internet marriages have become the latest trend in Pakistan. Although, it is not unheard of, but it cannot be said that it has become a norm in this country. People do meet online, interact over a course of time, form friendships and possibly even fall in love and someday, they get are found as a couple. Such happens everywhere around the world. But a place like Pakistan, which is considered to be very traditionally rooted in its own customs, there are strands of diversity too.

INSIGHT

Azhar Javed

Although, it is not unheard of, but it cannot be said that it has become a norm in this country. People do meet online, interact over a course of time, form friendships and possibly even fall in love and someday, they get are found as a couple
to deal with because of services like Skype, FaceTime, and Google+ Hangout, which allow couples to pretend they are within arms reach, and abandonment at the altar is an even lesser problem because overseas couples can now opt for a proxy marriage, a legal procedure that lets couples get married even when the other party is not present at the moment. an increase in the number of people from immigrant communities in the U.S. who would like to avoid travel costs also seeking out this alternative so they can marry someone from their homeland without having to spend for a ticket back home. Despite the arrangements partial legality (only a few states recognize its validity, and most require the other party be a member of the military), proxy marriages are also being viewed as a potential

Shadi Online fever grips Pakistan

Internet marriages have become the latest trend in Pakistan.

Foreign media often depicts Pakistan in the negative light, much to the extent that the reality of the Pakistani community has become obscured with the narrative created by the pundits spinning the media. Although, this particular report mentioned a case where it became a problem, there are couples in Pakistan that have met online and were married later happily. Internet dating in the West is now so common that it is no longer considered an act of shameful desperation but an acceptable way for busy professionals to discover a like-minded partner. Women in Pakistan who marry against the wishes of their parents are ostracised or even killed by male relatives for supposedly bringing dishonour on the family. But online relationships are a new phenomenon. More than 2.1 million people are officially estimated to have access to the internet in Pakistan, a drop in the ocean of the population of 180 million, a reflection of the huge disparity in wealth and literacy. In todays world partly governed by fantastic technological advances designed to make life easier and more manageable, its very easy to claim that anything is possible even conducting the sacrament of matrimony over the world. Long distance relationships are no longer a pain
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Foreign media often depicts Pakistan in the negative light, much to the extent that the reality of the Pakistani community has become obscured with the narrative created by the pundits spinning the media

Apparently, this has been a longstanding practice, dating back to the early 1700s when Marie Antoinette was wed to Louis XVI despite his absence. According to the New York Times, the option of a proxy wedding is rarely used in the country and is usually afforded by members of the military that are assigned to hostile territories, when they are concerned about possibly dying in combat and leaving behind families without benefits. Lately, there is

breeding ground for immigration fraud and human trafficking violations. Many of those authorized to conduct these unions are hesitant to do so because the number of people hoping to enter the country through loopholes is increasing at an alarming rate. n

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Flare Report

EVENT

Speaking on the occasion, Fan Yunjun said, At Zong, we believe that outdoor
activities and a bonding time apart from work is extremely important to inculcate a well-balanced personality in our employees.

ong, the fastest growing telecom operator of Pakistan recently organised a healthy day-out activity for its employees and their families. To welcome the winter season, a mini-marathon titled Run like a Wind, embrace Nature! was arranged by Zong for its management, has employees and their families at the Fatima Jinnah Park located in F-9, Islamabad. A 5km marathon was divided into three categories: men, women and children. Hundreds of Zong employees and their family members participated in the marathon. The top three winners of the race from each category were given medals, certifi-

cates and goody bags by none other than Fan Yunjun, CEO, Zong. Speaking on the occasion, Fan Yunjun said, At Zong, we believe that outdoor activities and a bonding time apart from work is extremely important to inculcate a well-balanced personality in our employees. Hence, at Zong, we make it a point to engage our employees and their families in various entertaining and healthy activities from time to time. This mini-marathon was yet another initiative in that direction. At Zong, we are all like a one big family and are committed towards the well-being of each other. Thats what helps us move forward and

achieve more every single day. I think we can go further with a highly motivated, energetic and healthy workforce. The mini-marathon was arranged by Zong in an effort to promote the importance of fitness, well-being and a healthy lifestyle among its employees. The activity proved to make everyone feel energetic and in high spirits, creating a positive environment for all those present at the event. It is a part of Zongs work culture to regularly engage its employees in activities besides the office work to give them a chance to take a break from routine and achieve a more balanced work-play lifestyle. n

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EVENT

Flare Report

A worldwide specialist in lightweight roofing Onduline AVRASYA A.S, Turkey participated in 9th Build Asia International Exhibition & Conference at Karachi Expo Centre recently.

Onduline participates in Build Asia Conference

s a result of continuous research and development activities, Ounduline Avrasya keeps the principle of serving the market by offering a large but innovative range, made of complementary products common with each other. Following is the details of products of Onduline AVRASYA A.S, Turkey: System Onduline HR The main component of Onduline Roofing System is the Onduline HR roofing sheet. The Onduline HR (High Resistance) sheets are manufactured using organic fibers which are being impregnated with bitumen and pre-pigmented with a special resin. The paint is impregnated into the sheet together with resin by employing a special technique to ensure the Onduline HR colors retain their original characteristics even under extremely severe conditions. Onduline HR is a light roofing material; is per-

fectly watertight, absolutely stainless, maintenancefree and ecological product which never gets cracked due to its flexible structure, does not become moldy, does not contain asbestos, is resistant to UV rays and is not affected by the airborne chemical and biological substances. System Onduvilla Onduvilla is a lightweight Roofing material providing a roof texture similar to tiles or shingles. It is manufactured from bitumen saturated organic fibers under intense pressure and heat. Its material composition is identical to Onduline roofing sheets which are manufactured with High Resistance technology and in compliance with the European Norm EN 534._ System Fondaline Fondaline, made of high density polyethylene is used for the draining of ground water and the protection of the underground waterproofing systems

against damages caused by ground pressure. Its strong and flexible naps resist against the mechanical impacts caused by the back filling of the ground, avoiding any kind of damages on the surface of the water proofing layer. The air gap created by the naps of Fondaline between the ground and building parts like basement walls or floors is ideal for all kinds of drainage. System Bituline The System Bitulines scope is the use of torch applied modified bituminous waterproofing membranes Bituline and its accessories in various waterproofing needs. Bituline membranes are used for waterproofing of flat and low sloped roofs, terraces, wet surface floorings, underground surfaces such foundations, basements and pools, roof gardens or of particular engineering structures such as multistory parkings, highway or railway bridges.

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Warid supports White Ribbon campaign

TELEPEDIA | Flare Report

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INCA, a global microfinance organization with operations in 22 countries on five continents, announced the launch of FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd. Founded almost 30 years ago, FINCA is a pioneer of the modern microfinance industry and has been recognized throughout its history for innovation, efficiency, ethical practices, and an uncompromising focus on social performance. FINCA Microfinance Cooperatif (U.A.), the Netherlands-based investment arm of FINCA, acquired in May 2013 a majority holding in the Pakistani bank formerly known as Kashf Microfinance Bank Ltd. Following completion of all regulatory requirements, the Bank has now been relaunched as FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd. and has already begun a process of expansion within the country. Currently, operating in 51 locations across Pakistan, FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd. plans to have branches and sales centres in 65 locations by the end of the year. The Bank will continue to operate under the regulation of the State Bank of Pakistan. It is a pleasure to welcome FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd. to Pakistan, said Mr. Yaseen Anwar, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan in his message. The State Bank is committed to ensuring access to quality financial services for all the citizens of Pakistan. Microfinance is one important strategy towards that goal, and FINCA is one of the largest microfinance operators globally. We wish FINCA every success, and look forward to their contributions to Pakistans microfinance sector. Speaking at the launch press conference, FINCA global President and CEO Rupert Scofield said, FINCA saw Pakistans large population of hardworking entrepreneurial people as individuals and families who could prosper from our services. We are honored to introduce our global brand into a new market as welcoming and embracing of FINCA as

ontinuing to do its part earnestly, Warid Telecom this year again supports the White Ribbon Pakistan campaign. The day is marked internationally on November 25 to show support and solidarity to women suffering different kinds of violence in their lives. Warid staff members marked the day by signing the pledge cards

The day is marked internationally on November 25th to show support and solidarity to women suffering different kinds of violence in their lives
and wearing the white ribbons. The Company also broadcasted SMS to its customers while this message is also being spread using Warid social media. Speaking on collaboration with Warid, Chief Executive Officer, White Ribbon Pakistan Mr. Omer Aftab said Warid as a brand is perhaps the most active brand around, honoring its responsibility to the

Group photo of Warid staff members pledging gender equality and ending violence against women.

FINCA Microfinance Bank launches in Pakistan

society. Previously, we have had joint successful campaigns with Warid Telecom and its employee engagement for the cause that has greatly helped us spreading the message at a wider level. More corporates should come forward with the thought responsibility strategy and role for social contribution and welfare. n

Pakistan. We look forward to working with the local team to build a thriving, poverty-free Pakistan that will lead to improved quality of life for many hundreds of thousands people in the country. M. Mudassar Aqil, chief executive officer of FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd., stated, Our team feels a great sense of urgency to scale up outreach to many more of the over 80 percent of Pakistanis who currently lack access to effective financial services. Now as part of the FINCA global family of companies, our Bank combines our all-Pakistani teams deep local expertise with FINCAs global best practices and other resources. The transition to the FINCA brand name and visual identity will strengthen that powerful combination even further. FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd. will build on the legacy of successes achieved under its previous name

President FINCA Microsoft Bank Ltd, Rupert Scofield speaking at a launching press conference while CEO M. Mudassar Aqil.

of Kashf Microfinance Bank Ltd., combined with the vast international experience and matchless expertise that its new majority shareholder FINCA has been building in markets all over the world since 1985. From its newly strengthened position, FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd. has the potential to become a major financial presence in Pakistan and lead the microfinance sector in innovation, developing a range of new products and services tailored to customers needs, particularly those of entrepreneurs, farmers, and savers. All locations of the institution now known as FINCA Microfinance Bank Ltd. will carry the Banks new logo with the distinctive FINCA tree, fondly known to its clients as the tree of abundance and a global symbol of growth, strength, and security. n

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Govt must introduce a common education system

Flare Report |
Flare: Tell us about yourself and your vision for Lahore University? M. Maqbool: Lahore School of Accountancy and Finance is offering Bachelor, Master and Research degree programs. We believe that students must gain most up-to-date knowledge in the field of accountancy and finance and therefore all our programs are based on international accounting and auditing standards. We also have great focus on developing students personal, technical and professional skills with emphasis on ethics and moral values. I achieved CA degree from England and Wales, Canada and Pakistan. I have been senior partner in one of the big accountancy firms in Pakistan. I have 26 years experience in the field of training and consultancy. Flare: Why did you choose this profession? M. Maqbool: Chartered Accountancy is one of the most respected and paying profession for more than last hundred years. In view of this unique positioning of this profession, I decided to acquire chartered accountancy education from UK which is the most premier institute of chartered accountancy in the world. At this stage, Pakistan have only 6,000 Chartered Accountants who are having great recognition by working in apex positions and earning high bracket incomes. Unfortunately due to lack of counseling by government and institutions in our country our young generation is only focusing on few professions and is not aware of other better careers. Flare: What are your future plans for The University of Lahore and yourself ? M. Maqbool: When we see locally and internationally, there are very little research work in field of accounting and finance and there is hardly any PhD in accounting and finance in Pakistan and as such our school which is currently offering up to M. Phil accounting and finance research degree is planning to offer PhD program from early 2014. We are also launching our schools research journal from next year to publish research work of our own graduates as well as external researchers. Flare: Don you think that private institutions playing vital role for promotion of quality education? M. Maqbool: No doubt the private universities are playing a vital role in Pakistan by filling the supply demand gap as the public sector universities had limited technical and financial resources to accommodate growing demand in Pakistan for higher education. However, many private sector universities have to enhance the quality of their teaching staff, research work and quality assurance system to deliver quality and effective education in line with internationally recognized standards. Flare: When cheating culture ended and what

I N T E RV I E W

Flare panel talks to Muhammad Maqbool, Dean of Lahore School of Accountancy and

Finance, the University of Lahore who says the government must introduce a common education system in country from 0 to 12 grades. The government should also revive its staterun schools as a common man cannot afford high fee of private sector schools
place, staying loyal to his organization and becoming dependable for his employer. Flare: Why students select your University? M. Maqbool: Alhamdolilah, The University of Lahore is the fastest growing private sector university. It has about 20,000 students body. The University of Lahore providing educational infrastructure and facilities in line within international standards, offering a wide range of value added courses, employing a highly qualified local and foreign faculty and giving its students and faculty membersextensive research opportunities. Flare: What is your plan to make your University No. 1 in Pakistan as a Dean? M. Maqbool: The management of the university in aiming to make the University of Lahore one of the highly ranked university of Pakistan and improve its international ranking by investing more on its quality assurance system and research activities. Flare: Do you suggest any improvement in education system in Pakistan? M. Maqbool: The government must introduce a common education system in country from 0 to 12 grades. The government should also revive its state-run schools as a common man cannot afford high level fee of private sector schools in order to save public from ever increasing dearness. The revival of government school system would be a major step in cutting down each familys budget on education and help it to devote the saved resources to other necessary living expenditures. Flare: You are a chartered accountant can you please give any more suggestion to government to help poor masses? M. Maqbool: No doubt, its impossible to meet both ends in these days even by lower middle class, so in addition to help saving in education budget of common man by reviving government run schools and introducing a common education system, the government should control and subsidize the prices of 5 essential commodities such as daals, flour, rice, sugar and cooking oil by distributing the same through a wider network of utility stores by introducing Nadra data base linked and biometric ration card system for poor and lower middle class people. Flare: Any message you want to give to the readers of flare? M. Maqbool: We should work for enhancing the culture of honesty, integrity and care for others, tolerance, value for human rights, providing fair and equal opportunity to all, curtailing corruption and malpractices in our dealings in order to build Pakistan as a respectable member of Islamic and international community. n

are your suggestions to eliminate it? M. Maqbool: The basic reason for the accelerating trend of cheating and plagiarism among our students is due to weak ethical standards and lack of integrity in our society. The institutions, teachers, media and state must work together to build the moral and ethical values in the society. This will not only curb the cheating and plagiarism among students but will also help in developing ethics base practices and society in Pakistan. Flare: You think chartered universities awarded degrees recognised worldwide give some examples? M. Maqbool: The introduction of four years bachelor degree programs in Pakistan few years back has certainly increased the international recognition of the degree awarded by Pakistani universities. Moreover degrees of those Pakistani universities which are included in international ranking are more acceptable on worldwide basis. I am delighted to inform you that The University of Lahore was the first university of Pakistan which was ranked among the top 500 universities of the world by QS Times in year 2006 and is still maintain its position on this list. Moreover, all the bachelor and master degree programs offered by our school are accredited by Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales and ACCA (UK) by providing a quite advance level accreditation. Flare: What are the qualities of successful businessman or employees? M. Maqbool: A successful businessman must conduct his business activities ethically, with ambition to serve society and pursue long term strategic objectives instead of just focusing on short term profit making. Whereas an employees success lies in working with integrity at his work

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INSIGHT

Flare Report

Much delayed Cyber Crime Bill to finalise soon

2013, prepared in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. After the end of the term of last Assembly, the matter has been taken up again by Ministry of IT in order to further deliberate and finalize the said Bill. It is pertaining to mention here that in June 2012, the Select Committee of the National Assembly directed different stakeholders related to IT industry and security agencies to submit their detailed recommendations on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2010.

The objective of the meeting was to discuss the Draft Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill
Anusha Rahman said that cyber crime is more harmful as compared to other crimes of heinous nature and they become more dangerous in the absence of relevant laws. "There is dire need to formulate a law which plays a vital role in checking electronic crimes as well as serve the interest of the country", she said. One cant be prosecuted for committing any kind of cyber crimes as Pakistan is functioning without any cyber laws. In the past, FIA has openly said that since there is no law in the country to keep check on cyber offences, therefore, it cant investigate any cyber crimes. Absence of Cyber Crime Laws is the sole reason for non-establishment of e-commerce and internet payment gateways in the country and also results into increased cyber crimes.

n the direction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has taken up the much delayed Cyber Crime Bill to finalise it within days. In this respect, State Minister for IT & Telecom Anusha Rahman has presided over a high-level meeting regarding Draft Prevention of E-Crimes Bill 2013 recently. She said: It is expedient to prevent unauthorized acts with respect to information systems, establish related offences, provide mechanisms for investigation, prosecution, trial and international cooperation with respect thereof. Akhlaq A. Tarrar, Secretary IT, Dr. Ismail Shah, Chairman PTA, Kamran Ali Khattak, Member (Legal), Yasir Qadir, Member (Telecom) and representatives from Federal Investigation Agency and Information Technology Industry were also attended the meeting. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the Draft Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill and to take all the stakeholders on board. It was unanimously agreed that the said matter will be completed in accordance to the International Best Practices already adopted globally. The Minister of State was of the view that with the modern era to be rightly denoted as the Information Age, there is a dire need that illegal and the unauthorized access to information system will be catered under the Draft Law in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedures (Cr. P.C.) and best practices evolved over a period of time in the region. Furthermore, a high level committee has been constituted headed by Senior Legislative Advisor to Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights. The other members of the committee includes Member (Legal), MoIT and Director (IT), MoIT, a representative from IT Industry, PTA and FIA respectively. The committee has assigned the task to review the Draft Bill within one week time period and submit its report to Ministry of IT. The Electronic Crimes Ordinance initially discussed and deliberated in the last Legislative Assembly which was eventually resulted in the form of Draft Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill,

and to take all the stakeholders on board. It was unanimously agreed that the said matter will be completed in accordance to the International Best Practices already adopted globally

A meeting of the Select Committee of the National Assembly was held at the Parliament House that took up the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill of 2010. Khawaja Sohail Mansoor presided over the meeting and Nosheen Saeed, Pervez Khan, Anusha Rahman Khan Advocate (now served as State Minister for IT & Telecom), senior officials of Ministry of Information Technology, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and representatives of the different cellular companies attended the meeting. Khawaja Sohail directed officials of Ministry of Information Technology, PTA, FIA and representatives of cellular companies to hold a joint meeting and submit their recommendations about the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2010 in the next meeting.

The Electronic Crimes Ordinance initially discussed and deliberated in the last Legislative Assembly which was eventually resulted in the form of Draft Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill, 2013, prepared in consultation with all relevant stakeholders

In the last Legislative assembly, the Electronic Crimes Ordinance initially deliberated and discussed which was eventually resulted in the form of Draft prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2013, prepared with all relevant stakeholders consultation. The questions are raised in the mind of common man every government promised the worked on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill but nothing do just hold the meeting, eat and sip. n

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LG joins curved smartphone race with G Flex phablet

EVENT | Flare Report

outh Koreas LG Electronics Inc unveiled a curved smartphone in a move to catch up bigger rival Samsung Electronics Co. Curved displays and flexible screens are the new battleground for phone makers as the screens open up possibilities that could eventually transform the highend smartphone market. Curved smartphones provide a more comfortable grip than flat-screen models, but the lack of must-have features means they are unlikely to be big consumer hits anytime soon, analysts have said. Manufacturing costs also remain relatively high. Both Samsung and LGs curved phones are only available in the South Korean market as they seek to gauge consumer appetite. Samsung launched a variant of the popular Galaxy Note earlier this month as the worlds first smartphone with a display slightly curved side to side.

The model launched by LG Electronics has a vertically curved six-inch display. The company said the phone will be available from next month through South Koreas three mobile carriers.

struggling to compete against Samsung and Apple Inc, the smartphone leaders that account for almost all the industrys profits. LG reported last week an 80 billion won ($75 million) operating loss from its handset division for the third-quarter due to marketing costs surrounding a smartphone launch in August. The company plans to increase marketing investment in the current quarter to raise brand awareness in the high-end market, which it hopes will help expand sales later in the mid to lower-end segments. Technology analysts and media reports say Apple is also working on a smartwatch, potentially with a curved screen, but there has been no word from the Cupertino California-based company about its plans.

The model launched by LG Electronics has a vertically curved six-inch display. The company said the phone will be available from next month through South Koreas three mobile carriers. Its vertically curved display offers more immersive video watching experience and the phone uses a curved battery to support its form factor, LG said. Changing form factors of the battery as well as phones chip board and other components remain a challenge in achieving flexible devices. LG is among a slew of smaller companies
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Meanwhile, Google unveiled its Nexus 5 smartphone, the newest of own branded devices in the space and a champion for the latest version of its Android operating system. The hotly anticipated addition to Google's Nexus line is powered by a new "KitKat" version of Android, which was redesigned to work across the wide range of handsets built with the Internet titan's free software inside. "Now you have one version of the Android operating system that can ship across all versions of smartphones in 2014," Sundar Pichai, head of the Android and Chrome teams, said while providing a look at the new software and Nexus 5. "As we get on our way to reach the next billion people, we want to do it with the latest version of Android." The move sets out to address the problem that the wide variety of Android systems being used around

Samsung launched a variant of the popular Galaxy Note earlier this month as the worlds first smartphone with a display slightly curved side to side.

the world make it challenging for makers of fun, functional or hip smarpthone or tablet apps to design programs that work on all devices. Changes in KitKat included fine tuning it to work with the limited memory capacities of Android smartphones priced for markets in developing countries or other places where buyers are on tight budgets. "It is important to us to get the same version of Android to scale across all versions of devices," Pichai said. Google partnered with South Korean consumer electronics giant LG to make the Nexus 5 smartphone to showcase the prowess of KitKat. The Nexus 5 was available for purchase in 10 countries through Google's online Play shop, priced at $349 for a 16-gigabyte model and $399 for a version with 32 gigabytes of memory.

KitKat was released to handset makers to begin building their own smartphones using the software, according to Pichai. "It is a cutting-edge operating system meant to run on cutting-edge phones, but it can run on older phones as well," Pichai said. n

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Free download | FLARE.PK Flare Report | EVENT

most of the critical cases reported the patients were unable to identify the problem just because of not being aware of it. Warids female staff is trained to volunteer to spread the Think Pink thought. Dr. Faisal Sultan, CEO SKMCH&RC, while speaking on the collaborative effort between Warid Telecom and Shaukat Khanum said: There are few brands which are known by their social character and Warid has always been a great support for the cause. Not only we have together spread the Think Pink message but there is always generous support from Warid we regularly get for the treatment of poor cancer patients who simply cannot afford A-class cancer treatment in Pakistan. 70% of our donations come from such responsible organizations and individual support. With the support of Warid Telecom, we have also successfully launched SKMT Mobile App. Its a very useful mobile application with all key features combined in it. The corporations, brands operating in society should give back to the society by doing their little part. Warid twice qualified for Shaukat Khanum CSR Awards and other corporates should also benchmark by empowering their CSR strategy and role for social welfare.

n-line with its corporate social responsibility and continuing to fight against one of the most fatal female cancer in Pakistan, Warid Telecom is again supporting breast cancer awareness drive. Think Pink is a joint campaign of Warid Telecom and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) that is aimed at creating awareness on breast cancer, its symptoms and early diagnosis. Studies have shown that early detection of breast cancer can result in a survival rate of over 90%. Unfortunately, Pakistan has the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia. Even it is a completely curable form of cancer if diagnosed timely and as in

Pakistan lags behind Bhutan, Nepal and Nigeria in internet speeds

INSIGHT | Waleed Akhtar

According to a new Ookla report in terms of internet speeds worldwide Pakistan stands at 172nd spot out of the 186 countries it tested during the one-month time period

he Internet infrastructure in Pakistan and India are improving with broadband speeds going up, though penetration is still low. However, Pakistan and India still lag behind countries like Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Nigeria, Laos and Zimbabwe when it comes to Internet download speeds. According to a new Ookla report in terms of internet speeds worldwide Pakistan stands at 172nd spot out of the 186 countries it tested during the one-month time period between 27th of October and 25th of November 2013 While, the average download speed in India was 4.18Mbps, ranking it at 130th position. In contrast, the average download speed in Nigeria was 5.14Mbps, while Nepal had an average download speed of 4.92Mbps, Cambodia had 4.66Mbps, Laos had 4.73Mbps, Bhutan had 4.41Mbps, and Zimbabwe had 4.20Mbps. The top five positions were taken by Hong Kong at 71.22Mbps, Singapore at 52.75Mbps, Romania at 50.26Mbps, South Korea at 47.20Mbps and Sweden at 42.35Mbps in terms of download

In terms of upload speeds, India's position was a little better as it ranked at 93rd position with an average upload speed of 2.91Mbps. Hong Kong recorded the highest average upload speed at 58.99Mbps, followed by South Korea at 40.06Mbps, Singapore at 37.14Mbps, Macau at 36.48Mbps and Andorra at 35.98Mbps. The US recorded an average upload speed of 6.30Mbps while the global average was 7.08Mbps. According to Ookla, the company that offers Speedtest.net and its mobile apps which help in comparing and ranking consumer download speeds around the globe, the data is based on over 1.5 billion records. The company claims this is the largest number of broadband speed and quality results ever compiled.

speeds. The US ranked 31 with an average download speed of 20.74Mbps, while the global average was 16.20Mbps. Countries such as Afghanistan, Malawi, Cuba, Benin and Gambia were at the bottom with average download speeds of 1.13Mbps, 1.16Mbps, 1.21Mbps, 1.36Mbps and 1.46Mbps, respectively.
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The top five positions were taken by Hong Kong at 71.22Mbps, Singapore at 52.75Mbps, Romania at 50.26Mbps, South Korea at 47.20Mbps and Sweden at 42.35Mbps in terms of download speeds. The US ranked 31 with an average download speed of 20.74Mbps, while the global average was 16.20Mbps

As per the company, the results are based on millions of recent test results from Speedtest.net. "The value is the rolling mean throughput in Mbps over the past 30 days where the mean distance between the client and the server is less than 300 miles," it informs. It is good omen that the subscribers of broadband have growing rapidly and Pakistan has over 2.9 million broadband subscribers. These numbers are only bound to increase after expected 3G rollout. However, with this growing trend in broadband subscribers, the performance of Internet speeds in Pakistan isnt very impressive. The average internet downloading speeds in

Pakistan were 2.29 Mbps during this period while the uploads stood at just 1.01 Mbps. The median cost per megabit during this period was $10.92 or PKR 1,200. Report said that results were obtained by analyzing tests from 1,810,280 unique IPs and 8,365,501 total tests. Interestingly, the highest average-download speeds in Pakistan were recorded at a place you probably havent heard of, its called Fazal in Sindh, 2.96 Mbps. (A Wikipedia page of the place doesnt exist either.) Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad grabbed the next three positions with average-speeds of 2.40, 2.28 and 2.21 Mbps respectively. The unknown city tops uploading speeds too, at 2.27 Mbps, almost twice that of 2nd-placed Lahores 1.28 Mbps and Karachis 1.01. However, it is also worth noting that Fazal has got just 1521 IP addresses and the result is based on just 53 tests. The criteria for data analysis also requires at least a thousand unique IP addresses for a city to be included. Report ranked Islamabad atop here with 445,887 IP addresses, followed by Karachis 424,762 and Lahores 398,898. Just to mention, Pakistan was given a Promise Index of 82.5 percent, just above India which got 81 percent of Promise Index of Internet Speeds. Promise Index is measured by taking a median ratio of actual download speed against the promised (or advertised) speeds of ISPs. This shows that index for Promised internet speed for Pakistan isnt that bad. However, the back-haul infrastructure available in Pakistan isnt amazing enough to offer higher-speeds. We dont see this changing in coming years since the aging copper media of incumbent is apparently never gonna get replaced cent percent with fiber. n

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EVENT

Usman Yaqoob

fone, an Etisalat Group company, organised a blood donation campaign in its Lahore office with the UfoneVolunteers Group and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS). Ufone Volunteers Group is a socially responsible employees group that voluntarily participates in activities that help the community. This blood donation drive took place recently. All employees enthusiastically contributed for such a noble cause. The donors included everyone from trainees to team lead-

ers, even the security and transport staff. Postblood donation care was also provided to ensure the proper well-being of the employees. There were doctors present in-house as well to answer all medical related queries, if any. Amir Pasha, Head of PR & CSR at Ufone said: Corporate volunteerism is an integral part of our CSR strategy. Our culture at work greatly emphasises on helping out others in any possible way. The enthusiasm and interest of our employees in acting socially responsible encourages us to conduct such activities often.

Dr. Safia, Director Health Services, PRCS was delighted to see the response and said We are thankful to all the volunteers who donated blood and became part of this valuable initiative. This will go a long way in helping people suffering from thalassemia and patients with crucial surgeries that are postponed due to inadequate supply of blood.Pakistan Red Crescent Society isa non-profit organisation,which is also the worlds largest humanitarian network, with a presence and activities in almost every country.

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Nokia investors voted for sale of handset business

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EVENT

Nokia's share price has doubled since the plan was announced in early September withMicrosoft agreeing to pay $7.35 billion for the loss-making company's mobile phone division

okia shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of selling the company's mobile business to US software giant Microsoft in an attempt to reinvent the once-proud Finnish telecoms titan. According to Nokia -- which will now become a telecom equipment and services company -- the deal was almost unanimously approved with 99.52 percent support from shareholders at an extraordinary meeting in Helsinki. The "yes" vote was expected. Analysts judge the deal as positive for the ailing Finnish firm. "It was expected that the decision of selling the mobile phone division would arouse strong emotions," Nokia board chairman and interim chief executive Risto Siilasmaa said during the meeting. "We are certain that if we had continued with the old strategy, we would have most likely put Nokia, its shareholders and its employees in serious difficulties."

place in early 2014. Once the world leader in mobile phones, Nokia lost its top place to South Korea's Samsung in 2012. Although still number two in the overall mobile phone market with a 13.8 percent market share in the third quarter of the year -- ahead of US giant Apple (6.7 percent) -- Nokia is still far behind Samsung (25.7 percent) and ranks eighth in the fastgrowing smartphone market, according to technology consultancy Gartner. The deal spells the end of the once iconic Nokia branded mobile handsets, which have experienced a spectacular fall in sales since the arrival of Apple's touchscreen iPhone in 2007. "For Nokia shareholders it's a good price because this business is loss-making and Nokia was too small to relaunch," said Eric Beaudet, an analyst at Natixis bank. "Nokia has good products but that's not enough.

Nokia's share price has doubled since the plan was announced in early September with Microsoft agreeing to pay $7.35 billion for the loss-making company's mobile phone division. 'Excellent deal' "It's an excellent deal. It's hard to imagine a better price for a division experiencing structural losses," Pierre Ferragu, an analyst at the brokers Sanford Bernstein said. The sale of the assets, which include the Lumia smartphone trademark and technology, must take

The sale of the assets, which include the Lumia smartphone trademark and technology, must take place in early 2014

Their problem is their fixed costs are too high, which means they need 10 percent of the world smartphone market to be profitable. At the moment they have less than half that." On that day was also an opportunity for shareholders to discuss the string of failures that brought the Finnish group to its knees. Previous Microsoft partnership failed It's a long story, as detailed in former CEO Jorma Ollila's autobiography, which was published in October. According to Olilla, Nokia was positioned well on the smartphone market at the time of the technology's infancy in 2004 and 2005. But when it took off in 2007-2008, the company's products were not up to par. In 2011, a general manager headhunted from Microsoft, Stephen Elop, chose to partner with the American group, embracing its Windows operating system. The move did not pay off. Nokia's profits fell precipitously under Elop, who resigned on the same day in September that the sale to Microsoft was announced. Elop's role in Nokia's fall is still questioned in the company. "How can you be sure that Mr Elop didn't leak confidential information to the buyers?" stakeholder Markus Magnfors asked during the meeting. Nokia shareholders who voted for the sale hope for a return to profits and a new start in the fastchanging technology sector following a series of losses: 1.2 billion euros in 2011, 3.1 billion euros in 2012 and 590 million euros in the first nine months of 2013. Microsoft will be left with the challenge of making the Lumia smartphone profitable but with $80 billion (59 billion euros) in reserves to fall back on it has some scope to invest. n

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hilanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates called on Norway's $800 billion oil fund, one of the biggest investors in the world, to spend more in the poorest countries, gaining the prime minister's support with his proposal. Gates, who runs the $37 billion Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said Norway should set aside a portion of the fund to invest in infrastructure in subSaharan Africa and Asia, and buy equity in small enterprises that alleviate agricultural and medical problems. "Norway is by many measures one of the richest countries in the world and you can afford to take some of that money and help out people in other places," Gates said on a visit to Oslo. Norway is working on a complete review of the fund, including its investment strategy. Critics say it has become too big and needs to diversify away from stocks, bonds and real estate, and may even need to be broken up into specialised vehicles. "It is part of our platform that the oil fund should invest more in developing markets," Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who took power last month, said after meeting Gates. "We will make sure the fund gets a mandate that allows them to invest in companies and maybe also infrastructure in these developing countries," she said. "We believe it can give a just as good return as similar investments in developed nations." Gates argued that spending in poor countries, primarily on roads, rail and power, would be an investment, not a donation, as it would generate returns over time, even as the spending had a dual role of generosity.

INSIGHT

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Bill Gates eyes Norway's $800 billion fund

an important part of this because private investors need someone's assistance, someone to piggyback to access these markets." Norway is spending around $5 billion on foreign aid in dozens of countries this year, making it one of the biggest donors per capita. But the civil sector often criticises the government, arguing that Norway's unusual fortunes, which have pushed per capita GDP to around

Gates, who runs the $37 billion Bill and Melinda Gates Founda"The area where you may get this dual benefit is ... in sub-Sahara Africa and some of the countries in Asia," Gates said. "That's an asset class, which could absorb, if it was well managed, an additional $10 billion... I'm not talking about a gigantic amount." Norway has amassed the world's biggest wealth fund, saving up its surplus oil revenues, and operates it as a sort of endowment, spending only its returns. It is expected to exceed $1 trillion this decade and already owns about 1.25 percent of all global equities, a huge amount for a country of 5.1 million. "This allows it to be extremely long term and particularly well suited to invest in unlisted and illiquid assets, such as development, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, regrowth, etc, in developing counties." (Additional reporting by Joachim Dagenborg; Editing by Toby Chopra) Meanwhile, Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates said he was pleased with the software company's progress in finding a new chief executive and that the search committee had spoken to a number of candidates, but did not give a date by which he expected a new leader to replace the retiring Steve Ballmer. Speaking at Microsoft's annual shareholder meeting in Bellevue, Washington, Gates paused briefly and choked up with emotion as he thanked Ballmer for his work at the company. Gates then left the stage and sat in the front row of an audience of around 400 people, alongside other members of the board. That was a departure from previous years when he remained onstage and occasionally answered questions. Microsoft has not shed much light on its CEO search, but sources close to the process have told Reuters the company has narrowed its shortlist of candidates to just a handful. Those sources have said the candidates include Ford Motor Co chief Alan Mulally and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, as well as former Skype CEO and internal candidate Tony Bates, now responsible for Microsoft's business development. n

tion, said Norway should set aside a portion of the fund to invest in infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, and buy equity in small enterprises that alleviate agricultural and medical problems

Although the review may result in a new investment strategy, Norway's consensus based politics means changes are slow and often take several years. "There's no doubt in my mind that a larger part of not only our investments but all investments will and should move into frontier markets with less developed markets and higher risk," Finance Ministry State Secretary Jon Gunnar Pedersen said. "Government initiatives and agencies will play
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$100,000, warrant even more generosity. "There's essentially a lack of long term capital and risk capital (in the poorest countries) ... and Norway happens to own the world's largest source of long-term capital," said Anne-Marie Helland, the head of Norwegian Church Aid, a top donor.

Bill Gates said he was pleased with the software company's progress in finding a new chief executive and that the search committee had spoken to a number of candidates, but did not give a date by which he expected a new leader to replace the retiring Steve Ballmer

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Online gambling gains momentum

TELEPEDIA | Flare Report

Ever since online gambling began in the 1990s, it has evolved in a multibillion gambling industry. In fact, hundreds of thousands of people visit online gambling websites everyday and thousands more are now signing up and opening up new accounts
But Rose said the Internet opens up new categories of gambling, ranging from "social" games to virtual slot machines. "People who play games online are not interested in picking numbers and waiting a week," he said. The gaming industry relies on federal guidelines for online betting, but Congress has been deadlocked on the matter amid disputes over whether any law would cover poker alone or a full range of games. Despite existing bans, Americans spent $2.6 billion on online gambling in 2012 in a global industry worth $33 billion, according to a study for the American Gaming Association, which represents commercial casino operators. Chris Thom, chairman of the online payment and identification firm SecureTrading, said the patchwork state-by-state system hampers efforts to develop a competitive online gaming industry in the United States. "To get into that global system you are going to have to have critical mass," he told. Thom said federal legislation would enable greater consumer protection and help outlaw unlicensed operators. A national system could also generate revenues for the federal government. But "the longer it goes on, the more difficult it is to produce a federal bill that is clean and straightforward," Thom said, noting that states will want to maintain existing rules and not join a federal system.

nline gambling is undoubtedly one of the most popular activities indulged in by man. One cannot discount the fact that it is quite a lucrative venture and not to mention that its growth is one of the quickest on the Internet. The trend of online gambling in Pakistan is growing day-by-day because everyone wants to get rich the fast, easy way. Illegal sports betting, illegal lottery games and prize bonds numbers thrive in Pakistan, in direct defiance of governmental sanction. Online gamblers chats their bookie and use a friend or relative as a reference. While the odds arent as favorable as other places, its the only option available to prospective gamblers. Winnings (or losses) are paid through a money changer. Ever since online gambling began in the 1990s, it has evolved in a multibillion gambling industry. In fact, hundreds of thousands of people visit online gambling websites everyday and thousands more are now signing up and opening up new accounts. Online gambling websites also has a lot to offer their clients. Because of competition, most online gambling websites offer bonuses and promos. These bonuses are used to attract more people in their website to play. An example of these bonuses would be getting a free vacation in an exotic location. Prize bond draws are very popular in Pakistan, despite the fact that theyre illegal. Drawings are held on the first and fifteenth of each month. Meanwhile, Internet gambling is on a roll in the US market after years lurking in the shadows. New Jersey kicks off its online wagering becoming the most populous state to do so after Nevada and Delaware.

Other states have become active since 2011, when the federal government signaled it would not block most forms of Internet wagering. California, Illinois and Pennsylvania are considering such moves. Using geolocation technology, the systems require that gamblers be located within the state. But reciprocal agreements could allow gamblers to cross state lines as more states authorize online bets. "Once these states are successful within their borders, they will figure out how to pool players across state lines to take bets from each other, and a lot of other states will jump in," said Whittier Law School professor I. Nelson Rose. "Within 10 years, I think we will see a very large portion of states will have Internet gambling." Morgan Stanley estimated legal US online gambling revenues would reach $670 million in 2014, increasing to $9.3 billion in 2020. The launch in a handful of states "will release a floodgate of investor interest in the online space, and spur new states to open to reap tax dollars," analyst Vaughan Lewis said in a note to clients. The United States has a patchwork of gambling regulations. While casino gambling was only allowed in Nevada a few decades ago, New Jersey allowed casinos in Atlantic City in the 1970s and many states have either commercial or Indian tribe casinos. Until recently, the federal government claimed that online gambling was unlawful. But a 2011 Justice Department legal opinion said only sports betting would be considered illegal. Nevada authorized online poker in 2012, and Delaware and New Jersey passed laws allowing a full range of casino games.

The American Gaming Association has also called for federal rules. "While we have long supported federal regulation versus state regulation, the most important point is that online gaming must be regulated to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of the games," said association president Geoff Freeman. Representative Jim McDermott has introduced a bill to ensure taxes and fees are collected within a regulated regime. "You'd hope this opportunity to generate billions in economic activity and new government revenues will get serious consideration," said Michael Waxman of the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. "It's shocking that Congress has decided to leave in place hypocritical laws that allow some forms of online gambling activity, such as betting on horse racing, but prohibits others, like poker and bingo." Online gambling critics warn of the dangers of unhindered expansion online -- that geographic and age restrictions could be easily bypassed, and unsavory elements. n

The trend of online gambling in Pakistan is growing day-byday because everyone wants to get rich the fast, easy way. Illegal sports betting, illegal lottery games and prize bonds numbers thrive in Pakistan, in direct defiance of governmental sanction.

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EVENT

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Dubai wins bid to host 2020 World Expo

EVENT | Flare Report

Now a boom in trade, tourism and finance is repairing the

damage and Dubai again has the resources to plan big projects. But some businessmen fear the additional investment for the Expo may be hard for the economy to absorb

omy. But they come on the back of other grandiose projects announced by Dubai's real estate developers in the past year, including a replica of the Taj Mahal, a residential area with a giant pyramid, and an apartment complex with penthouses worth $250 million each. Alan Robertson, regional chief executive for property consultants Jones Lang LaSalle, which advised Dubai on its Expo bid, predicted interest in real estate would now rise further. "While the Expo will result in long-term benefits to the Dubai economy and the real estate market, the short-term impact needs to be managed carefully to avoid the inevitable boost in sentiment translating into excessive price growth or over-development," he said. Also, Dubai lacks the oil wealth and deep fiscal reserves of other rich Gulf states, so government-related entities (GREs) look set to finance much of their Expo work with bank loans. Heavy borrowing by GREs, whose debts are already worth about 90 percent of Dubai's gross domestic product, were at the root of the 2009 crisis, London-based Capital Economics noted. Authorities say they have taken steps to limit the risks.

Four years ago, the emirate of 2.2 million people nearly defaulted on its debt after a real estate bubble burst, causing property prices to crash over 50 percent between 2008 and 2010

ubai's success in bidding to host the 2020 World Expo will trigger billions of dollars of investment in the emirate, but it may risk a repeat of the boom-and-bust cycle which nearly caused financial collapse just a few years ago. After competing against three cities, Dubai was awarded the world's fair by the Bureau International des Expositions, setting the seal on a dramatic economic recovery. Four years ago, the emirate of 2.2 million people nearly defaulted on its debt after a real estate bubble burst, causing property prices to crash over 50 percent between 2008 and 2010. Now a boom in trade, tourism and finance is repairing the damage and Dubai again has the resources to plan big projects. But some businessmen fear the additional investment for the Expo may be hard for the economy to absorb. Hopes for a successful Expo bid have already contributed to speculation in the property market, where prices are up some 20 percent over the past 12 months. Further large rises could start to hurt Dubai's economic competitiveness by rising its cost base and conceivably set the emirate up for another crash down the road. "(The Expo)...is a powerful symbol of Dubai putting the 2009 bust behind it and of the world recognizing the strengths of its political stability and its open, export-oriented real economy," said Simon Williams, chief Middle East economist for HSBC. But he added: "The key challenge policymakers now face isn't generating growth but managing it, making sure it's sustainable and well-balanced. Policy decisions over the next 12 months will determine how successful Dubai will be in avoiding a repeat of the boom-and-bust cycle further down the line." Because of Dubai's small population, the Expo
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may have more of an impact on it than most host locations. The government thinks the event will draw over 25 million visitors, 70 percent from outside the United Arab Emirates, and create 277,000 jobs - though some analysts believe those numbers may be too high. A huge exhibition centre will be built on the 438hectare Expo site, plus tens of thousands of new hotel rooms and an extension to Dubai's metro line. The government expects infrastructure spending to total some $6.8 billion; overall Expo-related

In October Dubai doubled, to 4 percent, the fee charged on land transactions in an effort to deter property speculators. The UAE central bank this year set rules to restrict mortgage lending and limit banks' loan exposure to big state firms. It is not clear if such steps will help cool the stock market. In the short term, shares may rise further because of a feel-good factor, fund managers and analysts said. However, it will take a year or two for Expo-related spending to ramp up, and the stock market rally is likely to slow well before then. "We should see a surge in the stock index and later a sell-off. The Expo is priced in but the economic benefit won't materialize before 2015," said Ali Adou, portfolio manager at The National Investor in Abu Dhabi.

spending, including private sector projects, may reach $18.3 billion, HSBC estimated. MANAGEABLE By themselves such figures, spread over seven years, look manageable for Dubai's $90 billion econ-

He recalled that when Qatar was bidding to host the 2022 soccer World Cup in 2010, its bourse performed well, and kept rising immediately after the bid succeeded. Within weeks there was a sell-off, though, and the market moved sideways in 2011. n

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ITinsighT | Flare Report

or technology executives weighing market flotations for Silicon Valley startups, recently gangbusters Twitter Inc initial public offering sent a powerful signal: full speed ahead. About a dozen private companies are valued at more than $1 billion, and many of them have already been holding informal talks with bankers. Now, many - including Box, Square and Airbnb - are likely to accelerate their IPO plans, according to venture capitalists. File-sharing company Box picked Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and JP Morgan to lead its IPO, Reuters reported recently. The company has been valued at more than $1.2 billion by private venture capital investors, but it remains unclear whether it is profitable. Twitter's lack of profits proved to be no obstacle to the micro-blogging site raising as much as $2.1 billion in its IPO. Its current share price of around $41 gives it a market value north of $22 billion. That opens the door for other big-name private companies including Square, the payments company founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, which has begun exploring the possibility of an IPO next year, according to the Wall Street Journal. Profits are not expected until 2015. Square declined to comment. Airbnb, an accommodation service, is also often cited as a potential IPO candidate. "They don't have inventory and have pretty low overhead," said analyst Michael Pachter, who believes the company is profitable. The company declined to comment. 'SOME GUY ON MADISON AVENUE' At Dropbox, a file-sharing service, Chief Executive Drew Houston said in two months ago that his

Twitter's lack of profits proved to be no obstacle to the micro-blogging site raising as much as
$2.1 billion in its IPO. Its current share price of around $41 gives it a market value north of $22 billion

Twitter IPO sparks speculation on who could follow

bermann has consistently denied that the company is considering an IPO. Jeremy Liew, a partner at Lightspeed Venture

About a dozen private companies are valued at more than $1 billion, and many of them have already been holding informal talks with bankers. Now, many - including Box, Square and Airbnb - are likely to accelerate their IPO plans, according to venture capitalists

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company, valued at $4 billion, has cash left from a recent fundraising round and is in no hurry to hold an IPO. "I'm sure we'll go public at some point, but fortunately it's not something we have to think about right now," Houston said at a Techcrunch conference. Social media service Pinterest, meanwhile, raised $225 million at a $3.8 billion valuation in October even though it had only begun to make money in September by showing ads. Chief Executive Ben Sil-

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo (R) celebrates the Twitter IPO with Twitter founders Jack Dorsey (L), Biz Stone (2nd L) and Evan Williams on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York

Partners, which invested in photo-messaging application Snapchat, said Twitter was the latest company to prove to investors that social media services can eventually turn their mass audiences into reliable revenue sources, even if they have yet to turn a profit. "Once you touch that many people, you will always figure out ways to make money," Liew said. "After you enter the popular consciousness, there'll be some guy on Madison Avenue asking, 'What's our Twitter strategy? What's our Tumblr strategy? What's our Facebook strategy? What's our Snapchat

Strategy?'" Snapchat is perhaps one of the furthest down the line. It raised $60 million earlier this year at a valuation of $800 million. A Pew Research Center study released last month said that 9 percent of U.S. mobile phone users use Snapchat. Notetaking service Evernote, which has been valued at $1 billion, has signaled for several months that it is beginning to mull an IPO, although CEO Phil Libin said an offering would still be at least two years away. SEASONAL LULL "There is no scenario in which we go public this year or next year," said Libin, noting that the company would probably raise more money in the private market before floating shares. "I don't think we're at a point yet where we are the best company we can be to go public," he said in an interview, noting that predictable and balanced revenue streams would have to be precursors to any IPO. The company, which has more than 80 million users and generates revenue from selling a $5 a month premium version of its app as well as a version for businesses, is "educating" itself about how to become IPO-ready by talking to bankers and other CEOs, including Twitter's Dick Costolo and Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, said Libin. The market's embrace of Twitter comes right as the IPO market enters what is typically a seasonal lull. Public offerings typically come to a halt around the time of the Thanksgiving holiday and do not really get started again until February or March. Kevin Hartz, a serial entrepreneur and investor who founded Xoom, a digital money transfer service that went public in February, said many in Silicon Valley believe the appetite is growing for tech IPOs. "The question entrepreneurs ask is where can you get inexpensive capital?" Hartz said. "For years private valuations were higher than public valuations. But over the past couple quarters that disparity has changed." Google Ventures partner Wesley Chan said the Twitter IPO shows that there is an appetite for exciting consumer Web companies which may not have fully developed business fundamentals. That may prompt other similar companies to try to rush to market to take advantage of the current climate, though he noted that is not something he would advise his companies to do. "You never want to be in a situation where the market rewards you based only on momentum," n

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I N T E RV I E W

gyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris, whose family controls the Orascom corporate empire, said he would invest $1 billion in Egypt in 2014 and warned that urgent measures were needed to save the economy from collapse. Nearly three years of turmoil following the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in 2011 have decimated investment and tourism in the most populous Arab state. Finances are in a precarious state, with a massive deficit. But the army-backed government, armed with a $12 billion aid package from the Gulf, has turned down the conventional wisdom of IMF-prescribed austerity measures. Sawiris said Egypt could not go on burning $1.5 billion per month in subsiding bread and fuel and other products without generating revenue. "This country for three years has been

Tycoon Sawiris to invest in Egypt, fears economic collapse

Sawiris said he, like many secularist businessmen, backed calls for army chief Abdel Fattah alSisi to run for president: "He is seen as a saviour," he said. Sawiris expressed concerns over Egypt's financial dependence on Gulf Arab states, who opposed the Brotherhood and have firmly stood behind the army-backed government. "Every year you will go to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and beg? Is this how we will feel proud about our country?" said Sawiris. The Sawiris brothers built on their father Onsi's Orascom enterprise, at one time nationalised by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1960s.

removed. But Sawiris seems preoccupied by the economy. "My worst nightmare, the economy does not grow. You will have all these poor people, who are fifty percent of the population, have another uprising and not against anybody but against everything," he said. He said the authorities should ban all protests for a year to get the economy back on track. Sawiris, who built an emerging markets telecoms empire that once stretched from North Korea to Algeria, reflected on some of his mistakes overseas. In October, the Canadian government blocked his bid to buy Manitoba Telecom Services Inc's Allstream fibre optic network, citing unspecified national security concerns. He used an expletive to dismiss the decision as nonsense. "I defy the Canadians

His Orascom group of companies is one of the biggest private sector employers in Egypt to disclose what is their security concerns. A Christian, pro-Western, pro-American guy like me? What security concern? It was a mistake to attempt a second investment in Canada. It's just a waste of time," said Sawiris. "That's why Canada is so (backward) compared to America. It's a closed economy. They like friends and family. They like to distribute the businesses between five and ten families and five and ten politicians and this is how it works in Canada. They can eat it." Sawiris was cautious about North Korea, where Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding had acquired licenses. He said he would not invest more in the oneparty state until dividends are retrieved. "We made them an offer to invest any dividends back into the country," he said. Sawiris said investment at home would grow when a new government is elected and all political sides give reconciliation a chance. Although he had taken part in the 2011 revolt against Mubarak, Sawiris said he would like to see Mubarak freed. Sawiris believes the Brotherhood has no chance of returning to power. "They (the Brotherhood) told the people they are God's people and it turned out they had no relationship with God," said Sawiris. "They told them there would be prosperity, there was no prosperity. They told them they were democratic, they were anti-democracy and dictators." n

driven into the ground and is on the verge of collapse. We are bankrupt," he told Reuters in an interview. "My concern is that basically if we don't help very fast, move the economy upwards the country will go bust...It's that bad." But the businessman, a member of the Christian minority that makes up about 10 percent of Egypt's population, still sees opportunities despite Egypt's latest political crisis, triggered by the army overthrow of elected President Mohamed Mursi in July. "I would say in 2014, I have a budget of $1 billion that I am going to invest in Egypt in various sectors - industrial, agriculture, financial, telecommunications and Internet," he said in his luxurious Cairo office overlooking the Nile. Sawiris said investors could capitalise on a lack of low-income housing and that they stood to gain in the energy and agriculture sectors. "Real estate is cheap and there are a lot of good opportunities to buy factories," he said. His Orascom group of companies is one of the biggest private sector employers in Egypt - providing more than 100,000 Egyptians with jobs according to Sawiris, who now runs a new investment firm Orascom Telecom, Media and Technology. The eldest of three billionaire businessmen brothers also founded ONTV, a popular private television channel, and is a partner in Al-Masry Al-Youm daily newspaper. Sawiris is an outspoken critic of Mursi, who hit his family with exceptional taxes.

providing jobs more than 100,000 Egyptians according to Sawiris, who now runs a new investment firm Orascom Telecom, Media and Technology

The Sawiris brothers built on their father Onsi's Orascom enterprise, at one time nationalised by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1960s

BUSINESSMAN AND POLITICIAN Sawiris also dabbled in politics, founding The Free Egyptian Party shortly after an uprising toppled Mubarak in 2011. He said his party was ready to contest elections expected early next year under a political roadmap announced by the army when Mursi was

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ahoo chief Marissa Mayer said the Internet firm will begin encrypting data to protect users from online snooping. By April of next year, Yahoo will have encryption in place to protect information shared by users of its online properties as well as information exchanged between the Internet firm's data centers, Mayer said in a blog post. Google has already begun scrambling most of the traffic at its websites as technology firms grapple with moves by US intelligence agencies to spy on what people are doing and sharing online. "As you know, there have been a number of reports over the last six months about the US government secretly accessing user data without the knowledge of tech companies, including Yahoo," Mayer said. "We will continue to evaluate how we can protect our users' privacy and their data." Mayer said that a more sophisticated encryption system will be in place at Yahoo's free Web mail service by January 8 to protect user privacy. Meanwhile, a freshly-filed lawsuit in California accuses Yahoo of violating privacy by scanning Yahoo Mail messages for information to better target advertising. The suit seeks class action status and asks that Yahoo be ordered to pay $5,000 per user, or treble that amount as permitted by civil law. Yahoo Mail reportedly has about 275 million users, according to the legal filing. "Because Yahoo's revenue model is so fundamentally dependent on advertising, and because it can increase revenues by building more accu-

INSIGHT | Flare Report

Yahoo vows to encrypt website traffic

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ritain and the United States will enlist the help of spy agencies to track down paedophiles who share images of child sex abuse online, Prime Minister David Cameron said. A joint US-UK taskforce will work with encryption experts at Britain's GCHQ communications monitoring agency and the US National Security Agency (NSA) to find offenders who operate in the darkest corners of the Internet, he said. The initiative put the capabilities of US and British electronic eavesdropping agencies in a positive light, after recent damaging revelations that the NSA and GCHQ pried into the private communications of millions of people. Cameron welcomed announcements by Google and Microsoft, which runs Bing and powers the Yahoo! search engine, to provide 'clean' results to 100,000 searches related to child sex abuse. But he told BBC radio: "The next stage is now to go after the dark net where people are sharing images peer-to-peer away from the Googles and the Microsofts. "There has been a lot in the news recently about the techniques, ability, and brilliance of the people involved in the intelligence community and GCHQ and the NSA in America," the prime minister said. "That expertise is going to be brought to bear to go after on these revolting people sharing these images on the dark net and making them available more widely." Officials said Britain's new National Crime Agency (NCA) would be joining forces with the FBI to target paedophiles using secret or encrypted networks. The new role may help rehabilitate the agencies

US, UK enlist spy agencies to fight online child porn

rate dossiers, it is strongly incentivized to gather as much personal information on users no mat-

ter how sensitive - or illegal," the lawsuit said. Yahoo scans incoming email messages regardless which service senders use, according to the lawsuit filed on behalf of a California man on November 15 in federal court in the Silicon Valley city of San Jose. Yahoo, Google, Microsoft and other Internet titans have vehemently denied ever letting US spy agencies tap directly into their data, maintaining that they have only provide information backed by courtsanctioned requests. America's ultra-secret National Security Agency reluctantly finds itself in the headlines amid a wave of disclosures from ex-intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who has exposed the service's vast electronic spying operaYahoo CEO Marissa Mayer tion. The agency uses super computers, linguists and code-breaking mathematicians to oversee what experts say is the world's most powerful digital espionage organization. n

lation to block access to illegal images if search engines failed in a "moral duty" to do so voluntarily. The problem was highlighted last week when police in Canada announced that 341 people, including teachers and doctors, were arrested around the world following an investigation into a child porn site. Cameron said the measures announced by Microsoft and Google represented a "massive breakthrough in cleaning up the Internet" and praised the industry for British Prime Minister taking action. David Cameron Google put more than 200 staff on the problem in after their role in mass surveillance came under scrutiny following the leaks by fugitive NSA con- July and on Monday announced it has developed new software to block child porn from the results of tractor Edward Snowden. more than 100,000 unique searches. 'Moral duty to act' This represents just a fraction of the 1.2 trillion Cameron was speaking after hosting an Internet safety summit with tech companies including Mi- searches conducted on Google in 2012, but the tech crosoft and Google, child protection groups, the in- giant said it would constantly monitor the latest dustry-funded Internet Watch Foundation and the terms being used by paedophiles. "While society will never wholly eliminate such NCA. The British government has been pushing for ac- depravity, we should do everything in our power to tion from the industry since the middle of 2013, after protect children from harm," said executive chairtwo high-profile child sex murders in which the man Eric Schmidt. The restrictions will initially apply to Englishkillers were found to have searched for child porn onspeaking countries but will be expanded to 158 other line. In July, Cameron threatened to introduce legis- languages within six months. n

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INSIGHT

Azhar Javed
tential. They are a lot less harmful than smoking. Clearly smokers find them attractive, primarily as a way of quitting and moving away from smoking, which they know will kill them," she told AFP. "I think the jury's out and these products need regulating because there's a real concern that their safety and effectiveness is not guaranteed without regulation. "The tobacco companies are moving in. For them it's potentially a 'Kodak moment' because if everyone moved to e-cigarettes, they'd lose their market so they've got to be in there. A lot of the bigger e-cigarette companies have already been bought up." She warned: "If there are carcinogens in there, you won't see an immediate effect but 10, 15, 20 years down the line, people will be dying from that. "The development of e-cigarettes is definitely running ahead of the science."

Cigarettes are killing 5.4 million people per year in the world. E-cigarettes could save millions of lives, but the debate was about "whether that goal can be realised and how best to do it"

witching to e-cigarettes could save millions of smokers' lives, a conference on the rapidly expanding use of the devices heard, though some delegates warned more research on the health effects is needed. The merits of e-cigarettes were thrashed out at a one-day gathering of some 250 scientists, experts, policymakers and industry figures at the Royal Society in London. The use of electronic cigarettes -battery-powered devices that simulate smoking by heating and vaporising a liquid solution containing nicotine -- has grown rapidly, with tobacco manufacturers jump on the trend. Sales have doubled annually for the last four years and there are an estimated seven million users across Europe. European lawmakers recently threw out a bid to curb sales of e-cigarettes by classifying them as medicinal products. Delegates in London debated how the market had moved faster than science or the law. Many delegates merrily "vaped" away throughout the conference sessions including one man puffing away on an e-pipe and another inhaling an e-cigar that lit up blue. "Cigarettes are killing 5.4 million people per year in the world," said Robert West, a health psychology professor and the director of tobacco studies at Cancer Research UK. He told delegates switching to e-cigarettes could save millions of lives, but the debate was about "whether that goal can be realised and how best to do it". The professor said almost a third of attempts to
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E-cigarettes rising, but risks still unknown

The use of electronic cigarettes -- battery-powered devices that simulate smoking by heating
quit smoking involved e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes 'running ahead of science' Though they are estimated to be between 95 and 99 percent safer than smoking cigarettes, some countries have banned them and attendees debated the thorny issue of whether regulation -- possibly under medicinal rules -- should be brought in. exponentially. Since starting in 2009 as an online retailer with three workers, the company now employs 75 people and has 10 stores. They retail a starter kit for 25 ($40, 30 euros), while a refill costs 4.85 for 10 millilitres. An average user might get through one to three millilitres per day, he said. The e-liquids come in a multitude

Jacques Le Houezec, a consultant in public health and tobacco dependence from France, confirmed the booming growth was being driven by smokers, not laboratory experts. He told delegates that while e-cigarettes contained some harmful substances, the levels of toxicants were nine to 450 times lower than in cigarette smoke. Matthew Moden, a director of English firm Liberty Flights, which makes e-liquid from pharmaceutical-grade nicotine, said the market had grown

and vaporising a liquid solution containing nicotine -- has grown rapidly, with tobacco manufacturers jump on the trend

They also debated their potential as a tool to quit smoking or whether they might become a gateway for those who have never smoked. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the Action on Smoking and Heath (ASH) pressure group, said e-cigarettes could be a leap forward for public health but warned that not enough was known about their effects -- and pointed out that the tobacco companies are snapping up the e-cigarette manufacturers. "ASH thinks that e-cigarettes have significant po-

of flavours, including menthol and forest fruits. "Our customers always refer to this as the product that helped them to stop smoking," he said. "We welcome regulation. We need to be transparent with what we're selling, how safe it is and where it comes from. "In 10, 12, 20 years' time, I think nicotine will be akin to caffeine in regard to how people consume it, how it's considered and the effect it has on the body." n

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TELEPEDIA | Flare Report

oogle-owned Motorola Mobility moved to shake up the global smartphone market with an entry-level handset aimed at cost-sensitive consumers around the world, many in em erging markets. The new Moto G handset will sell at less than $200 without a contract in the US market and, around the world, will be around one-third the price of top-line Apple iPhones and Samsung devices. "Moto G is a smartphone that delivers a premium experience with today's technology," Motorola chief Dennis Woodside said in unveiling the phone in the Brazilian business hub Sao Paulo. "Half a billion people will buy a phone for under $200." The new device is a low-cost version of the Moto X released earlier this year in the United States, lacking some features such as a high-density camera and the ability to access the fastest networks. In Brazil, known for high electronics duties, the lowest price for the Moto G will sell for around $280, or 650 reals. That is still well below the price of an iPhone, which can cost more than $1,000 in Brazil, or premium phones like Samsung's Galaxy S4.

The new Moto G handset will sell at less than $200 without a contract in the US market and,
around the world, will be around one-third the price of top-line Apple iPhones and Samsung devices
choice between two very bad options," he said. "The first option is to buy an old technology that doesn't work well with applications like Google maps... the second option is to buy an old premium phone that was typically released in the US two or three years ago. We think the industry should deliver more value for the consumer's dollar." The handset packs in a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 5-megapixel and 1.3-megapixel cameras front and rear. cost-conscious-consumers. This device is likely intended for emerging markets where users want low cost smartphones, but I think it could also be successful in major markets like the US for those same cost-conscious-consumers." Woodside said the phone goes on sale immediately in Brazil and some European markets, and will hit the United States and a total of 30 countries by early next year. In the United States, the price for an unlocked

Motorola aims at new markets with Moto G smartphone

CEO Motorola Dennis Woodside

The Moto G features a 4.5 inch (11.5 cm) display and all-day battery, and will include the latest versions of the Google Android operating system. Woodside said the phone would be especially attractive in emerging markets around where carrier subsidies for phones are rare and consumers are reluctant to pay $600 or more for a handset. "Our industry forced consumers to make a

The new device is a low-cost version of the Moto X released earlier this year in the United States, lacking some features such as a high-density camera and the ability to access the fastest networks

This will allow the phone to "punch above its weight," said Punit Soni, software product manager for Motorola. IDC market analyst Ramon Llamas said the device won't work on high-speed LTE networks but that "most of the initial markets don't have LTE networks. 3G will do just fine." Llamas said in a tweet: "Users in emerging markets are price sensitive, but not ignorant of what a quality smartphone is. #MotoG is addressing that need." Others said the phone would be in between the premium smartphones like the iPhone, and barebones models like those using the Firefox operating system. "Moto G in emerging markets is more a competitor for LG, HTC & Lenovo... It will certainly put more pressure on Nokia Asha," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi, referring to the low-cost device from the Finnish handset maker. Independent telecom analyst Jeff Kagan said: "The Moto G is intended to attract the attention of

entry-level Moto G will be $179. It will have dual SIM capability to allow consumers to roam in other countries with a second identity. It will also allow "19 customization options, including interchangeable Motorola shells and flip shells in seven colors as well as grip shells in five colors," according to a Motorola blog post. Brazil, with its population of 200 million, has a reported 262.2 million cellphones and around 27 million people have a smartphone. Recent research by Gartner Inc predict mobilephone growth hitting 5.2 percent in 2014, outstripping 3.7 percent this year with consumers chasing competitively-priced handsets fueling the rise. Google bought Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in May 2012, aiming to revive the struggling former star of the mobile sector and use it to battle for smartphone supremacy with the Android platform. Google also sells its own Nexus-branded phones manufactured by South Korea's LG. n

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uawei announced its partnership with Liga De Ftbol Profesional (LFP) at an official signing ceremony held in Beijing. The sponsorship will provide another opportunity for Huawei to share its Make it Possible message among consumers, following partnerships with some of the worlds top football teams including Germanys Borussia Dortmund (BVB), Italys AC Milan and New Zealands Wellington Phoenix. As part of the contract, in season of 2013 to 2014, Huawei will become LFPs global technology partner and launch a series of integrated marketing activities worldwide to promote the professional football league. The partnership entitles Huawei to pre-install LFPs official APP on its smartphones in Spain, enabling people around the country to follow the live LFP information, while Huawei summer camps will give football fans the chance to experience Spanish football culture. The APP is already available on selected HUAWEI smartphone models currently on sale in Spain. In addition to this, Huawei will have access to LFPs trademark, logo, mascot, group player images and other exclusive assets for use in promotional materials. The signing ceremony was attended by Huawei Consumer Business Group executives Vice President Jeff Liu and Marketing Vice President, Shao Yang, who were joined by LFP President, Javier, Fernando Sanz, Former Real Madrid player and Mexican foot-

Huawei signs partnership agreement with LFP

New deal with worlds leading professional football organization will bring Huaweis Make it Possible message to consumers globally

INSIGHT | Flare Report

believe that this partnership will increase football fans passion and excitement for both football and technology. Hugo Snchez Mrquez, who led his team to be a five-time consecutive champion of the League, said, This is a wonderful partnership and I am sure Huawei smartphones will bring our football fans a completely new experience and create massive excitement in the world, just like football has done! In 2013, Huawei announced a series of football sponsorships worldwide with renowned clubs in-

Advertising at its core!

ball legend and LFP ambassador, Hugo Snchez Mrquez. Huaweis LFP sponsorship demonstrates our Make it Possible message, which is our promise to help people achieve their dreams by bringing quality products within reach, said Jeff Liu. The cooperation brings together two top brands in their field, creating win-win opportunities for both. Javier Tebas said, As the one of the top professional football league in the world, we are very pleased to enter into cooperation with Huawei. We

cluding AC Milan, BVB and Wellington Phoenix, which has been positively received by consumers. Huawei was the number three smartphone manufacturer globally in Q3 2013 according to reports published by IDC, Strategy Analytics and Canalys. In 2014, Huawei will launch a series of innovative LTE devices and further build its brand among consumers through a joint passion for football and its Make it Possible commitment to create unlimited possibilities for people everywhere. n

oday advertising agencies are having neckand-neck competition in the market. Therefore, the advertising agencies have to be there for the client in every possible way and need to broaden the scope of work. In a brand age and competitive environment, agencies are working head-to-head with the brands to grab the share of mind in the consumer market. In order to pull off creativity, an agency needs to think out of the box to firm its feet in the market. Aura Communication is an end to end marketing and advertising agency based in Lahore and Faisalabad. It was founded by Hasan Raza (CEO). He is focusing on strategic marketing and advertising services. Aura has an extensive experience of brand strategy, marketing planning and creative for brand com58

munication. They are providing the scope of print and electronic media buying services including social and digital media management, also producing local and international TV commercials. Aura has well established team of 15 talented professionals (creative, dedicated, focused and multitalented) from top notch educational institutes that utterly ensure to meet the expectations of the client as well as help them cultivating their brand. We have full-fledged team including client service management, strategy and planning, concept and design, social media and production control department. Aura is also welcomes fresh talented individuals who could raise the bar of the agency. Aura believes in combining strategic thinking with clutter-breaking creativity positioned perfectly in the right media to enhance the brand equity. Aura Communication has developed a non conventional image to the top notch brands in consumer and corporate sector including above the line and digital media marketing with brands such as Huawei, Marhaba Laboratories, Nurpur, LG, Urban Sole, Smartkall, The Smart School and several other B category brands. n

Google Confirms Click Fraud

Google has now confirmed that user-identified click-fraud (the clicks not already filtered by Google) is actually less than 0.02% of all Google clicks. In addition, the average rate of invalid clicks (Googles term for clicks that are filtered automatically and not charged to advertisers) is less than 10% of all clicks.

Not publicized by Google but I certainly stressed to them they should make a deal of is that their click fraud numbers are vetted and audited by an outside company. These numbers are not just plucked out of the air by Ghosemajumder. In an effort to respond to concerns raised by advertisers and so-called click fraud detection companies, Google also plans a number of initiatives for the coming year. Advertisers will get enhanced reporting, a Google guide to click fraud, and a standard method for reporting invalid clicks to Google. The most intriguing new feature will no doubt bring applause, but also call the bluff on advertisers claiming click fraud foul. n

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NATIONAL MOSAIC | Flare Report

Children presenting bouquets to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his arrival for 1000+ National Consultation Conference on Pakistan Vision 2025 & 11th Five Year Plan 2013-2018 at Jinnah Convention Center

State Minister for IT & Telecom Division, Anusha Rahman along with Akhlaq Tarrar, Secretary IT, Azmat Ranjha, Additional Secretary (IT) being updated by Ismail Shah, Chairman (PTA) regarding grey trafficking in islamabad

Secretary M/O Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Dr. Nazir Saeed in a group photo with Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan, Jesper m. Sorensen, Ammara Durrani from SFCG and others at National Peace Summit in Islamabad

Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Khurram Khan, Managing Trustee Kaghan Memorial Trust exchanging documents after singing the documents at a ceremony at Japanese Embassy.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit, Baltistan, Ch Muhammad Barjees Tahir giving away cheques of compensation to LoC affectees at Rawlakot

Woman player in action during 8th Shama Brigadier Farhat Sabir (Shaheed) Memorial All Pakistan Multan Amateur Golf Tournament at Golf Club.

Visitors taking pictures during their visit at the resort of Daman-e-Koh

Secretary Aviation & Chairman PIA, Muhammad Ali Gardezi inspected the Boeing 737-800 aircraft inducted in PIA fleet on arrival at Jinnah International Airport. Also seen in the picture is MD PIA, Muhammad Junaid Yunus and senior officials of the airline.

Warid commercial team during cake cutting ceremony held at Warid Head Office (standing from left Asma Khan, Director International Business, Adnan Anjum Director Pricing and Segments, Sadaf Zarrar Director Marcom, Nauman Fakhar VP CS, Suhail Jan VP Sales and Distribution, Warid Telecom.)

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NATIONAL MOSAIC | Flare Report

Amir Pasha Head of PR and CSR Ufone handing over the cheque to Munzar Ata Member Board of Trustees Air Cdre Rizwanullah Khan Shaheed Memorial Trust.

HBL entered into a strategic partnership with Total Parco Pakistan for ATM partnership on the occasion both HBL and Total officials are signing an agreement.

Spouses of Pakistani diplomats in a group photo in front of displayed Pakistani cuisine and handicraft during Delhi Commonwealth Women Association Annual International Bazaar

President Mamnoon Hussain being presented bouquets by children on his arrival at Pakistan National Council of Arts, Islamabad

Air Chief Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force in a group photograph with the PAF crew at Dubai Air Show-2013.

Information Technology Minister Anusha Rahman meeting with Jon Fredrik Baksaas, CEO, Telenor Group during ITU Telecom World 2013 in Bangkok.

Federal Minister for Industries & Production Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi in a group photo with delegates at inaugural session of "International Workshop on Energy Policy in the APO region" in Islamabad

Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Senator Pervaiz Rashid distributing certificates among the participants of Electronic Media Training Course on Post-Election Reporting in Lahore

Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-Gen Khalid Rabbani, Air Vice Marshal Arshad Malik, Air Officer Northern Air Command and IGFC Major Ghayoor Mehmood pose in a group photograph with the teams of FC and PAF at the prize distribution ceremony of the Corps Commander Polo Cup played at PPC ground

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NATIONAL NEWS

Mobilink brings Pakistan Idol to masses

Lahore: Mobilinks mobile auditions have received 10,861 entries from participants aspiring to participate in Pakistan Idol. The Mobilink mobile auditions mark the first time in the history of the global reality show that participants have been able to send in their nominations using call-ins. As the official cellular partner of Pakistan Idol, Mobilink took on the responsibility of empowering 37 million sub-

Lahore: QMobile has introduced Noir Z4, a new smartphone in the high end Z series. This is the first smartphone from QMobile which is rich in terms of hardware packed inside and meets the current high end specification standards. Noir Z4 looks like Huaweis flagship device Ascend P6. It features a 5-inch IPS display with HD resolution and Gorilla Glass protection.

QMobile introduces QuadCore Noir Z4

scribers on its network by providing them access to Pakistan Idol through their mobile phones. The resulting call-in nominations were received from over 850 cities, towns and villages from across Pakistan. Farid Ahmad, Vice President Marketing, Mobilink said, Our support for Pakistan Idol is part of our belief in the inherent talent of the people of Pakistan. As Pakistans telecom industry leader, Mobilink

understands its responsibility to provide an equal opportunity across the length and breadth of the country to participate in the worlds largest music reality show. Mobilink takes great pride in having increased the outreach of Pakistan Idol to over 850 locations across Pakistan. Pakistan Idol will follow a similar pattern as the international Idol series. A total of 100 participants are to be finalized in the first round, based on in-person and mobile auditions. 40 will be further shortlisted to reach the Theater Round where they will compete in group and individual performances. The Piano round will be the final stage of the competition, with 13 contestants performing over several weeks for the coveted title of Pakistan Idol. n

6th consecutive award for Advance Telecom

The

new

smartphone

which is just 7.7mm thin packs a quad-core Cortex A7 processor clocked at 1.5GHz with PowerVR 5XT GPU, 2GB of RAM and 32GB Internal memory. Z4 features a 13megapixel rear camera with single LED flash and 5megapixel camera on the front. Both cameras can record HD videos. The phone is priced at Rs 35,000 and available in two colors, black and white. n

Islamabad: The Information Technology (IT) services exports had enhanced by 97.34 percent in the last five years, says a document of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications. According to the data presented in the National Assembly, the country plans to increase IT services exports by 271 percent in the next five years. It said 25 percent growth ratio in IT services would be achieved in 2013-14, 28 percent growth in 2014-15, 30 percent in 2015-16, 32 percent in 2016-17, 35 percent in2016-17 and 35 percent IT services growth targets have been set for the financial year 2017-18. The country has set the targets of achieving US$ 3,774.285 million IT services exports in the next five years. In 2013-14 the IT services exports have been fixed at Rs 414.389 million, $ 530.418 million in 2014-15, $689.543 million in 2015-16, $ 910.197 million in 2016-17 and $ 1,229.738 million in 2017-18. A total of 17 private enterprises of the country have achieved the targets of exceeding one million US dollars in IT

Pakistan IT services exports rose 97.34%

Telenor launches free insurance service

services exports, the documentsaid quoting Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). Pakistans IT services exports were US$ 333.51 million with the growth rate of 21.07 percent in financial year 2012-13. In the financial year, 2011-12, the countrys exports grew by 16.35 percent, and remained US$ 273.814 million. The IT services growth were 14.93 percent, while total exports were US$ 235.334 million in the financial year 2010-11. Likewise, In 200910, the countrys IT services exports were US$ 204.763 million, a growth of 1.41 percent. In 2008-09, the countrys exports were US$ 201.903 million-thus having a growth ratio of 19.46 percent. Over 100 countries are procuring IT services from Pakistan. The USA exporters 40 percent IT services from Pakistan. Other major exporters included United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK), Netherlands, China, Bahrain, Singapore, Canada, Germany, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Thiland, Malaysia, Switzerland, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland and South Korea. n

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Lahore: Advance Telecom, Pakistans leading mobile phone distributor and Nokias official preferred partner, wins Nokia IMEA Outstanding Performance Award for the 6th consecutive time. Advance Telecom is the only company who has achieved this milestone 6th consecutive time in Nokia mobile phones business in Pakistan. The award was presented to Advance Telecom in a recently held Nokia World Con-

From left to right: Asif Majid (Director), Hannan Asif (Director Sales), Arto Nummela (Senior Vice President) Nokia IMEA, Rizwan Majid (CEO Advance Telecom) and James Rutherford (Vice President) NENA IMEA Region.

ference 2013 in Abu Dhabi. Advance Telecom CEO Rizwan Majid along with Asif Majid (Director) and Hannan Asif (Director Sales) received the prestigious award from Mr. Arto Nummela (Senior Vice President) Nokia IMEA & James Rutherford (Vice President) NENA IMEA Region. Advance Telecom CEO Rizwan Majid in his interview thanked all the business partners and valued customers for their trust and support without

which this milestone would have not been possible.He also mentioned that the 6th consecutive award is not only a matter of pride for Advance Telecom but also for business partners, valued customers as well as for Pakistan. He further saidthat thecontinuous support and encouragement of business partners and valued customers would inspire and motivate the company to achieve greater success in the future. n

Islamabad: Telenor has announced the launch of TelenorTalkshawk Mohafiz Zindagi Beema in collaboration with Jubilee Life Insurance Company and MicroEnsure Pakistan. Talkshawk Mohafiz Zindagi Beema is cellular industrys first free insurance offering, which is aimed at providing affordable and hassle free service to its customers, many of whom have no insurance cover. The offer enables Talkshawk subscribers consuming a balance of at least Rs 200 per month to avail life insurance ranging from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 100,000 for the next month, depending on monthly mobile usage. Addressing the launch ceremony, Usman Javaid, Director Marketing, Telenor Pakistan said, Talkshawk Mohafiz Zindagi Beema is yet another unique of-

Islamabad: In a bizarre move, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) imposes ban on the usage of social media in all of its offices. According to a media report, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) imposed ban on the usage of

ECP bans usage of social media in its offices

fering to provide absolute convenience to our customers while protecting them from financial worries as a result of unforeseen events. With the aim to keep on enhancing customer experience and enabling them to leverage their mobile connection for more than just telecommunications, we are glad to launch this service today. Telenor Pakistan is committed to providing its customers with a robust portfolio of services and will continue to elevate customer experience with innovative offerings like Talkshawk Mohafiz Zindagi Beema. Talkshawk Mohafiz Zindagi Beemas policy plan gives non-exclusion insurance cover to its subscribers in all cases, irrespective of the cause of death. Insurance claims will be payable to a pre-defined beneficiary or legal title holder. n

social media in all of its offices to avoid any computer virus. Facebook, Twitter are were among several other social media sites banned by the commission. The restriction would be imposed for all offices of ECP across the country. n

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NATIONAL NEWS

JoSH joins the Galaxy of Stars with Samsung

range of innovative Smart devices by Samsung, one of the most loved brands globally. It is amongst the much awaited Smartphones by Samsung that comes with a beautiful Large 4.0 screen that brings out the colors in an amazing manner and is easy to use. Further, the phone runs on a powerful A5 1GHz Processor and the latest Android Jelly Bean, making everyday tasks easy and fun. A High Quality camera adds to that. You can enjoy Social Media, connect with friends and family and access unlimited applications through both the Google Play Store & Samsung Apps. Commenting on their association with Samsung Mobile Pakistan, Rup Magon from JoSH Band said, It is an honor for us to be the ambassadors of the worlds best Smartphone brand. Samsung celebrates talent and creates the future we are all working hard for. This will certainly be an exciting journey for us, Samsung customers, and our

Lahore: Samsung Electronics has signed on famous and leading international music band JoSH as its Brand Ambassador for Smart devices. Continuing with its practice to offer and choose the best, Samsung Mobile Pakistan has taken JoSH on

Islamabad: Mobilink Foundation and its Torchbearers (employee volunteers) have initiated a collection drive for non-food items as the second phase of relief operations for Awaraan, Baluchistan.

Mobilink begins 2nd phase of earthquake relief

board to promote its exciting range of Smartphones and other smart devices through various activities. The Internationally acclaimed band shall be a part of the various upcoming campaigns to be launched by the Worlds no.1 Smartphone Brand, Samsung. JoSHs association with Sam-

Samsung team with Josh Band

sung shall complement the superior quality, experience and image of the Smartphones marketed by the technology giant. JoSH is currently working on a television commercial for Galaxy Star Pro that would be aired soon. Galaxy Star Pro is a latest addition to a wide

distributed in the affected regions. Omar Manzur, Head of Corporate Communications, Mobilink highlighted, The situation in Baluchistan is grave with the lack of shelter

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The onset of winter has created an urgent need for warm clothing, blankets and temporary shelter for families who have lost their homes and livelihoods in the disaster. In late October, Mobilink Foundation had sent one consignment of waterproof material to Awaraan. Mobilink Torchbearers (employee volunteers) have now set up relief camps at Mobilink offices across Pakistan, that are collecting clothing, bed sheets, blankets, kitchen utensils, curtains and floor mats. Mobilink Foundation has also made arrangements with the Pakistan Army to ensure that the collected material is transported and

and basic necessities being a serious cause for concern. Mobilink Foundation and its Torchbearers continue to work together to ensure we can help our fellow Pakistanis in their time of need. Mobilink Foundation was the first from the corporate sector to mobilize relief for earthquake affectees. This initiative began with the delivery of water supplies in the week after the disaster. This was followed by the delivery of food supplies in collaboration with the Government of Baluchistan to distribute food assistance in various relief camps in the vicinity of Awaran and surrounding areas. n

Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL), the largest Information Communications Technology (ICT) services provider is now enabling its 2Mbps customers to upgrade to 4Mbps broadband package without any additional charges. The upgrade offer provides 2Mbps customers the opportunity to enjoy higher speeds and enhanced broadband experience, free of cost for two months. Customers can enjoy 4Mbps speeds at only Rs 1,549 per month, the existing price of 2Mbps broadband package. The offer is valid for both existing and new PTCL customers. Aasif Inam, PTCL Executive Vice President (EVP) Wire-line Business said, Our broadband products are geared towards delivering innovation and accessibility. PTCL is committed to provide lasting and effective customer experience and this offer is aimed at rewarding our customers and giving them more value for their money. The promotional package will expire on 31st December 2013 and discounted 4Mbps rates of Rs.1, 999 per month will apply after the expiry date. Customers can opt out of this offer by calling 1236 or by contacting their nearest PTCL One Stop Shop (OSS). n

PTCL rewards customers through free 4 Mbps upgrade

Warid commemorates Iqbal Day

fans. Our latest campaign for Galaxy Star Pro shall be launching soon and we are really looking forward to it. Were sure the Samsung Smartphone users would enjoy Galaxy Star Pro as much as we have. Farid Ullah Jan, Head of Mobile phones division at Samsung EC Pakistan highlighted, We are very excited about this partnership with JoSH. We want to connect with our customers delightfully and we find all these values in their music which enthralls all segments of our customers. Their songs showcase both modern and traditional music and have a huge fan following across Pakistan, South Asia and around the world. He continued, Samsung Mobile as a brand is born out of a commitment to relentlessly pursue a better tomorrow by creating the future hand in hand with our smart customers through innovation and an optimism that says its all possible. n

Lahore: To commemorate Allama Iqbal Day, Warid Telecom has launched the Poetry Junction service to entertain and capture the interest of all poetry lovers of Pakistan. Poetry is the art form which is read, heard and appreciated by all segments of the society and receives special appreciation in literary circles. Through this service Warid aims to provide a platform to all poetry lovers to listen and record poetry in their own voice. Subscriber to the poetry junction service will be able to Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has received very encouraging response from the local and international firms for its offer of spectrum auction consultancy. The proposals submitted by various consultants for spectrum auction for next generation mobile services in Pakistan were opened at PTA office on 12th November at 01:30 pm by the Evaluation Committee constituted for the evaluation of the bids. In response to PTAs advertisements for the hiring of a consultant of international repute, published in national and international newspapers and

PTA gets bids for 3G auction consultant

listen to poems, ghazals or any kind of poetry to their loved ones. Subscriber can also listen to audio documentaries, dictionary, and poetry explanation. Warid subscribers have to dial 7878 to activate this service. Warids poetry junction service is available for both Prepaid and Postpaid subscriber. IVR charges for prepaid customers are Rs. 0.20+ tax per minute and rental charges are Rs. 0.50 + tax per day. Subscription charges for postpaid are Rs. 15.00+ tax per month and IVR charges are Rs. 0.20+ tax per minute.

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on PPRA website, a total of 7 bids were received from various consulting firms. PTA will finalize the selection of consultants after evaluating the technical and financial proposals in accordance with the relevant rules. The selected consultant (s) would be responsible for providing professional analysis, input, and advice/recommendations on the whole auction process as per PTAs RFP and ToR, and for the successful completion of auction in a transparent manner, averting collusion, ensuring competition and complete transparency in the auction process. n

NATIONAL NEWS

Islamabad: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and National Heritage has issued 72 licenses to FM radios in the last five years. In a written reply to the question of Saman Sultana Jaffri Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid said 11 FM radio licenses were issued in year 2008 20 in year 2009 4 in year 2010 14 in 2011 and 23 licenses have been issued in 2012. n

72 FM radio licenses in 5 years: NA told

Karachi: Meezan Bank, Pakistans first and largest Islamic bank, was awarded Islamic Bank of the Year and Corporate Finance House of the Year (Fixed Income) 2012 award by the CFA Society Pakistan at its 10th Annual Excellence Awards. This was the fourth consecutive year that Meezan Bank was awarded Islamic Bank of the Year by CFA Society Pakistan. The Corporate Finance House of the Year award was given in recognition of Meezan Banks Investment Banking performance in 2012, where the Bank successfully provided various ground breaking tailored solutions to blue chip corporate clients and arranged structured financing of over Rs. 42 billion. Some of the eminent transactions during the year included advisory and arrangement of Short Term Sukuks for HUBCO, KAPCO, and Engro Fertilizer, Certificates of Leasing for SSGC and Ghani Glass and Syndicated Financing for Mobilink and Shifa Hospital. n

Meezan Bank wins Islamic Bank of the Year award

Islamabad: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has concluded an enquiry and issued a show cause notice to Shangrila (Pvt.) Limited for indulging into alleged deceptive marketing practices by making a claim of being No. 1 tomato ketchup in Pakistan. CCP received a complaint from National Foods Limited alleging that Shangrila has recently launched a marketing campaign through print and outdoor advertising media all across Pakistan for Shangrila Ketchup and claimed that their ketchup is No 1 in Pakistan. It was also alleged in the complaint that the claim of Shangrila is prominently displayed on all of its advertisements and lacks a reasonable

CCP issues notice to firm on deceptive PSO & LUMS to work marketing practices
basis. CCPs Office of Fair Trade (OFT) has initiated an enquiry against the claim made by Shangrila and concluded that the overall net impression of the marketing campaign/ advertisement is that Shangrilla is Pakistans No. 1 Tomato Ketchup, whereas the actual market share of National Foods was higher than Shangrila. National Foods holds a major share in the Total Urban Pakistan in the category of Ketchup. It has a market volume share of 49.2 and value share of 50.8 whereas Shangrila ketchup has the market volume share of 20.7 and value share of 20.1 at the time of marketing campaign. It was also noted that Shangrila has made Brand of the Year Award the basis to authenticate its claim of being No.1 in Pakistan. However, upon enquiry, Brands Foundation has clarified that their award never empowers the receiver to make a claim of being No.1 in Pakistan. The CCP enquiry concluded that the claim of Shangrilla not only lacks a reasonable basis regarding character, suitability for use, or quality of goods but is also capable of harming the business interest of National Foods in violation of Section 10 of the Competition Act. Therefore a show cause notice was issued to Shangrilla for making a deceptive claim during their advertising and they were called upon for hearing on a given date. n Karachi: The Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO), the oil marketing leader and one of the largest companies in Pakistan, has undertaken a major human resource development and organisational transformation initiative in line with best international practices. A official of the organisation said that in this regard, a high level seminar by Professor Zafar Iqbal Qureshi was organised here at the PSO House which was attended by members of management of PSO from across the country, many of whom participated through video conferencing. Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi is one of the founders of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and the Chief of Party, Assessment and Strengthening Programme currently funded by US AID. He has over 40 years of experience and his research interests are in the areas of change management, leadership and organizational design and performance management. In his presentation, Dr Zafar Iqbal gave an overview of change management and its positive impact on organisational development. He apprised the audience on the benefits of effective and organisational development which included an organisation's ability to successfully meet current and future business challenges while enhancing the return on investment. He further outlined that change management is a gradual process and one which needs to be communicated, accepted and implemented by employees at all levels in order to be truly effective in bringing about actual change in the Company. Speaking at the occasion, Managing Director PSO, Amjad Parvez Janjua, said that the Company considers its human resource capital as a strategic asset. He said that PSO is focused on the development of its human resource in line with the international best practices by providing employees with growth and development opportunities through various customised training sessions. By doing so the Company aims to maximise employee productivity and enhance the Company's overall performance. This seminar was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Center for Governance and Public Management (CGPM), Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB) of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). By signing this MoU, PSO and CGPM, SBDS will initiate efforts to build PSO's organisational capacity through assessment of organisational development needs and structuring of training programmes for different tiers of the organisation.

together

UBL joins hands with Buksh Energy

Karachi: UBL has partnered with M/s Buksh Energy to provide financing for alternate energy (Solar) solutions to individual farmers, meeting

Islamabad: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reminded the general public to exchange the decimal coins of Paisa 1,2,5,10,25 and 50 from the field offices of SBP BSC and commercial /microfinance banks branches by last working day of September 30, 2014. A statement of the Central Bank issued on Wednesday said that for awareness of general public, SBP has advised the Commercial /Microfinance Banks to display posters/banners at visible places of their branches for exchange of decimal coins. It may be recalled that the federal government has already notified that coins of Paisa 1,2,5,10,25 & 50 will cease to be legal tender on October 1, 2014. However, it can be exchanged from the field offices of SBP BSC and branches of banks till September 30, 2014. n

SBP reminds public to exchange decimal coins

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Islamabad: In an attempt to discourage grey trafficking in Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and FIA have joined hands recently. A team of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has recently apprehended employees of a private company Wisecomm after uncovering their involvement in grey trafficking. The action was taken on the complaint of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA. Responding to complaint, FIA conducted a raid on 4th November, 2013 and found a long distance International (LDI) operator Wisecomm Private Limited involved in grey trafficking. According to officials, recent raid on Wisecomm (Pvt) Ltd, one of the companies engaged in such activity has revealed that timely action of FIA and PTA helped in preventing millions of rupees monthly losses to national exchequer. Preliminary investigation from accused revealed that the company was terminating millions of illegal minutes on their set ups established at Rawalpindi and Lahore which was resulting in loss of

Wisecomm bank accounts seized on grey traffic

billion of rupees to the national exchequer. The LDI worker was terminating approximately 360,000 illegal international

their irrigation as well as domestic power demands. With this partnership, UBL aims to serve the farming community through financing of Solar

Tube Wells for energy conservation. A signing ceremony to this effect was held at the UBL Head Office. Ali Hasnain, Group Executive, Retail Bank, Ms. Fiza Farhan, Chief Executive, Buksh Energy (Pvt) Limited, Mr. Abrar Mir, Group Head Branchless & Ebanking, Mr. Najmul Hasan, Head Credit International, Mr. Ashfaq Akbar, Head Deposit Products & Marketing Services, Mr. Aslam Nizamani, Divisional Head Agribusiness, Mr. Osman Saeed Kazi, Divisional Head Commercial Assets and Mr. Zeeshan Israr, Cluster Head Agribusiness-Central North were present at the signing. n

minutes on daily basis. After due legal process, an FIR was launched against the Board of Directors; Tariq Sharif Bhatti, Saaqib Mehmood, Muhammad Abdul Qadeer Awan, Rizwan Younas, Kashan Ghazi, Hamid Bilal, Naeem Abbas Anjum and Ali Khalid. Naeem Abbas Anjum and Ali Khalid were arrested red handed while operating illegal Termination of International Voice Traffic from the aforementioned location and equipment used for illegal termination of voice traffic was

also seized and sent to forensic lab for analysis. Thirteen bank accounts of Wisecomm Systems have been seized. During interrogation, accused disclosed that company was running highly technical and sophisticated network based in Italy, UK and Greece for illegal Voice Termination in Pakistan to evade monitoring systems of PTA, moreover the company was running the illegal network for last many years. As per technical reports prepared by the technical team of FIA, NR3C, approximate loss of $1 million was being inflicted to the national exchequer per month. Further startling revelations are expected during ongoing process of investigation and recovery of evidence from digital media seized from locations. During the investigation it was revealed that some senior officials of FIA and PTA were facilitating the companies involved in gery trafficking. Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan has ordered inquiry to sort out officials involved in this heinous crime. He asked authorities to submit report in this regard. n

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Karachi: While continuously striving to extend paramount services to its customers, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), one of the regions most IT-enabled utility employs state-of-the-art technologies, through regular induction of best business practices. The highly skilled and talented team of Information Technology department along with associate departments recently accomplished yet another triumph that stands huge by all standards. The team saved well over $3.0 million by upgrading the prime technologies entirely through the deployment of its own personnel and resources, without taking the help of external consultants. The team saved over $1.8 million in upgrading Com-

SSGC saves $3.0 million through inhouse tech upgradation

panys Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) whereas over $2.0 million were saved in the up-gradation of Customer Care and Billing (CC&B). As many as 15 modules of the Oracle eBusiness Suite were upgraded from version 11i to version R12 whereas the database was upgraded from version 9i to version 10g. The CC&Bs database was upgraded from 10gR2 to 11gR2 with its applications enhancing from Oracles version 1.5.20 to 2.3.1. The enormous success of these projects materialized due to the vision of Companys management that long ago envisaged an investment in its own human resource rather than hiring any external expertise. Extensive trainings arranged for Companys ERP

NATIONAL NEWS

Karachi: The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the recent turmoil created for petty gains is damaging country and its economy. The recent power struggle among political parties is hurting national solidarity, disuniting and dividing the masses, and discouraging business community, it said. Recent hue and cry over a non-issue is a great threat to the country as well as the unsound democracy while needless criticism of the important national institutions will weaken the country and embolden the enemies of Pakistan, said Zubair Ahmed Malik, President FPCCI. No one can undermine the sacrifices of masses as well as that of the armed forces to defend the country in the war against terror which has now become our own war, he added. Talking to the business community, he said that the politicians have failed to serve the nation; rather they have disappointed masses and frustrated the business community to a great extent which is having a very negative impact on the limping Islamabad: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has clarified that the FBR Web Portal has been updated on November in the light of SRO 978 (i) of November 13 and is accepting returns of income for the Tax Year 2013 without Wealth Statement, in those cases of individuals whose last declared or assessed income or the declared income for the year is less than Rs. one million. The Web Portal is also ac66

Politicians damage economy for petty benefits: FPCCI

and CC&B teams duly paid off, as it helped a great deal in adoption of methodology through strong project management and implementation approach based on the best practices. According to the tariffs of prominent IT houses, projects of such magnitude, if executed with the help of external consultants, would have cost well over $3.0 million. The personal skill enrichments of IT team members involved in this project remained as a big bonus that can be further utilized in training the juniors in the team. These feats were achieved through the support of stakeholder departments and end users under the meticulous supervision of Companys IT Chief Irfan Zafar who was ably assisted by Rauf Aslam Butt and Kashif Qadeer. n

Karachi: Red-tapism, lawlessness and poor bureaucracy in Pakistan are some of the major hurdles in way of ensuring smooth flow of foreign investment from United States to Pakistan. Many Pakistanis have established flourishing businesses in United States and can also set up their businesses in Pakistan but these hurdles must be immediately removed to attract maximum US investors and create an enabling environment, Iqbal Sheikh, a Pakistani American businessman, gave these remarks at a meeting with Karachi Chamber of Commerce and In-

Red-tapism, lawlessness hurdles in US investment

istan Studies at the University of Texas in Austin by paying half-amillion dollars so that Pakistan could be well-recognized in the United States. Speaking on the occasion, President KCCI, A. Abdullah Zaki requested Iqbal Sheikh, who is Chief Executive Officer of Cyber Tex Group of Companies USA, to support Pakistani businessmen in their quest for expanding exports to US by urging various chambers of commerce and industry in US to ink MoUs with KCCI for establishing joint chambers of commerce and Industry. KCCI has so far inked more

FBR's Web portal updated

economy. He said that some of our leaders have no idea of the unsatisfactory level of forex reserves held by the State Bank and they arent fully aware of the significance of GSP Plus for Pakistan otherwise they would have demonstrated some maturity on important national issues. Giving an example, the FPCCI chief said that everyone wants to stop NATO supplies without considering consequences which may lead to refusal of the EU to grant GSP status and reluctance of the IMF to provide remaining instalments resulting in nose-diving economy, widespread unemployment, chaos and even default. He said that the political situation is Karachi and one strike after another has taken toll on business activities as cost of doing business is on the increase while profits are decreasing. Exports and imports have become costly and the masses have become the ultimate victims. The government should find a sustainable solution to tackle uncertainty and law and order situation, Zubair demanded. n

cepting statements u/s 115(4) for the Tax Year 2013 without Wealth Statement of those individuals who fall under Final Tax Regime (FTR) and have paid Withholding Tax less than Rs. 35,000/-, says a statement issued by the FBR here Tuesday. It added that for further assistance in filing the returns and statements, the taxpayers can call the Call Centre at 051-111-772-772 which operates round the clock. n

Islamabad: Engro Corporation subsidiary Elengy Terminal Pakistan Limited (ETPL) has bid for the fast track LNG contract to import up to 3MTPA of LNG or 400MMSCFD of RLNG (Natural Gas) for the next fifteen years. Over the last 7 years, Engro's investments in Pakistan have exceeded the USD 1.8 Billion mark with the Company continuing to make strategic investments in sectors that can help avert the looming energy crisis. The LNG issue - one of the most controversial issues in Pakistan's energy space - has been delayed several times, much to the detriment of the progress of the country, where the energy deficit has increased alarmingly, consequently limiting economic growth and power supply to the nation. Gas shortage is estimated to be between 1.5bcfd to 2bcfd and two tenders for LNG import - that could have helped the aggravating energy sector - have already been scrapped this year. Unfortunately, there is incorrect and misleading information in certain sections of the media with regards to the bidding process and the award of the tender. As a background, ISGS had issued a tender on August 15 for the development of LNG Import Infrastructure on a fast track basis. On October 14, only two bidders had submitted their techno-commercial proposal in a single stage two envelope process, which saw ETPL gaining a technical score above the threshold limit as per vetting of their technical proposal by a third party international consultant, QED (It is pertinent to mention that QED in previous LNG rounds was approved by our competitors who cited no objection.) n

Engro offers most competitive price to import LNG

dustry (KCCI). According to a statement issued by KCCI, Sheikh highlighted about the great demand for Pakistani products in the United States but Pakistani companies must concentrate on exporting high-quality products at competitive rates in order to capture sizeable share in the US markets. He also stressed the need for enhancing interaction between KCCI and other chambers of commerce in US via video and tele conferencing which will certainly open up new avenues of opportunities for Pakistan. He stressed the need for sending business delegations to US and advised KCCI that these delegations visits should be notified to the concerned businessmen and trade associations in the United States at least six months prior to their arrival so that arrangements could accordingly be made to yield positive results. Shaikh informed the meeting that he has sponsored a Charlie-Wilson Chair in PakKarachi: The year 2013 has proven to be dismal for the banking sector so far as shrinking spreads and unfavorable changes in State Bank of Pak-

2013 not favorable for banking

than 100 MoUs with many of its counterparts around the world whereas some Joint Chambers have also been established which provide a perfect platform for regular interaction, he added. Abdullah also appreciated Iqbal Sheikhs cordial support to the members of a KCCI delegation during their visit to Austin where some of the best events and meetings were organized with leading US Senators and businessmen. Speaking on the occasion, Senior Vice President KCCI, Muffasar A. Malik informed that Karachi Chamber is in the process of upgrading its IT infrastructure with a view to equip its workforce with latest technologies and reduce paperwork. IT up-gradation will not only help in revitalizing KCCIs dayto-day functioning and archives but will also prove to be an effective platform for holding video and tele conferencing for enhancing KCCIs interaction with its counterparts all across the globe, particularly in the United States, he added. n (NII) of listed banking sector depleted by 6.0% in 9M2013. In addition, ongoing power crisis and a deteriorating law and order situation also did not help in the case for building up private credit off-take (down 1.0% in 9M2013). Individually, MCB was the star performer amongst peers, registering PAT growth of 4.0% in 9M2013 due to reversals in provisions and write offs and higher non funded income (gain on sale of ULEVER shares in 2Q2013). On the other hand, NBP and Askari Bank (AKBL) were laggards as loan losses dented their profitability. AKBL posted a loss of Rs4.0 billion in 9M2013 versus profit after tax (PAT) of Rs1.5 billion while NBPs bottom line witnessed a decline of 50% during the same period. n

istan (SBP) regulations have taken a toll on core operations. Firstly, the monetary easing (which kick started in July 2011) put banking spreads under pressure, shrinking to a low of 6.18% in February 2013 from a high of 7.88% in July 2011. 6month KIBOR in 9M2012 averaged at 11.7% compared to an average of 9.4% in 9M2013. As a result, Net Interest Income

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NATIONAL NEWS

Ufone brings Thor The Dark World to Pakistan

Karachi: Ufone brings yet another exciting news for movie fanatics across the country by bringing Thor The Dark World to Pakistani cinema in association with Pakistans most exciting youth brand, Uth Pack. The movie is premiering in all major 2D and 3D theaters across Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad on the 20th of November while the official nationwide release is on the 22nd of November. Uth pack is also offering a chance to win free tickets to the movie for its customers by simply loading a balance of Rs 1000. These passes are valid across the three cities namely, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. Thor The Dark World, sequel to the 2011 blockbuster of Thor, is an Lahore: PIA Board of Directors has given the approval to acquire 10 Aircraft to be inducted in PIA Fleet. The decision was finalized at a special meeting of PIA Board of Directors held at the air-

PIA BoD approves to acquire 10 aircraft

ior officials of the airline PIA plans to acquire A320 and A319 family aircraft according to its needs and specifications. These aircraft are latest technology fuel efficient aircraft used by most of the

American superhero film featuring the Marvel comic character, Thor played by Chris Hemsworth. Thor The Dark World, sequel to the 2011 blockbuster of Thor, is an American superhero film featuring the Marvel comic character, Thor played by Chris Hemsworth. Thor has topped the film list for the weekend, since its launch last week, according to Forbes and is doing well,bagging $479mn already across the world. It is a story of a leader who has to combat an enemy, as old as time, who aims to throw the universe into darkness. Mr. Akbar Khan, Chief Marketing Officer, Ufone commented on this initiative, saying Youth forms the most vibrant and dynamic segment

of the countrys population. Ufone aims to delight this segment by introducing new and exciting offers that associate them with the brand. Uth Pack has always been a step ahead in providing the best entertainment opportunities for the youth of this nation, this movie and other such initiatives are an example of that. Ufone, the most popular youth telecom brand of Pakistan, has associated itself with a lot of other youth programs. Uth Pack, itself, has so far launched movies namely Iron Man 3, World War Z and now Thor. The aim has always been to provide solutions for the subscribers that not only make a statement but also provide entertainment and create positive energy. n on dry lease. The approval decision is termed as positive sign for the airline which is in dire need of aircraft to meet demand and competition faced by regional carriers. PIA recently inducted two

Islamabad: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed on Tuesday directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to chalk out a mechanism to prevent misuse of SIMs. The Minister, who is also Incharge, Prime Minister's Public Affairs and Grievances Wing was chairing a meeting and briefed by Member Finance, PTA, Tariq Sultan about Authority's functions and development projects. He assured the Minister that PTA would make all efforts to resolve the issue. Officials of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Cabinet Division, Capital Development Authority (CDA) and PTA were present in the meeting. The Minister said the Grievances Wing would resolve all issues relating to masses on

PTA directed to chalk out mechanism to prevent misuse of SIMs

lines Lahore office on Saturday. The Meeting was chaired by Secretary Aviation & Chairman PIA, Muhammad Ali Gardezi and attended by Managing Director PIA, Muhammad Juniad Yunus, PIA Board Members and sen-

Chairman PIA Muhammad Ali Gardezi presiding over PIA Board of Directors meeting held at Airlines office. MD PIA Muhammad Junaid also attended the meeting.

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Karachi: The Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Kamran Michael assure complete support and assistance to the fisheries and highlighted to import fibre boats from Holland which will have complete navigational systems which will guide and stop the fishermen from crossing

Fiber boats for fishermen to be imported soon: Kamran Michael

sea boundaries of Pakistan. The Minister Kamran Michael stressed on the need for the uplift of fisheries sector. In this regard he said that he has taken up the matter of fish exports to US and EU markets which were banned at the time when he took up the charge and said that now the ban has been

airlines and are famous for their seating capacity and fuel economies. These aircraft are expected to join PIA fleet from May 2014 onwards. PIA has already finalized the process of selection of aircraft which will be acquired

Boeing 737-800 on damp lease while two more 737-800 will join PIA fleet in a couple of weeks time. For the acquisition of lease aircrafts the PPRA rules and complete transparency has been strictly followed. n

Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Tuesday was informed that the process of auction of 3G plus license had commenced and seven bids for consultancy services received. Deputy Attorney General Imranul Haq apprised the bench that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) hired international consultants for the bidding process. The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chuadhry resumed the hearing of the case of awarding 3-G license to cellular companies and the appointment of Chairman PTA. The Chief Justice remarked that the world was moving towards 4G technology, but Pakistan was lagging behind. At least 3G technology should have been introduced, he added. The Deputy Attorney General said the 3G Plus technology instead of 3G was going to be auctioned. During the course of proceedings, the CJ asked the DAG that under which law the government transferred PTA Uni-

3G bidding to be completed soon: SC told

priority basis and all public service institutions would be geared towards this end. He directed that all institutions must take solid measures to resolve basic issues faced by the people. Sheikh Aftab expressed deep concern over shortage of water in the Capital and directed the CDA to resolve this issue. Member Engineering, Sanaullah Aman assured the Minister that CDA was planning to overcome shortage of water in the Capital and trying to establish water supply from Tarbela Dam. Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said that government would engage all institutions who deal with public matter to resolve basic problems of the masses and they should be fully equipped to deliver their best. n

repealed and Pakistani fish products can gain access to these markets. Minister said that he invited authorities and training centres from Holland for the training of our fishermen in Gwadar area to become aware of the methodology of making quality catch. n

Islamabad: General Electric Company (GEC) has shown keen interest to further invest in Pakistan energy sector, especially in technological aspects and the efficiency improvement in oil and gas power sector. A delegation of GEC led by Shane Fitzsimons, Chief Financial Officer made this offer in a meeting with Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Jam Kamal Khan here. The delegation is on a two-day visit to Pakistan to look into investment opportunities in the energy sectors. Secretary Petroleum, Abid Saeed and

GEC to more invest in energy sector

versal Services Funds (USF) to the federal consolidated funds. The DAG apprised the bench the transaction was fully lawful the government first amended the relevant rules and then transferred the funds. The Chief Justice said that because of the transaction public exchequers facing $ 7.5 billion losses per year which could gain if funds remained in USF, in the shape of interest. Justice Jawwad S Khwaja remarked the transaction of Rs 62 billion was a criminal misappropriation and criminal proceedings could be initiated against the responsible. He further stated that the PTA could develop communication system in the unserved areas with that amount. The Chief Justice remarked that it was beyond understanding that according to the existing rules these funds were to be spent on the development schemes but the government amended the rules and transferred the USF into consolidated funds.

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other senior officials of the Ministry also attended the meeting. The representatives of the Company briefed the Minister about the ongoing projects in Pakistan in the Oil & Gas and Power sectors. Talking to the delegation, the Minister said energy shortage is a major concern of government as the prime minister has taken all possible measures to give full confidence to investors. He said all possible options are being explored including hydel, coal, wind, solar power generation as well as the import of LNG and Natural Gas from neighbouring countries. n

Islamabad: 167 departments of 31 ministries in the country are working without their heads and governing bodies and people appointed on ad hock basis were running these departments. According to reports, these 167 departments are running under the supervision of people who have been appointed on ad hock basis which lacks the ability of final decision making, as a result several most important matters of these departments are being delayed. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Nepra, Civil Aviation Authority, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Securities and Exchange Commission, National Housing Authority, PTV, election Commission of Pakistan and Drugs regularity Authority are top of the lists in such departments. Sources told Online that 167 divisions of important ministries are working without managing directors, chairmen and governing bodies. In this list departments working under cabinet division include Intellectual property organization, IPR Pakistan and National Archives of Pakistan. Under Capital Development Authority Division (CDA) division, Private Education Institution Regularity Authority, National Institute for Science & Technical education and department of Directorate on Workers Education are being running without heads. Sources more said, Pakistan Central Cotton Committee, NTRC, National Competitive Commission, Pakistan Works Department, Pakistan National Council of Arts, Telecom Foundation, Telephone Industries of Pakistan, Pakistan Tourism development Corporation and Human Rights division are also the departments running without any permanent chief. n

167 government departments working without heads

Lahore: This exciting service is launched for the very first time in Pakistan by any telecom operator which allows postpaid subscribers to get free data usage alerts while roaming abroad. This service will be a great help to such users who keep their data services active during International roaming. Now they will be able to get timely alerts so they can keep a check on their data usage and can roam around without worrying about their bill. The postpaid customers roaming abroad will be informed of their data usage through an SMS after every 4 hours. Data roamers can now manage their monthly bill through these usage incurred alerts. For example, after every four hours subscribers will get a message saying Dear Customer, Last 4 hours DATA usage for your number is ---KB. Smartphone users can stop Data Services/Auto Sync options anytime to avoid over billing. Warid Postpaid customers using data roaming can avail this service free of cost. To unsubscribe from this service customers simply have to dial 321

Warid starts free data usage alerts for Windows 8.1 launched in international roaming customers
Lahore: Microsoft Pakistan, has announced the availability of Windows 8.1 in Pakistan. It is a feature-rich update to its popular Windows 8 operating system, enabling customers to create experiences that keep pace with their lives at work, home or on the go. Windows 8.1 comes with the new Internet Explorer 11, which is fast, fluid and perfect for touch. It provides native support for 3-D printing. Best for multitasking and productivity, it includes the display and use of up to four apps side by side. With flexible windows sizing for each app on the screen, the ability for one app to launch another app, and improved multimonitor support so users can view the desktop or apps from its redesigned Windows Store on any or all monitors. From its SkyDrive, users can create, edit, save and share files anywhere, anytime, on whatever device they are using. Mr. Amir Rao, Country General Manager at the Microsoft Pakistan said, Windows 8.1 is the most complete out-ofthe-box experience as it evolves the Windows vision for highly personalized computing while showcasing Microsofts continued commitment to rapid and responsive development. It marks a wave of new, innovative devices coming for consumers and businesses from the convenience and mobility of tablets and 2-in-1s to the productive experience expected from laptops, all-in-ones and specialized industry devices.

NATIONAL NEWS

Pakistan

Islamabad: Mobile phone users in Pakistan reached 129.6 million at the end of September 2013, said a statistical report published by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Cellular teledensity reached all-time high level of 72.27 percent, up from 71.78 percent in July 2013. Total cellular subscribers count stood at 129,583,076 with Mobilink topping the market at 37.37 million subscribers. Telenor recorded 32.34 million subscribers while Ufone said that it had 24.80 million subscribers at the end of September 2013. Zong is fast catching the Ufone with 22.28 million customers, while Warid managed to grab 12.79 million customers at the end of Q3 2013. n

Users of mobile phone reach to 129.6 million

Lahore: Mobilink has awarded iPhone 5S and iPhone 5S Gold handsets to the winners of the All that glitters is Gold campaign. The campaign was designed for Mobilink consumer postpaid segment who could participate by subscribing to GPRS 1 Data bundle (Unlimited @ Rs. 500) between 15th and 28th October 2013. Moied Javeed, Director Marketing Mobilink highlighted, Mobilink has always complemented our customers changing preferences and needs with aggressive offers. Internet is the new trend for Mobile customers in Pakistan and our campaign All

Mobilink gives away iPhones to the winners of mobile internet campaign

to talk to Warids Customer Service Representative and unsubscribe this service. Connecting the skies and the seas Warid offers a grand International Roaming network that connects to some 264 International partners in 152 countries for 2G roaming followed by 192 partners in 115 countries for GPRS/Data roaming and there is pre-activated roaming offered for Warid Prepaid that is available

in major countries across the globe. It also offers in-flight roaming with Aero-mobile and On-Air that allows subscribers to use their mobile phones during flights and Marine time roaming that facilitates sea travellers. Bringing consumer convenience to its next level, Warid continues to stand-out and strives for excellence in connecting people beyond borders. n

Karachi: Goods Transportation Association (GTA) end its 11 day-long strike after successful talks with the government representatives. The transporters held negotiations with federal finance minister Ishaq Dar at the Governor House. The finance minister assured the transporters that the government will take steps to overcome their grievances and tax rates would be reduced. Addressing the media after the talks, Ishaq Dar said all the permissible demands of transporters were accepted and a notification will soon be issued in this regard, adding the talks were held in the best interest of

GTA ends 11 day-long strike as FBR notifies tax reduction

the country. "Economy of Pakistan intensely needs goods transport," Ishaq Dar added. President Goods Transportation Association, Yasin Malik expressed satisfaction over the talks held here with Finance minister and said that all issues were discussed during the meeting and government accepted demands of Association and also assured to issue notification today (on Monday). "Following the assurance from finance minister, the transporters announced to end their strike for the sake of country's economy," he added. It is significant to mention that following Federal Minister

that glitters is gold is to specially encourage our postpaid data users to make the most out of mobile internet. A total of 5 iPhone 5S

Moied Javeed, Director Marketing Mobilink handing over the iPhone 5S to Sajjad Ahmed, Islamabad.

Gold and another 5 iPhone 5S were given away during the campaign which was the first of its kind for the Mobilink consumer post-paid segment in Pakistan. n

for Ports and Shipping, Senator Kamran Michael had failed to bring the goods transporters round to end their strike, President Mamnoon Hussain directed Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to expeditiously resolve all the problems being faced by the transporters. Meanwhile, Federal Board of Revenue has reduced the advance income tax on goods transport and public transport and in this regard a notification issued. According to the notification issued here on Monday by the FBR, it said that advance income tax would not be implemented on those goods transporters which are paying 2.5 per cent service tax. n

Windows 8.1 offers a host of increased customization refinements and functional improvements, including a highly personal, improved and more customizable Start screen in variable tile sizes, more background designs and colors. In addition, customers can choose how to start their Windows experience at the Start screen or directly in the familiar Windows desktop while all their Windows devices stay in sync with their Microsoft account. During roundtable journalists had firsthand experience of Windows 8.1 on multiple devices like Tablets, Laptops and all in one desktops provided by Advance Business Systems, eSys and Unique Technologies. Importantly, consumers with a Windows 8 device in Pakistan, and more than 230 markets and 37 languages can download free update via the online Windows Store. Windows 8.1 is also available on new devices and as boxed software at retail locations across Pakistan. n
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NATIONAL NEWS

Dawlance leads at 114th China Canton Fair

Karachi: Dawlance, the No.1 Home Appliances Brand of Pakistan participated at the 114th China Canton Fair that was held recently in Chinas largest manufacturing hub, Guangzhou. The exhibition attracted a total of 189,646 foreign buyers from 212 countries, whereas Dawlance was the sole Pakistani brand to display its broad array of product portfolio - as it continues to expand its business on a global foray. The Canton Fair is one of the largest import-export trade fair events in China. The show enjoys a high degree of popularity among visitors and exhibitors alike and draws in more than 207,100 foreign participants as well, lending the event a true global flavor. The exhibition attracts business transactions of over

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Karachi: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced a firm order for 56 new Boeing wide-body aircraft, with options and purchase rights for a further 26, to support its continued global expansion. The order represents an investment of up to $25.2 billion at list prices, including related engines. The deal, unveiled at the Dubai Air Show, includes 25 next-generation Boeing 777X aircraft of which 17 are 7779X and eight are 777-8X aircraft. Etihad Airways is the first airline to order the 7778X and will be a launch customer for the aircraft which is expected to enter service around the end of the decade. The airline also ordered 30 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners. Todays announcement makes Etihad Airways the largest airline customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, when combined with previous orders for 41 of the Boeing 787-9 variant, and includes the milestone 1,000th Boeing 787 Dreamliner to be ordered. It also ordered one Boeing 777-

Etihad Airways orders 82 wide-body Boeing aircraft

200 freighter. James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: This is a significant, timely and essential order for us, as we celebrate our tenth anniversary and plan for our next decade and beyond. In just 10 years, we have grown from a start-up carrier to a global airline. This order enables us to build upon our achievements, using the next generation of aircraft to support our next generation of development. Boeing has been a long term strategic partner for Etihad Airways throughout that journey, playing an integral role in our growth. I am delighted we are extending our relationship, bringing industry-leading aircraft into our modern fleet. The aircraft will be used by Etihad Airways to launch flights to new destinations, add capacity in existing markets and progressively replace existing, less-efficient aircraft. He said the deal would also provide direct economic benefits domestically and internationally. This deal is good for Eti-

USD 36,800 million and has separate national and international pavilions and the unique trade matching system of the fair ensures that welltargeted buyers attend the show on a regular basis. The show is also attended by more than 48 eminent trade delegations. Speaking about Dawlances participation in the China Canton Fair, Mr. HasanJamil, general manager marketing at Dawlance, said, Our objective to participate in China Canton Fair is to build our strong hold in international market by evaluating new expansion opportunity and to become a renowned global brand. China Canton Fair is a topnotch exhibition attracting a large number of international buyers and thus presents excellent opportunities to high-quality brands like

Dawlance to showcase their offerings and discover new, high-potential growth markets. We make sure that our products deliver high-performance that international consumers expect and we are certain that we will fare well in global markets. Dawlance enjoyed positive response at the exhibition and was able to stand out of the crowd by offering innovative home appliances solutions at competitive prices. Dawlance has always been proactive in bringing to the Pakistani market the right solutions at the right price and now it aims to strengthen its presence in international markets with the same game plan. It is indeed a proud moment for Dawlance and Pakistan to be showcased in a more positive limelight in the international business community. n

had Airways, it is good for Boeing and it is also good for economic development both in the UAE and in the USA. In the United States, this order translates into a direct impact on Americas gross domestic product and supports employment throughout the aerospace supply chain. All the aircraft in this order will be powered by General Electric GE9X, GEnx and GE90 engines. Ray Conner, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: We are very proud of our relationship with Etihad Airways, which began nine years ago with an order for five 777-300ERs. It is gratifying that as one of the worlds fastest growing airlines, Etihad Airways continues to have confidence in Boeings products by selecting the 777X and by increasing its order for the 787 Dreamliner. We look forward to further strengthening this partnership as Etihad Airways continues to build its position as a forerunner in the global aviation industry. n

Islamabad: Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production launched the first ever Cyber Security Manual prepared for journalists. The manual has been prepared in collaboration with German Foundation Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)/ Senator Mushahid Hussain, while addressing the participants of Workshop on Cyber Security for Journalists, also emphasized that SAARC countries need a treaty to prevent cyber warfare against each other. He was of the view that SAARC countries particularly India and Pakistan should avoid opening a new front that would be debilitating for the whole region. "If Pakistan and India can have an agreement not to attack nuclear installations, why not an agreement seeking the prevention of cyber warfare against each other?" The senator asked. The 40 page manual, in which the participants took great interest, provides journalists with basic know-how on security protocols for dealing with the threats that are becoming complex with the passage of time. The manual would enable the journalists to safely produce and share the stories with their audiences thus furthering the goal of press freedom. Senator Mushahid Hussain reiterated his resolve that the Senate Defence Committee would act as a bridge not only between the Khaki and Mufti but also between media and military. He said that the new emerging scenario demands a proactive approach to tackle challenges and work for a strong defence of the country. He said that the committee would conduct such orientations in future as well to create awareness about issues related to defence and security. He called for recognizing Cyber Security as a major nonconventional threat to national

Senate Defence Committee launches Cyber Security Manual for Journalists

Samsung honors with 24 CES 2014 Innovations Awards

security that needed to be encountered through a sound strategy. Defence Committee Chairman called for greater preparedness of the armed forces for protecting the digital frontiers of the country and said that he would recommend to the government and military leadership to establish an Inter-Services Cyber Security Command under the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Senator Mushahid said individual efforts were being made by different institutions to bolster country's Cyber Security. He said all institutions needed to join hands for a comprehensive strategy to counter Cyber threats. "With this media training workshop, we have gone step further by actively involving the media as not just stakeholders but as a partner in our endeavour on Cyber Security because media would always be the first line of defence in this battle," Chairman Senate Defence Committee said. Resident Representative Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Ronny Heine said journalists needed to equip themselves with the resources to protect themselves from Cyber threats. At the day long workshop, that was divided into three sessions, the journalists learnt about the basic skills for dealing with the threats they face while working on the internet or using digital devices. Cyber security experts including Dr. Shoaib A. Khan and Talha Habib highlighted various critical areas posing threats to cyber security. The journalists were told about the risks of interception of their communications, the dangers of working on unsecured internet networks and the threats to their systems and data while working in hostile environment. The training workshop was attended by about 50 senior journalists from the national media.

Lahore: Samsung Electronics announced that it won 24 prestigious International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2014 Innovations Awards. CES, the worlds largest consumer technology tradeshow held by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) every year, has honored Samsung with 258 awards in the past 10 years. Among the 24

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CES awards for 2014, Samsung was recognized with a Best of Innovations award and three Eco-Design honors. Products entered in the CES Innovations program are judged by a pre-eminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting-edge consumer electronics products across 29 categories. Samsung continues to create superior groundbreaking products as well as unique content and services, said Y.K. Kim, president and CEO, Samsung Electronics North America. We are honored that CEA and the industry recognize this commitment, and we look forward to sharing our latest product innovations at the 2014 International CES. n

Islamabad: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in collaboration with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and Kauffman Foundation organized a two days conference to celebrate the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013. The theme of the event was Business Incubation in Pakistan. A large number of young entrepreneurs, heads of Business Incubation Centers of Quaid-e-Azam, Iqra COMSATS & NUST universities and students attended the conference. The event provided a good platform to entrepreneurs and academia to exchange views and share ideas on further improving the business incubators culture in Pakistan. Addressing the participants, Shaban Khalid, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) said that our youth possess immense potential and talent that must be exploited with right policies for the economic development of the country. Developing an entrepreneurial eco-system is the best option to put Pakistan on fast track economic growth. He said youth has shown great interest towards entrepreneurship, how-

ICCI celebrates Global Entrepre- PIA executes $130 million Sharia compliant financing neurship Week 2013
ever, they need supportive environment to start businesses and unleash their potential for making Pakistan a thriving economy. He emphasized that government should develop a comprehensive strategy and earmark a dedicated fund to facilitate and encourage a network of business incubation centers in the country equipped with all modern equipments and facilities to stimulate the growth of new businesses. It will lead to creation of more jobs, commercialization of new business ideas & technologies, promotion of better image of country and strengthening the overall economy. He lauded the role of young entrepreneurs who have chosen this career not only to improve their own lives but also to provide jobs to others. He was of the view that with the help of their innovative ideas and forward looking approach, they would make useful contribution to improving the economy and assured that their problems would be highlighted at relevant forums for redress. Hammad Siddiqui, Deputy Country Director, CIPE highlighted the role of CIPE in promoting entrepreneurship and said that CIPE has been actively engaged with chambers and associations to promote entrepreneurial culture in Pakistan. By organizing such events, CIPE has been highlighting the untold success stories of promising entrepreneurs in the country. He also briefed the participants about the power of social media for marketing their companies and building community of customers for their products. The bloggers were also invited to the event to cover the success stories of young entrepreneurs and posted them on their blogs. The young entrepreneurs highlighted many issues in starting up new businesses. Lack of financing & venture capital, insufficient mentorship facilities, lack of business plans and online payment facility, unawareness about available business incubation centers, lack of collaboration between universities and incubation centers, gap between stakeholders, image of Pakistan etc. were termed as the main impediments in the way of starting new business ventures and it was stressed that government should address these issues on priority to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship development. Karachi: Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIA) has executed facility documentation for a $130 million Sharia compliant financing facility. This innovative Islamic transaction is secured by PIAs ticket sales generated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and accumulated through IATAs Billing and Settlement Plan. The three-year facility will be used for PIAs general corporate purposes and reflects investor confidence in the airline and its strategic importance to Pakistan.

NATIONAL NEWS

facility

two years. The transaction is important for the aviation sector as it broadens the airline's corporate credit to regional Islamic financiers despite challenging market conditions ". PIA is the national flag carrier of Pakistan and covers over 30 international destinations across three continents. The airline also flies to over 20 domestic destinations. National Bank of Pakistan has a major participation in above mentioned deal with $60 million. National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), AAA/A-1+ (Triple A / A-One Plus) rated

Karachi: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority against grey traffic has confiscated 711 illegal gateways during 112 raids carried out in collaboration with Federal Investigation Agency so far. To curb down the menace of illegal traffic, PTA has further strengthened the process of monitoring the grey traffic with the installation of Grey Traffic Monitoring System in October 2013. The newly deployed Grey Traffic Monitoring System has started monitoring International Internet Protocol bandwidth to detect and block illegal International incoming voice calls to save loss incurred to national exchequer. For efficient utilization of the newly deployed system, PTA has further narrowed

PTA to block all unregistered IPs

down the white listing of IP addresses being used for legal services. In this context, all IP addresses which are not registered with PTA would be considered as black listed IPs and shall be blocked with immediate effect. IP addresses of authorized telecom users like International Clearing House, Call Centers, Video Conferencing etc. are being whitelisted in the monitoring system. It is therefore advised to all the companies authorized to bring international incoming calls to Pakistan to get their IP addresses whitelisted by contacting PTA immediately. White listing of IP addresses by the authorized users/companies would help them use the

ABL offers all kind of banking services over SMS

services without any interruption. If IP addresses are not reported to PTA for whitelisting as per the prescribed procedure, they would be blocked without any further notice. Moreover, legal action would be initiated against the companies involved in use of IP addresses for termination of any sort of international incoming calls as per provision of laws of Pakistan. n will never contain any confidential information about you or your accounts, unless specifically requested. With the successful launch of this service, Allied Bank stands committed to continuously providing latest and innovative banking solutions to its customers, said Khawaja Mohammad Almas, Chief, Commercial & Retail Banking Group, Allied Bank and added: Allied SMS Banking supports the financial inclusion movement by extending public access towards banking services using the most adaptive mobile phone technology. n

PIAs Managing Director, Muhammad Junaid Yunus, said, We are working to enhance the airline's fleet capacity by adding narrow body aircrafts. The airline is also restructuring other operational aspects of the business to improve its operational and financial position. This facility has re-introduced PIA to the international financial markets, and has further strengthened our relationship with financial institutions in the region. Nadeem Lodhi, Managing Director & Citi Country Officer Pakistan said, "We are delighted on Pakistan International Airlines Corporation being able to successfully close the second commercially syndicated foreign currency financing within

Karachi: Allied Bank has rolled out a new service offering that will enable its customers to carry out all kind of financial transactions through SMS. A statement issued by the bank said that Bank customers can now manage their Allied Bank Accounts using any mobile phone, having send/re-

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ceive SMS facility, without requiring internet or GPRS. Allied bank claimed that with Allied SMS Banking the mobile transactions will be security and convenient for customers. Financial transactions, the bank said, are secured by a secret Mobile Pin (mPIN). All push messages messages sent by the Bank

Karachi: The influential pharmaceutical industry has challenged the government by unilaterally hiked price of thousands of drugs by 18% which is illegal as permission of authorities was not sought. President Health Watch Mian Aftab said that the industry has been pushing authorities to allow almost 100 % hike in the prices of pharmaceutical products in absence of a national drug policy and flawed drug pricing mechanism which is heavily tilted towards industrialists ignoring masses. Mian Aftab said that prices of drugs in Pakistan are already more than any neighboring county and the recent increase

Pharmaceuticals unilaterally increase drug prices by 18%

by JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (JCR-VIS), is one of the largest commercial Bank of Pakistan. NBP is the first ever commercial bank of Pakistan to cross the one trillion rupee bench mark, with more than 1300 branch network across Pakistan and 23 overseas branches and representative offices in four countries. Citibank N.A., National Bank of Pakistan and WARBA Bank K.S.C. acted as Mandated Lead Arrangers for the transaction. The transaction participants also include Bank Alfalah Limited, United Bank Limited and Alubaf Arab International Bank. Citi is also acting as the Security Trustee and the Account Bank for this transaction. n

will make life difficult for millions using lifesaving and commonlyused medicines. Masses will have to bear around Rs 100 billion additionally per annum on healthcare expenditure, he said. The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has already written a letter to its members asking them to increase prices which is unjustified, illegal and violation of laws, Mian Aftab informed. He said that in this era of double digit inflation, the government should not allow increase in prices of drugs used to treat common ailments like flue, fever, malaria and diarrhea, which affect millions of Pakistanis. n

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PTCL reaches DHA Karachi for provision of ICT services

NATIONAL NEWS

Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has inked an agreement for Integrated Communication Technology (ICT) services and infrastructure development with DHA City Karachi (DCK). The partnership is aimed towards developing DHA City Karachi as the first Smart City of Pakistan. Walid Irshaid, President and CEO PTCL while speaking at the occasion said that We are pleased to extend co-

Abdul Rehman Durwaish, PTCL EVP Corporate Services South and Brig. Muhammad Rafiq Qaimkhani Project Director DHA City Karachi signing MoU for ICT infrastructure development in the presence of Walid Irshaid, President and CEO PTCL (centre)

Islamabad: Institute of Space Technology (IST ) has launched Pakistans first Cubesat satellite, iCUBE-1, on-board Dnepr launch vehicle from Yasny launch base, Russia. It is welcoming news for Higher Education Institutions, students and researchers of Pakistan that Institute of Space Technology (IST) has etched its name among the foremost universities in the World who have built and launched a cubesat satellite. This CUBESAT satellite will open up a wide vista of future experiments that can be carried on cubesats in the domain of imaging, microgravity, biology, Nano technology, space dynamics, chemistry, space physics and various other fields. Cubesats can also provide a test bed for developing satellite constellations for specific applications.

Pakistans first Cubesat satellite, iCUBE-1 launched

Institute of Space Technology has achieved this astounding success in a short span of ten years, owing to the concerted efforts by its leadership, students and faculty to standout in this field and to create a national center of excellence in space technology. The Vice Chancellor IST, Engr. Imran Rahman congratulated Team IST for this great achievement. He specifically thanked the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Chairman HEC and Chairman of National Space Agency for their continuous encouragement, support and help in achieving this milestone. Talking to newsmen,spokesperson IST Raza Butt said iCUBE-1 has been launched in a polar orbit,

operation and partnership with Defence Housing Authority. This strategic partnership is geared towards meeting the higher bandwidth and telecommunications needs of the first smart city in Pakistan. PTCL will develop integrated physical and digital infrastructures for the residents of DHA City Karachi that provides optimal ICT services in a reliable and sustainable manner and improves the overall quality of life. added Walid Irshaid.

Administrator DHA Brig Muhammad Abdullah congratulated PTCL for becoming the partner of DHA in making the first Smart City project of the country. He said that the event was yet another landmark towards developing DHA City Karachi as a planned, sustainable and futuristic city of international stature. He reiterated that DHA would contribute in every way to ensure that the vision of Smart City was transformed into a reality.

Brig Abdullah said that with development of DHA City Karachi we would enter a new era of modernity where residents would enjoy their lives with international living standards. He said that the new ICT networks and technologies present a huge opportunity in terms of making DCK more sustainable through providing real-time information to the residents, stakeholders and service operators. Earlier Director DCK said that ICT infrastructure will

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HTC has announced a new high-end phone in its lineup, the Desire 700. The phone comes with dual SIM connectivity and a 5 display on the front. The display is of qHD resolution so the phone certainly isnt meant to compete with the companys One flagship. The design certainly has taken inspiration from that phone though. With its aluminium shell and Boom Sound speakers, it isnt difficult to tell where the inspiration from the phone has come

HTC announces a new phone Desire 700

from. As of the hardware side, the phone comes with a quad-core SnapDragon 400 processor with 1 GB worth RAM. Amount of storage is set at 8 GB expandable.

600 Km above the surface of the Earth, and is designed to take low resolution images of Earth and other space objects. Initially, iCUBE-1 will transmit a Continuous Wave Morse coded beacon with message iCUBE-1 First CubeSat of Pakistan. Ham radio operators have a great opportunity to hear those signals on the VHF band. iCUBE-1 has a mass of 1.1 Kg and is thus categorized as a pico-satellite. The satellite has a volume of 10cm cube and it houses several sensors to collect data for scientific purposes. iCUBE-1 is a fully autonomous satellite and is capable of maintaining its health via its on-board computer. The satellite will send its health data to ground stations and can also be commanded from Satellite Tracking and Control Station at IST. n Towards the back is an 8 megapixel camera with a BSI sensor, LED Flash and 1080p Full HD video recording. A front-facing 2.1 mp camera with BSI can also be found. The phone runs on Android Jelly Bean and comes with a few customizations from its manufacturers side, including HTC Zoe. The Desire 700 is powered by a 2100 mAh battery which can provide talk-time of 12 hours on 3G. Here are the full specs of the Desire 700. n

Islamabad: Telenor Pakistan announced the new tagline for its Talkshawk brand: sachhi yaari, sab pe bhaari during a press conference. Irfan Wahab Khan, Chief

Telenor Talkshawk new tagline sachi yaari, sab pe bhari

also be used for management of urban requirements of Smart City like surveillance, disaster management and egovernance. He said that the physically built infrastructure was seemed as the skeleton, the communications' infrastructure as the nerves & veins and virtual overlay as muscles and organs which would make the city to breathe and move in a vivid manner. A large number of PTCL and DHA officials also attended the ceremony. n

extra care of these concerns to ultimately earn the trust of customers. He said that the new tagline reflects customers trust earned over the years by Talkshawk.

Marketing Officer, Telenor Pakistan, unveiled the the new tagline and explained the philosophy behind the move. Citing a research report conducted by Telenor Pakistan Mr. Irfan Wahab maintained that Telenor Pakistan is ranked as the most reliable cellular operator in terms of transparent communication and charging. Report had concluded that cellular customers are most concerned about hidden charges, auto renewals and loss of balance. Mr. Wahab claimed that Telenor goes a step ahead to take

Irfan Wahab Khan, CMO, Telenor Pakistan, (right) unveiling the new tagline for Talkshawk. Atifa Asghar, Director Communications (left) is also seen in the picture.

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The term Sachi Yaari represents the same trust and relation of Talkshawk with all kind of segments. Mr. Wahab termed the Talkshawk as countrys top cellular brand with over 26 million subscribers earned just seven years. CMO emphasized that under the new tagline, Talkshawk will reinforce its approach towards clarity and transparency, reflecting exactly what is being offered i.e. not calling an offer free or unlimited if there are subscription charges or a limit to it respectively. n

Entrepreneurship and leadership skills vital to improve efficiency: CEO Wateen

NATIONAL NEWS
hangir Siddiqui, Chairman JS Bank and Mr. Shaukat Tarin, Former Federal Minister Finance were key speakers and panelist at the event. The CEO Summit also discussed the options to explore the potential global markets and boosting Pakistans exports. Wateen Telecom participated in the Summit and talked about the importance of corporate sector in developing, transition and emerging-market economies, the role of corporate governance, and turning around Wateen and success it has achieved over the yester-years. Speaking about Wateen Telecoms participation, CEO Wateen Telecom, Naeem Zamindar said, Entrepreneurship and leadership skills are essential to improve efficiency in company operations and in promoting business development. We at Wateen believe that strong and value based leadership represents the future of business in Pakistan. n Verification System at our CSC outlets. This technology will be gradually inducted across all franchises and CSC outlets of Zong around the country. Since earlier this year, PTA and the Government of Pakistan have emphasized the need to setup technological

Karachi: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Sunday welcomed the historic US-Iran deal on Tehrans nuclear programme terming it an important factor in stability and prosperity of the region and entire world. Tehrans game-changing deal with world powers has allayed the fears of a wider war and may pave the way for diplomatic relation between Iran and the US that broke off in 1979 after the revolution and the subsequent storming of the US embassy, said Zubair Ahmed Malik, President FPCCI. In a statement issued here today, he said that it is a great confidence-building step towards reducing decades of tension and finding a comprehensive solution to the dispute which is a diplomatic victory for all the stakeholders. Zubair Ahmed Malik said that the deal will have a very positive impact on Pakistans economy as US can stop opposing Iran gas pipeline which will help Islamabad trim down the looming energy crisis which has compromised growth.

US-Iran deal good for the region: FPCCI

Naeem Zamindar, CEO Wateen Telecom, presenting conference memento to Sajjad Saleem Hotiana, Chief Secretary Sindh

Islamabad: Ufone spokesperson in recent statement has said that Ufone launched the biometric system in Karachi by 30th November and all over Pakistan at all its Customer Service Centers and Franchised outlets by 20th December. This is the phase II of a comprehensive plan which all the stake holders including Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Ministry of Information and Technology (MoIT), Na-

Ufone launches biometric system

Our bordering country, a major oil and gas producer, has remained hard-pressed by sanctions where masses will enjoy a better life, stable currency and improved economy due to vision of their leaders, he said. Pakistan is already under contractual obligations to complete the Iran gas pipeline project while the development will pave the way for massive western investment in the project which can help rapid completion, he noted. The FPCCI chief asked the government to waste no time in completing the pipeline which is lifeline for the Pakistans economy. Additionally, India must be invited again to become part of the project as it will bring Pakistan and New Delhi closer and Islamabad would also earn handsome transit fee. He hoped that the PML-N government which seems serious to resolve energy crisis will improve relations with the US that has been supporting increased energy generation, improved power distribution, management, revenue collection, and policy reforms in Pakistan. n

Karachi: Zong has become the first mobile operator in Pakistan to implement Biometric Verification System at their customer service centers. The installation of the Biometric Verification Systems displays the commitment of Zong towards PTA directives; highlighting its compliance

Zong launches biometric verification system

couraging telecom operators to start offering biometric system to have a foolproof system to curtail unregistered SIM. The new verification system introduced by Zong will require each citizen to approach retailer, franchisee or Customer Service Centers of

Karachi: Wateen Telecom successfully concluded its participation in the CEO Summit Asia which was held at Marriott Hotel, Karachi Wateen Telecom was the gold sponsor for the event, aimed at discussing and improving the role of leadership in business and economic growth in Pakistan. The CEO Summit provided a unique platform for Pakistani CEOs and business leaders to explore opportunities present in the country and to establish mutually beneficial connections. Naeem Zamindar, CEO Wateen Telecom along with other dignitaries from public and private sector including Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reforms, Hussain Dawood, Chairman Dawood Hercules Corporation, Mr. Ja-

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tional Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), the Ministry of Interior and the cellular mobile operators (CMOs) have agreed recently to implement biometric verification system for sale of SIMs in Pakistan. The PhaseII will complete on December 20, 2013 and in this phase, the biometric devices will be procured and rolled out at all company-owned customer service centers and franchised outlets of all CMOs across the country.

and contributions in the national policies implementation. SIM verification mechanisms were first introduced in Pakistan in 2007-2008. Initially, all the SIMs verified by NADRA through an offline channel. In 2009, a new method was introduced where customers had to call 789 after inserting their SIM for the first time and verify their NADRA record to activate their SIM. From 2009 to 2012, a SMS based SIM verification process was introduced in four different phases. However, none of these measures helped PTA overcome the problem of unregistered SIMs. Hence, PTA is now en-

Zong launched Biomatric verfication system of SIMs for the first time in Pakistan. Seen in the picture are Mr. Sikandar Naqi, CPO, Zong (1L) Syed Ismail Shah, Chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (C) and Mr. Abdus Samad, DG Enforcement, PTA (1R) at Zong's Customer Care Center.

Zong and provide their fingerprints for authentication against CNIC data held with NADRA. Upon verification, the SIM will be activated. The entire operation will be performed online and it will take 15 seconds for the whole process to complete. The system was demonstrated real-time to the leading journalists and the media community by Mr. Sikander Naqi, CPO Zong. On the occasion he said: Zong is fully committed for the enhancement and improvement of security protocols in the telecommunication industry. Therefore, we have exhibited our corporate responsibility by establishing the Biometric

measures to ensure the protection of customer information and to curb the selling of illegal SIMS in the country. In the wake for boosting national security and addressing the ministries concern, Zong has become the torch-bearer in Pakistans telecom industry stepping up to the arduous task under the guidelines issued by PTA and with the support of NADRA. Pakistan has a growing cellular market and the adoption of fingerprint matching technology by cellular operators shall reduce the risk of SIM issuance against fake identity to almost zero and safeguard the sale of illegal SIMs in the country. n

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Zong joins UBL to provide online recharge facility

NATIONAL NEWS

Islamabad: China Mobile Pakistan, Zong, Pakistans fastest growing telecom network, under its O2O project has partnered with UBL to establish for the first time in the telecom industry of Pakistan a unique service enabling subscribers to recharge their accounts and pay postpaid bills online. Zong which started its operations back in 2008, has been taking giant leaps in the competitive market of telecom services by introducing customer centric services for different segments of mobile phone users along with expanding its network at an ex-

(3rd from left) Sikander Naqi, Chief Corporate Communication Officer, Zong, (4th left) Fan Yunjun, CEO, CMPAK and (3rd from right) Syed Taha Afzal, Head Consumer Finance at UBL at the occasion of agreement signing ceremony

Islamabad: PTCL celebrates the astounding success of its top talent, as 11 out of 15 nominated PTCL employees get selected for Etisalat Groups prestigious High Potential Development Program. These solid performers with strong leadership potential have qualified for this exceptional development program after undergoing an extremely competitive and rigorous assessment process undertaken by reputed international consultants in which high performers representing from 17 countries of Etisalat operations participated. Etisalat Group has introduced several remarkable initiatives and world-class practices in PTCL, thus significantly fuelling its journey to stand out as a progressive organization and enabling PTCL to make invaluable contributions for uplifting the nation by offering unparalleled development opportunities to the young talent of Pakistan and spearheading the progression of the economy. The Group High Potential (HiPos) is an extraordinary program supported by top-notch partners such as Duke University Corporate Education, Informa Telecoms Academy and Harvard Manage Mentors. This platform presents unmatched opportunities for training & development, networking, handson experience of real business
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11 PTCL officers set to join Etisalat global program

ponential rate. This latest partnership with UBL enables the customers of Zong to enjoy a unique service that allows subscribers to make payments via an Etisalat/UBL powered portal using their Debit or Credit cards (powered by MasterCard/VISA) to avail the Online Recharge or Bill Payment option regardless of the card issuing bank. Simplifying service availability and establishing an alternative channel, the option is meant to introduce a fast and effective way for the subscribers to reach Zong. Expressing here delight

on the occasion, Mr. SikandarNaqi, Chief Public Relation Officer, Zongsaid, At Zong, we believe in continuous progress and innovation, which in turn means better services and facility for our esteemed customers. This new billing system in partnership with UBL is just another example of our dedication towards providing better and time efficient services to our subscribers. Through such endeavors we show ourcommitment towards taking the telecom services in Pakistan to the next level. Speaking on the occasion,

Syed TahaAfzal, Head Consumer Finance, UBL, said We are pleased to announce that UBL is the first bank to offer a facility like this and with this collaboration we have opened new avenues in the payment industry. As a merchant acquirer, UBL will offer cardholders unmatched convenience with regard to Zong post bill payment options and Zong recharge. Mr. Afzal also added that the most attractive feature of this agreement was that this service is not limited to UBL cardholders and can be availed by any VISA/MasterCard Debit or Credit cardholder. With the preference of 53% customers in 2012 in the entire industry, Zong remains the telecom operator of choice in Pakistan. With the passage of time, Zonghas not only managed to attract a fair share of the market through innovative services but has also invested billions of dollars in Pakistan. By growing its operations, China Mobile Pakistan is also creating employment opportunities for the talented people of Pakistan. The company has generated more than 3,000 direct and over 40,000 indirect jobs in the country. n

challenges and bright prospects for international exposure through international assignments that offer an enriching cross-functional experience for development of an advanced skill set. Last year 4 members of the PTCLs talent pool graduated from the program with distinction, leaving a mark of excellence, which is indeed a very strong indicator of the quality of talent available within the company. To applaud the PTCL employees selected as Group HiPos and celebrate the high representation of the company in this international forum, a launch ceremony was held at PTCL HQs on 25th October, 2013. Syed Mazhar Hussain, Chief Human Resources Officer, PTCL while congratulating the selected employees said that, Employee development initiatives are a critical and strategic investment that leads to improved productivity and satisfaction, skill enhancement, and development of a succession pipeline. We are committed towards equipping our people with the tools necessary to excel professionally and remain industry leaders. The ceremony was attended by all Senior Executives who expressed their wholehearted commitment for this grand initiative of Etisalat Group. n

Islamabad: Federal Government has notified that Dr. Ismail Shah as permanent Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), it is learnt. A PTA spokesperson has also confirmed the development by saying that currently acting chairman has been appointed as permanent Chairman of PTA for four years through a notifi-

Ismail Shah now permanent Chairman PTA

Lahore: Glow by Warid, the most loved youth brand of Pakistan has announced the launch of Pakistans largest graffiti contest starting from December 2013. Launching from Lahore this Graffiti & Mural art contest will move to Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan and Karachi. Always promoting the power of positive thoughts amongst the youth of Pakistan, the theme for the Glow Graffiti contest is Dosti Ke Rung - United Youth of Pakistan - standing together for a progressive Pakistan, promoting peace, friendship, patience and harmony. Young artists will be expressing their thoughts on the city walls and their work will leave a positive message for the society. It will be the largest demonstration of youth activity in the country in which 4,000 young leaders from more than 100 top Universities and Colleges of Pakistan will spread colors by painting 800 canvases and 400 walls together. Winners will get attractive prizes including latest smartphones and a

Glow Graffiti contest

Islamabad: Pakistan has been selected for the award for launching the '8300 SMS Service' before the May general elections. Called 'Accessibility Award' the prize has been introduced by the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) in a bid to recognize initiatives by election management bodies to bring in election process the category of population which is excluded from electoral process due to social cultural and some other reasons. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in collaboration with NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) launched the '8300 SMS Service' to help registered voters check the status of their votes and particulars. The other 16 countries selected for the award are

ECP's '8300 SMS Service' selected for international award

cation issued by Cabinet Division. Appointment is made as per telecom and PTA laws, the spokesperson added. It may be recalled that Dr. Ismail Shah was appointed as acting Chairman of PTA around some weeks ago when Supreme Court had directed the government to appoint Chairman PTA. n

Bangladesh Ghana Kenya Philippines South Africa Peru Georgia Romania Moldova Sweden United States Mongolia Bosnia Herzegovina Slovenia Nigeria and Mauritius. The ICPS will announce the winner of the award at a ceremony to be held in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 4 where heads of election management bodies of the selected countries are invited. The ECP gave the SMS service's contract to NADRA as a technical vendor. The ECP has been selected for the first time for the 'Accessibility Award' for introducing state-of-the-art information and telecommunication technologies to prepare computerized electoral rolls and making it accessible over the mobile SMS service. n

foreign trip at the end of the contest. The contest will be take place in two phases covering one city at a time. 800 teams, with 5 members in each team will compete in the first phase through registration and qualifying round. Renowned personalities related to the field of arts, culture and literature will judge the contest. Registration is open at www.glow.net.pk and facebook/glowbywarid while an official hashtag (#GlowGriffiti) for this contest will also be spread out through Warid Twitter @OfficialWarid. Coverage of the contest will be available on Glow website and facebook page. n

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Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif appreciated the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry for establishing internationally recognized Mediation Center at its premises and enhancing its scope to other chambers of Punjab. The Chief Minister was speaking at MoUs signing ceremony among LCCI and five other chambers of commerce & industry in Punjab. Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, MNA Pervez Malik, LCCI president Engineer Sohail Lashari, Senior Vice President Mian Tariq Misbah, Vice President Kashif Anwar, Saima Zuberi, Reshma Aftab from the IFC and Ross Forgousan from DIFD were also present at the signing ceremony. The LCCI president Engineer Sohail Lashari inked MoUs on behalf of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry while Tariq Bilal, President Gujrat Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Sohail Bin Rashees, President Faisalabad Chamber, Dr. Sarfraz Bashir, President Sialkot Chamber, Dr. Shimial Dawood, President Rawalpindi Chamber and Nauman Salahuddin represented Gujranwala Chamber. The Chief Minister Punjab said that the establishment of Mediation Center would go a long way in strengthening of a mechanism of out of court settlement of disputes in the province of Punjab. He said that the International Finance Corporation and Department

Shahbaz greets LCCI for establishing Mediation Centre

NATIONAL NEWS
and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom aimed at improving investment climate in

Islamabad: Samsung C & T Corporation's Trading & Investment has desired to invest in wind power, bio-energy and other renewable energy sources in Pakistan. Joonwoo Choi, General Manager of Samsung C&T construction and engineering trade and investment who called on Chairman Board of Investment, Mohammad Zubair and discussed new investment prospects in Pakistan. Joonwoo Choi apprised that the company is one of the world's finest construction & engineering companies and interested to invest in the construction of Kohat Tunnel. Currently it is providing the leading role in the construction of several worlds' largest building projects such as Malaysia's PETRONAS Tower and the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates. He further said that Samsung C & T Corporation's Trading & Investment Group also desires to participate in the field of energy and environment that are likely to serve as drivers for future growth of Pakistan. The Chairman, BOI highlighted the investment incentives to the Korean investors and said

Samsung C&T to invest in renewable energy sources in Pakistan

for International Development (DFID) have taken a step in right direction that would help increase foreign investment in Pakistan. Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government would extend every possible help to Lahore Chamber of Commerce for strengthening the mechanism of mediation in the province and necessary legislation would be done soon to give legal cover to the process. Speaking on the occasion, MNA Pervez Malik said that the LCCI Mediation Center would enable the business community to get their disputes resolved in shortest possible time. The LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari shared with the audience that LCCI is the first and only Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Pakistan that has a panel of more than 40 internationally ac-

credited mediators having diverse professional backgrounds who are trained by the Center for Effective Dispute Resolution, United Kingdom. Qualified mediators are readily available at LCCI Business Dispute Resolution Center to help disputing parties settle general contract disputes and relating to trade and tax in particular. President LCCI acknowledged the role of trained and registered mediators towards effective dispute resolution. Businesses around the world are using mediation services to settle contractual disputes efficiently and out of court. LCCI is providing mediation services of international standards for the benefits of its members and business community at large. President LCCI also added that this is part of a series of joint initiatives of LCCI, IFC-World Bank Group,

that 100% equity and repatriation of capital, profits, royalty etc allowed to the foreign investors. The Chairman, BOI also mentioned about the establishment of SEZs for foreign investors. He said that The SEZs will have basic utilities and infrastructure of international standard, which will lead to reduce the cost of doing business, increase in industrial productions and exports, creation of jobs and enhance the rate of return to the developers and investors of the SEZ. The Chairman BOI also invited Samsung C&T to open a liaison office in Pakistan for pursuing their future interests in various sector. Samsung C&T has been conducting complex trading and investment operations since its nomination as the first ever General Trading Com pany in Korea. With the merger of Samsung E&C in December in 1995, Samsung C&T has now also balanced the two branches of Engineering & Construction Group and Trading & Investment. Samsung C&T has more than 9,000 employees in 114 overseas offices in 48 countries and recorded 13,441 billion won ($14 billion). n

Islamabad: Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to translate the existing political goodwill into tangible economic gains. Both the countries also decided to establish a Joint Committee on energy to address the energy crises in Pakistan. This agreement and commonality of views was developed at 2nd day of 11th Session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) held here. The Pakistan side was led by the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz while Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan led the UAE side.. A joint statement issued after JMC session, said that the deliberations of the JMC were held in very cordial atmosphere. There was commonality of views on whole range of bilateral political and economic matters of mutual interest. Both countries agreed that the political goodwill that exists between them must be translated into tangible economic gains. The two sides decided to establish a Joint Committee on energy to address the energy crises

Pak-UAE agree for economic cooperation

Punjab and across Pakistan. President LCCI expressed his concerns that Contract Enforcement remains weak in Pakistan. More needs to be done. This is essential for building investor confidence. He urged participants and media as well as invited all chambers and associations to join hands for promoting the use of mediation over litigation. This is critical for Pakistan and Punjab to be considered a business-friendly investment destination. Ross Forgousan said that the availability of mediation services as being provided by qualified mediators at LCCI Business Dispute Resolution Center would contribute to improving investment climate and will serve as a good signal for foreign and local companies to increase their business activities and create jobs. n

Islamabad: Pakistan Railways to run Metro and Safari trains in Lahore and Circular train in Karachi soon, an official of Pakistan Railways told the media. He said that feasibility study of the Safari and Metro trains would hopefully be ready within three months. He said that Circular train in Karachi would be restarted next year with the help of Sindh government. He said that steps have been taken to revive several railway shops for smooth flow of system. He said that strict action was being taken against the elements allegedly involved in corruption in Railways. The government was making efforts to streamline the system in all the sectors including Railways to cut losses of billions of rupees, he added. He said measures have been taken to increase the speed of trains covering long distances with possible shortest time. n

PR to run Metro, Safari and Circular trains

in Pakistan. The UAE Foreign Minister offered assistance in addressing this issue through focus on alternate sources of energy and transfer of technical knowhow since UAE has advanced technology for renewable sources of energy. The two sides also decided to hold first meeting of Joint Business Council (JBC) in the first quarter of 2014 either in Pakistan or UAE as well agreed to appoint focal points to discuss establishment of joint committee for consular affairs. Pakistan welcomed the draft agreement proposed by the UAE side for cooperation in the field of manpower and expressed hope that the issue of visas for Pakistan nationals would be resolved since there are 12,00,000 Pakistanis residing in UAE and contributing to the development of this brotherly country. A MoU was signed at the conclusion on Emirate Securities and Commodities Authority (ESCA) and Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). During his stay in Islamabad, the UAE Foreign Minister also called on the Prime Minister and the President. n

Lahore: Allied Bank added another feather to its cap, when their Corporate Governance Rating was upgraded from CGR-8++ to CGR-9, denoting very high level of corporate governance, by JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (JCR-VIS). This rating is based on the scale ranging from CGR-1 (lowest) to CGR-10 (highest).

ABL Corporate Governance rating upgraded

Corporate governance ratings are based on evaluation of key governance areas of the rated institution, which include regulatory compliance; board oversight; management profile; self regulation; financial transparency and relationship with stakeholders. The upgraded rating confirms Allied Banks commitment towards best practices with respect to corporate governance, as also stipulated in the revised Code of Corporate Governance (CCG) introduced by the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan. This rating is a testament to Allied Bankscontinuous drive towards corporate excellence and improvement. Allied Bank remains committed to engendering a dynamic corporate culture in Pakistan that fosters growth and success. n
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INTERNATIONAL Mosaic | Flare Report

Intercontinental exchange Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Sprecher (L), his wife Kelly Loeffler, ICE Vice President of Corporate Affairs, and ICE Chief Strategy Officer David Goone look at a mobile phone on the bell podium of the New York Stock Exchange

Actress Debra Messing uses her mobile phone to take a picture with actors Mariska Hargitay (2nd R), Hilary Swank, Blair Underwood (L) and Danny Pino (R) after Hargitay unveiled her star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood

Dutch Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen sits in a self-driving car. The self-driving car was tested for the first time on a public road.

An employee of NEC chats with robot "Papero petit" during a demonstration in Tokyo

A woman speaks on the phone on a cloudy day in Riyadh

A young cosplayer plays with her mobile phone as she rests after attending the Anime Festival Asia in Singapore

US model and Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri poses as she launches a luxury brand of wristwatch in Mumbai

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Residents share a power outlet to charge their mobile phones after super typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban city, central Philippines

An Afghan woman takes photos with her mobile phone during ceremonies to mark Ashura in Kabul

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43rd Tokyo Motor Show held in Tokyo where fourteen Japanese and 18 overseas carmakers
and motorbike manufacturers participated

Flare Report | INTERNATIONAL Mosaic

Models display Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors' concept plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) "Concept XR-PHEV" at the press preview of the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo.

Models display Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors' concept minivan "Concept AR", equipped with a 1.1-litre turbo charged engine for a six-seater body at the press preview of the Tokyo Motor Show.

Actress Riyo Mori poses with the Lexus RC300h hybrid coupe during a Lexus presentation at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo

A model stands beside a 1924 Wolseley CP 1.5-ton truck at the Isuzu booth during the Tokyo Motor Show

Models display Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors' concept plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) "Concept GC-PHEV" at the press preview of the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo

Models unveil the mini-sports model 'S660 Concept' of Honda Motor during a press briefing at the company's booth at the Tokyo Motor Show 2013 in Tokyo

Japan's auto parts and navigation device maker Car Mate displays a concept electric commuter car at the press preview of the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo

A model stands beside the newly designed "New Mini Cooper S" at the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo

Japan's automaker Daihatsu Motor displays the company's mini sports car "Kopen" at the press preview of the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo

People enjoy driving the videogame "Gran-Turismo 6" of Sony Computer Entertainment which will be launched soon at the press preview of the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Jury awards Apple $290 million in Samsung patent case

A US federal jury ordered Samsung to pay $290 million in damages to Apple in a partial retrial of the blockbuster patent case involving the two smartphone giants. The award comes instead of $450 million in damages originally awarded in the landmark suit, but thrown out by a judge. It is in addition to nearly $600 million in patent infringement damages upheld from the trial last year. Apple has accused its South Korean rival of massive and wilful copying of its designs and technology for smartphones and tablets and won the landmark case in a jury decision in August 2012. But the case has been on hold pending multiple appeals. The original verdict for more than $1 billion was reduced in March when Judge Lucy Koh invalidated some $450 million and ordered a reThe complaints started getting loud almost immediately after US regulators said they were considering allowing cell phone use on planes. In petitions, on social media and in press releases, the grumbling began within hours after the Federal Communications Commission said the question would be discussed at a December 12 meeting. The Association of Flight Attendants said it firmly opposed a rule change, citing "the importance of maintaining a calm cabin environAustralia's mail service has injected modern technology into the simple postage stamp -creating a "video stamp" to deliver a personal message that recipients can view on their mobile phone. Australia Post said the Video Stamp, to be distributed for free on some parcel services in the pre-Christmas period, was the world's first to allow users to send a 15-second personalised video along with their packages. "Christmas is a time when people want to be with their

Harold McIlhenny, center, an attorney who represents Apple in the AppleSamsung trial, exits a federal courthouse in San Jose.

Loud US reaction to in-flight phone proposal

ment." "Any situation that is loud, divisive, and possibly disruptive is not only unwelcome but also unsafe," said the union statement. "In far too many operational scenarios, passengers making phone calls could extend beyond a mere nuisance, creating negative effects on aviation safety and security that are great and far too risky." More than 1,000 people added their names within a day to an online petition to the White House asking loved ones but more and more friends and family are scattered across the country and around the globe," said Richard Umbers, executive general manager of parcel and express services. "Australia Post has always helped people connect. This year we are doing more than ever to eliminate the tyranny of distance. The Video Stamp lets you send a little piece of yourself with your gift this Christmas." The stamp, distributed free with Express Post and Express

trial on portions of the case. The six-woman, two-man jury in Koh's courtroom in San Jose, California, reached a verdict on the third day of deliberations. The panel was sent back to the jury room to wait while rival lawyers and the judge checked the verdict to see if there are questions or concerns before entering it into the record. Even though Apple won the landmark case last year, this has not had much impact on the new smartphones hitting the market, though the California maker of the iPhone is seeking injunctions to bar some Samsung products from being sold in the United States. The California case is among several pending in courts and administrative agencies around the world between the two electronics giants, each of which accuses the other of

infringing on its patents. After years of following and refining the iPhone's pioneering innovations -- a strategy that resulted in bitter patent battles with Apple -- Samsung has dethroned its Californiabased rival to become the world's top smartphone maker. Samsung extended its lead over Apple in the global smartphone market in the third quarter, according to surveys. The South Korean electronics giant increased its market share by nearly half a percentage point to 31.4 percent, according to the IDC survey. Apple sold 33.8 million iPhones in the quarter, but its growth was slower than the overall market, so its share slipped to 13.1 percent from 14.4 percent a year ago. There was no immediate comment from Apple or Samsung to Thursday's verdict. In a separate legal battle, the US International Trade Commission in August blocked imports of some older model Samsung mobile devices in response to Apple's complaints on patent violations. The Obama administration, which had a final review in the case, upheld the decision in October. The disputes are closely followed because the two companies are the leading players in the smartphone and tablet markets and also because Samsung products are closely aligned with the Android system created by Google, a major Apple rival. n

The growing surveillance and censorship of the Internet "threatens the future of democracy", the inventor of the world wide web said. Tim Berners-Lee was speaking at the launch of his World Wide Web Foundation's second annual index measuring the Internet's contribution to social, economic and political development and human rights. "One of the most encouraging findings of this year's Web Index is how the web and social media are increasingly spurring people to organise, take action and try to expose wrongdoing in every region of the world," said Berners-Lee. In 80 percent of the 81 countries surveyed, the Internet and social media played a role in public mobilisation in the last year, the foundation said. "But some governments are threatened by this, and a growing tide of surveillance and censorship now threatens the future of democracy," Berners-Lee said. "Bold steps are needed now to protect our fundamental rights to privacy and freedom of opinion and association online." Developing countries are

Internet founder warns growing surveillance 'threatens democracy'

iPhone maker Foxconn invests $40 million in the US

most likely to block and filter online communications, but leaks from fugitive US analyst Edward Snowden revealed that developed countries are more likely to spy on the web, the foundation said. China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are among the worst offenders for censoring politically-sensitive web content and having inadequate safeguards against government surveillance, the report said. But the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and India were listed alongside Mali, Yemen and Kenya as having "inadequate" safeguards against government spying. Sweden topped the overall Web Index for developed countries for the second year running, largely because of the widespread penetration of broadband, followed by Norway, Britain, the United States and New Zealand. Mexico topped the list of emerging market countries, followed by Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica and South Africa, while the Philippines was number one among developing nations followed by Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco and Ghana. n

Australia reveals innovative 'video stamp'

to block any rule change. "During flights, passengers are forced into a restricted space, often for long periods of time," the petition stated. "Forcing them to listen to the inane, loud, private, personal conversations of a stranger is perhaps the worst idea the FCC has come up with to date. This would make an already cranky, uncomfortable travel experience exponentially worse... Just because we CAN use our phones at 30,000 feet doesn't mean that we should be able to." n Courier International products before Christmas since Monday, can be accessed through a smartphone. To use it, senders scan the stamp, attach it to their parcel and record a personalised greeting using their smartphone and the free Australia Post Video Stamp app within 12 hours of posting. When the parcel is delivered, the recipient scans the stamp with their phone and it will play the message. n

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Taiwan's Foxconn, the maker of iPhones, iPads and other electronics in China, said it would invest $40 million in the United States to ramp up manufacturing of high-end products. The world's largest contract electronics maker will create around 500 jobs in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as it puts $30 million into a plant to build precision tools, cables for electric cars and other advanced technologies, officials from the company and the state government said. Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision, will commit another $10 million at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, also in Pennsylvania, for research and development in robotics. Terry Guo, the company's chairman and founder, said he welcomed President Barack Obama's talk of a US manufacturing "renaissance" and picked Pennsylvania in part because the company already has small operations in Harrisburg, the state

capital. Guo decided to discuss individual contracts but indicated that Foxconn did not intend to shift to the United States production of iPhones or iPads, designed by iconic US company Apple but assembled overseas. "We don't want to move the hand-to-hand worker jobs, we want to move the intelligent jobs -- the skilled labor jobs," Guo told reporters after a ceremony with Pennsylvania officials in Washington. Obama has vowed to put a top priority on reviving US manufacturing, which has steadily declined and cost millions of jobs in recent years as factories move to nations with cheaper labor. The president frequently hails the creation of some 500,000 manufacturing jobs since the sector's low point in 2010, but he faces an uphill task in fulfilling a goal declared in his re-election campaign to create another one million manufacturing jobs by the time he leaves office in 2017. Foxconn has come under a spotlight over labor unrest in its Chinese plants. At least 13 workers in China died in 2010 in apparent suicides, which activists blamed on tough working conditions. The company has denied the accusations but raised wages by nearly 70 percent at its China plants in 2010. n

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Googles Android operating system managed to grab exactly 81.0 percent smartphone share in the third quarter of 2013. Rounding out the top four smartphone operating systems were iOS at 12.9 percent, Windows Phone at 3.6 percent, and BlackBerry at 1.7 percent. The latest quarterly figures come from IDC, which summarized its findings in the following chart: IDC estimates total Android smartphone shipments worldwide reached 211.6 million units, letting Googles mobile operating system power four out every five of the 261.1 million smartphones that shipped last quarter. The figure allowed Android to push past the 80 percent market share mark for the first time. IDC noted that while Android moved forward as a whole, the vast majority of its vendors still struggle to find meaningful market share. Samsung accounted for 39.9 percent of all Android shipments for the quarter, while the rest of the vendors either saw single-digit mar-

Android hits 81% smartphone share in Q3 2013

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Apple gets $290 million in Samsung patent dispute

multiple courts. Legal experts say Apple's lawsuits against Samsung serve as a proxy war against Google's Android operating system. Apple was seeking $380 million. Samsung said it should pay $52 million for the use of such features as the iPhone maker's "pinch to zoom" in 13 older products. "For Apple, this case has always been about more than patents and money," Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said in a statement. "It has been about innovation and the hard work that goes into inventing products that people love." Apple's legal win brings its damages haul against Samsung to $929 million, including an order in March that awarded $599 million over 14 products and one in April for $40.5 million. "We are disappointed by today's decision, which is based in large part on a patent that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has recently deemed invalid," Samsung spokesman Adam Yates said in a statement.

ket share or even less than 1 percent (as was the case for the majority). Apples iOS saw its market share decline during the past quarter, despite reaching a new high for third quarter volumes. IDC naturally blamed the fact the world was waiting for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, which will likely drive record volumes, market share, and year-overyear growth in the last quarter of the year. Windows Phone posted the largest yearover-year growth worldwide of any of the leading operating systems (up 156.0 percent), once again largely thanks to Nokia, which accounted for 93.2 percent of all the Windows Phonepowered smartphones shipped during the quarter. On the other hand, BlackBerry recorded the largest year-over-year decline among the leading operating systems during the quarter, due to softer demand for its new BB10 operating system and despite demand for its older BB7 devices within emerging markets. n

A federal jury returned its damages verdict against Samsung Electronics, saying it should pay Apple $290 million in the patent dispute involving technology used in iPhones and iPads. The decision came after two days of deliberations that began when U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh gave jurors instructions following closing arguments from both sides in the San Jose courtroom. Apple and Samsung are embroiled in worldwide patent litigation disputes spanning

"While we move forward with our post-trial motions and appeals, we will continue to innovate with groundbreaking technologies and great products that are loved by our many customers all around the world." Last year, a jury awarded Apple more than $1 billion, finding Samsung had infringed its patents in 26 products. However, Judge Koh later ruled the jury had miscalculated damages for 13 products. "Today's damage award was much larger than Samsung had argued for, but still significantly less than the $400 million vacated by Judge Koh after the first trial," said Mark McKenna, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame. In March, a jury trial is set to hear Apple claims that current Samsung models are infringing on patents protecting its iPhone and iPad. Apple attempts to ban Samsung from selling some of the devices in question landed a legal victory Monday. The U.S. Federal Circuit of Appeals in Washington, D.C., ordered Koh to reconsider Apple's demands that some of the products a jury found infringed Apple's patents be barred for sale in the United States. Koh in December turned down Apple, ruling that the company didn't prove that consumers bought Samsung devices instead of Apple devices because of the infringement. "While certainly a rousing victory for Apple, this is not over by any means," says Anthony Michael Sabino, a professor at St John's University. n

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Microsoft crowed that more than a million Xbox One consoles were snapped up within 24 hours in 13 countries after hitting shelves for the first time in the morning. The US-based technology titan described it as the biggest launch in Xbox history, setting a new sales record at the company. Xbox One consoles were sold out at most retail shops, according to Microsoft. "We are humbled and grateful for the excitement of Xbox fans around the world," said Xbox corporate vice president of marketing Yusuf Mehdi. "Seeing thousands of excited fans lined up to get their Xbox One and their love for gaming was truly a special moment for everyone on the Xbox team," he continued.

More than a million Xbox One consoles sold on launch day

"We are working hard to create more Xbox One consoles." Sale of the keenly-awaited system began in more than a dozen countries including New Zealand, Australia, France, Britain, Brazil and the United States as day dawned in respective time zones. Xbox fans queued at consumer electronics shops to be among the first to get their hands on Microsoft's beefedup console that extends beyond gaming to online films, music, social networking and more. "It's a big upgrade, a big change," said 23-year-old Jonathan Guerrero, who staked out a spot at the front of the line at a Best Buy electronics shop in Northern California 13 hours before the consoles went on sale a minute

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Twitter toughens encryption to thwart online snooping

into Friday. "You are jumping from okay to super great." Hassan Ali, 34, said he queued to get an Xbox One because he has an ideal television for the rich graphics it pumps out. He described his set as a 3-D, high-definition, smart television with a 65-inch screen.

"It's kind of amazing that you can look at the game and it looks like real life," said Ali, who spoke of loving video games since his first Sega device in 1985. Sony last week unleashed the PlayStation 4, its new champion in the long-running console war.

Twitter announced it has toughened the encryption of traffic at the globally popular one-to-many messaging service to thwart online snooping. Twitter followed in the footsteps of Google and Facebook, adding a layer of security called Perfect Forward Secrecy to protect data that users would like kept from prying eyes. "On top of the usual confidentiality and integrity properties of HTTPS, Forward Secrecy adds a new property," Twitter explained in a blog post. "If an adversary is cur-

rently recording all Twitter users' encrypted traffic, and they later crack or steal Twitter's private keys, they should not be able to use those keys to decrypt the recorded traffic." The non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation is among online rights champions who advocate for this kind of added protection on personal Internet traffic, according to San Francisco-based Twitter. "We are writing this not just to discuss an interesting piece of technology, but to present what we believe should be the new normal for

web service owners," Twitter said of the announcement. "A year and a half ago, Twitter was first served completely over HTTPS," the company added. "Since then, it has become clearer and clearer how important that step was to protecting our users' privacy." US Internet titans whose businesses are based on maintaining the trust of users have been kept to strengthen privacy protection in the wake of disclosures of broad scale cyber spying by the National Security Agency. Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed US surveillance on a global scale, straining Washington's ties with key allies and putting pressure on Internet firms to show people that their online privacy is being guarded. Among the disclosures were spy tools for decoding data and a practice of saving encrypted information so that it might be unscrambled in the future. n

LG admits collecting smart TV viewer habits data

The Xbox One, successor to the Xbox 360, the top-selling console in North America, debuted at $500 while Sony's PS4 is priced at $400. Sony said it sold more than a million PS4 consoles in the 24 hours after its release on November 15 in only North America. Both consoles boast upgrades which provide richer graphics and more immersive game play than their predecessors. Social features for online play have also been enhanced, along with the ability to share with friends. Analyst firm Gartner forecast that the console segment of the video game market will grow from $44 billion this year to $49 billion, while that of mobile games will climb from about $13 billion to $17 billion. n

South Korea's LG Electronics said it would make correct a "bug" on some of its smart TVs after admitting they send information about viewers back to the company without their permission. The world's second largest TV maker launched an investigation after UK-based IT consultant Jason Huntley raised the issue in a blog. He said LG continued to collect information on which channel he was watching even after he turned off the data collection feature. "We have found some of our smart TVs continue to transmit viewing information even when the function is turned off by the viewer," a

spokesman said. "We are preparing a firmware update to roll out soon that will correct this bug." Huntley welcomed move as the "positive step". LG's rival Samsung Electronics, the world's largest TV maker, said its products had not experienced such a problem. "Samsung takes all concerns regarding consumer privacy and data security very seriously," it said. "All of our smart TVs include industry-standard security safeguards and practices to secure consumers' personal information and prevent its unauthorized collection or use," Samsung said in a statement. n

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China will start commercial 4G mobile communications services on this month bringing the most advanced telecommunications technology to the countrys more than 1 billion mobile users. China Mobile, the countrys No. 1 mobile operator with over 700 million users, will start 4G services on that date with a new brand He, meaning harmonious in the Chinese language. China is expected to issue licences for 4G before the telcos new services start. It will be a national event and users are allowed to apply for 4G services without changing numbers, said a Shanghai Mobile official. Users in Beijing, Guangzhou and Chongqing will be the first to enjoy commercial 4G, or fourth generaHTC has finally introduced the world to a gold variant of its popular One handset. A number of companies have quite clearly taken note of the excitement surrounding the launch of the gold iPhone 5s eight weeks

China to start commercial 4G

tion, services. Shanghai, which is still building a citywide 4G network, will launch the services later. Though China is the worlds biggest mobile phone market with more than 1 billion users on its mainland, it lacks the 4G technology that is used in some other countries and regions including the United States, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. The 4G phone will become rapidly popular on Chinas mainland, thanks to the low cost of 4G phones, according to Li Yue, China Mobiles president, who expects some 4G phones priced below 1,000 yuan (US$162) to appear in the second half of next year. Apple Inc is also set to introduce iPhones supporting the 4G network in China, in-

Gold HTC One officially launched

tions in the hope that consumers will favor a more elaborate aesthetic during the festive shopping season. It is worth noting that this latest HTC release is limited to actually covering the hardware in a champagne colored coat-

dustry insiders said. The US giant and China Mobile are in negotiations over the 4G iPhone and they will launch it officially on December 18. China Telecom and China Unicom are now Apples carrier partners for its smartphone on the Chinese mainland. n

Struggling Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry Ltd which recently dropped plans to sell itself, said that three top executives will leave the company as part of its ongoing reorganization under new Chief Executive Officer John Chen. BlackBerry said that James Yersh will replace Brian Bidulka as its chief financial officer. Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer Kristian Tear and Chief Marketing Officer Frank Boulben will leave the company.

BlackBerry COO and others step down

berry, backed off from its bid to buy BlackBerry and instead agreed to invest about $1 billion in the company along with other institutional investors. BlackBerry had ealier announced plans to cut about 4,500 jobs - about 40 percent of its workforce, and reported a second-quarter loss of almost $1 billion, as tepid demand for Z10 led to hefty inventory charges. BlackBerry, once a leader in the smartphone segment, fell into hard times after Apple

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ago and have decided that if you cant beat them then you might as well join them. Or emulate them depending on your personal view of the situation. Apple watched as worldwide inventory of the gold iPhone 5s was immediately depleted upon launch, with HTC hoping that they can also generate the same levels of excitement about their gold option. The golden colored version of the companys flagship Android device will immediately sit alongside the existing silver, black, red and blue op-

India special number to lodge telecom complaints

New Delhi: Telecom subscribers across the country can soon register their complaints by dialling a special toll free number '1037'. A subscriber, at present, needs to call customer care centre of the service provider to register a complaint. Customers can go to nodal officers and finally to the appellate authority in case of unsatisfactory reply. More often than not sub-

ing and shouldnt be confused with the 18-carat gold version of the device that was fleetingly available. We cant deny that the One does look extremely fetching in gold, but considering the aesthetic seems to be borrowed from the iPhone 5s, we arent too sure about HTCs claims of being a global leader in mobile innovation and design. Consumers should be aware that the technical capabilities and underlying functionality of the HTC One remain unchanged. Rather than revamping the device

and aim to further penetrate the market with this new version, HTC has instead decided just to change the external color of the hardware and launch it alongside the existing options. Those purchasing the new addition will be getting the same Snapdragon 600 processor, the same gorgeous 1080p display and the same Android Jelly Bean operating system that will benefit from a KitKat upgrade in January 2014. As part of the official press announcement from London, HTC has confirmed that the gold colored hardware will be made available across multiple European regions through a number of partners. The company is yet to announce any solid launch dates, or even which networks will be stocking the new device, but we can be sure that we will all be able to give the gift of HTC branded gold this Christmas. It is also worth noting that this is not the 18kt gold HTC One which we reported about it October. And Samsung also didnt waste time in announcing a Galaxy S4 Gold Edition handset, that too after the launch of the iPhone 5s. Were sure a gold Lumia isnt too far off either. n

In addition, Roger Martin, a board member since 2007, has resigned. Meanwhile, Bidulka will stay on as a special advisor to the CEO for the remainder of the fiscal year to assist with the transition. The management changes come after BlackBerry said in early November that it has dropped plans to sell itself and replaced Chief Executive Thorsten Heins with John Chen as interim CEO. At that time, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., holder of a 10 percent stake in Black-

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scribers fail to get satisfactory resolution of the their grievances. A note circulated by DoT service providers said short code '1037' has been allocated to the Public Grievances Cell in the Department of Telecom (DoT) headquarters in New Delhi as a telecom consumer grievances helpline. A ruling of the Supreme Court in 2009 had held that

section 7B of the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 barred a consumer from seeking remedy under the consumer act. The complaint thus remained limited between the subscriber and the telecom company. The new number will bring subscriber grievances into the notice of DoT. "This number is in implementation stage. The Access Wing has allocated it and given it to the Public Grievances Cell which has to now take it forward," a DoT official said. n

With the Empowered Group of Ministers (E-GOM) meeting shortly to decide on various aspects related to the revival of the Indian telecom sector, particularly the TRAI recommendations on the valuation and reserve price of spectrum, Vodafone India has said it has appealed to P Chidambaram, Finance Minister, Government of India, and senior ministers in the EGOM to take a decision that revives the fortunes of the telecom industry. Vodafone has pointed out that if Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC) were maintained at the existing differential and discriminatory levels instead of a uniform SUC as recommended by TRAI, it would once again stifle participation in auctions. Vodafone has asserted that correcting the existing SUC regime is imperative for any effective spectrum reforms to be implemented. Failing this, all spectrum policy reforms being considered by the Government such as M&A

Vodafone Approaches FM, EGOM On Spectrum Pricing

norms, spectrum sharing, trading, etc. will simply not succeed. Accordingly, Vodafone India has urged the E-GOM to accept the TRAI recommendation for a uniform SUC regime and for setting the SUC at three percent AGR for the forthcoming auctions. Vodafone has also supported and endorsed the TRAI recommendation that the government take an inprinciple decision to allow spectrum trading and announce this prior to commencement of the forthcoming auctions, preferably as part of the auction Notice Inviting Applications. Vodafone has also submitted that the existing 900 MHz being used by operators should not be auctioned. Instead, a reasonable price for its extension should be set after mutual discussions. Besides, the telco has argued that being in accordance with contractual provisions and obligations, it will be in consumer interest too.

Inc.'s (AAPL) iPhones and devices running on Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android platform began to dominate the market. Meanwhile, the sales of two LTE-enabled smartphones introduced by BlackBerry earlier this year - the all-touch screen Z10 and keyboard equipped Q10 - reportedly fell below expectations. BlackBerry's incoming CFO Yersh has worked at the company since 2008, and has previously served as senior vice president, controller and as the company's head of compliance. n

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