ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Commerce and Industries, Dr. Gohar Ejaz here on Wednesday chaired high-level meeting to address the status of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Karachi for creating investment friendly environment the country and to assess the current status of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Karachi.
The meeting was attended by key officials including Sauleh Ahmed Farooqui, Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Rashid Langrial, Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Production and Sohail Rajput, Secretary Board of Investment.
The meeting focused on the operational status of the Port Qasim SEZ, which is now ready for prospective investors.
The Port Qasim SEZ boasts comprehensive utility services, creating an ideal environment for businesses to thrive.
During the discussions, the minister highlighted the importance of diversification and growth, specifically addressing the establishment of a SEZ dedicated to the Information Technology (IT) sector.
The IT SEZ is poised to play a crucial role in fostering innovation and technological advancement in Pakistan.
A key agenda item centered on initiatives to enhance the skill set of the labor force in Pakistan.
The Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with other relevant authorities, plans to implement programs to improve the overall skill level of the workforce, with a particular emphasis on IT skills.
This strategic approach aligns with the goal of boosting IT exports and positioning Pakistan as a competitive player in the global IT industry.
The minister reiterated the need for proper incentivization of the public sector to ensure inclusive growth. He emphasized that sustained economic development requires a collaborative effort between the government and private sector, with appropriate incentives serving as a catalyst for progress.
Commerce minister to address status of SEZs in Karachi
Protection of Pakistan’s cyberspace under PECA Act is very important :Minister
ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr. Umar Saif Wednesday said that the protection of Pakistan’s cyberspace under the PECA Act is very important.
“Cybercrime, online buying and selling, cyberbullying, protection of online data, other services of our citizens, identification of threats and effective action against criminals is our core responsibility,” he said in his address as chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony of Digital Pakistan Cybersecurity Hackathon.
The event was organized by the National Technology Fund (Ignite), an organization of the Ministry of IT Telecom.
Dr. Umar Saif further said that there was no specific organization to act against cybercrime, so a cybercrime wing was created in FIA to look after these issues.
“We have established a separate agency called the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency equipped with all the required equipment and skills,” he said.
The minister said gradually, the authority to act against cybercrime is being transferred from the FIA Cybercrime wing to this particular organization which will be able to take effective action against cybercrime.
He was of the view that with Pakistan’s cyberspace, data of public and private institutions, business transactions, and online activities of citizens can be secured effectively.
The IT Minister said that the first National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERTS) has also been established in Pakistan, and Sectoral CERTS will be formed under this organization.
In other words, the government of Pakistan has created an entire infrastructure under an effective strategy against cybercrimes, which is being rapidly implemented to make it fully functional.
Dr Umar Siaf, extended his gratitude to all participants, sponsors, and organizers who played an instrumental role in making the Digital Pakistan Cybersecurity Hackathon an undeniable success.
He also lauded the efforts of Team IGNITE to hold training workshops and hackathons since October.
“The significance of events like these cannot be overstated; they are pivotal in fostering innovation and collaboration within the dynamic field of cybersecurity. In our increasingly digital world, the prevalence of malware and malicious attacks underscores the critical importance of cybersecurity. The evolving nature of cyber threats necessitates constant innovation to outpace malicious actors” Dr. Saif added.
He said that as informed, 6 teams represented Pakistan at Blackhat’s cybersecurity competition in Saudi Arabia this year and 4 of them were ranked in the top 35 teams out of 250 international teams who participated in the event.
He termed a good first step by Pakistan and Ignite and said “I hope we have at least one team in the top 10 teams at next year’s Blackhat competition.”
Recognizing the need for robust collaboration, the IT Minister emphasizes the importance of a partnership between the government, private sector, and academia.
The private sector’s support for cybersecurity initiatives is pivotal, and the government encouraged ongoing collaboration to fortify our cybersecurity defenses.
In his welcome address Chief Executive Officer IGNITE, Mr. Asim Shehryar Hussain said, the IT Ministry and Ignite are on a relentless pursuit of identifying and nurturing talent capable of thwarting malicious cyber attempts on our national networks.
“Our progress is evident in the establishment of operational readiness for Pakistan’s National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) and the imminent institutionalization of a Cyber Security Authority. Creating awareness about cybersecurity among the public is
paramount” he said.
Earlier, Ignite successfully conducted the scheduled hands-on training sessions in 10 cities, complemented by a special 3-day training session tailored for government sector employees held in Islamabad.
Moreover, regional hackathon rounds were conducted in Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, and Islamabad.
It is worth mentioning here that before the awards ceremony, 21 teams from 6 cities were vying for cash awards totaling Rs. 3 million contested each other in a grand finale.
Furthermore, participants in the hands-on training sessions received training vouchers worth Rs. 6 million, with awards extended to the top 50 individuals.
This comprehensive program underscored our commitment to skill development and innovation, fostering collaboration across various sectors.
Notably, the top three winning teams from last year’s hackathon have already been granted international sponsorship. These teams secured their positions in the Black Hat Me competition held in November 2023 at Riyadh, KSA.
This achievement reflects the high caliber of our participants and the success of our ongoing initiatives.
Rupee gains 18 paisa against Dollar
ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (APP): Pakistani Rupee on Wednesday witnessed the 11th consecutive recovery session as it gained 18 paisa against the US Dollar in the interbank trading and closed at Rs282.19 against the previous day’s closing of Rs282.37.
However, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of the Dollar in the open market stood at Rs282 and Rs284.5 respectively.
The price of the Euro increased by 33 paisa to close at Rs311.60 against the last day’s closing of Rs311.27, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The Japanese Yen came down by 01 paisa and closed at Rs1.97; whereas a decrease of 78 paisa was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which traded at Rs359.26 compared to the last closing of Rs358.48.
The exchange rates of the Emirates Dirham and the Saudi Riyal decreased by 04 and 03 paisa to close at Rs 76.84 and Rs75.24 respectively.
Power shutdown notice
CM encourages students to harness their energies positively
Pakistan exports seafood worth $161.8 mln in 5 months
ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (APP):Pakistan earned $161.896 million by exporting 72,515 metric tonnes of fish and fish preparations during the first five months of the current fiscal year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
AS compared to the exports of $185.802 million during July-November (2022-23), the fish exports during the July-November (2023-23) witnessed declined of 12.87 percent, according to PBS data.
In terms of quantity, the exports of fish and fish preparations however increased by 1.54 percent during the first five months when compared to exports of 71,415 metric tonnes during last fiscal year.
On a year-on-year basis, the seafood exports decreased by 25.75 percent to $38.035 million in November 2023 as compared to the exports of $51.224 million in November 2022.
In terms of quantity, the exports witnessed a 12.07 percent decrease by going down from 20,542 metric tonnes last year to 18,064 metric tonnes this year.
On a month-on-month basis, the seafood exports declined by 6.77 percent when compared to the exports of $40.797 million in October, according to the PBS data.
In terms of quantity, fish exports increased by 8.5 percent in November compared to the exports of 16,648 metric tonnes in October.
The overall food group exports from Pakistan increased by 37.12 percent during the first five months of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
Food exports during July-November (2023-24) were recorded at $2,640.905 million as compared to the exports of $1,925.969 million in July-November (2022-23), a surge of 37.12 percent, according to latest PBS data.
It is pertinent to mention here that country’s merchandize trade deficit contracted by 33.59 per cent during the first five months of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last year.
The Trade deficit from July-November (2023-24) was recorded at $9.378 billion as against the deficit of $14.122 billion in July–November (2022-23), showing negative growth of 33.59 per cent.
During the period under review, the exports increased by 1.93 per cent to $12.172 billion compared to the exports of $11.942 billion during the corresponding period of last year, according to the latest PBS data.
On the other hand, the imports narrowed by 17.32 per cent and were recorded at $21.550 billion compared to $26.064 billion last year.
Two housing colonies, two plots sealed
Dengue cases exceed 15,060 during current year
ECP sets up EMCC for public complaints registration
ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set up the Election Monitoring and Control Center (EMCC) to register and address public complaints during the 2024 general elections.
EMCCs have been established at provincial, divisional and district levels, extending beyond Islamabad, for the swift resolution of public complaints.
According to the spokesperson of the ECP, trained personnel are appointed in the EMCCs to swiftly address and resolve complaints.
The control room will maintain communication with relevant personnel and stakeholders, including preliminary findings, Returning Officers (ROs) and District Returning Officers (DROs).
He encouraged individuals to register complaints related to the general elections with EMCC Center staff by emailing complaints to complaints@ecp.gov.pk or sending them via WhatsApp to 0327-5050610. A helpline at 111-327-000 is established for the convenience of complainants, operating initially from 8 am to 6 pm.
Starting mid-January 2024, the center will operate 24/7 until the conclusion of polling day on February 8, and the completion of results. The control center is also equipped with social media and electronic media monitoring facilities. Complaints can be submitted through the fax number 051-9204403.
All set to take action against one-wheelie doers
