Day: May 3, 2024

The Sindh provincial cabinet has approved the introduction of gold, silver, and platinum number plates for vehicles on Thursday. The proposal for premium number plates, spearheaded by Excise and Taxation Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, garnered attention for its potential to bolster revenue and provide motorists with personalized options. Minister Memon delineated that currently, the department offered three categories of number plates: commercial, non-commercial, and motorcycle. Highlighting the revenue potential, Minister Memon disclosed that in the fiscal year 2021-22, the issuance of choice numbers accrued a substantial sum of Rs44 million. He projected that if even 10 percent of the motoring populace opted for personalized choice numbers, it could yield an annual revenue ranging from Rs2 to Rs3 billion. Elaborating on the distinctive attributes of premium number plates, Minister Memon outlined features such as personalized property, inheritability, transferability between vehicles, CNIC-based registrat ion, and customizable color shades for platinum numbers, among others. The premium plates are categorized into Platinum, Gold, and Silver, with varying maximum character limits and base prices. The Platinum category, with a maximum of three characters, commands a base price of Rs2 million, while Gold plates, accommodating up to five characters, are priced at Rs1 million. Silver plates, allowing a maximum of seven characters, come at a base price of Rs50,000. The cabinet's approval encompassed the adoption of auctioning mechanisms for premium number plates, drawing inspiration from international precedents set by cities like Dubai. Moreover, the proposal included bundle offers, featuring up to 30 percent discounts tailored for families and corporate entities. Source: Pro Pakistani

Systems Limited, Pakistan's premier provider of IT and IT IT-enabled services, had the distinct honor of hosting the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, His Excellency Mr. Donald A. Blome. Mr. Asif Peer, CEO of Systems Limited, along with Mr. Aezaz Hussain, Founder and Chairman of the Board, warmly welcomed U.S. Ambassador Blome, U.S. Consul General in Lahore - Kristin Hawkins, Political Economic Officer Douglas Johnston, and Commercial Specialist - Hassan Raza, providing them with insights into the ongoing U.S.-Pakistan collaborations in the IT sector and future plans of Systems Limited. Since its inception, Systems Limited has been at the forefront of the IT industry in Pakistan. Established in 1977, the company embarked on its global journey in 1996 by establishing a presence in the United States. Over the years, Systems Limited has cultivated strong relationships with major U.S. enterprises, serving them both onsite and offshore centers in Pakistan. Today, Systems Limited operates in 16+ countries across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region, catering to a diverse clientele. As a pioneer in the industry, Systems Limited has played a pivotal role in the development of the IT sector in Pakistan. Mr. Aezaz Hussain, the company's founder, also spearheaded the establishment of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA) in 1993, advocating for the export of IT services from Pakistan and championing industry growth. During the visit, Ambassador Blome inquired about the availability and quality of IT resources in Pakistan. The Systems team proudly informed him of their strong partnership with academia, emphasizing their commitment to nurturing and developing high-quality IT talent through academic collaborations and skill-building initiatives. Hosting Ambassador Blome, was a privilege for us at Systems Limited, remarked Asif Peer, Group CEO and MD at Systems Limited. He said: 'Our journey, spanning over four decades, reflects not only our strong resolve to scale, depth of technol ogy, and the expertise of our world-class professionals but also our lasting pursuit of excellence. With a global team exceeding 7000 professionals, we are dedicated to deriving excellence in every facet of our operations, from conceptualization to execution.' 'Systems Limited looks forward to forging B2B alliances built on trust and mutual gain and continued collaboration and partnership opportunities with the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan. Through such enduring alliances, we ignite a collaborative spark furthering our mission of driving technological innovation and economic growth.' Asif Peer futher added. Ambassador Blome was given an exclusive tour of the Systems Limited Lahore campus, showcasing the company's state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to serving its global clientele. During the tour Ambassador Blome noted: 'We continue to work with the government and U.S. businesses operating in Pakistan to find ways to improve the investment climate to foster innovation and increase bilateral trade between our countries.' In addition to its Lahore campus, Systems Limited boasts similar cutting-edge facilities in Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Multan, further solidifying its position as a leader in the IT industry. Systems Limited looks forward to continued collaboration and partnership opportunities with esteemed entities such as the United States Embassy in Pakistan, furthering its mission of driving technological innovation and economic growth. Source: Pro Pakistani

In a historic moment in the nation's history, Pakistan's inaugural satellite mission to the moon, iCube Qamar, has embarked on its journey into space today. The satellite, hitching a ride aboard China's Long March-5 rocket, commenced its voyage as part of the Chang'E6 mission from the Wenchang Space launch site in China's Hainan province. The launch event was broadcast live on the IST website and Chinese state television, marking a momentous occasion for Pakistan's burgeoning space program. Following the successful liftoff, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended heartfelt congratulations to the nation and the scientific community for achieving this significant feat in space exploration. He hailed the iCube-Q satellite mission as Pakistan's inaugural step into the cosmos, highlighting the nation's prowess in the domain of space technology akin to its achievements in nuclear science. Acknowledging the dedication and expertise of Pakistani scientists, engineers, and skilled workers, Prime Minister Sharif pa id tribute to the core committee of the Institute of Space Technology (IST), led by Dr. Khurram Khurshid, along with the collaborative efforts of SUPARCO and students involved in the project. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar lauded the collaborative spirit demonstrated in today's launch, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in space exploration endeavors for mutual benefit. Speaking to the media, Dr. Khurram Khurshid, a key member of the Core Committee at IST, revealed that Pakistan's satellite mission is poised to reach lunar orbit within five days, where it will conduct extensive observations for a duration of three to six months. The mission aims to capture detailed images of the lunar surface to facilitate scientific research and exploration. Designed and developed by IST in collaboration with Shanghai University of China and SUPARCO, the ICUBE-Q orbiter is equipped with two optical cameras to capture high-resolution images of the moon's surface. The integration of ICUBE-Q with China's Chang'E6 mission marks a significant milestone in Pakistan's space exploration journey, aligning with China's broader lunar exploration initiatives. Chang'E6, the sixth mission in China's lunar exploration series, is tasked with collecting surface samples from the moon's far side for further research on Earth. The successful launch of iCube Qamar represents a historic leap forward for Pakistan's space program, opening new horizons for scientific discovery and technological innovation on the global stage. Source: Pro Pakistani

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur has directed the authorities concerned to devise a comprehensive plan for promotion of sports and healthy activities in the province. Presiding over a meeting in Peshawar today, he directed to organize horse and cattle shows in the province. Source: Radio Pakistan

The federal government has set up the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to deal with cybercrime in the country. According to a notification in The Gazette of Pakistan from the information ministry, the NCCIA will exercise jurisdiction under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act, 2016 and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will cease to perform functions as a designated investigation agency under the Act. According to the notification, all personnel, cases, inquiries, investigations, assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, privileges, and matters related thereto or connected therewith subsisting immediately before the commencement of these rules in respect of the defunct cybercrime wing of the FIA will stand transferred to the NCCIA. The new agency will consist of a Director General, Additional Directors General, Directors, Additional Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, and such other officers as the Director General may determine, the notification says. The Director G eneral will be appointed by the Federal Government for a term of two years and will be a grade 21 or 22 officer. The Director NCCIA Director General will exercise powers equivalent to those of an Inspector General of Police. Source: Pro Pakistani