Pakistan News

Obama had urged the bill's passage to promote stability in a crisis-ridden nation that is key to the US war in Afghanistan.

We are getting news that Mobilink is Down in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, at least. We got this confirmation from at least 4 ProPakistani readers.

Mohammat Akhtar from Rawalpindi writes to us,

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It has been noticed by large number of Mobilink customers that their prepaid and postpaid sims are not working today. All Mobilink connections are continuously giving an error like invalid sim, sim not inserted etc.

We are waiting for official view point from Mobilink regarding this network problem.

• PTA Asks Cellular Companies to Suspend Communication
• Mobilink Takes Back Unlimited Daily SMS Package
• Free GPRS Internet on UFONE – 100 Percent Working
• Mobilink Takes Back Daily SMS Bundle (yes again)
• Franchisers Not Happy with Warid

Chief Operating Officer’s slot at Ufone is currently vacant and it may get filled soon. As told by our sources, Younis Sheikh, Vice President Sales and Distribution at Ufone has got good chances to become the new COO of Ufone.

Sources near to Mr. Younis Sheikh have confirmed us that VP is mobilizing the available channels to get COO’s slot, and he may succeed especially in a situation when Asher Yaqub Khan, Ex-VP Marketing has left for Bangalink couple of months back.

If Mr. Younis becomes the COO of Ufone, then he will be directly controlling both the Sales and Marketing divisions, as VP Marketing directly reports to COO.

It merits mentioning here that prior to Ufone; Younis Sheikh served Mobilink, as Regional Commercial Director back in 2004.

• Rumor: Mobilink May Lose Tariq Durrani, Regional Commercial Director
• Asher Yaqub Khan, Marketing Head Ufone, Moving to Bangla Link
• Rumor: Major Reshuffle in Mobilink’s Top Management Soon
• Jahanzeb Taj Replaces Irfan Akram as VP Sales Mobilink
• HR at Mobilink in Action, Earlier than Expected

Courts are back in session in Pakistan's Swat Valley after a three-month hiatus because of an army offensive against Taliban militants.

South East Asia News.Net Wednesday 30th September, 2009 Islamabad, Sep.30 : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, it seems, makes a special mention in his diary that he has to rake up the Kashmir issue in each of his speeches, as he has once again linked friendly relations with India to the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Himayun Mirza

This is the story of how I had some of the best naans I have ever had in my life at the Taliban Food Center, a small local restaurant in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The name has got nothing at all to do with the Taliban as we know them in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere.

The name may be worth a chuckle for some - even though it has nothing to do with what you are chuckling about. The food, however, is worth much more more. Its worth eating, worth enjoying and worth talking about!

Since ATP has its running series on the Best Pakistani Food Outside Pakistan and I have read here about eating daal roti in Taiwan, I though I would share with you the story of the Taliban Restaurant in Malaysia.

Last year I went to the second largest city of Malaysia called Kota Kinabalu, in Sabah province. Obviously I was looking for a nice desi place to eat. Most of the local and Indian restaurants there have some sugar in their meat dishes even though they are spicy. I do not like any hint of sugar in my meat dishes.

However, I found a wonderful restaurant with the best naans I ever ate in my life. They had piping hot naan coming out of the oven and we could order from simple to garlic to cheese naan. The whole lunch can be as cheap as 1 or 2 U.S. dollars (Pak Rs. 80-160).

Yes, this is not a misprint!

Initially I was afraid to go to a place called “Taliban Food Center” but the rave reviews and the desire to eat desi food got the better of me. You cannot find better food in this price even in Pakistan and India.

I found more information on the restaurant at the website RaveJoint: Food Matters. It defines teh food ‘type’ as “Indian/Pakistani,” location is described as being “Beside Honda Boon Siew, Inanam,” and average dish price as “RM 3.00″ which is slightly under US$ 1. Of the three comments posted there, two are about the naan. One says: “Yeah…. seriously the best naan i’ve eaten here in Sabah. Comes wid lots of stuff.. and u can never get tired of the name of this Restaurant :P,” and teh second one says, “This was my first time eating naan and it was pretty good. Supposedly this is a very famous restaurant for naan. It’s served with kima and chutney. I think the potato curry thing was pretty nice and the naan is great too. There’s a lot of different naan combo sets too.”

If any of you ever go to Brunei then Kota Kinabalu is only a 3-4 hours ferry ride.

Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has passed an Order for the Show Cause Notices it had issued to China Mobile Pakistan and Ufone violating Competition Ordinance in its advertisements (TVCs).

Owing to the conciliatory and compliance oriented approach, and the assurances given on part of both the companies through an undertaking in writing for future compliance with the provisions of the Ordinance, CCP has not imposed any penalty – however, both the companies were warned over the matter.

Show Cause Notice by CCP were regarding Ufone’s UWon while Zong’s 8 Anay per Call advertisements, and CCP had termed both adverts violating Competition Ordinance, 2007.

It merits mentioning here that CCP takes suo moto actions against companies, violating competition ordinance. While anyone can report such violations to CCP, contact information can be found here

Below is the complete press statement issued by CCP

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ISLAMABAD – SEPTEMBER 30, 2009: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on September 29, 2009 has passed an Order in respect of Show Cause Notices issued to M/s China Mobile Pak Limited (CMPak) & M/s Pakistan Telecom Mobile Limited (Ufone) wherein the subject advertisements by both the undertakings have been held in violation of Section 10 of the Competition Ordinance, 2007. However, owing to the conciliatory and compliance oriented approach, and the assurances given on part of both the companies through an undertaking in writing for future compliance with the provisions of the Ordinance, CCP has not imposed any penalty. Both the companies have been reprimanded that in future CCP will take a very strict view of any or all non-compliances or contraventions under the Ordinance.

In the order passed by Single Member of CCP, Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan, Member (Legal/OFT) it has been observed that ‘8 Anay per call’ advertisement was false and misleading and in violation of Section 10 of the Ordinance. The subject advertisement is stated to lack the reasonable basis regarding the price i.e., call rates, exclusive or inclusiveness of government taxes being not specified and its character i.e., the duration of call at which the rates were applicable was not stipulated clearly. While these factors are held as misleading in some way or the other, the Order holds the statement made in the advertisement that ‘call at 907 and say it all’ as an information that is ‘false’ in nature; dialing 907 activated for Zong’s customer/consumer the ‘8 Anay per call’ offer and subjected the customer to an automatic deduction of Rs.15 + tax thereon from the prepaid account – withholding/omission of such information is held material and contrary to facts advertised.

In the matter of Ufone, it has been observed that, the televised advertisement of Ufone’s Uwon Package, did not mention that the advertised rates, to call other networks, are applicable on per minute calls. Although as per the submissions of Ufone the advertisement contains a disclaimer, however, the same is in English and was neither visible nor readable. It has also been observed that, even if an express or implied representation in an advertisement is accompanied by disclaimers or qualifiers; such caveats will nullify a misleading effect only, if they appear, in such a way as to eliminate the advertisement’s tendency to mislead in its overall effect. Although, in the newspaper advertisement and brochures made available at sale points, it was noted that in a very small font it finds mention in Urdu text that rates are ‘exclusive of taxes’ however, this has been held as an inadequate disclosure. The Order further states that, we must recognize that such information must be clearly conveyed to the customer/consumer as the advertised call rates increase, when 21 % FED are included in the advertised call rates. Further more, in the televised advertisement no such clarification appears whether verbal or in print. The advertisement by Ufone has also been held in violation of Section 10 of the Ordinance.

The Order of CCP also lays down general guidelines in relation to enforcement of Section 10 of the Ordinance which deals with the deceptive marketing practices. Regarding the definition and distinction between ‘false’ and ‘misleading’ information, it is held that, ‘false information’ can be said to include: oral or written statements or representations that are; (a) contrary to truth or fact and not in accordance with the reality or actuality; (b) usually implies either conscious wrong or culpable negligence, (c) has a stricter and stronger connotation, and (d) is not readily open to interpretation. Whereas ‘misleading information’ may essentially include oral or written statements or representations that are; (a) capable of giving wrong impression or idea, (b) likely to lead into error of conduct, thought, or judgment, (c) tends to misinform or misguide owing to vagueness or any omission, (d) may or may not be deliberate or conscious and (e) in contrast to false information, it has less onerous connotation and is somewhat open to interpretation as the circumstances and conduct of a party may be treated as relevant to a certain extent.

Regarding as to who is the ‘consumer’ within the ambit of Section 10 of the Ordinance, It is held that, the consumer to whom such information is disseminated has to be the ‘ordinary consumer’ who is the usual, common or foreseeable user or buyer of the product. Such a consumer need not necessarily be restricted to the end user. It has also been emphasized that the ‘ordinary consumer’ is not the same as the ‘ordinary prudent man’ concept evolved under contract law. Unlike the ‘ordinary prudent man’ the thrust on ordinary diligence, caution/duty of care and ability to mitigate (possible inquiries) on the part of the consumer would not be considered relevant factors.

The Order further states that taking peculiar circumstances of the Pakistani consumer into account, more so, in the telecom industry where the consumers range is of widest amplitude, we should not “favour a return to unregulated laissez-faire marketing that would transfer the burden of evidence from the seller, who has the advantage of intimate knowledge of the product, to the buyer, who of necessity must make many, often instantaneous choices in the course of a day.”

• Quit Deceptive Marketing or Face Severe Penalties: PTA
• Cellular Companies, Please Please…show some Mercy; Don’t Loot Innocent Pakistanis
• PTA Urges Strict Implementation of Consumer Protection Regulations
• Rs. 1.20 for 1 Minute on All Network from 9AM to 5 PM: Warid
• Caution: Ufone’s Awaz SMS Will Charge you Rs. 2.50 – But No One is Informed

Internet Service Providers’ Association of Pakistan has termed 1 MB DSL for Rs. 299 (in selected areas), as anti-competitive.

ISPAK in a communication with PTA has requested the authority to check such moves by the PTCL to save total collapse of the broadband industry. ISPAK said that such promotions by PTCL will lead industry to:

1. All DSL operators eventually packing and closing shop
2. Telecom operators who are investing in heavily in various broadband technologies will be forced to rethink about their investments, the end result of which could be a monopoly in the country in broadband, maybe that is what PTCL is trying to achieve with such promotions.

When we spoke with spoke with Mr Wahaj us Siraj, Chief Executive Officer, Micronet Broadband, he said that PTCL’s wholesale price of IP bandwidth to ISPs is not less than US$ 150/Mbit if an ISP purchases 1,000 Mbits of bandwidth. Keeping this in view, if ISP’s wholesale price for 2 Mbits is $300 (Rs. 24,000), how ISP can sell same at Rs. 2,000 to an end user.

“PTA is silent on this issue. They’re not supporting industry and leaning towards the large incumbent operator. PTCL is actually trying to kill competition by hook or by crook. If it succeeds in this, which they would if regulator remains silent, it would monopolize the market again and customers would be left with no choice but to use PTCL only” he added.

It merits mentioning here that PTCL has been offering I MB DSL link for PKR 299 (3.6 USD) per month, with subsidiary from USF.

However, it must be noted that PTCL is offering this package only in those cities where there is no other ISP providing broadband services and USF encourages ISPs to offer broadband services in un-served areas by subsidizing the services, through bidding.

In this regards, when we spoke with Mr. Pervaiz Iftikhar, Chief Executive Officer, USF, he said that USF’s aim is to take broadband in un-served and under-served areas of Pakistan. For the purpose, USF conducts a transparent bidding process, where everyone is invited to participate. He further told that USF will provide subsidiary for infrastructure for broadband to winning bidders, but only after reaching target, for instance in Faisalabad Telecom Region, target is 100,000 broadband customers.

Parvaiz Iftikhar further added that it’s PTA’s mandate to regulate the industry – and this particular issue is clearly between ISPAK, PTA and PTCL.

When we spoke with a broadband analyst regarding this, he said that it is true that PTCL’s package is provided only in those cities where there was no broadband before, however, ISPAK’s viewpoint of anti-competitiveness of this package can’t be ruled out. “Price cut in one area will impact countrywide broadband industry, sooner or later, moreover, it’s not that if today one company is not providing services in some cities, then they won’t go there for entire life” he concluded.

We could not get PTA’s viewpoint over the matter.

• ISPs Allowed to Lease Third Party IP Bandwidth
• Free Broadband for 1 Month and IPTV for 6 Months: PTCL
• ISPs find it Pricy to Monitor Voice Traffic – Requesting PTA to Withdraw Decision
• Official: PTCL Doubles Broadband DSL Bandwidth
• USF Made it Happen: 1 MB DSL for Rs. 299

KARACHI, Pakistan - Ten months after the devastating attacks in Mumbai by Pakistan-based militants, the group behind the assault remains largely intact and determined to strike India again, according to current and former members of the group, Lashkar-e-Taiba , and intelligence officials.

If Australia beat Pakistan, they will make it to the semis as being the leaders in the group, while Pakistan will take the second spot.