Pakistan News

Khosa’s Allegations are Baseless: IT Secretary is a post from: ProPakistani

Information and Technology Secretary Naguibullah Malik has said that there is no ‘turf war’ between him and Adviser to Prime Minister on IT Sardar Abdul Latif Khosa, as their roles are different.

Talking to “The News” regarding Khosa’s allegations, he said it was his professional duty to ensure efficiency and transparency in the Information Technology Ministry, being its administrative head.

“Since my assumption of charge as the IT secretary on May 19, 2009, I have tried to establish high standards of professionalism and there are some success stories. However, I am neither responsible nor can I give comments on the action taken prior to my posting,” he said, adding: “I can safely say that despite some deficiencies and capacity issues, the ministry is in the right gear to meet challenges”.

He said information with regard to the USF and ICT R&D Fund companies was available at www.usf.org.pk and www.nictrdf.org.pk which is transparent and available for general public to audit it.

“At present, activities being undertaken by the IT Ministry and its attached organisations are strictly in accordance with the given legal and policy parameters, and open to any kind of scrutiny,” the IT secretary added.

An official of the ministry, however, said Adviser Khosa acted in an arbitrary and whimsical manner. “He wanted his orders implemented forthwith, without any check or hindrance. However, the IT secretary insisted on going by the book,” the official added.

Since most of the adviser’s decisions were in conflict with the legal-cum-administrative framework; therefore, their implementation was widely resisted. “The IT Ministry is responsible for the policy formulation and the PTA is the regulator and it functions under the administrative control of the cabinet secretariat.” The official said both entities had to adopt investor-friendly policies, as the IT and Telecom sector contributed towards the economic growth of the country, as Pakistan was a known IT and Telecom investment destination.

The adviser went wrong in targeting the multinational telecom investor companies, unnecessarily, without realising their importance and the fact that the ministry is driven by the private sector entities.

The companies contribute their share of profits to the USF fund and National ICT R&D fund companies, which is the basic financial resource of the companies.

Besides, they are deeply involved in expansion of telephony and broadband connectivity in the country.

The official said because of the adviser’s behaviour and attitude, some companies had put things ‘on the hold’. “The adviser could not comprehend the dynamics of the IT and Telecom industry, and annoyed every one in the process. His tenure would always be identified with a logjam, which prevailed in the IT Ministry during his six-month stay,” he added.

“The allegations levelled by Khosa against Wahajus Siraj are not only false, but bizarre as well. The Internet Service Provider Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) has always been a strong advocate of Internet content filtering software and even helped the government in 2003 to develop the technical specifications and details for such a software, but the IT Ministry, then headed by Awais Leghari, and the PTA backed out from getting that software developed.”

The ISPAK has documentary evidence of all previous letters. Its recent press briefing was related to counter the anti-Pakistan propaganda of Fox News for ranking the country as number one in Internet porn searches, something that was duty of Mr Khosa and his ministry.

But since the government did not bother countering insult of the country and its people by a foreign TV channel, the ISPAK came forward to present the facts to the media, again nothing related to the content filtering software.

“Actually Khosa is infuriated because illegally ‘denotified’ directors of R&D Fund first refused to appoint his brother-in-law as CEO and then approached the high court for seeking justice,” the official added.

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Handset Import up 82% in FY10 is a post from: ProPakistani

The mobile handset imports has grown 82 percent in the outgoing financial year 2009-10 compared as compared to previous year, on its constant high demand in the country, Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) reported.

FBS statistics showed the handset imports grew to $314 million in 2009-10 versus $172 million imports’ cost recorded in 2008-09. Cut in duties on handset caused significant impact to boost imports through proper channel.

In 2008-09, the overall duties on handset were increased to Rs. 750 per unit which was slashed to Rs. 250 per unit in the recently-closed financial year.

Dealers said the mobile handsets imports saw a good comeback following the positive impact of duty cut.

It was not only good for foreign companies and local dealers but also generated healthy revenue to national exchequer. Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericson and LG are considered preferable brands.

However, Chinese-made handsets have been grabbing maximum share in the local markets owing to low price value compared with other above-mentioned brands.

Imports Of Telecom Apparatus

The imports of telecom apparatus have fallen by 43 percent in the outgoing financial year as against its proceeding years.

The cost of imports was recorded $444 million in 2009-10 as compared with $789 million imports registered in 2008-09.

Telecom companies’ imports of its infrastructure machinery were decreased as less demand in network expansions by telecom operators.

The cellular operators have laid down massive infrastructure in the past couple of years and have been engaged in network sharing with other market players to curtail their capital expenses.

Via Telecom Recorder

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The only son of a leading Pakistani politician known for his outspoken criticism of Taliban militants was killed Saturday by suspected Taliban gunmen.

Govt added 1,708MW additional power to system since 2008 By Ijaz Kakakhel ISLAMABAD: The government has generated 1,708 megawatts additional power in two-and-a-half-year in a bid to overcome energy shortfall, sources told Daily Times on Friday.

By Arun Kumar, Washington, July 24 : Two US lawmakers have warned that continuation of "secretive" China-Pakistan nuclear deals is setting a wrong precedent as Islamabad had gained its atomic capabilities through "international deception" and "clandestine procurement" networks.

Zardari Votes Google Earth to Monitor Govt Land is a post from: ProPakistani

We have reported before that President Asif Ali Zardari is quite techy as he keeps an eye on latest technologies and their uses.

Recently, he proposed the authorities to use Google Earth to survey government owned lands to monitor illegal owners and land mafias. Very useful idea indeed, particularly, when Google Earth shows the constructed buildings and other details of the area in brilliant form.

I am sure Mr. Zardari is also aware of the fact that Google Earth also captures those areas which Government of Pakistan may not want to reveal to general public.

President Zardari on the same day said that presently the users of internet in the country are 20 million and in coming years they would reach to 200 million, adding, the present government wanted to provide internet service and a laptop to every home.

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Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday, U.S. Embassy spokesman Rick Snelsire said.

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday urged the government to take chambers on-board before finalizing the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement .