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Category: IT & Telecom

Explore IT and Telecom stories with Pakistan Revenue, your go-to source for the latest updates on Pakistan’s technology and telecom sector. Stay ahead with real-time industry insights and economic developments.

  • FBR nominates focal persons for resolving issues of IT industry

    FBR nominates focal persons for resolving issues of IT industry

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has nominated focal persons for resolving issues related IT industry.

    The following chief commissioners Inland Revenue (by designation) are nominated as focal persons for resolving problems and issues related to IT industry for the regions mentioned against each:

    Chief Commissioners – IR, Corporate Tax Office (CTO), Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi have been nominated as focal person for resolving problems and issues related to IT Industry regarding matter pertaining to Inland Revenue field formations within Lahore, Islamabad & Rawalpindi and Karachi.

    READ MORE: No audit of IT sector due to fixed tax regime: FBR chairman

    In October 2022, FBR Chairman Asim Ahmad said there is no audit of the IT sector due to fixed tax regime. There is no audit of IT sector export-oriented companies through budgetary measures in the current financial year for ensuring ease of doing business and reducing the cost of tax compliance.

    “As fixed and final tax regime has been introduced in this fiscal year therefore, no tax or audit notices will be sent to the IT sector professionals and easier documentation will be the priority,” FBR chairman said.

    READ MORE: Electricity withholding tax not applicable on ATL domestic consumers

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on youth affairs Miss Shaza Fatima and the Prime Minister’s task force on Information technology and Telecom sector, convened a meeting in the Prime Minister’s office to discuss IT sector exports taxation issues and the impact thereof particularly of small and medium IT companies and software houses, with Chairman FBR Asim Ahmad, officials of the Ministry of IT and representatives of PASHA.

    The Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Shareef constituted a task force to devise ways to increase the Information Technology exports by $3 billion till 2023.

    On the note of exemption from the proposed 0.25 per cent tax, this will remain and it is a quarter of what the other exporters pay.

    In the Final Tax Regime, the Federal Board of Revenue has agreed in principle to resolve sales tax registration and return filing issues.

    READ MORE: Tax rates on goods, passenger transport vehicles during 2022-2023

    The definitions of IT in the June 2022 Finance Act were deliberated upon, and found to be all inclusive. The Federal Board of Revenue has also agreed in principle to propose necessary changes in law for all IT exports to attain the benefit of final tax regime.

    In principle the FBR agreed upon the proposal that if the Provincial consensus is reached, Federal Excise Duty (FED) can be reduced from 19.5 per cent to 17 per cent for Telecom sector.

    The funds received by the IT sector through applications like Payoneer etc. will be given the benefit of final tax regime through necessary changes in the law, if required.

    READ MORE: FBR notifies tax rates on brokerage, commission during 2022-2023

  • Price, specs of iPhone 13 Pro Max in Pakistan

    Price, specs of iPhone 13 Pro Max in Pakistan

    The iPhone 13 Pro Max was released in Pakistan on March 24, 2021. The price of the phone varies according to the storage capacity of the phone.

    The price of iPhone 13 Pro Max with internal memory of 128GB is Rs374,000. The price of the phone with internal memory of 256GB is Rs398,100. The price of the phone with internal memory of 512GB is Rs452,000 and internal memory of 1TB is Rs513,000 respectively.

    The phone is available in colors of Alpine Green, Silver, Gold, Graphite, and Sierra Blue. The pro camera system of mobile gets its biggest upgrade. With next-level hardware that captures so much more detail. Superintelligent software for new photo and filmmaking techniques and a mind-blowingly fast chip that makes it all possible.

    READ MORE: Price, specs of iPhone 14 Pro in Pakistan

    The display’s ability to refresh up to is 120Hz which is combined with the amazing graphics performance of the new 5-core GPU on A15 Bionic that makes iPhone 13 Pro perfect for power gamers.

    The iPhone helps in control of personal information. For example, when you’re browsing, Safari intelligently helps block trackers from profiling you and shows which ones have been blocked in Privacy Report. And the list goes on.

    Following are the complete specifications of iPhone 13 Pro Max:

    SIM SupportDual SIM (nano‑SIM and eSIM)
    Phone Dimensions160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm
    Phone Weight240 g
    Operating SystemIOS 15
    Screen Size6.7 Inches
    Screen Resolution1284 x 2778 Pixels
    Screen TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED Touchscreen, Multitouch
    Screen ProtectionScratch-resistant ceramic glass, oleophobic coating
    Internal Memory128/256/512 GB
    RAM8 GB
    Card SlotNo
    ProcessorApple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
    GPUApple GPU (8-core graphics)
    Battery typeLi-Ion 4352 mAh, non-removable
    Front Camera12 MP + 12MP
    Front Flash LightNo
    Front Video Recording080p@30/60/120/240fps
    Back Flash LightYes
    Back Camera12 MP + 12MP + 12 MP
    Back Video Recording080p@30/60/120/240fps
    BluetoothYes
    3GYes
    4G/LTEYes
    5GYes
    RadioNo
    WiFiYes
    NFCYes
  • Price, specs of Apple Watch Series 8 in Pakistan

    Price, specs of Apple Watch Series 8 in Pakistan

    Apple Watch Series 8 was launched in Pakistan on September 07, 2022. The price of the watch with internal memory of 32 GB and 1 GB RAM is Rs 125,000.

    Apple Watch Series 8 features the beloved design of Apple Watch, including a large, Always-On Retina display and a strong crack-resistant front crystal.

    With all-day 18-hour battery life, Apple Watch Series 8 builds on best-in-class health and safety features like the ECG app and fall detection by introducing temperature-sensing capabilities, retrospective ovulation estimates, Crash Detection, and international roaming.

    When Apple Watch detects a severe car crash, the device will check in with the user and dial emergency services if they are unresponsive after a 10-second countdown. Emergency responders will receive the user’s device location, which is also shared with the user’s emergency contacts.

    When combined, Crash Detection on Apple Watch and iPhone work seamlessly to get users help efficiently. When a severe car crash is detected, the emergency services call interface will appear on Apple Watch, as it is most likely to be in closer proximity to the user, while the call is placed through iPhone if it is in range for the best possible connection.

    Apple Watch Series 8 takes a unique approach to temperature sensing with a two-sensor design, one sensor on the back of the watch, nearest the skin, and another just under the display reducing bias from the outside environment.

    Following are the complete specifications of Apple Watch Series 8:

    SIM SupportN/A
    Dimensions45 x 38 x 10.7 mm
    Strap MaterialTPU
    Water ResistantIP6X
    Weight38.8 g
    Operating SystemwatchOS 9.0
    SpeakerYes
    ModesMutiple Modes
    CameraNo
    Screen Size1.9 inches
    Screen Resolution484 x 396 pixels
    Screen TypeRetina LTPO OLED
    Ram1GB RAM
    Rom32GB
    WifiWi-Fi 802.11
    GPSYes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
    NFCYes
    Capacity308 mAh
    Battery Life18 hrs
  • Google adsence announces new advertisement format

    Google adsence announces new advertisement format

    Google adsence announces new advertisement format for websites from December 13, 2022. The advertisement format is called side rails which will be viewed on widescreen devices.

    The side rail advertisements will stick on the sides of webpage when the user is viewing page.

    The side rail advertisements will automatically appear on those websites, which have anchor ads enabled on their adsence account.

    There is no action required from the website for this change to take effect. However, if it is preferred not to show side rails, the option of “Side rails” in Auto ads settings can be turned off

    Moreover the benefit of this option is that, overall revenue from advertisements will also increase.

    The Google adsence notified that, “Today, we’re announcing a new ad format called side rails. Side rails are ads that stick to the sides of your pages when they’re viewed on widescreen devices, such as desktops. If you already have anchor ads turned on, side rails will automatically start to appear on your site after 13-12-2022.”

  • Price, specs of Samsung Galaxy A53 5G in Pakistan

    Price, specs of Samsung Galaxy A53 5G in Pakistan

    Samsung Galaxy A53 5G was launched in Pakistan on December 27, 2021. The price of the phone with internal memory of 128 GB and RAM of 8 GB is Rs 103,999.

    The phone is available with Awesome Blue, Black, Peach and White color. Galaxy A53 5G offer holistic mobile experiences at a great value, powered by a brand-new processor, expansive and bright displays and two-day battery life. 

    READ MORE: Price, specs of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 in Pakistan

    Galaxy A53 5G also features 5G connectivity, and with up to four generations of One UI and Android OS upgrades and up to five years of security updates. The mobile phone make sure that your experience is always awesome. The devices also feature Galaxy’s signature AI camera system, offering crisp and steady shots.

    Following are the complete specifications of Samsung Galaxy A53 5G:

    SIM SupportSingle SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
    Phone Dimensions159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm
    Phone Weight189 g
    Operating SystemAndroid 12, One UI 4.1
    Screen Size6.5 Inches
    Screen Resolution1080 x 2400 Pixels
    Screen TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz
    Screen ProtectionN/A
    Internal Memory128 GB
    RAM8 GB
    Card SlotmicroSDXC
    ProcessorOcta-core (2.4 GHz & 2.0 GHz)
    GPUN/A
    Battery typeLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
    Front Camera32 MP
    Front Flash LightNo
    Front Video Recording4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
    Back Flash LightYes
    Back Camera64 MP + 12 MP + 5 MP + 5 MP
    Back Video Recording4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
    BluetoothYes
    3GYes
    4G/LTEYes
    5GYes
    RadioYes
    WiFiYes
    NFCYes (market/region dependent)
  • YouTube issues lists of trending videos for Pakistan

    YouTube issues lists of trending videos for Pakistan

    KARACHI: YouTube has released the lists of the top trending videos, top music videos, top creators, breakout creators, and top shorts for Pakistan for the Year 2022, said a press release on Friday.

    It is safe to say that Pakistani audiences enjoyed a wide range of content that kept them entertained throughout the year.

    Farhan S. Qureshi, Country Director at Google, said: “YouTube has helped create an ecosystem in Pakistan that allows people to pursue their passions as full-time jobs while also enabling them to support their households financially.

    “Pakistan has over 5,400 YouTube channels with over 100,000 subscribers, and over 350 of them have more than a million subscribers. It is also thrilling to see that the number of Pakistani YouTube channels making 1 million or more in revenue (PKR) has increased by more than 110 percent in a year.

    “This year, we’ve had some amazing content creators who topped our lists in different categories and won over the hearts of average YouTube users with a wide range of content and creativity.”

    In 2022, we saw a variety of videos that were the most popular in the country, dominated by the Pakistani drama and film industry. A Telefilm ‘RUPOSH’ on a young couple embarking on the journey of love and matrimony took the number one spot on the Top Trending Videos list followed by the first episode of the famous Pakistani dramas Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi’s and Sang-e-Mah’s. Here is the complete list of all the top trending videos.

  • Date extended up to December 31 for VPN registration

    Date extended up to December 31 for VPN registration

    Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has extended the last date for registration of Virtual Private Network (VPN) up to December 31, 2022.

    The PTA said that usage of any mode of communication such as VPN by means of which communication becomes hidden or encrypted is a violation of PTA regulations.

    The authority said it had extended the date for VPN registration and also simplified the process. “Now public and private sector organizations, foreign missions and freelancers, who desire to use VPN for their legitimate purposes, must register their VPN by using online application available at https://ipregistration.pta.gov.pk by December 31, 2022, to avoid disruption.

    The PTA further said that application for VPN registration will only be accepted through above mentioned online application. “Application communicated through any other means shall not acceptable,” it added.

    According to the PTA following features are available in portal for IP Whitelisting and VPN Registration: VPN registration for Companies; VPN registration for free lancers having letter of authentication; IP Whitelisting for Call Centers; and IP Whitelisting for Video Conference for organizations and companies.

    The authority highlighted documents required for VPN registration and said that PTA had reduced documentation for VPN registration and IP Whitelisting and following documents would be required:

    VPN for Companies:

    CNIC of applicant (Both sides)

    Letter of Incorporation or proof of Active tax payer

    VPN for free lancers

    CNIC of applicant (Both sides)

    Letter of Authentication from employer / business concern

    Call Centers

    CNIC of applicant (Both sides)

    Letter of Incorporation or proof of Active tax payer

    Call Center registration Certificate from PSEB

    Fee in case of five or more IP addresses (including previously whitelisted IP addresses)

    Video Conferencing

    CNIC of applicant (Both sides)

    Letter of Incorporation / letter from Government organizations / companies

    Fee in case of five or more IP addresses (including previously whitelisted IP addresses)

  • Apple announces App Store Award winners of 2022

    Apple announces App Store Award winners of 2022

    Apple announced winners of 2022 at App Store Awards. They are awarded because of inspiring users to engage more deeply with the world, expand their imaginations, and stay connected to friends and loved ones.

    This year’s winners represent a diverse community of developers from around the world whose apps and games were selected by Apple’s global App Store editorial team for delivering exceptional experiences and making a profound cultural impact.

    Apple’s CEO said in a statement: “This year’s App Store Award winners reimagined our experiences with apps that delivered fresh, thoughtful, and genuine perspectives.”

    READ MORE: Price after tax of iPhone 14 Pro in Pakistan

    “From self-taught solo creators to international teams spanning the globe, these entrepreneurs are making a meaningful impact, and represent the ways in which apps and games influence our communities and lives.”

    The winners of App Store Awards are listed below:

    BeReal has been awarded for best iPhone App of the Year.

    GoodNotes 5 has been awarded for best iPad App of the Year.

    MacFamilyTree 10 has been awarded for best Mac App of the Year.

    ViX has been awarded for best Apple TV App of the Year.

    Gentler Streak has been awarded for best Apple Watch App of the Year.

    Apex Legends Mobile has been awarded for best iPhone game of the year.

    Moncage has been awarded for best iPad game of the year.

    Inscryption has been awarded for best Mac game of the year.

    El Hijo has been awarded for best Apple TV game of the year.

    Wylde Flowers has been awarded for best Apple Arcade game of the year.

  • Price after tax of iPhone 14 Pro in Pakistan

    Price after tax of iPhone 14 Pro in Pakistan

    Iphone 14 Pro was launched in Pakistan on September 29, 2022, surprising many Pakistanis by the sky-high retail price. The rising cost of Iphones have created affordability issue for many people.

    The price after tax of Iphone 14 is more than Rs500,000. Price of the phone varies according to the storage capacity of phone.

    The price of iPhone 14 Pro with internal memory of 128GB is Rs397,000. The price of the phone with internal memory of 256GB is Rs430,400. Price of the phone with internal memory of 512GB and 1TB is Rs482,100 and Rs538,800 respectively.

    Although the phone is priced very high as compared from Iphone 13, but the phone offers many advanced features, which attract people to buy highly expensive Iphone 14 Pro.

    The phone is powered by A16 Bionic, the fastest chip ever in a smartphone, iPhone 14 Pro introduces a new class of pro camera system, with the first-ever 48MP main camera on iPhone featuring a quad-pixel sensor, and photonic engine, an enhanced image pipeline that dramatically improves low-light photos.

    iPhone 14 Pro continues to offer industry-leading durability features with the ceramic shield front cover tougher than any smartphone glass and is protected from common spills and accidents with water and dust resistance.

    For the first time ever, the Pro lineup features a new 48MP main camera with a quad-pixel sensor that adapts to the photo being captured, and features second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization.

    Following are complete specifications of iPhone 14 Pro:

    SIM SupportNano-SIM and eSIM
    Phone Dimensions147.5 x 71.5 x 7.9 mm
    Phone Weight206 g
    Operating SystemiOS 16
    Screen Size6.1 inches
    Screen Resolution1179 x 2556 pixels
    Screen TypeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
    Screen ProtectionCeramic Shield glass
    Internal Memory128/256/512/1TB
    RAM6 GB
    Card SlotNo
    ProcessorApple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
    GPUApple GPU (5-core graphics)
    Battery typeLi-Ion 3200 mAh, non-removable (12.38 Wh)
    Front Camera12 MP
    Front Flash LightNo
    Front Video Recording4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
    Back Flash LightYes
    Back Camera48 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP
    Back Video Recording4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, Cinematic mode (4K@24/30fps), stereo sound rec.
    BluetoothYes
    3GYes
    4G/LTEYes
    5GYes
    RadioNo
    WiFiYes
    NFCYes
  • Pakistan rebuts reports of stopping payments to Google

    Pakistan rebuts reports of stopping payments to Google

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Saturday strongly rebutted the reports that it has stopped the payments to Google.

    Certain media has reported that Google PlayStore would not be available from December 01, 2022 due to the central bank had stopped payment to Google apps.

    READ MORE: Price, specs of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 in Pakistan

    The SBP in a statement said recent news circulating in some sections of the media that certain payments to Google are stuck at SBP, are baseless and misleading. “SBP strongly refutes all such assertions.”

    The fact is that in order to facilitate the domestic entities, SBP specified certain Information Technology (IT) related services, which such entities can acquire from abroad for their own use and make foreign exchange payments there against up to $ 100,000 per invoice. Such services include, Satellite Transponder, International Bandwidth/ Internet/ Private Line Services, Software License/Maintenance/Support, and service to use electronic media and databases.

    READ MORE: Climate Change: A pandemic we must collectively address now

    Entities desirous of utilizing this option designate a bank, which is approved by SBP one time. Subsequently, after designation, such payments can be processed through the designated bank, without any further regulatory approval.

    However, during recent off-site reviews, it was observed that in addition to utilizing the aforesaid mechanism to remit funds for IT related services for their own use, Telcos were remitting bulk of the funds for video gaming, entertainment content, etc. purchased by their customers using airtime, under Direct Carrier Billing (DCB).

    READ MORE: Twitter shuts offices temporarily on backlash fear

    DCB is, in general, an online mobile payment method, which allows users to make purchases by charging payments to their mobile phone carrier bill. The Telcos were allowing their customers to purchase above mentioned products through airtime and then remitting funds abroad reflecting such transactions as payments for acquisition of IT related services. Thus, in effect the Telcos were acting as intermediaries/ payment aggregators by facilitating acquisition of services by their subscribers.

    Therefore, in view of the violation of foreign exchange regulations, SBP revoked the designation of banks of Telcos for such payments. However, to facilitate their legitimate IT related payments, Telcos have been advised through their banks to resubmit their requests.

    READ MORE: Dun & Bradstreet data cloud crosses 500 million records

    If any entity, including a telco, intends to operate as an intermediary/payment aggregator and such arrangement involves outflow of foreign exchange, it has to approach SBP, separately through its bank, for seeking special permission for providing such services under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947.