On Wednesday, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), took decisive action against Wikipedia, downgrading its services in the country due to the platform’s alleged failure to remove sacrilegious content.
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Pakistan Telecom explains tax rates on phone usage
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday explained prevailing tax rates on usage of mobile phones.
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Jazz pays $106 million for license renewal
ISLAMABAD: Jazz, leading cellular mobile operator in Pakistan, has paid around $106 million as fee for license renewal, said an official statement issued Tuesday.
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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)
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PTA warns internet users of death punishment for blasphemy
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued a stern warning on Sunday, cautioning internet users of severe penalties, including death, for blasphemy.
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Gang busted engaged in illegal SIMs activation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) carried out a successful raid at three different locations in Peshawar against illegal activation of SIMs on Afghan passports, tampering in Afghan passports an issuance of SIMs on fake visas.
During the raid, a total of 10 suspects were arrested whereas copies of 450 Afghan Passports, 3 Laptops, 4 PCs and 15 mobile phones were recovered.
The raid shows PTA’s commitment and persistent efforts in curbing the menace of illegal issuance of SIMs.
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Submarine cable connects Pakistan to France: PTA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Tuesday said submarine cable infrastructure has been completed for connectivity from Pakistan to France.
Pakistan & East Africa Connecting Europe (PEACE) Cable International Network Co. Ltd has completed the construction of a submarine cable infrastructure, providing connectivity from Karachi to Marseille, France.
READ MORE: Cellular mobile operators provide free calls in Pakistan
The Pakistan-Egypt segment connects Karachi and Zafarana, Egypt total length of which is 5,800 KM. The connectivity from Pakistan to France is now fully completed and ready for service.
This was informed by the management of PEACE Cable whose officials held online and in person meeting with Chairman PTA, Maj. Gen. Amir Azeem Bajwa (R) at PTA Headquarters.
READ MORE: Flash floods affect internet services in Pakistan
The delegation comprised of Peace Management COO, Sun Xiaohua, Peace Management Director Zhang Donghai, Commercial Director Chirs Zhang, (Online) and Peace Cable, Country Manager Pakistan, Shoaib Ashfaq Qureshi, (In Person).
The delegation expressed its interest for investment opportunities in Pakistan and discussed future plans for development of innovative digital & technology solutions to accelerate progress towards Digitally Connected Pakistan.
READ MORE: Floods affect telecom services: PTA
PEACE cable is a 15,000 km submarine cable from Pakistan to France, extended from Pakistan to Singapore for an additional 6,500km, with main trunk landing in Singapore, Pakistan, Kenya, Egypt and France and branches to the Maldives, Malta, Cyprus, etc.
This submarine cable adds an ultra-fast, high capacity, low latency and redundant connectivity to Pakistan’s international connectivity.
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Cellular mobile operators provide free calls in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) directed cellular mobile operators to provide free on-net voice calls to their subscribers in flood hit areas.
In a statement, the PTA said cellular mobile operators will provide free on-net voice calls to all their subscribers in flood affected areas with Zero / Nil balance.
According to the PTA, there will be no call setup charges applicable on call connection and customers having no balance will be able to make on-net calls.
PTA is continuously monitoring the communication channels in the affected areas, ensuring connectivity and providing updates, where necessary.
READ MORE: SBP issues IBAN list for donations to PM flood relief fund
Furthermore, the PTA has allocated a short code of 9999 to enable mobile phone subscribers to donate to Prime Minister Flood Relief Fund 2022. Users can donate Rs10 by typing ‘fund’ in SMS option and sending to 9999.
The PTA in another statement said that due to flash floods, damage to optical fiber cable and power outage, connectivity services have been impacted in Chitral, Upper Dir, Donbala, Swat, Medan, Lal Qila Samarbaghidar, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan.
In comply with the directives of PTA, Telenor has announced free calls to people in flood affected areas.
The company said that it had allowed free Telenor to Telenor calls to victims of flood hit areas. The company said that it stand with the people of such areas in these difficult times.
Another leading mobile phone operator i.e. Jazz announced to facilitate with free calls to people of flood hit areas. In this regard, the company provided free minutes to Jazz to Jazz and Jazz to PTCL to support relief activities in the areas.
The company further said that subscribers in Balochistan can make calls without having balance for one tonight. Furthermore, it announced to start this free calls services soon in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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Flash floods affect internet services in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Saturday announced a major breakdown of internet connectivity in the areas affected by flash floods.
READ MORE: Floods affect telecom services: PTA
The authority said that due to flash floods, damage to optical fibre cable and power outage, connectivity services have been impacted in Chitral, Upper Dir, Donbala, Swat, Medan, Lal Qila Samarbaghdir, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan.
READ MORE: Norwegian envoy calls on PTA Chairman
PTA is monitoring the situation closely. Work is underway to fully restore services.
Telecom services were affected yesterday due to multiple fiber cuts in Central and Northern Balochistan but they have been restored.
READ MORE: FBR, PTA introduce temporary registration of cell phones
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Pakistan, Türkiye sign preferential trade agreement
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Türkiye Friday signed the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) for enhancing trade in goods between the two countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing of the PTA at a ceremony held at the PM Office, as the visiting Turkish Trade Minister Dr Mehmet Mus and Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar signed the accord.
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Commonly known as Trade in Goods Pact, the PTA includes comprehensive provisions on bilateral safeguards, balance of payment exceptions, dispute settlement, and periodic review of the agreement. Prime Minister in his remarks termed the agreement “a great moment and a milestone” in the brotherly and historic relations between Pakistan and Türkiye. He recalled that following his official visit to Türkiye in May, the untiring efforts of the ministries of both sides resulted in the signing of the agreement.
READ MORE: Turkey eases COVID restriction for Pak travelers
He said immense business opportunities existed between the two countries and expressed confidence that the accord would further explore the trade avenues in diverse sectors.
The prime minister said Pakistan would continue to work with Türkiye on strengthening bilateral ties.
Trade Minister Dr Mehmet Mus said the occasion marked a significant milestone which would contribute in a long way to further strengthening and expansion of trade ties.
READ MORE: Ten-day quarantine must for Pakistanis arriving Turkey
He said meeting expectations of all stakeholders was not easy, however added that dedication and step-by-step measures led to conclusion of the accord.
He thanked PM Shehbaz Sharif for his leadership to seal the agreement for the betterment of the two countries and enhancing linkages between their business communities.
The key highlights of the trade concessions offered by both sides under the agreement are as follows: (i) Türkiye had offered concessions to Pakistan on 261 Tariff Lines, which include key items of Pakistan’s export interest to Türkiye from both agriculture and the industrial sectors.