Category: National

Pakistan is working to bring Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service to improve connectivity in the country, Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima has said at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom in Islamabad. 

“We are making efforts to bring Elon Musk’s satellite company Starlink to Pakistan,” Shaza Fatima confirmed. 

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Palwasha Khan, said, “The Ministry of IT puts the responsibility on the Ministry of Interior for whatever step it takes. I don’t understand why we have an IT Ministry.”

Shaza Fatima, while briefing the Standing Committee, said, “Amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) laws are under consideration. We have to regulate fake news; there are also technical reasons for the slow internet, internet usage has increased, we have not invested in IT in three years, and the 5G spectrum auction will be held in April.”

Chairman of the Pakistan Software House Association (PASHA) Syed Sajjad told the committee, “The IT industry is growing at a rate of 30 per cent; internet service can be shut down in case of a threat to national security. All countries that monitor VPNs have suggested the government register VPNs locally because free VPNs pose data security risks.”

Chairman PTA told the committee, “We will start licensing VPNs from January 1; licensing VPNs will solve the problem. The internet is not slow because of VPNs, while committee members expressed concern over the overall slowness of the internet.

Senator Anusha Rehman said, “In 2018, we registered VPNs, but there was no problem with the internet. We also whitelisted and took steps to stop grey traffic, but the internet was not affected.”

Senator Palwasha Khan asked why internet has slowed down in Pakistan.  The Chairman of the PTA said, “There is no policy regarding the reduction of internet speed. If there is any policy on internet speed, then the government should be asked.”

The Chairman of the Committee said, “Someone should tell the committee the reason for reducing internet speed so that people’s problems can be solved”. Senator Humayun Mohmand said, “No one will tell this; the real reason is to stop PTI, the government is only taking this action against PTI.”

Senator Afnanullah asked which terrorists had used a VPN. The Minister of State said, “I cannot discuss security matters here; if I have to shut down the internet for any security reasons, I will do it with a heavy heart; today, the internet is working perfectly.”

As of December 2024, Starlink, operated by SpaceX, provides satellite internet services in over 80 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and most of Europe. Recent expansions have extended coverage to nations such as Indonesia, Zimbabwe, and Chad.

The Ministry of Education in Sindh has released the schedule for winter holidays in educational institutes of the province.

All the public and private schools and colleges across Sindh will remain closed for winter vacations from December 22, 2024 (Sunday) to December 31, 2024 Tuesday.

The 10-day long winter break has been decided upon by the steering committee of the Sindh School Education Department.

Schools and colleges are expected to reopen on January 1, 2025 (Wednesday).

A notification is expected to be officially released next week. 

Meanwhile, Secretary of Schools Punjab, Khalid Nazir Wattoo, has said in a statement that winter vacations in Punjab will begin on December 20 and will last until January 10, reports Geo News.

 
Unlike Sindh, this year, vacations will last 20 days in Punjab. The change is in response to shifting weather patterns, smog, and climate change, which have prompted the Punjab government to redesign its policies for the coming season.

An earthquake was felt in parts of Punjab, including Lahore, on Thursday morning.

Earthquake tremors were felt in various areas of Lahore and nearby cities including Gujarat, Jhelum and Kamalia.

The tremors were also felt in other areas of Punjab, which include Khanewal, Chichawatni, Bhalwal, Chiniot, and Hafizabad.

According to Pakistani Seismological Cente, the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.1, and its epicentre was 15 kilometres deep near the Kharian region.

However, the American Seismological Center informed us that the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2 and an underground depth of 10 kilometers.

 No information regarding the damage has yet been reported.

Geo News reports that people started reciting Kalima Tayyaba, and in some places, they came out of buildings and houses.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has extended the deadline for the submission of Hajj applications until December 10. 

The previous deadline was set to expire on December 3, however, a recent announcement by Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain asserted that all Hajj applications, under the government Hajj scheme, have been approved.

“All Hajj applications received from the 18th of the last month till Tuesday have been accepted.”

Additionally, the minister said that all the applications under the sponsorship scheme have also been approved without any balloting. 

It was specified that overseas Pakistanis should deposit the sponsorship fee by the 10th of December.

For the next year’s Hajj Policy, 179,210 Pakistanis will be able to perform Hajj.

The quota will be divided equally (89,605 each) between government and private Hajj schemes. 

1,000 seats will be allocated for hardship cases and 300 for labourers and low-income employees registered under the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) or Workers Welfare Fund.

Meanwhile, at least 5,000 seats would be reserved for the sponsorship scheme.

The ministry is also expecting almost 70,000 Hajj applications by tonight from pilgrims wishing to attend this year which would also be approved without balloting.

Moreover, all the applications received after December 3 would be accepted probably via balloting as the minister informed, “If applications exceed quota, a balloting will be held.”

Notably, all the intending applicants are depositing Rs200,000 as part of the application process.

The second installment will be Rs400,000 and this will be submitted by those aspiring pilgrims whose names are finalised by the authorities.     

The successful ones will be given the time to deposit the remaining Hajj expenses,  likely to vary between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000.

The tentative date announced for them is February 10, 2024.

Ministry of Religious Affairs’s spokesperson delineated that the schedule of Hajj flights will be finalised after receiving applications.

The Punjab government has decided to change school timings as smog levels in the province are reduced. 

The new timings will take effect from December 4, 2024. Schools will now open at 8:15 am. 

Previously, the government decided to extend school timings as smog blanketed major cities in the province. On November 18, the government pushed school timings to 8:45 am and maintained that all outdoor activities would be restricted. 

However, as the air quality has improved in the past week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab has issued a notification announcing the resumption of normal winter timings in schools.

“All public and private schools across Punjab will be required to open at 8:15 am starting from December 4,” the notification read. 

The directive was issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1997, and it mandates immediate implementation.

Imran Hamed Sheikh, the Director-General of Environment, while talking to the media, also stressed that any schools failing to comply with the new timings will face legal action, including fines and penalties.

The official notification also directed all the commissioners and deputy commissioners in the province to ensure full compliance with the new timings with the primary aim of protecting the health of students and teachers.