FARUKH SHEHZAD

Tashkent: When COVID-19 lockdowns forced people to stay indoors, many turned to online shopping to have their necessities conveniently delivered to their homes. But not everybody had the means to do so — certainly not in Central Asia, where around half the population lack internet access and many countries don’t have the systems needed for a robust e-commerce ecosystem.

A joint study by the Asian Development Bank and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute showed that in 2019, less than 10% of the population in Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan shopped online.

More people were shopping online in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, but they were still way below the 63% average for the European Union and the 30% average for countries with more similar socioeconomic profiles like Turkey. The People’s Republic of China was the only CAREC member country that had high figures.

More people in some Central Asian countries shopped online during the COVID-19 pandemic, but much remains to be done for e-commerce to reach its full potential in the region.

E-commerce, of course, goes beyond individuals clicking “add to cart” in an online store. It includes business-to-business transactions, like between a wholesaler and a retailer; business-to-government transactions, such as in e-procurement; and consumer-to-consumer deals within online communities.

Done right, e-commerce can facilitate trade across borders to drive economic growth, create employment and livelihood opportunities for women and people with disabilities among other underrepresented groups, and ensure continuity of services even amid unexpected disruptions like the pandemic. It also contributes to financial inclusion by encouraging the use of debit cards and/or mobile banking to ease payment.

Regional cooperation can help e-commerce thrive in Central Asia and improve the lives of ordinary people. Here are four ways CAREC countries can make this happen:

1. Improve internet infrastructure to expand access and lower costs

While broadband wireless technology infrastructure in most CAREC countries is fairly developed, some rural and remote areas remain uncovered. This could be addressed through stronger competition or the cooperative sharing of infrastructure by existing operators.

The cost of accessing the internet can be kept affordable by establishing or strengthening internet exchange points (IXPs), facilities where internet service providers, content providers, and others come together to exchange their data traffic. IXPs reduce costs by keeping domestically destined traffic within the country and can help save on international data transit costs. Having more data centers and access to local cloud computing will also boost the ability of businesses and entrepreneurs outside the PRC, where e-commerce is already thriving, to host e-commerce sites domestically.

2. Enhance cybersecurity and increase digital and financial literacy

Consumers need to be confident that their information will be safe when they buy online, and that there are safety nets if they encounter problems. CAREC countries—most of which rank low in the various measures of cybersecurity—need to ensure the use of encrypted servers, require companies to acquire international security certifications, and create security incident response teams.

Increasing consumer trust in financial institutions and mobile payment systems is also important. This can be done through consumer protection regulations, financial and digital literacy training, and raising awareness of the convenience and functionality of mobile payments.

3. Upgrade payments systems to make online transactions easier

Electronic payment systems in the CAREC region have improved, but some countries should be upgraded to increase their capacity to handle all types of transactions, including bank transfers, in real time. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, for example, also need to simplify the processes that enable merchants to accept online payments. Wider access to smartphones, which are used for mobile banking apps, digital wallets, and QR codes, could be enabled by reducing or eliminating duties on smartphone imports.

CAREC countries can also look at the feasibility of creating a regional payment card or adopting mutual recognition of their local payment cards to widen access to online shops and spur e-commerce growth across the region.

4. Make delivery services more reliable and less expensive.

Consumers need to be certain they will receive their online orders on time. While basic coverage by postal services is high in many CAREC countries, some still face challenges. Delivery options need to be expanded almost everywhere to meet the demands of online consumers, who must be able to track and trace their purchases and redirect deliveries from home addresses to optional pickup points such as parcel lockers if needed. Facilities that provide integrated storage and delivery as a service should be developed because these were found lacking in most CAREC countries. Making this kind of service available will encourage more merchants to get into e-commerce.

Automating trade documentation, including adopting single-window systems, can cut the time products spend in customs and reduce costs. Adopting a de minimis, possibly a uniform rate for CAREC countries, will also allow products under a certain value to be imported duty free. All these steps will further encourage international trade.

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Israeli police faced off with Palestinians holed up inside Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque on Sunday as hundreds of Jews visited the holy compound ahead of a contentious Jewish nationalist march through the heart of the Old City.

The annual Jerusalem procession celebrates Israel’s capture of the Old City in the 1967 Middle East war and draws thousands of cheering, chanting participants to its narrow, stone streets.

Palestinian factions have warned that the flag-waving parade through the city’s Muslim quarter could re-ignite their decades-old conflict with Israelis. Tensions have been rising in the city for weeks.

Hours before the procession was due to kick off, police locked some Palestinians inside a mosque on the Al-Aqsa compound as Jewish visitors arrived for daily tours of the compound, which is revered by both Muslims and Jews.

Their correspondent, Najwan Simri, said the Israelis had prevented Palestinian journalists and photographers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and threatened them with arrest.

Rubber bullets had also been fired at Palestinian protesters in the compound, in an effort to disperse them. Ten were reportedly injured.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that the settlers attacked an ambulance crew affiliated with it in the Old City while they were trying to reach an injured person in al-Wad neighbourhood.

Palestinians threw stones and shot fireworks towards police, who responded with stun grenades.

Among the Jewish visitors were a dozen or so young men, wearing religious garb, who smiled, sang and clapped in the direction of the protesters. Other Jews were later seen holding up Israeli flags.

The Islamist group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, condemned videos posted online suggesting that Jews had prayed at the site, in violation of a long-standing ban.

“The Israel government is fully responsible for all these irresponsible policies and the following consequences,” senior Hamas official Bassem Naim told Reuters.

In recent years Hamas has cast itself as a defender of Muslim Jerusalem. After weeks of tension last year over Palestinian evictions in the city, Hamas fired rockets into Israel during the nationalist march, triggering an 11-day war that killed at least 250 Palestinians in Gaza and 13 people in Israel.

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Courtesy Dawn News

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ISLAMABAD, MAY 27: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday while underscoring his government’s efforts for creating business-friendly opportunities, invited new Japanese companies to avail themselves of such opportunities and invest in Pakistan.

The prime minister, in a meeting with Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Mitsuhiro Wada here, assured that the government would extend all possible facilitation to Japanese investors.

Conveying Pakistan’s firm resolve to elevate this relationship to new heights, the prime minister emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of trade, development, education, IT, climate change, and infrastructure.

During the course of their conversation, views were exchanged on further strengthening the existing Pakistan-Japan bilateral relationship. The prime minister recalled that the year 2022 was being observed as the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

He also appreciated that the special events being organized to commemorate this landmark occasion were a reflection of the special relationship that Pakistan enjoyed with Japan. The prime minister was deeply appreciative of JICA’s ongoing programmes and meaningful contribution for supporting socio-economic and development sectors in Pakistan.

Ambassador Wada recalled Japan’s longstanding bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields and expressed his government’s commitment to working together for the achievement of shared goals and objectives.

The ambassador also conveyed Japan’s appreciation for Pakistan’s facilitation in the post-15 August 2021 evacuation of Japanese nationals from Afghanistan, following the takeover of the Taliban.

While underlining the need to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, the prime minister extended a cordial invitation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to undertake a visit to Pakistan, at an early date.

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ISLAMABAD, MAY 25: Former Prime Minister and Chairman PTI Imran Khan has rejected news of any deal with govt and said that these are all rumours and disinformation that a deal has been done.

He said absolutely not! we are moving towards Islamabad & no question of any deal.

Ex-PM Imran Khan said that we will remain in Islamabad till the announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies and elections are given.

اسلام آباد: پاکستان اور سوئٹزرلینڈ کے درمیان تجارتی اور اقتصادی تعلقات کو مضبوط بنانے کے لیے پاکستانی تھنک ٹینک کراچی کونسل آن فارن ریلیشنز (کے سی ایف آر) نے سوئس ایشین چیمبر آف کامرس (ایس اے سی سی) کے ساتھ گزشتہ روز مفاہمت کی ایک یادداشت پر دستخط کیے ہیں۔ اس باہمی معاٸدے کی تقریب کا انعقاد ڈیوس میں جاری ورلڈ اکنامک فورم کے موقع پر پاکستان کے پویلین میں کیا گیا۔

ایم او یو پر چیئرمین ایس اے سی سی ڈاکٹر ارس لسٹنبرگر (Dr. Lustenberger) اور چیئرمین کے سی ایف آر اکرام سہگل نے دستخط کیے جب کہ اس موقع پر سرکاری افسران، تاجروں اور دیگر شرکاء کی ایک بڑی تعداد موجود تھی۔ یہباہمی۔معاٸدہ دونوں اداروں کو تحقیقی منصوبوں اور تجارتی سرگرمیوں کو بڑھانے کے لیے کانفرنس، مکالمے اور فورمز سمیت مختلف باہمی آپریشنز کے انتظام میں معاون ثابت ہو گا۔

ایس اے سی سی کے چیئرمین ڈاکٹر لسٹنبرگر نے اس موقع پر اپنی بے پناہ مسرت کا اظہار کیا اور اس بات پر زور دیا کہ دونوں ادارے ایک دوسرے کی طاقت اور مہارت سے سیکھ سکتے ہیں۔

اس موقع پر خطاب کرتے ہوئے کے سی ایف آر کے چیئرمین ایم اکرام سہگل نے ایم او یو کو دونوں اداروں میں باہمی تعاون کی جانب پہلا قدم قرار دیا۔ اکرام سہگل نے مزید کہا کہ اس سے مختلف شعبوں میں مل کر کام کرنے اور تشویش کے مختلف مسائل کو حل کرنے میں مدد ملے گی۔

سوئس ایشین چیمبر آف کامرس  ایک نجی تنظیم ہے، جو سوئٹزرلینڈ اور ایشیائی ممالک کے درمیان اقتصادی اور کاروباری تعلقات میں دلچسپی رکھنے والے افراد، کاروباری اداروں اور سرکاری محکموں کے لیے ایک فورم فراہم کرتی ہے۔

کراچی کونسل آن فارن ریلیشنز پاکستان کا ایک ممتاز تھنک ٹینک ہے جو 2003 سے خارجہ تعلقات اور اقتصادی امور کے شعبوں میں کام کر رہاہے۔ کے سی ایف آر پاکستان سے متعلق قومی اور بین الاقوامی مسائل سے متعلقہ موضوعات پر سیمینارز اور کانفرنسز کا انعقاد کرتا ہے جب کہ یہ اوپر بیان کیے گئے مقاصد کو پورا کرنے کے لیے پاکستان کے دورے کے دوران وزارت خارجہ، اداروں، غیر ملکی سفیروں اور دیگر معززین کے ساتھ باقاعدگی سے رابطے میں رہتا ہے۔

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Islamabad: To strengthen trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Switzerland, Pakistani think tank Karachi Council on Foreign Relations has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) at Pakistan’s Pavilion at ongoing World Economic Forum Davos yesterday.  

The MoU was signed by Chairman SACC Dr. Urs Lustenberger and Chairman KCFR Mr. Ikram Sehgal while the ceremony was witnessed by a large number of government officials, businessmen and other participants at WEF. The Memorandum ill allow both organizations to collaborate on research projects and in managing different mutual operations including conference, dialogues and forums to enhance trade activities. 

SACC Chairman Dr. Lustenberger expressed his immense pleasure on this occasion and stressed that both organizations can learn from strengths and expertise of each other. 

While addressing on this occasion KCFR Chairman M. Ikram Sehgal termed the MoU as a first step towards cooperation between KCFR and SACC. This will bring working together in different fields and addressing various issues of concern, Sehgal added. 

The Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) is a private organization, providing a forum for all firms, institutions, government bodies and individuals interested in the economic and business relations between Switzerland and Asian nations.

Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) is a prominent Karachi based think tank working since 2003 in the fields of Foreign Relations and Economic Affairs. 

KCFR holds seminars and conferences on topics relating to National and International issues concerning Pakistan while it regularly interacts with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, institutions, foreign envoys other dignitaries during their visits to Pakistan to meet the objectives spelled out above.

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Peshawar, MAY 24: PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday lashed out at the government for trying to stop the party’s long march to Islamabad, asking the country’s judiciary and ‘neutrals’ to “do the right thing”.

He expressed these views while addressing a news conference in Peshawar, in which he pilloried the government and described its recent moves as “akin to what dictators do”.

His speech came a day after a police crackdown on his party workers, in which a number of workers were allegedly rounded up. A policeman was also martyred the same night in an operation in Lahore. The government and the PTI blame each other for the killing.

At the outset of his press conference, Imran said that this was a “defining moment for the country” which would decide its fate. He asserted that there was no difference between the “fascist government” and the military dictators of the past, saying that both used the same tactics.

He maintained that during the PTI government’s tenure, the then opposition was allowed to stage protests and long marches several times. “They marched several times with the purpose of ousting the government but did we resort to these methods?”

Imran lashed out at the government for conducting late-night raids in Lahore and for barging into the homes of innocent citizens. He questioned why the government was suddenly resorting to such tactics, calling on them to highlight any instance in the past where he had ever broken the law.

The PTI chairman said that the country was looking towards the judiciary, telling them that this was their “trial”. “The country is going to look at your decisions,” he said, asserting that the long march was a peaceful protest and the party’s democratic right.

He went on to say that the PTI had a right to stage a protest against the “imported conspiracy”. “Did we protest when Bilawal staged a long march? Did we arrest him? Fazlur Rehman also staged a march […] we said we would help them.”

Addressing the judiciary, he asked whether it would allow such harassment and raids to take place. “If you allow this, then the credibility of the judiciary will cease to exist. It would mean that there is no democracy in Pakistan.”

He then addressed the country’s bar associations, asking why they were not condemning the government’s actions. “I want to thank the lawyers [of the country] who are standing to protect the democracy of the country. But the bar associations that are not issuing condemnations, the nation is looking at you. Are you standing with [the government]?”

He asserted that “staying neutral” was no longer an option. “You have to decide which side you are on. God has not given us permission to walk in the middle, that means that you are helping the criminals.”

Addressing “those who call themselves neutral”, he said that they had taken an oath to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty. “You need to understand that the public is looking at you, and you will also be judged. You will be equally responsible if the country goes towards destruction.”

He asserted that the only solution going forward was to conduct early elections. “There is no other solution,” he said, expressing the fear that the country was headed down the path of Sri Lanka, which is currently in the throes of an economic crisis.

The government wasn’t interested in serving the country and only wanted to end their corruption cases. “Therefore, I want to give a message to everyone: Neutrals and lawyers, this is a defining moment.”

Commenting on last night’s raid at the home of retired Justice Nasira Iqbal, he said: “Her house was raided last night […] I want to ask the neutrals and the judiciary, the scenes that you are witnessing, what kind of government can do this? Not a democratic one.”

He asserted that he would lead a rally from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad tomorrow, saying that for him this was no longer about politics but was a “jihad”.

Imran alleged that the current government had been brought into power by the United States because it would bend over backwards for them. “All of their assets are abroad, they are slaves […] 400 drone attacks were carried out when Zardari and Nawaz were in government but they did not say a single word.”

He called on his supporters to “leave fear behind” as the government was trying its best to intimidate the PTI. “Will we accept the government of thieves because we fear going to jail? How many people will they send to jail, do they have that many officials? They can’t do it. You don’t have to be scared of anything.”

Imran said that even though the government had closed down Islamabad and Rawalpindi, his supporters should still leave their homes for the long march. “They don’t have that many police officials to carry out arrests.”

He also claimed that a “criminal” had been posted as the Islamabad police chief and questioned how the Punjab police force could follow the orders of Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz when cases were pending against him. “Action will be taken against the bureaucracy if you follow unlawful orders,” he warned.

In his message to the youth, Imran said that the country’s future was at stake. “There is no future if these leaders stay. There are two paths; one is destruction and the other is real independence,” he said, reiterating that he would set out tomorrow for the long march with his caravan.

“If someone wants to stop us, do it. But no one can stop this sea of people.”

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Courtesy Dawn News

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سلام آباد: پاکستان میں سیلولر اور ڈیجیٹل سروسز فراہم کرنے والے معتبر ترین ادارے زونگ فور جی نے ملک بھرمیں بڑھتے ہوٸے آن لاٸن فراڈ اور دھوکہ دہی سے متعلق آگاہی کے فروغ کے لیے ملک گیر عوامی آگاہی مہم شروع کر دی ہے۔

ڈیجیٹل آگاہی مہم کے ذریعے پاکستان میں ٹیلی کام سروسز استعمال کرنے والے لاکھوں صارفین کو چوری اور دھوکہ دہی کے بڑھتے ہوئے واقعات اور مختلف اقسام کے بارے میں آگاہ کیا جا رہا ہے جن میں گیم شوز سے جعلی انعامات، بینک ایجنٹس کی جعلی کالیں، اسپام ہائپر لنک کے ساتھ ایس ایم ایس وغیرہ شامل ہیں۔ یہ جعلساز عام طور پر آسان شکار بن جانے والے صارفین کو نشانہ بناتے ہیں اور اسکا بنیادی مقصد صارفین کی خفیہ معلومات حاصل کرنا ہوتا ہے جس میں شناختی کارڈ نمبر، کریڈٹ/ڈیبٹ کارڈ کی تفصیلات اوربینک اکاؤنٹ کی تفصیلات وغیرہ شامل ہو سکتی ہیں۔ 

جعلسازی کی مختلف اقسام اور  انکی کچھ تفصیلات ذیل میں دی گٸی ہیں۔ زونگ فور جی پاکستانی ٹیلی کام صارفین میں آن لاٸن دھوکہ دہی اور جعلسازی کی ان اقسام کے حوالے سے آگاہی فراہم کرنے میں کلیدی کردار ادا کر رہا ہے۔

جعلی انعامات:

صارفین کو ایک جعلی کال یا میسج موصول ہوتا ہے جس میں بتایا جاتا ہے کہ انہوں نے ملک کے معروف گیم شوز میں سے ایک میں کوئی شاندار انعام جیتا ہے اور اس انعام کے حصول کے لیے ان سے انکی خفیہ معلومات جیسے شناختی کارڈ نمبر یا کارڈ/اکاؤنٹ کی تفصیلات طلب کیجاتی ہیں۔ 

جعلی کالز:

ٹیلی کام صارفین کو ایک فرضی بینک/انشورنس ایجنٹ کی طرف سے ایک جعلی کال موصول ہوتی ہے جس میں ان سے ان کی خفیہ معلومات جیسے شناختی کارڈ نمبر، کارڈ یا اکاؤنٹ کی تفصیلات مانگی جاتی ہیں۔

جعلی ایس ایم ایس:

بعض اوقات صارفین کو کسی نامعلوم نمبر سے ایک پرکشش پیغام کے ساتھ ایس ایم ایس ملتا ہے جس میں انہیں کچھ اسپام لنک پر کلک کرنے کا کہا جاتا ہے جس کے ذریعے ان کی حساس معلومات چوری ہوتی ہیں۔

آن لاٸن سکیورٹی کے حوالے سے آگاہی مہم کے بارے میں تبادلہ خیال کرتے ہوٸے زونگ فور جی کے ترجمان کا کہنا تھا کہ زونگ کیسروسزمیں صارفین کو بنیادی اہمیت حاصل ہے اور ادارے کی جانب سے تمام اقدامات اپنے صارفین کے فائدے اور بہبود کو مدنظر رکھ کر کیے جاتے ہیں۔ان کا مزید کہنا تھا کہ آج کی بڑھتی ہوئی ڈیجیٹل دنیا میں آن لاٸن سکیورٹی انتہاٸی اہمیت کی حامل ہے اور احتیاط نہ کرنے والےصارفین ایسے دھوکہ بازوں کا شکار ہو جاتے ہیں۔ ترجمان کاکہنا تھا کہ زونگ فور جی یہاں اپنے صارفین کو اس حوالے سے تعلیم دینے کے لیے ہمہ وقت کوشاں رہتا ہے تاکہ وہ محفوظ رہتے ہوئے ڈیجٹاٸزیشن کے بہترین فواٸد حاصل کر سکیں۔ 

صارفین کو ترجیح دینے والے ادارے کی حیثیت سے زونگ  دھوکہ دہی کو کنٹرول کرنے کے لیے سبسکرائبر لیول سم بلاکنگ اور قومی شناختی کارڈ کی بلیک لسٹنگ سروس کو اپنا چکا ہے۔ زونگ کے لیے صارفین کو فراہم کی جانیوالی سروسز اور انکی سکیورٹی انتہاٸی اہمیت کی حامل ہیں  اور آگاہی مہم اس عزم کا عملی ثبوت ہے۔

ISLAMABAD, MAY 20: Taking the lead in protecting the Pakistani telecom users, Pakistan’s cellular and digital services frontrunner, Zong 4G, has launched a nationwide public awareness campaign against thefts and frauds, which are becoming very common these days. 

Through the digital campaign, millions of Pakistanis are being educated on the growing occurrences of various forms of thefts and frauds that include fake prizes from game shows, fake calls from pretending bank agents, SMS with spam hyperlinks, etc. These scams usually target vulnerable users and are aimed at acquiring confidential information like CNIC numbers, credit/debit card details, bank account details, etc.

Here are some details of the scams that Zong wants the Pakistani telecom users to be wary of:

Fake Prizes:

Users get a fake call or message telling them that they have won some grand prize at one of the country’s leading game shows. They’re then tricked into sharing confidential information like CNIC numbers or card/account details.

Fake Calls:

Telecom users get a fake call from a pretend bank/insurance agent asking them for their confidential information like CNIC number, card or account details.

Fake SMSs:

Sometimes users also get an SMS from an unknown number with some attractive message prompting them to click some spam link through which their sensitive information is stolen. 

“We’re a customer-centric company and whatever we do at our organization is for the benefit and welfare of our customers,” shared Zong’s official spokesperson.

“Staying protected in today’s increasingly digital world is not easy and the users who are not cautious fall prey to such scammers. But we are here to educate the Pakistani telecom users on how to get the best of the digital world while staying protected,” the spokesperson added. 

Being a customer-focused organization, Zong 4G has adopted a subscriber-level SIM blocking and CNIC blacklisting service to control fraudulent users. Customers continue to be at the heart of everything Zong does and the awareness campaign is a testament to that commitment. 

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Islamabad, MAY 18: The Huawei Pakistan IP Summit2022 took place in Islamabad where ICT experts gathered to discuss the ‘Role of IP in the Digitalization of Pakistan’ and share the latest network technology trends and discover how enterprises can best adapt to the intelligent era based on next-generation networks, algorithms, and AI capabilities. 

The event was attended byMr. Farhan Haider (CTO Wateen), Mr. Waqar Fazal (Head of IP Network Planning & Optimization PTCL), Mr. Faizan Mahmood (Group CIO Packages Limited), Mr. Jahanzeb Arshad (Vice President Operations Nayatel), Mr. Hamid Mohiuddin (CTO Silicon ST), Mr. Ghayas Anwar, Director FIA, Mr. Liu Gui (Solution VPHuawei Middle East Region), Mr. Shahzad Rasheed, CEO Huawei Cloud, Mr. Muhammad Badar Farooq (Senior Solution Architect Huawei) and other industry leaders and representatives from Huawei.

During the Summit, the renowned industry leaders mentioned above gave keynote speeches, gave demos and also conducted sessions on topics like ‘Autonomous driving networks in the AI era’, ‘Future Trends in IP Networking’, ‘Cloud-Network Express Inspiring B2B New Growth’ and Huawei's Contribution to the Pakistan IP Industry which led to the company becoming the number one IP leader in Pakistan. 

Mr. Liu Gui praised the industry leaders and partners during his keynote speech, “I would like to thank our customers and partners, with your trust, Huawei has won more than 1100 new customers globally in 2022. In Pakistan, customers, the government, finance and education ministry have all started the journey of digital transformation together with Huawei. This would have not been possible without the important infrastructure that is high quality IP network, which Huawei has committed to be on the forefront of globally and in Pakistan.”

Mr. Shahzad Rasheed, talking about Huawei’s contribution and overcome of struggles to become the NO . 1 IP Company in Pakistanhe stated, “The core value of this company is openness and customer centricity, openness to the extent that moving forward, this IP Summit will be a vendor neutral event, where we will discuss the problems, challenges, solutions and the growth of IP. You the customers, are the bosses and we as a company adapt ourselves around you with our strong ecosystem and competitive landscape.”

While addressing in this Summit, Director FIA, Mr. Ghayas Anwar, gave a brief introduction about FIA as an organization and discussed the network pain points they were previously facing, and why FIA needed to upgrade its network, “While other OEMs were trying to pitch us new solutions, Huawei’s dedicated team actually heard our real concerns and addressed our network pain points. FIA has found Huawei’s team to be a true technical advisor rather than just an equipment selling company, additionally the local team was always very cooperative with their customer-centric approach.”

Mr. Jahanzeb Arshad who has unique expertise at operational management of network solutions talked about Going Digital Faster with Wi-Fi 6, “Wi-Fi is everywhere, but there are still more than 33% people who are still dissatisfied with their Wi-Fi speed. The previous generations of Wi-Fi were not able to solve this challenge. However, Wi-Fi 6, the latest standard which matured at the end of 2020 was found capable by companies like Huawei as the way forward which is why we have lots of these devices available in the market. We, as a telecom operator started providing Wi-Fi AP’s since last year, providing Huawei Access Devices to our customers.”

The next session by Mr. Farhan Haider, a renowned expert who aced complex network handlingand was instrumental in determining the course for industry growth as the CTO at Wateen,addressed Cloud-Network Express Inspiring B2B New Growth. He stated on the occasion, “I’d like to thank Huawei for arranging this Summit where all of the country’s experts have gathered to discuss robust solutions and the development of IP.” He also stated, “With the rise virtual reality, the processing speeds of the cloud VR can’t meet the needs of the user. With the digital transformation of the industry, more and more enterprises place services on the cloud.”

Mr. Faizan Mahmood during his presentation about the role of IP in the digitalization of Pakistan stated, “Companies like Huawei, started the concept of the public cloud in Pakistan, which subsequently also brought in private cloud, which changed the ecosystem, we moved from a PC Era to a Cloud Era, this change was also accelerated because of Covid-19. The conversation has moved from talking about virtualizing our servers to talking about virtualizing our networks as well. Connectivity can now happen from anywhere.” 

Mr. Hamid Mohiuddin, a seasoned ICT mentor and an integral part of the advancement of technology in the industry was called to talk about the future trends in the IP Industry, “AI is going to impact every corner of the society, not just one or two industry, machine learning and deep learning are both part of artificial intelligence. In the future, Internet of Things will grow as 5G grows. Cloud Computing has gotten attraction in both first world countries as well as in Pakistan, and I can see it growing further, especially with companies like Huawei at the Helm of this development.”

Mr. Badar Farooq, Senior Solution Architect discussed Autonomous Driving Network (ADN) and how ADN can resolves the TCO structure problems of telecom networks with system-level innovations. ADN utilizes network automation, AI, and digital twin technologies to simplify networks and operation， helping operators improve network quality, as well as increase efficiency and Agile Business.

Mr. Waqar Fazal, An IP Guru who has scaled the heights of technological breakthroughs throughout his career. Mr. Waqar holds multiple industry certifications on diverse technologies in the field of IP. He discussed the very exiting topic, “Segment Routing IPv6” (SRv6) which is a next-generation IP bearer protocol that combines Segment Routing (SR) and IPv6. Utilizing existing IPv6 forwarding technology, SRv6 implements network programming through flexible IPv6 extension headers.

Towards the end of the sessions, Mr. Liu and Mr. Shahzad presented tokens of our appreciation the esteemed speakers.

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Munaza Kazmi

Initially, Islamophobia is a prejudice, aversion, hostility, or hatred towards Muslims and encompasses any distinction, exclusion, restriction, discrimination, or preference against Muslims that has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.

April 29, 2013 Mohammed Saleem, an elderly man of 82 from England, was stabbed to death on his way home after prayers by a PavloLapshyn who later planted bombs outside mosques.

In September 2017, Zainab Hussain, a Muslim mother from Leicester, was taking her daughter to school when Paul Moore ran over her with his car. Moore then proceeded to hit an eight-year-old girl in a hijab, before returning to the scene where Zeinab lay injured on the floor and running over her again.

Stories such as these are obvious indicators of Islamophobia in our society. However, there are also cases that are much harder to detect. Let’s say, the CV that is passed over because it boasts a Muslim sounding name, or the British-Pakistani man who is repeatedly assumed a threat at the airport on the basis of his beard, or a young lady in American society facing harassment only because of wearing hijab, or  the child who feels unable to ask questions in class because she is worried she may be swept up into the apparatus of PREVENT.

Till date, Islamophobia remains a contested term amongst political and academic debates. However, some deny Islamophobia exists at all, and others resist attempts to define it for fear that it would be elevated to such a position that it cannot be ignored.

Islamophobia is not just hate crime and abuse, but must also it excludes Muslims from all realms of civic life, whether that be through workplace discrimination, or through institutional Islamophobias that silence Muslim voices within democratic debates.

Today 1.3 billionMuslimslives in this world, out of which millions of Muslims are living in different countries of the world, in European countries, in America asminorities. Islamophobia since 9/11 has grown at an alarming pace, from centuries human communities are living together, and it should be understanding but islamophobia is creating a division.

Muslim women wearing Hijab, however hijab is not a strange practice, historically it was practiced in different dynasties by ladies of honor, but today it has become an issue in some countries. A woman can take off her clothes in some countries but cannot put on some more clothes. A man with name starting from Muhamad or having beard is considered as threat, why? because of Islamophobia after 9/11, since the west had blamed a Muslim group in the suicide attack, however why they had forgotten before 9/11 there were a lot many of suicide attacks being practiced by a Hindu gang, then why only Muslim name got attached with terrorism.

Because certain western leaders equated terrorism with Islam, Islamic terrorism and Radical Islam. And on top it is the failure of Muslim leadership in addressing this issue, instead they adopted a different aspect of modern Muslim, by wearing western clothes and speaking western language.

In London, New York or any other place, how a Muslim is being distinguished, a modern Muslim and a radical Muslim. What is this two types of Muslims and two types of Islam, when there’s only one Islam, Islam of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, who laid the foundation of first welfare state Medina, where equality was made the principle rule, where woman and widows had given proper rights, where slavery was ended, where justice was ensured, where taxes were imposed on rich and care was guaranteed to poor, where caste color and creed had no dictionary, whose own wife was a prosperous business woman, who stood up when her daughter step in and the west talk of women slavery.

Muslims had been marginalized in west andwe all know marginalization leads to radicalization, some people who end up as militant in Syria, Kashmir or Palestine are marginalized Muslims. All human community is liberal, or radical it’s not Islam, Hinduism or Judaism, since every religion teaches compassion, love and peace that differentiates us from animal kingdom.

I should point out it’s the fault of Muslim leadership of not letting the world for our sentiments for religion and Prophet P.B.U.H, it was only Prime Minister Imran Khan who took this responsibility and courage to speak in United Nations for the issue of Islamophobia.

Today, the UN has finally recognized the grave challenge confronting the world: of Islamophobia, respect for religious symbols and practices and of curtailing systematic hate speech and discrimination against Muslims, only it needs to understand by the very commoner.

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Munaza Kazmi holds MPhil in Management Sciences (Bahria University Islamabad, 2020). She’s a travel writer, an author, & co-author of scientific contributions in national & international publications. Her main areas of research include tourism & quality management.

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