Day: October 22, 2021

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), in line with its monumental initiative called ‘Power with Security,’ hosted an in-house seminar on Cyber Security today at NEPRA Tower.

The main objective was to create awareness about power assets of Pakistan among NEPRA Professionals on Cyber Security with special emphasis on the protection of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system — a computer-based system used for gathering and analyzing real-time data — to monitor and control equipment dealing with critical and time-sensitive materials/events, and then roll out the same initiative by engaging NEPRA’s Licensees and other Stakeholders.

In his opening remarks, Chairman NEPRA, Tauseef H. Farooqi, highlighted the significance of “Power with Security.” He elaborated that the SCADA system is prone to cyber-attacks and not only that in any such unfortunate scenario, the Power Sector installations would not only be able to control their processes at local and remote locations, but it will also jeopardize the functions to monitor, gather, and process its real-time data. Hence, there is a strong need to pre-empt such vulnerabilities through the introduction of effective cyber security tools.

Najeeb Ahmad, Peter Kreutzer, Torben Cederberg, and Willem Groen briefed the participants about various types of Power Grid Solutions of Hitachi ABB and the Cyberthreat protection used against Industrial cyber-attacks/vulnerabilities, the social engineering attacks, and the differences in implementation of cyber security in such systems. They also put emphasis on the need for industrial security solutions, remote access, incident handling, formulation of an effective cyber security department, and regulations so that the threats are handled effectively.

The webinar concluded after detailed Questions and Answers session of the participants with the Chairman and the Speakers.

The seminar was headed by Chairman NEPRA, Tauseef H. Farooqi, and attended by a large number of NEPRA professionals. The participants were sensitized about the importance of Cyber Security by Chairman NEPRA, Tauseef H. Farooqi. Managing Director, Hitachi ABB Power Grids Pakistan, Najeeb Ahmed, and renowned International Cyber Security Experts from Sweden and Switzerland, including Peter Kreutzer (Global Product Manager), Willem Groen (Lead Cyber Security Network Control/HVDC), and Torben Cederberg (Regional Sales Director Network Control).

Source: Pro Pakistani

The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) making a business turnover of Rs. 50 million have been exempted from the levy of marking fee, as the government has decided to facilitate the SMEs and the manufacturers of compulsory products to give them relief amidst the inflation.

The Board of Directors of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), in its 23rd meeting, approved exemption.

It has been decided that the marking fee is to be reduced for more than 1500 industries that manufacture essential products and are registered with Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority to give them relief due to Market inflation in business to support the local industry.

The following table depicts the revision of the marking fee.

The PSQCA marking fee was previously revised in 2008 at the rate of 0.05% ex-factory price for food items and 0.1% ex-factory price for non-food products. The government was receiving requests from the industry to revise the marking fee.

The reduction will facilitate the micro, small, medium, and large enterprises of food as well non-food producing enterprises. It will also encourage new businesses to register and come under the ambit of licensing and certification regimes. Moreover, it will help increase the size of the economy.

Source: Pro Pakistani