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A two-day event was organized in CMH Peshawar to mark the International Nurses Day.

The purpose of the event was to encourage excellence in nursing staff.

On the occasion, glowing tributes were paid to the nursing staff.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced 6 Gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band for unlicensed operation for RLAN in Pakistan. With unlocking of this band, Pakistan has become the 10th country in Asia Pacific to embrace 6 GHz for Wi-Fi. Currently, only 60 Countries worldwide have unlocked 6 GHZ (full or partial) for RLAN (Wi-Fi) services.

This announcement was made in an event titled ‘Unlocking Pakistan’s Connectivity: Enablement of Next-Gen Wi-Fi in 6 GHz Band’.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PTA Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, said that this development has positioned Pakistan as a regional frontrunner in embracing next-generation RLAN (Wi-Fi) technology, joining a select group of forward-thinking nations in Asia to unlock the transformative potential of Wi-Fi 6E. In the event, speakers from META, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA), Jazz, Nayatel and Huawei shed light on the benefits of embracing Wi-Fi 6E in Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention that, currently, Wi-Fi in Pakistan operates in
two bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, with available bandwidths of 100 MHz and 150 MHz, respectively.

However, these Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands are accommodating multiple applications, including everyday technologies like microwave oven, bluetooth, and cordless phones, co-exist with Wi-Fi, resulting in congestion. WI FI 6E will overcome the congestion and latency issues.

PTA, under the government’s vision of ‘Digital Pakistan,’ aims to ignite a wave of digital innovation to empower businesses and bridge the digital divide by providing more reliable and high-speed internet access, ultimately fostering a more inclusive digital economy in Pakistan.

Source: Pro Pakistani

The National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has released Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) Guidelines, which have been distributed to all federal ministries and departments.

Sources told Propakistani that NCERT has also written to these ministries and divisions, urging them to identify critical infrastructure in line with the new guidelines.

According to sources, Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) includes assets, networks, systems, processes, information, and functions essential to the nation. The incapacitation or destruction of these elements would significantly impact national security and the economic and social well-being of citizens. CIIs are characterized by essential interdependencies and critical information flows.

Under the national cybersecurity policy, NCERT defines CII as any computer system or network vital for national security or the economic and social well-being of citizens. Federal ministries and divisions are tasked with identifying critical infrastructure base
d on NCERT’s guidelines. Public sector organizations will compile lists of such infrastructure and submit them to NCERT, which will then designate them as CII under CERT Rules 2023.

According to CERT rules, the National CERT will recommend both public and private infrastructure for critical infrastructure status to the relevant authorities when necessary.

The National CERT is responsible for developing grading criteria to classify public CIIs and will offer services according to these rankings. Additionally, the National CERT will coordinate and support private-sector CII organizations in handling security incidents.

The CERT rules stipulate that the concerned ministry designate public or private infrastructure as critical, in line with the relevant clauses of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the National Cyber Security Policy (NCSP). These designations will be reviewed annually. Any infrastructure can be declared CII based on its sensitivity or criticality and the potential impact of its
compromise.

The National CERT may recommend to the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT) or the relevant ministry to designate public or private infrastructure as critical.

A dedicated CII CERT will be established to develop grading criteria for public CII and manage them according to these rules and the National Cyber Security Policy. The CII CERT will also support private-sector CII organizations in handling security incidents. Until an independent CII CERT is established by MoITT or the concerned ministry, the National CERT will serve as the interim CII CERT.

Source: Pro Pakistani

The Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC) Working Group on Policy, Regulation, and Services (PRS) concluded today after three days of intensive discussions and deliberations, shedding light on pivotal aspects of the ICT regulatory landscape in South Asia.

Through 10 insightful sessions, participants exchanged ideas and shared best practices, fostering a collaborative environment aimed at driving progress in the sector.

Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar, Chair of the SATRC Working group on PRS and Member (Compliance and Enforcement), PTA, commended SATRC as a model of regulatory collaboration. He stressed upon the importance of fostering sub-regional collaboration among SATRC member countries to achieve shared goals, emphasizing the meticulous execution of identified work items and the production of comprehensive reports to guide future actions.

Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman Chairman PTA, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to all the delegates and respective administratio
ns for their unwavering dedication and collaborative efforts in advancing the objectives of the inaugural meeting of the SATRC Working Group on Policy, Regulation, and Services (PRS).

The SATRC Workshop on PRS, hosted by PTA, brought together delegates from the nine SATRC member countries, along with representatives from national and international organizations. ICT policy and regulatory officers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Maldives and Sri Lanka attended in-person whereas delegates from India and Nepal joined virtually.

Government bodies and local industry representatives from cellular mobile companies, local loop operators and vendors also joined the meeting. The event served as a valuable platform for constructive dialogue and the exchange of ideas, paving the way for progress in the telecom/ICT sector across the region.

Source: Pro Pakistani

The Supreme Court was informed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Wednesday that 66 out of 154 public-sector Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) across the country are currently without a vice-chancellor (VC) or rector, or have individuals serving in these roles on an ad hoc basis.

The revelation came during a hearing for a petition filed by the All-Public Universities BPS Teachers Association (APUBTA), represented by its president, Dr. Samiur Rahman in front of a three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa. The petition raised concerns about the substantial number of universities operating without legally appointed VCs, prompting the HEC to present the report.

Supreme Court | hafiz-e-quran students | 20 extra marks

According to the HEC report, the situation is particularly worrisome in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a significant portion of HEIs lack permanent VCs. In Punjab, 29 out of 49 HEIs have VCs serving on an acting charge basis, while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 16 o
ut of 32 HEIs face a similar scenario. The report also highlighted vacancies in key positions in several universities across Balochistan.

On a positive note, the report indicated that in Sindh, the majority of universities have regular VCs, with only a few operating with acting VCs. Similarly, all universities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir have VCs serving regularly.

In response to the concerning situation, the Supreme Court directed the respective governments to expedite the process of appointing VCs and rectors in the vacant positions. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa expressed regret over the decline seen in various sectors of society, emphasizing the importance of addressing such issues promptly.

Additionally, the SC instructed the HEC to provide comprehensive data regarding the ratio of academic to administrative staff at universities and the status of vacant positions for director finance and examination controller. The court also sought information on the financial resources generated by universities indepen
dently and the funds received from the government.

Source: Pro Pakistani