Posted by: Aamir Attaa on December 31, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Faisalabad based 12-year Irtiza Haider has become world’s youngest Cisco Certified Network Associate. He is a 8th class student.
The CCNA, is a certification that emphasizes on the technology and skills needed to work with networks of 100 nodes or fewer, covering both IP and non-IP networks including IPX and AppleTalk. Moreover, you need to have 80 percent of the questions correctly answered in the 2 hours, in order to pass the CCNA test.
Read More about Irtiza’s accomplishment from Rabia Gharib’s article published at Computer World
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on December 31, 2008 at 12:57 PM
As the year 2008 is about to conclude, we can see not that good atmosphere for Mobile Phone manufacturers. Consequently, one can easily anticipate sales going down in year 2009 as customers will be looking for more value than of high priced gadgets. We also saw many markets, globally, maturing into saturated industries, mobile handsets may see a significant change in terms of functionality.
We can expect manufacturers cutting down their product range in order to avoid market segments where they are not earning enough profits; though we can’t deny the chances of high end flagship devices from all manufacturers. Furthermore, we can expect phones coming with bunch of functions, meaning that all in one devices with mid-priced tag.
With changing economics dynamics, globally, manufactures will want to see their all products as success – we may expect every model coming into market keenly designed with tons of features packed into little devices.
We can expect 10 megapixel camera phones (for only high priced phone) along with GPS and WLAN connectivity for most of mid-ranged phones will start coming. Though in Pakistan we have limited WiFi coverage throughout, but we have started seeing few tech enthusiasts browsing on their phones through WLAN, they will see more companions next year.
With increase of Social networking sites and web browsing usage on mobile phones, we may expect severe enhancements in applications and the input procedures.
Finnish Mobile Phone Manufacturer looks rolling and rolling new phones. However, in 2008 their main flagship device N96, despite all the hype created, turned out to be a same machine as of N95, but just additional memory and TV tuner support (that don’t work in Pakistan anyway).
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on December 23, 2008 at 5:12 PM
Syed Hasnat Masood is Director Corporate Communications and Responsibility, Telenor Pakistan.
Hasnat has been with Telenor since September 2005. Hasnat’s department has three distinct functionalities:
- External Corporate Communications deals with the media to establish company position on various subjects;
- Internal Corporate Communications streamlines management-employee interactions to create better understanding of corporate objectives;
- Corporate Responsibility aims to integrate community relations into corporate strategy.
Before joining Telenor Pakistan, he worked with Proctor & Gamble Pakistan for 3 years in the External Relations department. Bringing a diverse set of academic and professional experiences, Hasnat holds a BA Hons in Bio-Chemistry from Vermont, USA. He started his career as a Scientist with Hoffmann-La Roche in New Jersey, USA and later moved to Pakistan.
Hasnat is into reading, writing, and backpacking.
ProPakistani.com: What is Telenor Pakistan’s definition of CSR and how do you practice it?
Syed Hasnat Masood: Telenor Pakistan has come up with a new concept about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) called ‘Shared Value’; basically based on an idea to minimize the conventional expectations that social sector bears from a profitable business. Shared Value can be termed as a workable business environment which benefits its stakeholders and social community alike.
I believe that businesses’ responsibility towards the society begins when the company’s product or service is launched. Under the ‘Shared Value’ concept, a perfect business must make positive difference to social lives, is profitable to stakeholders and should be ethical in its nature.
If we look at telecom sector and its contribution towards the community, we can easily measure the difference it has made over the years. The Telecom sector alone has contributed 5 percent towards GDP of the country, created countless job opportunities (direct and in-direct), produced not only in-expensive but also effortless mode of communication and much more. The Telecom sector by default provides a major boost to the national economy, while Telenor’s own business impact can be felt with 18 million customers aboard – most of which are from rural areas. Majority of these 18 million customers, for instance from Gilgit, Sakardu etc, now for the first time have the opportunity to be a part of the information highway. They can use internet, make calls, and have a single click solution to communicate with anyone across the globe.
Over the years, Telenor Pakistan has played its effective role in boosting country’s economic cycle but not compromising with the standards that can harm society by any means. For this very purpose, we have code of conduct for everything, from workforce hiring to vendor management, from network rollout to anti-corruption. We have been strictly following these standards to remain responsible; so as to help our core business needs and also support the community with equal spirit.
ProPakistani.com: How do you see in-practice CSR activities in Pakistan from corporations, and in what areas we need further improvements?
Syed Hasnat Masood: I think, as an industry, we need to clear our concept about CSR. Practically and realistically, I believe any business has its first responsibility towards its shareholders, as they risk their money by investing it into business, so naturally they deserve a return. Next comes the community, since a business depends on the community to generate returns for its shareholders. Here is the point, you can’t reprioritize any of the responsibilities; neither can you switch their positions.
We see many organizations participate in CSR activities by contributing with funds that business generated from the community itself. In my opinion this is not the right approach.
So now back to CSR concept, a business should do CSR as part of its business cycle to keep it sustainable.
In my opinion, the core purpose of CSR should not be charity, as is usually termed, rather a company should strategically involve itself in a CSR activity primarily based on the expertise it carries.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on December 15, 2008 at 11:45 AM
After recent reshuffle in Orascom’s top level management, there is a strong rumor out there that Mobilink may undergo some changes in its higher management as well. These changes may surround couple of Vice Presidents and some middle level management.
A high level source has communicated us that Mr. Irfan Akram, who is currently the Vice President Sales may head Administration department very soon. The primary reason for this Change in portfolio is to ease Mr. Irfan Akram from tough sales’ situation in recent months. The decision of course came with the consent of Mr. Rashid Khan, CEO, Mobilink.
Currently Administration and HR department is being headed by Mr. Ali Raza Mehdi; meaning that he will keep on heading HR while administration will go to Mr. Akram.
Mr. Aamir Ibrahim is most likely to head Sales, who is currently Chief Strategy Officer, Mobilink. It is very much obvious that Sale’s is going to be the toughest and most reasult demanding department for Mobilink in coming months.
It merits mentioning here that both Mr. Rashid Khan and Irfan Akram come from ex-Paktel team and bear good acquaintance. Mr. Bilal Munir Sheikh, Vice President, Marketing was part of that Paktel team as well.
Mobilink’s spokesman denied any such organizational reshuffle in near future.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on December 11, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Huawei Technologies has announced that it has signed a strategic contract with PTCL, the largest telecommunications company in Pakistan.
Huawei, according to the agreement, will build a complete nationwide LH DWDM Network for PTCL by replacing existing outdated 10G DWDM. It is the first time in Pakistan to introduce the cutting-edge 40G/wavelength (readiness) and ASON technology in its Nationwide DWDM Backbone Network to help PTCL transfer to IP Time with unlimited bandwidth providing capability.
Mr. Muhammad Nasrullah, Executive Vice President, PTCL, during the contract signing ceremony, said: “We are very confident with the DWDM solution that we are going to implement from Huawei. This will improve our capacity, performance and services, offer to our valuable customers.”
Mr. Li Zhiqiang, Executive Director, Huawei commented: “Huawei greatly values its strategic cooperation with PTCL. We truly hope that Huawei DWDM solution will help PTCL to maintain and improve its leadership position in the telecom market of Pakistan.”
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on December 8, 2008 at 5:02 AM
We will remain off for couple of days, for Eid Vacations… and will get back On Thursday - December 11th, 2008. Meanwhile, new commentators may not see their comments appearing, due to moderation.
Wishing you all very Happy Eid - May Allah give us all pleasures and treasures of Life…!
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Posted by: Bites85 on December 8, 2008 at 12:10 AM
We achieved a lot when we started the Google is Biased issue, couple of months ago. We had a simple proposal to Google to start making Doodle’s for Islamic Festivals, like it do for other days. It was widely discussed on many high profile blogs and even on Global Voices Online. Majority of people and even Non-Muslims liked the idea that there should be Doodle for Muslim Festivals as well. Specifically for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, the two major Muslim Festivals of the world.
It’s just a celebration like Christmas; the message is simple “peace and harmony for all”. Like we see beautiful doodles for Christmas, we just deserve to see Doodles for Muslim Festivals also. It is matter of fact that with huge demographic representation and a significant part of Google revenues are generated by Muslims with services like Gmail, Earth, Adsense, Ad words etc.
The issue reached to the top management of Google and we also got reply from them. The news is that Google has unofficially confirmed for Eid Doodles from next Eid-Ul-Fitr.
Following is the message to Google from Muslims around the world:
“Kindly make Google Doodles for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha from year 2009 and onwards. And show it on main domain Google.com and on all of its sub domains around the web.”
This will really help to bond Muslims with other religions and will flourish relations between all the countries.
Eid-ul-Adha is just a few days ahead, and my friend Altaf Sayani was kind enough to make a Doodle on such a short notice. So all my Muslim Brothers and Sisters I present to you the Google Doodle for Eid-ul-Adha:
More proposals for Eid Doodle
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on December 4, 2008 at 7:10 AM
A dedicated job portal for disabled person has been launched by BrightSpyre in collaboration with STEP (Special Talent Exchange Program). This is first of its kind job portal, globally, which will specifically serve disabled people to get job opportunities, available in various sectors of country.
Job Board URL: http://step.jobboard.com.pk
Job board was launched at a colorful event being organized to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday, December 2, 2008.
Portal’s interface is similar to what of BrightSpyre, obviously as its powered by BrightSpyre - hence, applying for job is free, while for posting it charges Rs. 1,000 per job.
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