The Advantages and Disadvantages of a DC Inverter AC [Series]

During our first post of this series, we discussed how DC Inverter air conditioners operate. We went into detail on what types of DC Inverter Type ACs exist and whether the energy saving claims made by the manufacturers are true.

Drawbacks of Inverter Technology:

• DC Inverter ACs cost more. Even without the dual-mode function, they still come with high price tags.
• The built-in circuit becomes far more complex due to multiple conversions from AC (Alternating Current) to DC (Direct Current) and back to AC (Alternating Current). 3-DC, 4-D or All DC inverter ACs have even more conversions taking place as there are more components working on DC.
• Repair costs increase as components are more sophisticated and as a result, more expensive. They require more effort to build or repair.
• Specialist technicians are hard to find for inverter ACs. Most local technicians have little to no experience with these new ACs. Users might even have to get their AC fixed from its manufacturer’s service centre, translating to more expense, if they can’t find a skilled technician.
• Conversion energy losses occur on every single one of the conversion steps. The losses can go as high as 4-6%, depending on the conditions and quality of the equipment. Manufacturers are aware of this and count it in the final power savings.
• These ACs often come with R410A refrigerant gas while most technicians still only have an R-22 (CFC-based) refrigerant gas. Users will have to ask their technicians to refill the AC with R410A when required.
• Only a few of the local brands offer 3-DC/4-D/All-DC Inverter ACs. So users might have to wait for a while before their brand of choice starts selling a more energy saving type of DC inverter AC.

Conclusion

Going through the advantages/disavantages above, one can see a more favorable view of DC Inverters emerging as a whole.

Most of the pros and some of the cons circle around the basic working of a DC Inverter AC. Gentle power draw and controlled, continuous air conditioning are the behind most of the advantages. The cons, while still there, aren’t deal breakers.

DC Inverter ACs do not possess any shortcoming which could be problematic. New ACs often come with years of warranty and by the time that ends, the current problem of unskilled technicians will be resolved. And as far as the ‘huge’ cost of buying an Inverter AC is concerned, you end up paying less in the longer run as your electricity bill goes down significantly.

Our advice would be to go for a DC Inverter AC if you have the cash. Even if you don’t want to or cannot afford an extra 10k-20k for an AC, you should consider the fact that these ACs will pay you back, with savings, within the first season of use.

Pakistan Received $5.27 Billion in Loans and Grants During Nine Months of 2016-17

The country provisionally received $5.27 billion i.e. 65 percent of budgeted estimates of foreign assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors in the current financial year (July-March).

The Economic Affaires Division (EAD) data revealed that government borrowed $115 million in the month of March from Noor Bank PJSC for budgetary support, bringing the borrowing from commercial banks to $1.315 billion in the current financial year.

The government had borrowed $300 million from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited in the month of January. Ministry of Finance has finalized arrangements for $600 million commercial loan from two Chinese banks to be utilized for balance of payments and budgetary support and received $300 million in January.

Further the country borrowed $200 million from Noor Bank PJSC for budgetary support and $700 million from China Development Bank as non-project aid during the month of September.

In addition, the government issued Sukuk of one billion dollar at a 6.5 percent rate of return during the period under review. The government has also borrowed $19 million from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in the current financial year which was not budgeted as per the EAD data. The data shows that government borrowed $5 million from the Eco Trade Bank in the month of February which was not budgeted.

The EAD data shows that country received $5.271 billion in the current fiscal year against $5.402 billion during the same period of last showing a decline of $131 million.

The government has budgeted foreign assistance of $7.998 billion for 2016-17 including grants and loans against $9.18 billion budgeted for 2015-16. The budgeted estimates include a significant amount of $2.005 billion loan from commercial banks for 2016-17.

The country received $192.13 million in the month of March including $179.66 million loans and $12.46 million grants. The latest figures show that the country provisionally received $4.926 billion in loans and $345.58 million grant in the current fiscal year.

Pakistan received $1.033 billion from China in the current fiscal year including $0.75 million in the month of March against the budgeted $572.3 million for the current financial year. The country had received $615.66 million from China during the same period of last year.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) disbursed $851.48 million in the current financial year including $30.47 million in the month of March against the budgeted estimates of $1048.2 million for the current fiscal year i.e. 81 percent.

International Development Association (IDA) disbursed $156.19 million including $9.69 million in the month of March i.e. 10 percent of the budgeted estimates of $1.468 billion, IDB (S-Term) disbursed $327 million i.e.72 percent of the budgeted estimates of $452 million and USA disbursed $69.16 million including $6.88 million in the month of March i.e. 62 percent of the budgeted estimates of $111.41 million.

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) disbursed $177.47 million including $23.14 million in the month of March against the budgeted estimates of $62.48 million for the current fiscal year, UNHCR disbursed $0.65 million, IDB $63.47 million, Japan disbursed $42.8 million against the budgeted $77.13 million for the current fiscal year and UK released $139.97 million including $3.27 million in March. EU disbursed $17.84 million in the current financial year against the budgeted estimates of $51.12 million.

Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) disbursed $1.1 million in March under the head of grant, bringing the total disbursement to $17.04 million in the current fiscal year against the budgeted estimates of $18.75.

The country received no assistance from France, Korea, Norway, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UNDP and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during the period under review.

Official: Xiaomi is Launching in Pakistan on Feb 20th

After some delays, due to some distribution challenges, Xiaomi will finally launch in Pakistan on February 20th, 2017, we have checked.

Launch news came after the Chinese phone-maker partnered with Smart Link for its distribution, management and other functions in Pakistan.

Launch event will be held in Islamabad and is likely to be attended by Xiomi officials from China as well. Zong and Daraz are also mentioned as launch partners.

According to information made available to Olxfun.com, Xiaomi phones will be made available in stores across Pakistan immediately after launch. Alongside, Xiaomi phones will also be available at online stores including Eshope.pk.

Urdu Domain Names: ICANN Passes Resolution on Dot پاکستان Internet

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Board has passed resolution on Internet Registry پاکستان . , through which local community of Pakistan will now be able to register and use internet domains in Pakistan’s native languages and scripts.

This was announced and revealed by Anusha Rahman, Minister for IT and Telecom.

She mentioned that this is an important milestone to proliferate the digitalization in Pakistan through local content. IT Minister lauded the efforts of team MoIT, multi-stakeholder technical committee members on internet registry پاکستان . , and team NTC on achieving this major internet governance initiative.

In December, 2016, Ministry of IT and Telecom had processed delegation request for the internet registry پاکستان . , in-consultation with stakeholders committee members from Academia, Civil Society, Internet Community, ISPAK, National Language Authorities, PASHA, PTA, Governments etc.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan has already successfully completed the preparation and evolution stages of ICANN Fast track for IDN ccTLDs.

ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is responsible for managing and coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS) to ensure that every address is unique and all internet users can find valid Internet addresses. Through this resolution, National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) will be the manager for internet registry ۔پاکستان

The local language content in digital form has assumed a central significance. With this in view, Ministry of IT & Telecom has done intensive work in this regard. IDN top-level domain names like پاکستان . will usher into numerous opportunities and benefits for Internet users of Pakistan, by enabling them to establish and use domains in their native languages and scripts.

By launching ccTLD ۔پاکستان internet accessibility for Urdu language users will be revolutionized as IDNs in native language will facilitate Internet Navigation much easier. It will help local citizens to access web addresses using Urdu Language.

IDNs posit an explicit advantage in targeting local markets, non- English speaking Internet users, and for local promotions. Alongside, rising trend of E-Commerce in Pakistan will enormously benefit from this development by eliminating the language barriers.

The Stylish iDroid BALR X7 Offers Decent Performance For Under Rs. 10,000

Various companies are investing to dominate the low-end smartphone market by ensuring quality and performance for lowest possible rates, one of which is the US-based iDroid.

iDroid unveiled their BALR X7, earlier this year, at an event held in Karachi. ProPakistani brings you a comprehensive review for this budgeted phone, available for just Rs. 9,499.

Unboxing

iDroid has taken a different route to the boxing of the BALR X7 smartphone. A flat horizontal box is preferred in all black, with the picture of the phone on top, specifications on the back along with other small details.

The top of the box comes off, just like a gift box and underneath there are two panels. The phone is rested in one tray and underneath the phone compartment, the booklet, phone protector and its casing are present. The other compartment contains the usual accessories of the smartphone.

Here’s a complete list of accessories found in the BALR X7 box:

• 1 Screen Protector
• 1 Plastic Back Cover
• 1 Pair of Headphones
• 1 USB Cable
• 1 Power Adapter
• iDroid User Manual and Instruction Guide

Design & Build Quality

The iDroid BALR X7 resembles a lot to Samsung S-series; similar back camera placement, a prominent silver ring around the smartphone and sharp curves.

The iDroid BALR X7 black version has a very consistent look, especially with the zinc alloy mid-frame. The smartphone fits perfectly in hand and does not slip even though the back of the BALR X7 is completely plain.

The front of BALR X7 is completely flat and a 5MP selfie camera sits at the top. The front camera also has a flash, unlike many smartphones.

The back is all plain and plastic and includes a smooth buildup to the camera hump. The hump is about average size, surrounded by silver plastic to give the back camera a more finished look. The camera is accompanied with a dual flash as well. The side corners are a bit rounded to give a comfortable feel when you palm the phone.

The iDroid BALR X7 is a tall phone with a 5.5-inch screen but it is still manageable in one hand, especially due to its light weight.

Both the power and volume rocker are placed on the right side of the phone. These controls have been placed in the optimal position as the power button does not interrupt the thumb’s resting position while holding the phone. The buttons are slightly pointed but loose.

The left side of the alloy-rim is completely plain. To insert the SIMs or the memory card, the back can be opened from the bottom right.

The mic is placed in a very unconventional but an effective position, adjacent to the home key on the front. The voice clarity was probably down to the positioning of the mic as well.

On the bottom, you can find the dual-speakers and the wired connection whereas the headphone jack is present on the top of the phone.

Screen and UI

The BALR X7  features a 5.5-inch screen with a 1280 x 720 pixels HD display. In first glance, the screen’s colors looked far more impressive than what was anticipated in this price range. The maximum brightness may not be class leading but achieves a decent contrast ratio.

The low reflectivity and high contrast of the screen allows it to remain legible even in bright sunlight. The 5.5-inch screen of iDroid BALR X7 is well above average in this respect.

The iDroid X7 comes with a customised version of Android v5.1 and upon checking, we found that the software was up-to-date. It remains to be seen whether iDroid will update the device with Android v.6.0 or not.

Performance

The iDroid BALR X7 is powered by a quad-core 1.3GHz Mediatek MT6580 chipset, which has been paired with 1GB RAM. It does not pose too many problems in daily usage.

Keeping in mind that the BALR X7 is packed with only 1GB of RAM, no lag was witnessed. The response was prompt, even with multiple applications running in the background – including downloading in the Chrome mobile app.

For those interested in the benchmark scores, GeekBench 4, AnTuTu and Basemark OS II results are shown below:

GeekBench 4 Benchmark Test Results

AnTuTu Benchmark  Results (L) and Basemark OS II Results (R)

Battery Life

The iDroid BALR X7 comes with a 2,800mAh battery, not big for its size but it definitely gets the job done. The stand-by power draw of the iDroid BALR X7 is pretty good, especially for its capacity.

Other smartphones with 2,800mAh  battery (or round about), contain almost identical stand-by and talk time results, even though some smartphones are more expensive. So surely, this is a positive sign for iDroid company.

Talk-time was calculated at 18 hours and had a 7 hours video playback time, not out of the ordinary for 2016 but very impressive for its price range and quality.

Camera

The smartphone is equipped with dual-flash rear camera and single flash front camera, 8MP and 5MP respectively. The picture quality is impressive comparing it other phones in its price range.

The options of the rear camera include:

• Zero Shutter Delay
• Anti-Shake
• Voice Capture
• Face Detection
• Smile Shot
• Auto Scene Detection

Continuous shot option allows you to take either 20 or 40 pictures in one go.

The selfie camera uses a 5MP sensor, also with an f/2.0 aperture. Both main and front camera have HDR+ mode.

Here are some of the sample pictures:

Outdoor, with HDR on:

Indoor, with HDR on:

As you can see, the colors are good for brightly lit and indoor shots but the colors come out pretty washed up as the light deteriorates. The front and rear flashes could save your images in low light for nearby shots but the flashes won’t help much when it comes to landscapes and distant objects.

The quality is what you would expect in the range. Its decent in bright light but the results are pretty ordinary when brightness drops.

Verdict

The iDroid BALR X7 offers a very decent build quality and the metal frame only adds to it. A good screen, software optimization and decent battery add to the value of the phone while the camera is about par for this price range. A slightly better camera, a newer Android version and perhaps a slightly larger could have helped. Nonetheless, you wont be disappointed considering that you get so much and all just for under Rs. 10,000.

We think iDroid has a decent performer in the shape of BALR X7 and could take on other mobile OEMs in Pakistan for this price range.

iDroid BALR X7 Specifications

• Processor: Quad Core processor 1.3 GHz
• Chipset: MediaTek 6580
• Network Support: 2G, 3G
• OS Version: Android 5.1 Lollipop Customised
• Design
  • Dimensions: 153.8x77x8.3mm
  • Plastic with Alloy Frame
• Display: 5.5-inch 1280×720 TFT-LCD
• Memory
  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Internal Storage: 16GB
  • Micro SD card: Yes, up to 32GB
• Camera
  • Rear Camera: 8MP with Dual LED Flash, Video, HDR+, Auto Scene Detection
  • Front Camera: 5MP with Single LED Flash, Video, HDR+, Voice Capture
• iDroid Features
  • iDROID Beast ™ Speakers
  • iDROID Hub App for Support
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, Gyro
• Battery: 2800 mAh
• Colors: Jet Black, Gold, White
• Price: Rs. 9,499

PML(N) Made this Matric Pass Lady Their Minister for Higher Education

In a rather unique event, Punjab government made this graceful lady, Mrs. Zakia Shah Nawaz Khan, the minister for higher education in Punjab. But the problem is, she’s never studied beyond matriculation

According to the government website, the lady never received any higher education, making it one of the most ironic steps undertaken by the government in the history of Pakistan. She has been on duty since 2016 at least.

Take a look at the image below:

All 6 Channels in the ARY Network Shut Down by UK Regulator

UK’s broadcast and communications regulatory authority, Ofcom (UK’s version of PEMRA), has shutdown 6 of ARY’s channels and revoked their licenses.

According to the official statement by Ofcom, all 6 licenses of ARY Network Limited have been revoked and the network is in liquidation. Ofcom’s decision to revoke the licenses was based upon the fact that ARY had stopped providing licensed services and Ofcom considered it appropriate to cancel their licenses.

ARY Network held 6 licenses under Part 1 of the Broadcasting Act 1990. These licenses were being used to broadcast these channels:

• ARY Digital (TLCS‐290BA/1)
• ARY QTV (TLCS‐1550BA/1)
• ARY News (TLCS‐925BA/1)
• ARY World News (TLCS1549BA/1)
• QTV–Islamic Education Channel (TLCS924BA/1)
• ARY Entertainment (TLCS1551BA/1)

Why Ofcom Actually Revoked ARY’s License

About 6 days ago, Ofcom notified ARY Network that it was going to revoke their licenses. This was because the company had ceased to provide all 6 of the services.

ARY Network stopped trading on 31st December 2016 and was put under voluntary liquidation on 12th January 2017. Ofcom’s statement mentioned that,

Having given careful consideration to the comments made in both the written and oral representations of the liquidator, Ofcom was satisfied that ARY Network had ceased to provide all six of its licensed services and, in particular, that it did not have general control of those services within the meaning of section 362(2) of the Communications Act 2003.

Problems for ARY Network started a few months ago due to a legal war between Geo Network’s parent company, the Jang Group and ARY.

Geo’s Side of The Story

According to Geo, ARY accused the Jang editor in chief, Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, of being a,

… a traitor of Pakistan, Indian agent, RAW agent, American agent, CIA agent, MOSSAD agent, and committing blasphemy.

They mounted several allegations against ARY saying that they started a defamation campaign against the Geo Network and Jang Group.

ARY Network lost the case and were forced to pay a £3 Million fine. Here Geo claims that ARY Network failed to pay the fine which resulted in their license being revoked by Ofcom. Ofcom however claims that ARY Network stopped providing their services and had their license revoked under section 238(4) of the Communications Act 2003.

It is clear that Geo is reporting false facts regarding ARY’s license getting revoked.

ARY also aired an on-air apology on December 23rd, 2016 after the case was closed.

Via bizAsia

Huawei Finally Launches the Honor 8 Lite

A few days back, Huawei posted details regarding its Honor 8 Lite so discreetly that many of us thought it was a fluke. As it stands, the phone has remained available on the company’s Finnish site.

The front of the phone features a 5.2-inch curved 2.5D display with 1080p resolution. The design is based on its older Honor 8 sibling, with the same 15-step glass build.

Under the hood, you get a 64-bit octa-core Kirin 655 chipset, home-baked by Huawei. The amount of RAM is set at 3 GB, with storage set at 16 GB which is expandable.

The camera on the back is downgraded from the fancy dual-camera setup, to a solitary 12 MP f/2.2 shooter with LED Flash. Below it also sits a fingerprint scanner. There is also an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera on the front.

The Honor 8 Lite comes with Android 7.0 Nougat with Emotion UI 5.0 on the front. The battery capacity is set at 3,000 mAh, which is not removable.

The phone is up for pre-order at $292 in Finland, or $100 cheaper than its sibling (which is every bit worth those bucks). It will be available in Black, White, Gold and Blue.

Huawei Honor 8 Lite Specifications:

• CPU: 64-bit octa-core
• Chipset: Huawei Kirin 655
• OS: Android 7.0 Nougat, customized with Emotion UI 5.0
• Supported Networks: 2G, 3G, 4G LTE
• Display:
  • 2” 2.5D curved with 1080p resolution
• Memory:
  • RAM: 3 GB
  • Internal: 16 GB
  • Card slot: yes, by up to 128 GB
• Camera:
  • Primary: 12 MP, f/2.2, LED
  • Secondary: 8 MP, 77-degree wide-angle
• Fingerprint scanner
• Battery: 3,000 mAh
• Price: $292

NTC Upgrades its Fiber Optic Network in Islamabad & Rawalpindi

NTC undertook major development activities for building and upgrading state of the art optical fiber based last mile network throughout Pakistan in line with the directives of PM and IT Minister to enhance efficiency of Government functionaries through broadband penetration.

One such project has recently been completed whereby the whole TDM based FTTC network, at Islamabad and Rawalpindi, has been replaced with IP based MSAGs with sufficient broadband capacity for provisioning higher capacity broadband services with redundant optical fiber cable network.

Managing Director NTC, Brig ® Viqar Rashid Khan, stated that being the only state-owned telecom Operator of Pakistan, NTC has developed a vast network of telecom infrastructure and the entire Apex offices of Pakistan are served by NTC efficiently meeting the high standard of service requirements and fulfilling all QoS parameters. In this specific project, NTC has managed to shift 17 x TDM based ONUs to most modern IP based MSAG. Similarly, in order to handle and carry the huge internet traffic, effectively and efficiently, the transmission system between Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been replaced from STM-16 to STM-64 recently.

Brig ® Viqar Rashid Khan said that during last three years, the broadband penetration of NTC for Public sector has been more than doubled through offering competitive tariff packages and deploying optical fiber based network connecting all Govt. buildings for flawless provisioning of telecom ICT services. He emphasized that NTC has a competitive edge over other private operators whereby NTC has deployed most expensive and highly efficient security measures for safety of Government data and communication.   Furthermore, MD said that due to hard work of NTC officers and the workers, the Corporation has managed to achieve a financial turnaround and growing organization and has become a beacon of light for other Public Sector Corporations.

Hyundai to Setup Car Assembly Plant in Pakistan

Hyundai, the South Korean car makers, is looking to partner with Mian Masha’s Nishat Mills Limited to setup vehicle assembly plant in Pakistan, said a company announcement sent to Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Hyundai, a decade ago or so, used to assemble and sell cars in Pakistan through Dewan group. Since then, for a long time now, it was looking for a local partner for a re-entry in Pakistani market.

With this new development, it seems, Hyundai has found a local partner and soon a deal will be locked.

Nishat Mills, while speaking with Reuters, said that a memorandum of understanding has been signed between both the companies. It said that Pakistan’s plant will assemble both passenger and commercial cars.

Nishat Mills’s notice sent to PSX said that MoU with Hyundai Motor Company and Sojitz Corporation Tokyo, Japan is for negotiating and establishing a framework for setting up a green field project for assembly and sales of HMC passenger and 1 ton commercial vehicles in Pakistan.

Audi A6 Business Edition (2017) Launched in Pakistan

Following the trend set by Audi internationally, the company has launched the all new Audi A6 Business Class Edition in Pakistan. The car resides in the luxurious class and doesn’t cut corners with regards to the latest features. Business Edition comes with additional with more class and goodies.

Design

Design-wise, the A6 comes with a lean look. Bold contours surround the air inlets in the front bumper and comes with a glossy black color separating the grills from the rest. Not much has changed in terms of design and the side fenders along with the rear bumpers are just as angular as before. The rear diffuser, on the other hand, gives a slightly different look to the car.

The front also features a pair of full-LED headlamps that are capable of some extra features in the dark.

Interior

The Business Edition carries some extra class alongside some cool looking additions. The standard edition of the A6 is already pretty luxurious. Over the standard A6, the Business Edition includes a glass sunroof, driver information system with color display and MMI Touch among the more prominent ones.

The Business Edition targets those who occupy the rear seats of their cars. Audi has also included an MMI remote controller under the central armrest at the back. There’s even switches mounted on the door to control the co-driver’s seat settings.

Performance

Audi A6 Business Edition comes with a powerful 190bhp 2.0-liter TDI Ultra engine capable of 390Nm torque.  The car comes with front wheel or 4-wheel drive options. Since it is not targeted towards enthusiasts, it should offer more support to the targeted owners.

There’s a six-speed manual gearbox while a seven-speed S-tronic automatic transmission is also available. Audi also offers eight speed transmission with the top-end 3.0-liter BiTDI models internationally.

Conclusion

The launch of the upgraded A6 Business Edition in Pakistan only goes on to show that Audi is taking the Pakistan just as seriously as the rest of the world. Keeping the product line up to date is, of course, very important factor to show dedication towards a market.

The Audi A6 Business Class edition is now available to order in Pakistan for a price of Rs. 8 million excluding all taxes and duties.

ncome Tax Non-Filers Can Now Be Imprisoned & Fined

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has started imposing fines and penalties against those citizens who do not file annual income tax returns and their wealth statement. A non-compliance act can lead to a two year imprisonment according to FBR sources.

Tax departments have issued massive number of notices to individuals who do not comply with the regulations and fail to submit their tax returns along with the applicable fines/penalties.

The FBR sources say that at first the tax department enforced the minimum penalty on citizens who neglected to record their income tax returns for the tax year 2015 and the years before it. Under Section 191 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, the board has now started prosecuting individuals who do not submit their tax returns even after receiving notices from the FBR. FBR sources said that indictment for resistance would likewise be started in further non-compliance to the notices distributed by taxation departments under Section 191 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

Under the umbrella of this section, any non-compliance with regards to tax returns will be considered as a culpable offense with a fine of Rs. 50,000, imprisonment for a period of up to two years, or both.

Source: PkRevenue

PTCL Summit Program Grooming Young Talent

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) undertook the Summit Program to hire graduates from all over Pakistan. Through a rigorous selection process, 125 candidates were selected purely on merit from all parts of Pakistan for the program and are currently under training at the PTCL Academy.

Dr. Daniel Ritz, President and CEO, PTCL and Syed Mazhar Hussain, Chief HR Officer along with summit program participants at the PTCL academy

Speaking to the candidates, he said: “PTCL’s diverse services are spread across Pakistan and are a source of national connectivity because they touch the life of every Pakistani in one way or the other. PTCL is making all efforts to improve the life of every household across the country and that was a testament to the high standards it had set for itself.”

He hoped that the young management trainees will bring energy and contribute towards the innovation and transformation of PTCL.

The selection of these candidates has been made through a rigorous, transparent and open process involving various external and internal hiring channels to ensure only merit based selection.

Syed Mazhar Hussain, Chief HR Officer speaking at the occasion said “PTCL is always working towards developing the employees. The basic objective behind the Summit program was to attract top talent for PTCL and then development of young individuals on the basis of their competence”. He was very satisfied with the progress of the Management Trainees and announced that the Summit program will go on and more young talent would be provided the opportunity to join PTCL as Management Trainee in future as well.

At the event, trainees presented their projects to senior PTCL management. They also expressed their gratitude towards PTCL for providing them this opportunity and were excited to take the learnings of the Summit program to real life challenges when posted to different functions of PTCL.

These Samsung Phones Will Receive the Android 7.0 Nougat Update

Samsung is finally making good on its promise of latest software updates on its phones. The company will be updating its flagship Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge flagships first and foremost. If you own the two phones expect them to get the version 7.0 Nougat in an update in the coming months.

Only Samsung can tell when it expects the newer 7.1.1 version to hit users. Thankfully, at least the flagship phones aren’t the only ones that are getting updated in the latest round of updates, as evident in the list revealed.

The List

The update is trickling to a number of older as well as mid-range devices, including:

• Galaxy S6 series (Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge Plus),
• Galaxy A series (the A3 and A8),
• Galaxy Note 5 (the only phone in the series, for obvious reasons)
• Galaxy Tab A with S Pen and the Tab S2.

New Features

The enhancements over Marshmallow include a better notification system supporting direct replies, which Google is trying to get every manufacturer to bring to their phones with Nougat.

The user interface is now slightly cleaner, removing the name titles from the drop-down notification menu and other visual advancements.

There are more battery-saving performance options than before. There will be 4 different performance modes, each with their own resource usage and optimizations.

The split-screen view which Samsung flagships already have will have better window resizing options. A pop-up window mode will also be included which can let you run seven apps at once in small windows.

Samsung Pass will allow fingerprint sign-ins in websites while an Entertainment Mode will make for a more immersive video and audio experience in movies and shows.

Hopefully, you will be able to try most of these features yourself sooner rather than later.

LG’s ‘Ideal’ Flagship Finally Has a Release Date

With the modular G5 not achieving nearly as much success as anticipated, LG is coming back soon with its latest flagship, the new G6.

The high-end smartphone will be unveiled on February 26th, just before the Mobile World Congress (MWC) at Barcelona. With the phone, the company is allegedly going back to its basics, as a result of which the phone (in all likelihood) won’t be a modular one.

The company revealed a teaser video revealing the characteristics that an ideal smartphone has, including a “big screen, smaller body, water-proof” as well as a quick camera. It also rolled out a GIF with the caption ‘See More, Play More’.

This makes sense if the recent leaks are any indication of the G6’s biggest feature, its display. The 5.7” panel will come in a unique 18:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1440 x 2880 (rather than QHD 1440 x 2560), which makes the display slightly taller and the phone easier to handle than the current norm 16:9.

LG has recently demonstrated the display panel, so it won’t be a surprise. The display, which will consume around 30 percent less power, will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest, the Snapdragon 835.

Other rumoured features include a heat-pipe to keep the display from over-heating, as well as Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Only time will tell how many of these features will make it into the final version, but thankfully we don’t have to wait for much longer now.

Jazz Consolidates its Franchise Network

Jazz announced today that it is consolidating the Jazz and Warid franchise network as part of the integration process, following its merger with Warid. From today, over 51 million customers will be served by a combined support network of more than 400 franchises across the country.

“All franchises will now operate as combined franchisees. In business terms, this means being leaner and more efficient, and more digitally savvy,” said Aamir Ibrahim, the CEO of Jazz. “This significantly increases access to Jazz franchises across Pakistan especially in remote areas,” he added.

The consolidation process has resulted in the closure of around a third of the total franchises from both Jazz and Warid. A support programme has been developed for those no longer part of the Jazz Franchise network.

Franchise integration will offer an excellent service to customers and safeguard the long-term growth of franchises, partners, employees and Jazz itself.

Warid Customers can also use Jazz Scratch cards and Jazz Load to recharge their balance and avail the complete Jazz experience through a network of over 400 franchises. Existing Jazz customers will benefit from theenlarged Franchise network – giving them even greater access to the services they enjoy.

Jazzcash Outruns Easypaisa to Become Market Leader for Active Mobile Accounts

Jazzcash has crossed Easypaisa to become the market leader in terms of having most active mobile account holders, said a report released by State Bank of Pakistan.

According to latest stats, Jazzcash’s market share for active mobile account holders reached 41% at the end of September 2016, as compared to 40% market share of Easypaisa.

UBL Omni’s market share for active mobile account holders reached 15% while all other players had 4% market share.

Report said that Jazzcash’s stretch for mobile account holders increased due to availability of additional infrastructure through merger of Warid with Mobilink.

State bank said that total number of mobile accounts, by end of September 2016, increased to 16.9 million from 14.6 million three months ago, showing a 16% growth during the quarter under review.

Number of active accounts reached 7.72 million by end of September 2016, up from 7 million a quarter ago.

Number of transactions, however, decreased to 110.0 million during Jul-Sep 2016 from 118.8 million in previous quarter. The major decline in the number of transactions was seen in OTC (over the counter) transactions, due to delay in bulk G2P (Government to Person) payments.

BB (branchless banking) deposits also decreased to Rs. 8.5 billion from Rs. 13.7 billion, showing a decrease of 38% compared to previous quarter. The average deposits per account dropped to Rs. 500 at the end of current quarter from Rs. 942 over the previous quarter due to sharp increase in the number of accounts and seasonal outflow related to Eid festivities falling in the month of September 2016.

As a result, the number and value of transactions witnessed a reduction which may be transitory in nature and likely to improve in the next quarter.

In terms of gender representation, the number of female customers increased to 3.3 million during Jul-Sep16 from 2.0 million at the end of previous quarter. As a result, the share of female accounts increased to 20% out of the total 16.9 million mobile accounts.

Zong Launches Special Data Bundle for Customers

Zong has said that it has partnered with WhatsApp to launch a special bundle for Zong users.

Zong users can now enjoy unlimited voice and video calling on Whatsapp for just Rs.15+tax. (Fair usage policy applies).

Here are package details:

• Bundle Name: Whatsapp Daily
• Price: Rs. 15
• Data Limit: 300MB
• Validity: 1 Day

This special WhatsApp bundle can be subscribed by all Zong users by dialing *4#

Zong said with its fastest data network with the widest 4G coverage, it serves as one of the most effective network platforms for WhatsApp based voice and video calls to seamlessly connect people within and across borders.

Zong’s objective, as expressed through the brand promise of “A new Dream” is to leverage the technological edge in 4G LTE to digitally transform the lifestyle of Pakistani people. Currently, more than 5,000 sites power over 200 cities of Pakistan with 4G services and this number is increasing day by day, said the statement.

This collaboration with WhatsApp is a testament to Zong’s stated commitment of providing the most desirable services to its customers at the most affordable rates, further said the statement.

“By offering this bundle with Zong, WhatsApp is able to make our industry-leading calling service more affordable and convenient in Pakistan, and seamlessly connect more people across the region and the world,” says Mubarik Imam, Parnerships and Growth Director at WhatsApp.

“Now, you can see your child’s face at university or show the grandparents their grandchild’s first steps from wherever you are without having to find a wifi zone”, he added.

Huawei’s P8 Lite Gets A Major Upgrade with 2017 Version

Building on its previous mini flagship, Huawei will be launching a 2017 version of the P8 Lite. To confuse you further, the phone will be sold as the P9 Lite in a few markets.

Design-wise, the phone seems to follow the design language of Honor phones of late. It is a curvaceous, modern-looking phone with glass on the front and back.

The display is a 5.2” IPS FHD, with an 8 MP shooter at the top. The back also boasts a fingerprint scanner, coupled with the 16 MP f/2.0 shooter as well as LED flash.

Under the hood, you get a mid-range home-baked Kirin 655 processor with its two quad-cores clocked at 1.7 and 2.1 GHz respectively, accompanied with 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB storage, which is expandable. You are aided with a hybrid-dual SIM card slot, as well as microUSB, LTE, Bluetooth 4.1 and GPS for your connections. A 3000 mAh non-removable battery will power the phone.

The phone will be available starting from the end of this month, for $255, making it another solid mid-range offering in Huawei’s portfolio.

Huawei P8 Lite (2017) Specifications:

• CPU: 64-bit Cortex-A53 octa-core
• Chipset: Huawei Kirin 655
• OS: Android 7.0 Nougat, customized with Emotion UI
• Supported Networks: 2G, 3G, 4G LTE
• Display:
  • 5.2” IPS with 1080p resolution
• Memory:
  • RAM: 3 GB
  • Internal: 16 GB
  • Card slot: yes, up to 128 GB
• Camera:
  • Primary: 12 MP, LED, f/2.0
  • Secondary: 8 MP
• Fingerprint scanner
• Connectivity:
• Battery: 3000 mAh
• Price: $255