DNA

Islamabad, Nov 11 – The 5th installment of the Huawei ICT Competition 2020 in Pakistan is underway with roadshows having just been concluded all over the country. The competition is being held in partnership with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

Due to the restrictions placed by Covid-19, what were once traditional roadshows were substituted with virtual roadshows and awareness sessions.Virtual roadshows and awareness sessions were conducted at over 30 universities all around Pakistan by Huawei’s Talent Ecosystem Development team and its authorized learning partners like Al-KICS and Corvit.

More than 10,000 students registered for the international competitive and communication-based platform hoping to increase their ICT knowledge, improve their practice and application skills, as well as spread innovation awareness.During this week, all of the registered participants will sit for the next stage of the competition, known as the preliminary exam.

So far, 20 on site locations have been finalized, while the rest of the exams will take place virtually. All government-issued SOP’s will be followed during the on-site examinations. The results of the preliminary exam will come out next week and the top students will make it to the next stage of the competition; enablement training and certification exam.The top students from preliminary exams will attend the enablement training in the coming weeks and the Huawei certification exams by the end of the training at different locations on site or virtually all across Pakistan including Mehran University Of Engineering And Technology Jamshoro (MUET), Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences(BUITEM), National University Of Science And Technology(NUST), University Of Engineering And Technology Lahore, University Of Engineering And Technology Taxila  amongst other key universities of Pakistan.

In this round students will attend different training sessions related to different ICT Technologies. After these training sessions the students will participate in the HCIA Certification Exam.The top students from the Enablement training and certification exam will qualify for Labs and interview session, known as the National Final Round. The top 6 students will be selected and will represent Pakistan in the Middle East Regional finals by the end of December.Winners of the regional competitions will receive a certification, future learning opportunities, a USD$20,000 cash prize, exam vouchers, Huawei mobile and more.

This version of the competition was first conceived in 2016, and was designed for the betterment of students, not just domestic, but globally.Last year, 12,000+ students from across Pakistan applied for the Middle East ICT Competition from leading colleges and universities. The competition was supported by ministries, various ambassadors, and academic chancellors from some of Pakistan’s top-ranking universities. Two teams traveled to China to compete at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China, where they came in second and third places in the Global Final; a great accomplishment on an international scale.

The current aim is to provide an international competitive and communication-based platform for Huawei ICT Academy and college students who wish to become a part of these ICT academies; this would enable an increase in students’ ICT knowledge, improve their practice and application skills, as well as spread innovation awareness. While all these things are being achieved, the competition has become an international talent exchange and cooperation platform alongside these successes. The future of a Digital Pakistan remains within reach.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 11 (DNA) – Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Sania Nishtar Wednesday said the efforts to establish a “Cyber Crime Control Wing” to protect Ehsaas payments against cyber-attacks will be accelerated.

“Cyber Crime Transparency is personally a priority for me; a multipronged effort is underway to ensure fast-tracked action in this regard”, Dr. Nishtar shared while chairing the 43rdboard meeting of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), which is one of the 34 implementing agencies of Ehsaas, held here.

The board deliberated upon an extensive 19-item agenda including expansion of Ehsaas Nashonuma, opening of mobile wallets for Ehsaas One Woman One Account initiative, establishment of Cyber Crime Control Wing, agreement with NADRA to ensure easy payments to next of kins under Ehsaas Kafaalat, constitution of steering committees for Ehsaas Nashonuma and Ehsaas Taleemi-Wazaef and accident insurance coverage for monitoring teams of Ehsaas Talemi-Wazaef.

A vibrant discussion took place, deep dive analysis was carried out and many important decisions were taken in the meeting. The board approved the expansion of Ehsaas Nashonuma program from currently 09 to 12 districts to enhance its outreach.

Briefing the board about the flagship program, Dr. Nishtar said, “Districts with the highest stunting rates are being included. For now, 22 Nashonuma Centers have already opened in nine districts. Overall, 52 Ehsaas Nashonuma centers will be established in 12 districts.”

The board also gave go ahead for “Ehsaas One Woman One Account initiative”, to enable opening of mobile wallets for Ehsaas Kafaalat beneficiaries. “We will invest in financial literacy to promote uptake and believe this will significantly impact on individuals’ abilities to escape poverty”, Dr. Nishtar shared.

Enabling real time validation of eligibility of next of kin appeals in Ehsaas Kafaalat, the board approved an agreement with NADRA. This agreement was necessary to ensure that applications of next of kin of dead beneficiaries are processed quickly.

Other important decisions included approval for the establishment of Steering Committees of Ehsaas Nashonuma and Ehsaas Talemi-Wazaef for oversight, policy enhancement and accountability and accident insurance coverage for monitoring teams of Ehsaas Talemi-Wazaef.

The board meeting was attended by Yusuf Khan Secretary BISP, Muhammad Ali Shahzada Secretary Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division, Ghufran Memon Secretary Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination, Additional Secretary (Exp.) Finance Division, and representatives of NADRA and EAD.

Amongst private sector members, Zaffar A. Khan, Qazi Azmat Isa and Khawar Mumtaz attended the meeting. The members of the board joined the meeting both physically and virtually. The board meeting concluded with the vote of thanks by SAPM Dr. Sania Nishtar. She thanked all the board members for their time, continued support and trust. = DNA

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DNA

KARACHI –  Federal Secretary Commerce Sualeh Faruqui has upheld the decisions of Director General Trade Organizations (DGTO) in its November 6th order regarding the cancellation of licences of Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Quetta, other eight Trade Associations of Balochistan.

Balochistan High Court in its order of Oct 2, contempt application directed that Secretary Ministry of Commerce should decide the appeals of Pakistan Transport Association, Ghee Exporter Association of Pakistan, Pakistan Scrap Association, Scrap Importer Association, Gas Heater Importer Association of Pakistan, All Pakistan Copper Exporter Association, All Pakistan Land Route Custom Agent Association and All Pakistan Glass Manufacturer Importers and Exporters Association by or before Nov 9, in accordance with law after hearing all concerned.

In pursuance of the order of Balochistan High Court hearing of appeals of four of trade organizations was scheduled on Nov 4, and hearing of other four trade organisations was scheduled on Nov 5. However, hearing of all the appeals was held on Nov 4, on the request made by the counsel for all the petitioners.

The background of the case is that all the eight trade organizations were granted licence by the DGTO in 2017 under the Trade Organizations Act (TCA), 2013

However, the licence of these trade organizations were cancelled by the office of DGTO in 2018 on the grounds that they had failed to meet the terms and conditions of the licence as stipulated in rule 6 of Trade Organizations Rules (TOR), 2013. During the hearing, the counsel for the trade organizations pointed out that the licence of the trade organisations were cancelled by the office of DGTO despite provision of all the requisite documents mentioned in the show cause notices issued by the DGTO. The representatives of the DGTO denied that the trade organizations had submitted all the required documents and the licences were cancelled due to the failure of these trade organisations to meet the terms and conditions of a licences as per rule 6 of ToR 2013. In order to adjudicate the competing claims, subsequently appeals of all trade organisations were considered individually.

The case of Gas Heater Importer Association of Pakistan was considered in the first instant. The Association was issued a show cause notice on March 13, 2018 under section 7 of TOA, 2013 stating that discrepancies were found in some of the documents provided by the Association, which relate to post licensing requirements of a trade organization under TOR 2013. Moreover, opportunity of hearing was also provided to the Association on February 27, 2018. However, the office of DGTO canceled the licence of the Association on April 04, 2020 mainly on the following grounds ;(i) Association had failed provide documents relating to opening of bank account in its name;(ii) Association had failed to provide minutes of the Executive Committee meeting in which the appointment of Secretary General approved;(iii) Association had provided some documents as provided by All Pakistan Glass Manufacturer Importer and Exporters Association, Pakistan Alloy Rim Association, Submersible Pump Importers Association of Pakistan and All Pakistan Copper Importer Exporter Association.

The Counsel for the Association pointed out that they had submitted the resolution of the HR committee regarding appointment of Secretary General along with notification of appointment of Secretary General Moreover, he argued that there is no requirements in the TOR, 2013 for submission of minutes of meeting of Executive Committee. During the hearing he also submitted a letter of Soneri Bank stating that the Association has been maintaining a bank account with them from November 22, 2019. He also clarified that the Association had not submitted same documents as provided by other Associations. The representatives of DGTO showed documents which were same as other Associations but they were submitted at the time of grant of licence and not after issuance of show cause notice.

Rule 6 of TOR 2013 stipulates that a trade organization has to maintain bank accounts in its name in a scheduled bank. It is evident that the Association had failed to open its bank account prior to cancellation of its licence as required under law. As rule 6/2 TOR, 2013 clearly stipulates that the violation of any

of the terms and conditions of the licence shall make the licence liable for cancellation, the decision of DGTO to cancel licence of Gas Heater importer Association of Pakistan is valid.

The cases of other Associations were also considered on the same pattern and found that they were not eligible for a licence.

After hearing the petitioners at length, examining the statements, official record and other documentary evidence, perusing the relevant provisions of law and rules and on the basis of facts and reasons, the decisions of the DGTO was to cancel the licences of Pakistan Transport Association, Ghee Exporter Association of Pakistan, Pakistan Scrap Association, Scrap Importer Association Gas Heater Importer Association of Pakistan, All Pakistan Copper Exporter Association. All Pakistan Land Route Custom Agent Association and All Pakistan Glass Manufacturer Importers and Exporters Association.

Regarding Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Quetta, it was informed that chamber president Sadia Baloch filed an appeal in BHC, under section 21(4) of the TOA 2013 against the order of the regulator of March 28, 2019. The High Court issued an order on October 7, 2020 which states that the appeal filed by appellant under section 21(4) of the Act is considered as an appeal under section 21(2) of the Act. The chamber was granted licence on Aug 31, 2010 which got renewed in 2013 for five years. Section 6(2) of TO Act, 2013 requires resubmission of all licence applications 90 days to expiry of licence. The cut-off date for submission of application for renewal of the licence was May 30, 2018. The Chamber did not apply for renewal of its licence for further five years within the time period. DGTO had cancelled the licence which was challenged in the BHC, which referred the case to Commerce Secretary for an informed decision. Secretary Commerce after hearing the party decided that the decision of DGTO was in accordance with the prevalent law.

Similarly Director General Trade Organisations (DGTO) also cancelled six trade bodies namely Pak Iran Joint Chamber, Chaghi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Musakhel Chamber of Commerce Industry, Qilla Saif ullah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan Allowy Rim Association, Sumbersimble Pumps Importers Association and Pakistan Carbon Solvent importers associations due to non comply of Rule 6 of the trade organisations act in its November 5th order passed by the regulator under section 7 of the trade organisations act.