Cabinet Division Terminates PTA Member Finance: ProPakistani

Cabinet Division Terminates PTA Member Finance
Microsoft Calls for Stronger Intellectual Property Protection
WorldCall Pledges to Pay Rs 1.425 Bln Dues to PTA For Avoiding Suspension of License
Warid Gives LCD to Its Reverse Auction Winner

Cabinet Division Terminates PTA Member Finance

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 08:53 AM PDT

Cabinet Division Terminates PTA Member Finance is a post from: ProPakistani

Cabinet Division has terminated Member Finance Nasrul Karim Ghaznavi of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) following the verdict of Supreme Court of Pakistan on the case of contractual officials, source in the industry told ProPakistani.

Several news channels reported this news also, however, the notification in this regard is yet to be received by PTA from Cabinet Division.

"I have not received anything in writing so far, therefore, unable to comment on it," Khurram Mehran, PTA Spokesman said and adding we have got reports from media and different sources.

Ghaznavi was accused by his own chairman of causing huge financial losses of Rs7.609 billion to the national exchequer by extending undue favors to some preferred telecommunication companies of the country.

PTA chairman Dr. Mohammad Yaseen prepared an official charge sheet against Member Finance and submitted to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani by the federal cabinet division, it has been recommended that PTA Member (Finance) SNK Ghaznavi be suspended immediately till the completion of an enquiry to be conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) for having committed gross negligence and misconduct, and causing huge financial losses to the federal kitty.

According to the report, which in fact discusses the performance of the member finance, the national exchequer has suffered a huge loss of Rs. 5.55 billion due to failure in recovery of revenue from Wireless Local Loop (WLL) license holders; Rs. 530.816 million due to non-encashment of Stand By Letter of Credit (SBLC); Rs. 628.93 million due to failure in revenue collection from small companies; Rs820.918 million due to erroneous deposit of Federal Consolidated Funds (FCF) and another Rs80 million loss due to embezzlement.

Ghaznavi, however, in response to questions sent to him by The News claimed in a written reply: All the items in the report were properly replied to the Cabinet Division. Regarding the recovery from WLL license holders they are willing to pay in installments, but because of the economic conditions in the country and slackness in their business, they cannot pay in lump sum. There is no loss to the state because penalty is charged at the rate of two percent per month on the outstanding amount, he maintained.

There was a long internal war reported between Member Finance and Chairman PTA, which is likely to end ultimately after termination of NSK Ghaznavi.

Microsoft Calls for Stronger Intellectual Property Protection

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 10:54 PM PDT

Microsoft Calls for Stronger Intellectual Property Protection is a post from: ProPakistani

Microsoft Corp joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in recognizing World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, an event that calls on the IT industry, governments and consumers to speak out about the importance of IPrights. Strong IP protections are central to instilling a culture of innovation, which can spur economic growth, create jobs and increase revenue for the broader industry and government organizations.

Microsoft believes that the global arena needs stronger IP protections in place to safeguard the industry's ability to innovate, level the playing field for small businesses, and help local governments generate tax revenue through the legitimate sale and trade of genuine software.

David Finn, associate general counsel for Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting at Microsoft, said:

In addition to strengthening the economy, sound IP policies can help reduce software piracy and counterfeiting, which we know sap government resources, threaten legitimate businesses and expose consumers to the risks that come from using non-genuine software. Software piracy and counterfeiting tend to thrive in places with weak IP protection, and this has an enormous, and negative impact on the global economy.

According to a study commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce in 2011,the global economic and social impacts of counterfeiting and piracy will reach $1.7 trillion (US) by 2015 and put 2.5 million legitimate jobs at risk each year. Conversely, the economic rewards for countries that strengthen IP protection and reduce piracy are substantial.

According to an economic study by the Business Software Alliance, a reduction in the worldwide piracy rate by 10 percentage points in four years would create $142 billion in new economic activity and add nearly 500,000 new high-tech jobs around the world.

In a 2010 Microsoft-commissioned consumer perception surveyof 38,000 consumers in 20 countries, nearly three-quarters of consumers wanted the industry and government to do more to protect themfrom risks associated with non-genuine software, including identity theft and virus attacks.

By a three-to-one margin, consumers agreed that non-genuine software is not as safe to use as genuine software, and respondents named data loss and identity theft among their top concerns.

"Consumers and legitimate businesses are asking us to take action and reduce the risks that non-genuine software exposes them to, and we are 100 percent committed to helping them," said Finn."Microsoft invests heavily in technologies,education and enforcement programs to make software piracy more difficult, and we will continue to push for effective IP regulations on behalf of consumers and businesses."

To help people and organizationsaround the world better understand the value of building a sound IP environment and the ramifications of using non-genuine software, Microsoft has posted information on IP licensing and laws on its website.

WorldCall Pledges to Pay Rs 1.425 Bln Dues to PTA For Avoiding Suspension of License

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 10:01 PM PDT

WorldCall Pledges to Pay Rs 1.425 Bln Dues to PTA For Avoiding Suspension of License is a post from: ProPakistani

worldcall logo WorldCall Pledges to Pay Rs 1.425 Bln Dues to PTA For Avoiding Suspension of License WorldCall Telecom Limited has agreed to pay its outstanding dues of Rs 1.425 billion to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on the account of Access Promotion Contribution after settlement of all its legal issues with the authority.

The telecom operator has ensured the authority to deposit a huge amount in installments by September 2011 on time along with late payment fees, PTA determination order released said.

WorldCall has made the upfront payment of Rs.250 million out of Rs.1.425 billion and deposited ten post dated cheques of the remaining amounts along with undertaking as per the requirements of the PTA.

The telecom watchdog has disposed off its show-cause notices subsequently the operator withdrew all cases it filed in the court to challenge authority orders.

Worldcall undertook to accept any and all decisions taken by the authority in accordance with applicable law, in case of any default by Worldcall in making the said payments as provided in the payment plan.

Worldcall ensured the authority that it will not go to court of law if any action is taken by the PTA in accordance with applicable law against Worldcall for any default in making the said payments.

However, in case of non-encashment /dishonoring/bouncing of any of the aforesaid cheque(s) along with late payment charges, its license No.LDI-10(17)-2004 dated 26th July, 2014 shall stand suspended from the date of occurrence of non-encashment/ dishonoring /bouncing of each cheque along with non-payment of late payment charges thereon, without further notice, PTA order said.

Earlier, the licensee was issued show-cause notice in May 2010 under section 23 of the Act whereby required the licensee to remedy the contravention by making the payments of Rs. 293.728 million immediately.

The notice issued demanded operators to submit written reply within thirty (30) days of and explain as to why the license should not be suspended, terminated or any other enforcement order should not be passed under section 23 of the Act against the licensee.

The licensee had failed to make the payments on account of APC for USF Contribution despite repeated demands of the authority in contravention of the AP Rules, the AP regulations, condition of the license and directives of the PTA.

It owes dues for the months of November and December, 2009 including late payment charges thereon amounting to Rs 293.728 million; Rs.149.864 million; Rs.136.459 million and late payment charges thereon Rs.7.404 million calculated up to 30th April, 2010.