A 14-year-old Pakistan youth Babar Iqbal, who had already set four world records in the field of computer science has been a youngest scholar for writing a unique paperon Digital Forensic Science (DFS) research paper discussing new method of Apple iDevice Forensics (iPhone, iPod, iPad).

The research has been accepted by 8th IEEE International Conference on Innovations in Information Technology IIT’. The Pakistani boy has been invited for presentation in the above stated conference.

According to report, this method is unique, unlike the previous techniques and does not require jail-breaking process and takes less than 30 minutes to image the iDevice.

This new method can be used by law enforcement agencies to obtain valuable digital forensic evidence such as User Contacts, Call Logs, Emails, Messages, User Photos & Videos, Documents, GPS information and Cellphone tower logs.

Cellphone tower logs can also be used to triangulate location of device at certain point in time.

Digital Forensic Science (DFS) is the use of scientifically derived and proven methods toward the preservation, collection, validation, identification, analysis, interpretation, documentation and presentation of digital evidence derived from digital sources for the purpose of facilitating or furthering the reconstruction of events found to be criminal, or helping to anticipate unauthorized actions shown to be disruptive to planned operation.

Jail-breaking, is the process of removing the limitations imposed by Apple on devices running the iOS operating system through use of custom kernels. Such devices include the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and 2nd Gen Apple TV.

Babar is a young computer whiz kid and I.T. prodigy of Pakistan who started computer programming at the age of 5. He came to prominence by becoming the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) in the world at the age of 9, as well as obtaining the record of being the youngest CIWA aged 9, Youngest CWNA at 10, Youngest Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) at 11 and Youngest MCTS in .NET 3.5 at 12.

His work has been recognised and appreciated by President Asif Ali Zardari, the National Assembly of Pakistan, interior minister Rehman Malik as well as Microsoft. Iqbal is currently based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates where he is undergoing training and working with Microsoft.

by Yasir Ameen

The use of internet banking has remarkably increased in the country with surging number of customers opted for hassle-free and rapid mode of money transactions through their banks, showing 89 per increase in the service utility with volume of money grew by 112 percent in first quarter of financial year 2011-12.

The State Bank of Pakistan’s “Payment Systems Review” stated that Rs 84.85 billion were transferred through internet banking in Pakistan in Jul-Sep 2011, with 1.6 million  number of transactions.

Similarly, the mobile-banking services were also seen significant growth in utility by the customers, which shows the increasing reliability of the customers on the advanced payment system with confidence and preference.

According to the statistics, the money transferred through mobile-banking services were recorded at Rs 4.27 billion against the transactions of 1.06 million through services of different banks.

During the quarter under review, e-banking transactions settled at levels slightly lower than those in the previous quarter mainly as a reflection of overall economic activity in the country.

The volume and value of overall e-banking transactions in the country during the quarter under review was recorded at 63.7 million and Rs.6.15 trillion respectively, showing a decrease of 3.9 percent in the volume and 1.34 percent in value as compared to the previous quarter.

The auction of four new licence for 3G/4G technology along with remaining privatization amount of Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL) will attract one and half billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) safely by end of financial year 2011-12.

The base prices totaled $785 million of the four licences whereas PTCL remaining privatization amount is $800 million, totaling $1.585 billion FDI. The licence prices will further increase depending upon the bidding process and interest of participants.

The auction set to be held for 3G/4G licences on March 28-29 separately for spectrum of 800MHz and 1900-2100 MHZ for period of eight and 15 years respectively, with expectation that participation will maximum in numbers by existing and new foreign and local players.

According to Information Memorandum, the licence for 800 MHz license shall be issued after payment of first 50 percent of the initial spectrum fee within 30 working days from the auction date. The remaining 50 percent of the licence price shall be deposited in 5 equal annual installments payable in US$ or equivalent in rupees.

The licence fee will be determined equally for three spectrum of 1900/2100 MHz, that is, the highest will be paid by winning bidders. The licence shall be awarded after payment of 100 percent of the auction winning price within sixty 60 working days from the date it is offered to the bidder.

Moreover the Ministry of Finance held meeting with official of Etisalat for obtaining $800 million, which was pledged to be paid before end of the current financial year 2011-12.

The federal government has transferred 90 percent of the properties to the PTCL’s controlling management whereas it fulfilled its commitment not to give new working licence to any operator under agreed condition of privatization.

Hence it is expected that Etisalat will pay the remaining amount of purchased shares this year.

Through a single landline connection, PTCL customers can now avail its multiple range of services, including unlimited on-net calling, unlimited Broadband downloads, Mobile calls at Rs.1.25 per minute, IPTV service charges waiver, line rent waiver and a free Wifi Modem.

The One Wire’s range of unique packages start from Double-Up Unlimited 1Mbps at Rs.1,999; 2Mbps Broadband for Rs.2,299; 4Mbps Broadband for Rs.2,999;  6Mbps Broadband for Rs.5,999; and 8Mbps Broadband for Rs.7,999 only.

“The One Wire is an effort by PTCL to keep adding value and color to our customers’ lives while keeping them connected to the world,” said Senior Executive Vice President Commercial, Naveed Saeed. “This unlimited offer further strengthens the bond between PTCL and its loyal customers.”

“We want to provide PTCL’s services to the remotest parts of the country,” said Executive Vice President, Aasif Inam. “The One Wire offer will further PTCL’s objective to provide innovative telecom facilities to the low-income population segments while re-emphasizing PTCL as the only integrated telecom company in the country which is providing affordable service with high-speed and clarity.”

Though the competition among the broadband operators are becoming stiff on subscribers and rates, the quality of services is still a question mark as none of the operators failed to provide satisfactory internet services in the operational cities.

According to the survey’ results conducted by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), all wireless and wireline operator manage to maintain 60 percent of the service retainablity in the region of 100 percent service availability.

None of the broadband operator could cross the service retainablity up to 60 percent, which shows that there is a big room of service improvement on their network along with the ongoing stiff competition on charges.

There must be broadband operators claimed to provide ensured blanket coverage in the service area particularly the quality and retainablity along with growth, otherwise, the high price-war will affect on service quality significantly and customers will have poor internet at cheaper rates.

Service Availability

Broadband Service Availability indicates the number of times we are able to successfully access the broadband services. Grade A applies to 95 %, Grade B to greater than 80 % but less than 95 %, Grade C greater than 70 % but less than 80 %, Grade D greater than 50% but less than 70%.

Bandwidth

If download and upload speed remains greater than 75 % of the advertised

speed experienced for 70 percent of the time, it is categorized as Grade A, Grade

B (greater than 60 % but less than 75 %), and Grade C (greater than 45 % but

less than 60 %), Grade D (greater than 30 % but less than 45 %) and Grade E

(less than 30 %).

http://www.pta.gov.pk/media/bb_qos_survey_results_2011_1.pdf

Ufone’s CEO, Abdul Aziz congratulated the Ufone family on successfully completing 11 years of achievement.  He also said that “Ufone as an organization is well positioned to realize the benefits of our major strategic growth investments and strong operational execution. At the same time, we remain passionate about positioning Ufone as the leading integrated telecom company in Pakistan providing one of the most affordable and variety of services in the telecom market”.

Three other people sustained injuries in the incident and have been shifted to a hospital.

The police reached the franchise to investigate into the incident. SP North Nazimabad Chaudhry Asad said that four men came to the franchise on two motorcycles and opened fire at it with 9mm pistols.

The police said that it was planned attack.

The attacks on mobile franchises have been on the rise in the city. Last year in December, two people died when two men opened fire at a Telenor outlet Shahra-e-Noorjahan.

In other incident earlier this year, a Mobilink outlet was targeted and an explosive device was used in the attack in the Hyderi area of North Nazimabad.

Although the Crime Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a man they said was responsible for the franchise attacks they had also warned that there might be more.

Meanwhile, a man lost his life when gunmen reportedly opened fire at a passenger bus at Nagan Chowrangi of the North Nazimabad area of Karachi.

SP Asad, talking to media, denied the media reports and said that the bus, numbered 4k, had hit three motorcycles resulting in the incident.

“There was no firing incident,” he said while adding that the bus has been taken to the police station and the injured shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Courtesy: Express Tribune

Without sale of 3G licences (around Rs 150 billion) would be difficult for the government to contain fiscal deficit, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in its quarterly report.

In its 1st quarterly report released here on Thursday, the SBP said, “the budget deficit for the first quarter of 2011-12 was 1.2 percent of GDP, compared with 1.5 percent during the same quarter last year.”

“This reduction in the budget deficit was caused primarily by 29.7 percent growth in FBR revenues, on the back of increased tax collection efforts and higher revenues from imports,” the central bank said. “Non-tax revenues also recorded impressive growth of 50.4 percent,” it added.

However, the amount collected by FBR up to end-Dec 2011, falls short of the amount needed to meet the annual target of Rs 1,952.3 billion, it said, adding that meeting end-year revenue targets would also depend upon the realisation of CSF and sale of 3G licences (around Rs 150 billion) in absence of which, it would be difficult for the government to contain the fiscal deficit within its annual target.

The government has been making some headway towards improving its finances, the report also mentioned.

The SBP said the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth target of 4.2 percent for 2011-12 GDP looks difficult due to the host of factors that include, among others, gas shortage, high oil prices and decline in global prices of agricultural commodities.