Pakistan

Pakistan turns its back on crypto to keep anti-terrorism watchdogs happy

Meanwhile, will train a million IT graduates in Artificial Intelligence

Legal24 May 2023 | 6

So much for Pakistan’s plan for digital economy – it’s turned off the internet

As protests roil, connectivity has been cut with no relief in sight

Networks11 May 2023 | 10

Twitter blocks Pakistan government account, boosts state-run media from Russia and China

Block complies with Indian policy, but boost may violate avian network's state-sponsored media rules

Software04 Apr 2023 | 9

Pakistan’s PM overturns Wikipedia ban, seeks end to whack-a-mole content blocks

Cabinet committee gets to find a solution after years of bans didn’t achieve a lot

Legal07 Feb 2023 | 21

Wikimedia Foundation confirms, and bemoans, Pakistan ban

Dear government, this thing is written by volunteers. Take it up with them. Also: shouldn't you know this already ?

Personal Tech06 Feb 2023 | 33

Hi, Pakistan? You do know anyone can edit Wikipedia, right? You don't have to ask

Telecoms authority has 'degraded' access and threatened total ban while it waits for 'blasphemous' content to be removed

Personal Tech03 Feb 2023 | 42

Pakistan’s government to agencies: Dark web is dangerous, please don’t go there

Advice follows embarrassing leak of audio from Prime Minister’s office

Security10 Jan 2023 | 12

Pakistan politicians label government cybersecurity team 'incompetent'

MP alleges taxpayer database – which holds personal info on millions – has come under attack

Security07 Sep 2022 | 9

China orders tech companies to 'improve traceability' of users to control 'rumours and false information'

PLUS: Australia mints a physical crypto-coin; Alibaba Cloud claims world's biggest DC; India’s space airbags; and more

Security05 Sep 2022 | 3

Internet went offline in Pakistan as protestors marched for ousted prime minister

Two hour outage 'consistent with an intentional disruption to service' said NetBlocks

Networks26 May 2022 | 1

Pakistan considers ten-year tax holiday for freelance techies

Could clean up dispute over who collects tax and when, but unlikely to worry outsourcing rivals

Channel25 Jan 2022 | 11

Pakistan's tax office denies pirated software caused outage – admits it sometimes runs unsupported software

Can't keep up with software licence payments but says it's been on top of VMware payments for at least a whole year now

Software26 Aug 2021 | 4

Pakistan's tax office services go dark after migration project goes awry

Local reports suggest Microsoft Hyper-V crack was the cause, as rumours swirl of data leak

Security17 Aug 2021 | 8

In Pakistan, a car company will soon be making Samsung mobile phones

Approval has been granted by Pakistani regulatory body, meanwhile auto material costs rise putting car makers in flux

Personal Tech11 Aug 2021 | 3

Pakistan bans TikTok, for the fourth time

Previous bans were imposed for nasty content, then lifted after promises of proper moderation. And here we are again

Legal21 Jul 2021 | 3

India under attack by rapidly-evolving advanced persistent threat actor SideCopy, says Cisco Talos

Gang is using custom RATs malware to target government employees, and has an interest in Pakistan, too

Security08 Jul 2021 |

Pakistan's Punjab province tells citizens to get jabbed or have their SIM card blocked

Well, that's one way to do it

Networks11 Jun 2021 | 56

Pakistan lures '19 mobe makers' to open local factories

Analysis Hasn't said which brands have signed up, but is happy to have them make 2G and 3G kit for a decade

Personal Tech26 May 2021 | 4

Pakistan cut off Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Telegram – for just four hours

To stop protests by far-right party that wants France’s ambassador expelled

Security19 Apr 2021 | 11

Pakistan’s IT minister objects to tax changes he thinks may harm local IT industry

Crackdown on offshore payments to freelancers hits a nerve

Off-Prem01 Apr 2021 | 3

Big tech helpfully offers Pakistan new social-media-friendly content-blocking framework

After minister suggests current rules should be reviewed

Personal Tech08 Feb 2021 | 2

Social networks warn Pakistan its new content-blocking laws will hurt economic growth

Good luck with your digital transformation without us on board, says Asia Internet Coalition

Personal Tech11 Dec 2020 | 8

Pakistan calls on Facebook to extend holocaust denial ban into Islamophobia crackdown

As comms minister says nation will create its own regulated Netflix clone

Legal26 Oct 2020 | 50

Pakistan restores TikTok, says it needs to crack down on video nasties, and anything else outside 'societal norms'

App promises to curb behaviour but this might be about control than morals

Personal Tech20 Oct 2020 | 1

Pakistan bans TikTok because of its users not its owners

Warnings to clean up its act went unheeded, but door remains open for a return

Personal Tech12 Oct 2020 | 11

Pakistan to smartphone-makers: Come for the low tax, stay to create your replacements

Floats industry plan that requires ramp-up of locally made components and complete tech transfer

Legal18 Sep 2020 | 6

Dating apps swiped left on Pakistan’s request to clean up their acts, bans followed

Telecoms Authority says it could learn to love Tinder and Grindr if they open hearts and minds

Software02 Sep 2020 | 11

Pakistan demands TikTok and YouTube block 'vulgar' content

Calls for more moderation to stop video nasties reaching local eyeballs

Personal Tech01 Sep 2020 | 15

Pakistan aims to quadruple IT exports to $5bn, with freelancing youth to the fore

Which would leave it about four percent of neighboring India’s exports

On-Prem12 Aug 2020 | 1

Pakistan bans one Chinese app and gives TikTok a final warning to clean up its act

Objects to obscene content, not data leakage

Security22 Jul 2020 | 2

Pakistan pitches ‘most relaxed tax structure’ in the world to tech investors

Minister declares special economic zones are open to even China and Russian money so long as they do something digital or medical

Legal14 Jul 2020 | 8

China praises Pakistan SatNav collaboration

Latest sat launch was postponed but China's GPS alternative network is nearly finished

Science23 Jun 2020 | 5

You gotta be kitten me: Pakistan politicos feline silly after filter farce hits purrrfect conference

Claws out as slippery-pawed cameraman renders officials with cat ears and whiskers

Bootnotes17 Jun 2019 | 40

Protip: If you'd rather cyber-scoundrels didn't know the contents of your comp, don't apply for a Pakistani passport

Compromised government website slurps buttload of data about applicants

Security14 Mar 2019 | 9

Scare Force: Pakistan military hit by Operation Shaheen malware

State-sponsored attack looks to infiltrate nuclear Air Force

Security12 Nov 2018 | 19

'Here are 400,000 smut sites. Block them' says Pakistani telco regulator

Weary sysadmins copy pr0n to /dev/null

Security27 Jan 2016 | 36

Cat vids return to Pakistan as YouTube turns on censor-matic

Blasphemy ban-hammer placed in the hands of local authorities

Legal20 Jan 2016 | 15

Google ponders purified Pakistani YouTube

Blasphemy ban looks to be on the way out

Legal17 Sep 2015 | 7

Pakistan bans BlackBerry Enterprise Server

Telcos told to switch off BES-as-a-service in December

Security27 Jul 2015 | 7

Pakistan wants to copy GCHQ and eavesdrop on world+dog's comms

Spies gonna spy, no matter where in the world they are

Security22 Jul 2015 | 15

Facebook tips India and Pakistan into NUCLEAR WAR of words

Zuckerberg carelessly wades into political conflict with map of India that ignores Kashmir

Legal14 May 2015 | 27

Celebrated Pakistani female online activist Sabeen Mahmud dies in shooting

Hackathon founder killed by passing motorcyclists in Karachi

Legal27 Apr 2015 | 38

Google rams Landfill Android into Indian Ocean folks' faces

Pakistan temporarily escapes Android One launch

Personal Tech23 Dec 2014 | 5

Pakistan's YouTube ban may end after Google removes anti-Muslim vid

Chocolate Factory's hand forced after losing US court case

Legal03 Mar 2014 | 20

Pakistani retail chain bakes DEEELICIOUS Android mobes

Gourmet Foods set for sideways step into smartphone space

Personal Tech09 Jan 2014 | 4

Google India's viral tear-jerker vid said to mirror student short

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll question the cruel legacy of colonialism

Legal20 Nov 2013 | 5

Pakistani phone-buyers will need skin in the game with biometric buying plan

Plan to stamp out illegal SIMS will mean fingerprinting when bagging a new mobe

Legal20 Nov 2013 | 7

Pakistan in YouTube unblock rumours

Google site gets back on the web

Legal02 Oct 2013 | 2

Google, Apple, and Microsoft downed in Pakistan

Hackers leave cryptic messages, offer no clear motive for attacks

Security26 Nov 2012 | 8

Pakistan bans 'immoral' late night mobe deals

Whatever you're talking about late at night, Pakistan doesn't want to hear it

Legal22 Nov 2012 | 17

India shutters sites and social media accounts

Pakistan suspected of spreading rumours inciting sectarian violence

Legal21 Aug 2012 | 4

Pakistan blocks Twitter, then changes its mind

Offensive tweets put officials in a spin

Networks20 May 2012 | 15

125,000 Ubuntu PCs to land in Pakistani students' laps

Education booster or vote-buyer?

Legal15 May 2012 | 47

Pakistanis revolt over Great Firewall plans

Censorship is illegal, claim activists

Legal19 Apr 2012 | 10

Great Firewall of Pakistan erection stroked with govt cash

Oi, China, do you mind if we copy yours?

Legal09 Mar 2012 | 12

Pakistani military building PAC-PAD fondleslab

Android tablet comes with military stamp

Legal20 Feb 2012 | 28