Posts Tagged ‘Pakistan’

Spoken on Google App Engine at a conference in UET

December 19th, 2009

Today I had delivered a workshop on Developing Java Web Applications In Google App Engine. This workshop was the part of events of 3rd International Conference on Open Source Systems and Technologies. It was organized by Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science , University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.

I have presented following slides there. Also coded a basic sample application to show how to create and deploy new Java project on GAE. Which can send emails, how to use authentication by Google, and how to do database interaction. It was a very intresting topic for me to present. Participants also liked it.

Comments and feedback is welcomed on the presentation material from you guys.

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Posted in Development, Google, Pakistan

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Non CS skills every CS graduate or programmer must have

August 29th, 2009

CS graduates come up with superb knowledge of computer, networks and other IT skills. If they are programmer they write sharp logic and design and code software well. These skills helps them to advancing them in their technical career. But being a technical practitioner a CS junkie should know some non-CS skills and abilities. Because in job they have to communicate and interact with many other people who don’t the CS background. And these skills can help them in more advance positions.

So to reach that level one should know these skills to prove better in other areas too. I consider following skills that a programmer or a CS graduate must have. You can add your comments to enhance this article*.

1. Business communication

A fresh CS graduate must have a very good verbal and writing skills. To present well his idea to managers. He should know the art to put things on white board what he has in his mind. I found CS people are lacking very much in it.

2. Inter-personal skills

It can be merged with above. But being better in inter-personally means to be a good listener, behaving effectively on different situations. Convincing power compliance with logical arguments. Interacting well with different niche of people like client, colleagues and managers.

3. Knowledge of business, economics & international affairs

For me this is the thing which put leadership in computer science people. When they started thinking globally. They know whats going in international and local markets. What are the causes of global economic recession. They know what are the means to earn money if they start their own business. How they can market their ideas. Thinking in this way cause them to be entrepreneurs. And hence they start taking risks and giving jobs rather waiting for a job in a cube.

* Note: My this post is a response to the research that Mr. Nadeem Ghafoor from COMSATS IIT is doing on “Non-CS Aspects of Undergrad CS Education in Pakistan“.

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Posted in Development, Pakistan, Software Industry, Technology

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UBL launched Pakistan’s first prepaid VISA debit card

September 27th, 2008

Today I watched an ad on TV about the launch of first Pakistan’s prepaid debit card by UBL. It hit my fancy and I go to the website of UBL to see what they are offering. This news excites me for several reasons. First of all it can start the trend of using prepaid money in Pakistan. And second I am engineer in a company who’s business is to develop and manage a prepaid card solution. So being the part of this business I know the trends of this industry and know what cardholders expects from their issuer.

It will encourage other banks too to have such kind of products and do a competition with UBL and give people better alternates. After seeing the image, I am missing one thing that is cardholder name on the card. No personalization. So it means you give money to the bank and they will immediately issue you the card of your choice. Hmm. They are saving the time to get issued the card with name which can take a week. But people will be more happy to see their names on card.

And let me mention an other hing that the central bank of Pakistan has reported the increase of debit card user over credit card. Its good that people are getting habitual of using their own money, rather blindly consuming credit card and put their selves in problem when paying it later.

I also prefer to use my VISA debit card (also from UBL) whenever it required to pay. Because it provides safety for not carrying cash aways. But I have one big reservation on using these debit cards on POS machines. If anyone steal your card, before you block you card he or she can easily make transactions. It should require any authentication (PIN based like it required at ATM) on even POS too. I will always feel this limitation on using plastic money.

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Posted in Pakistan

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Pakistan’s Internet Timeline

November 16th, 2007

1988

  • 786 BBS service launched in Pakistan.

1991

  • X.25 Packet Switched Public Data Network (PSPDN) introduced by PTCL.
  • Tariffs are high, service is low, but in principle one can get connected to the young internet.

1992

  • Pakistan’s first email node established at HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University.

1993

  • Imran.Net starts offering its commercial e-mail service.
  • SDNPK, a UNDP project, starts the first reliable e-mail and news group service.

1994

  • First DNOPs (Data Network Operators) licenses issued by GoP.

1995

  • .pk domain comes into existence.
  • Pakistan becomes the first South Asian country to open up the ISP market to the private sector.
  • Digicom offers first commercial internet service. A 64Kbps link. Rs100/hr.

1996

  • PTCL starts its internet service.
  • Pakistan Telecom Act Approved by Parliament & PTA formed.
  • ISP licenses issued by PTA.
  • PTCL signs for SMW-3 fiber optic cable spur touching Karachi.
  • LUMS becomes first educational institution in the country to have own internet connectivity.

1998

  • ISPs mushroom across the country, followed closely by cybercafés.
  • PTCL introduces multimetering of Internet calls despite public outcry.
  • PTCL, under consumer and industry pressure, stops multi-metering of Internet calls.
  • Formation of Internet Service Provider’s Association of Pakistan (ISPAK).
  • Universal Internet Numbers (UIN) starting with digits 131 allotted to ISPs.
  • New tariffs for international bandwidths using fiber (SMW-3) bring shared IP international bandwidth to US$6000 per month, for 2 Mbps.
  • An investigation by the NWFP CM revealed a cyber fraud by 35 affluent students in Peshawar through the fraudulent use of Net2Phone. The students had bought and sold goods worth US$40,000.

1999

  • India bans the Dawn Internet Edition.
  • ISPAK and Cyber.net hold the 1st Internet Exhibition in Karachi.

2000

  • Pakistan’s IT Policy formulated.
  • GoP’s Universal Internet Access scheme allows more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages to dial ISPs in the nearest city at the cost of local call.
  • SMW-3 fiber optic cable commissioned.
  • Broadband cable introduced by WorldCall in Lahore.

2001

  • PTCL establishes new internet bandwidth service through the newly introduced Pakistan Internet Exchange (PIE) with attractive price tags, but no quality of service guarantee.
  • A group of students from FAST, Karachi launch ApnaKarachi.com, a portal that offers everything one wanted to know about Karachi, from bus routes to maps and more.

2002

  • PIE starts blocking internet telephony and pornographic websites.
  • Government sets up Virtual University.
  • Pakistan Educational Network connects 56 national universities with a high speed optical fiber network.
  • PTA issues determination unblocking Net2Phone and other VoIP services.
  • Intel helps the GoP set up Internet kiosks in major airports in the country.
  • The official website of the Government of Pakistan is victim to a politically motivated attack launched by the latest version of an internet worm. Virus experts said the Yaha.E worm contains a payload designed in part to disrupt the home page of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan with a rudimentary denial of service attack.
  • Microsoft raids major corporations and offices to crack down on illegal and pirated software.
  • AKD Trade launches the first Pakistani online stock trading website.

2003

  • Pakistan’s first geo-stationary satellite, PAKSAT-1, becomes operational.
  • PTCL monopoly lapses on Jan 1 – on paper.
  • PIE network goes down to crawling speeds 63 times in two months.
  • PTCL starts blocking porn sites.
  • PIE blocks access to SA Tribune (www.satribune.com), a Washingtonbased news website, critical of the GoP. Ministers deny the blocking.
  • PTCL bandwidth rates are dropped from US$6,000 per 2Mbps to US$5,400 per 2Mbps.
  • FLAG’s virtual pop activated.
  • Hacking wars between hackers from India and Pakistan reach the peak level.
  • PTCL signs 1st service level agreement with ISPs on FLAG circuits.
  • Internet subscribers hooked to about 45 ISPs in Karachi suffer owing to break n fiber cable of PTCL. Internet remains ‘down’ for 19 hours.
  • Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication announces the De- Regulation Policy for the Telecommunication Sector.
  • GoP announces plans to give away porn-blocking software.
  • The State Bank of Pakistan starts the online Credit Information Bureau (CIB), which is the first in South Asia to provide current data about borrowers.
  • Naseeb.com, an online community that connects Muslims through a circle of friends, launches and becomes an overnight success.
  • Pakistani internet users were unable to load any browser pages for nearly a day when miscreants cut an optical fiber link of PTCL near Sibi.

2004

  • Pakistan Telecommunications Company asks FLAG Telecom (PTCL’s international internet transit provider) to block access to all pornographic websites on its backbone to Pakistan.
  • PTA auctions licenses for Local Loop, Wireless Local Loop and the Cellular sector.
  • Access to South Asia Tribune is blocked again. The Government denies it.

Courtesy: Spider Magazine

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Posted in Pakistan, Technology

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