Neowin News Feed for: Pakistan

Pakistan unblocks Wikipedia after its Prime Minister intervenes

Justin Luna — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 04:06:02 +0000

Wikipedia can now be accessed again on Pakistan after the country's Prime Minister ordered its unbanning. The PM said that the blanket ban's unintended consequences outweighed its benefits. Read more...

Pakistan degrades access to Wikipedia and threatens to block it over "sacrilegious" content

Usama Jawad — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 09:10:01 +0000

Pakistan's government has degraded access to Wikipedia following news of the platform hosting certain content deemed objectionable by local authorities. The website could soon be blocked completely. Read more...

Indian government calls Wikipedia officials after controversial edits to cricketer's page

Usama Jawad — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 14:30:01 +0000

Following a tight India-Pakistan cricket match recently, controversial edits were made to the Wikipedia page of an Indian player. The government has now demanded clarification from Wikipedia. Read more...

Facebook will now redirect you if you search for extremist content in Pakistan or UK

Usama Jawad — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 12:50:01 +0000

Meta has announced the expansion of its Counterspeech program to Pakistan and the UK. Facebook users searching for potentially problematic, violent content will now be redirected to support resources. Read more...

Indian media claims Arma 3 gameplay footage is proof that Pakistan helped Taliban

Usama Jawad — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 10:16:01 +0000

Several major Indian news outlets have been airing footage about Pakistan's alleged attack on Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan. The problem? The "concrete proof" is gameplay footage from Arma 3. Read more...

Google.org announces $2.5 million for Southeast Asia COVID-19 response

Paul Hill — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 13:18:01 +0000

Google.org has donated $2.5 million through UNICEF and IFRC to help Southeast Asian nations cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. It also said recipient countries would get more ad grants. Read more...

Pakistan PM Imran Khan asks Facebook for stricter rules against Islamophobia

Paul Hill — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 23:36:02 +0000

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has written an open letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to take firmer action against Islamophobic content. He said not enough action is being taken right now. Read more...

Pakistan unlocks TikTok after management assures cooperation

Usman Khan Lodhi — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 13:34:01 +0000

The Pakistani regulator has issued instructions for restoring access to TikTok 10 days after banning the app. The decision has been taken after receiving assurance from the TikTok management. Read more...

Pakistan bans TikTok citing 'immoral, indecent' content

Usman Khan Lodhi — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:48:01 +0000

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued orders for the blocking of TikTok in the country, citing "immoral and indecent" content. The app had been issued a "final warning" in July. Read more...

Pakistan bans Tinder citing "immoral content"

Usman Khan Lodhi — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 18:16:01 +0000

The Pakistani regulating authority has blocked five dating and live-streaming apps citing "immoral content." The apps facing the ban include Tinder, Tagged, Skout, Grinder, and SayHi. Read more...

Pakistan court directs regulating authority to lift PUBG ban

Usman Khan Lodhi — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 09:34:01 +0000

The Islamabad High Court has directed PTA to "immediately" remove the ban on PUBG. The regulating authority said it has asked the company to share data about users in Pakistan and controls in place. Read more...

Pakistan issues final warning to TikTok over 'immoral' content, bans Bigo Live

Usman Khan Lodhi — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 13:44:01 +0000

PTA issued a final warning to TikTok over "immoral, obscene, and vulgar" content posted on the platform, whilst Bigo Live, a live-streaming app, was blocked in the country for similar reasons. Read more...

Pakistan bans "addictive" PUBG citing health concerns

Usman Khan Lodhi — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 18:00:01 +0000

PUBG has been temporarily banned in Pakistan after several suicides attributed to the game were reported. A formal hearing is scheduled for July 9, and PTA is asking the public to provide feedback. Read more...

Twitter refuses to ban extremist accounts in Pakistan despite pressure from government [Update]

Usama Jawad — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 12:18:01 +0000

It appears that Twitter is refusing to ban allegedly extremist accounts in Pakistan, despite repeated requests from the government. The accounts in question belong to a religious political party. Read more...

Unregistered mobile devices to be blocked after October 20 in Pakistan

Usama Jawad — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 06:54:01 +0000

Mobile devices that have not been approved by the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority will be blocked from using cellular services after October 20, unless their IMEI number is verified before then. Read more...

PayPal or a "similar platform" could launch in Pakistan soon

Usama Jawad — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 18:06:01 +0000

According to Pakistan's new finance minister, PayPal or an online payments platform similar to it could launch in Pakistan within the next 3-4 months, which is welcome news for freelancers. Read more...

Cryptocurrencies have been banned in Pakistan

Hamza Jawad — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:54:02 +0000

The State Bank of Pakistan has issued a circular on its website banning the usage of any virtual currency. Banks will not be able to allow customers any transaction in the form of cryptocurrencies. Read more...

Steam games will become much cheaper in select regions soon

Usama Jawad — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:26:01 +0000

In a surprise move, Valve has announced that it is making games much cheaper in select regions such as Bangladesh and Pakistan. The company has also introduced support for more currencies. Read more...

Calibri font plays its role: Pakistan now Sans Sharif as Prime Minister is disqualified

Usama Jawad — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 07:56:01 +0000

Microsoft's Calibri font was recently used as evidence again Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family in a corruption case. Today, the court has disqualified Sharif from office. Read more...

Microsoft's Calibri font used as proof against Pakistan's Prime Minister in corruption case

Usama Jawad — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:14:02 +0000

It appears that the availability - or lack thereof - of Microsoft's Calibri font is being used as evidence against the Prime Minister of Pakistan and his family in the ongoing Panama Papers case. Read more...

Google visiting universities in Pakistan for the first time starting next week

Usama Jawad — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 14:56:01 +0000

Google has announced that it'll be touring leading universities in Pakistan - including LUMS, FAST NU, IBA, UET and more - for the first time to host talks on web and app development and ad revenue. Read more...

Senate panel in Pakistan approves controversial cybercrime bill

Usama Jawad — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 21:16:02 +0000

A senate panel in Pakistan has approved a controversial cybercrime bill, which could be written into the country's law if endorsed by the senate and finally, the President Mamnoon Hussain. Read more...

Pakistan lifts YouTube ban after three years

Matt Blowes — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:00:01 +0000

Authorities have reopened access to YouTube after Google launched a localized, Pakistani edition of the site. However questions remain over whether the government can now ban individual videos. Read more...

BlackBerry to continue operations in Pakistan, after government drops data access demands

Andy Weir — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 11:48:01 +0000

BlackBerry has said that it will continue to operate in Pakistan, after discussions led to the government dropping its demands for "unfettered access" to the company's email and messaging servers. Read more...

BlackBerry to exit Pakistan, after government demanded unrestricted access to its servers

Andy Weir — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 18:49:53 +0000

BlackBerry says it has "no choice but to exit [Pakistan] entirely" after the government demanded "unfettered access" to its servers, to allow it to read every email and BBM message sent there. Read more...

Led by the Lumia 535, Windows Phone sales surge ahead of iOS in Pakistan

Usama Jawad — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 09:36:01 +0000

Windows Phone sales have drastically increased in Pakistan, thanks to the popular Lumia 535. Volumes sales have been more than iPhones in the quarter, but still face stiff competition from Android. Read more...

DNS change puts 284 Pakistani websites at mercy of hackers

Paul Ferson — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 13:16:04 +0000

A DNS change has put 284 webpages at a weakness to hackers. Among the pages defaced by a group of seemingly Turkish hackers are the eBay, Microsoft and Google sites. No groups claim responsibility. Read more...

Pakistani student sets world record for MPC program

Paul Ferson — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:10:06 +0000

A student in Pakistan managed to set a world record for the highest score ever recorded on the Microsoft Professional Certificate exam, adding it to one of his numerous Microsoft qualifications. Read more...

Pakistan lifts its ban on Twitter access after just 12 hours

John Callaham — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:54:38 +0000

12 hours after the government of Pakistan decided to ban access to Twitter for its citizens, the social networking service is now back up and running in that country. Read more...

Twitter blocked in Pakistan over cartoon

John Callaham — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:31:19 +0000

The government of Pakistan has blocked all access to Twitter on Sunday. The government claims Twitter was promoting what it called an offensive contest involving cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. Read more...

Pakistan bans encryption because of ‘terrorists'

Christopher White — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:37:33 +0000

Pakistan has banned all unauthorized VPN use, and has requested ISPs to report customers who continue to use this technology. Big Brother is watching... Read more...

Mark Zuckerberg could face the death penalty in Pakistan

Brian Donohue — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 08:35:55 +0000

A Pakistani lawyer has filed a "First Information Report" alleging that Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg is responsible for the distribution of blasphemous Islamic content. A "Draw Muhammad" contest started by a Facebook user resulted in a... Read more...

Pakistan blocking YouTube and Facebook

Matt Blowes — Thu, 20 May 2010 11:52:37 +0000

Pakistan is blocking the video sharing website YouTube one day after ISPs in the country received a court order to block Facebook. BBC News is saying reports are leading them to believe a number of... Read more...

Pakistan Bans Youtube

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:53:28 +0000

The Pakistani government, under President Pervez Musharraf, has issued a directive to all Internet providers in the country to block access to Youtube due to blasphemous content on the popular video sharing site. Users all... Read more...

Pakistan Earthquake

Sun, 09 Oct 2005 23:26:55 +0000

Yesterday morning, Pakistan was hit by a earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter scale. So far, it is thought that as many as 20,000 people might have lost their lives in what is perhaps one... Read more...