Tag: NIC

  • PECA law enforced in passport offices

    PECA law enforced in passport offices

    The federal government has taken an important step to stop issuance of illegal passports and theft of sensitive data.

    According to the sources, reported by Geo News, PECA law has been implemented to permanently block access to Pakistani passports for foreigners including Afghans.

    The Federal Cabinet has implemented the Anti-Electronic Crimes Act on six sections of passport offices.

    Sources elaborated that entry into important offices in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi has been made inaccessible except for certain officers and employees with security clearance — all to prevent data theft of sensitive information, passports, visas, theft of citizenship and applicant data.

    Approval has been taken from the caretaker federal Cabinet through a circular on the summary of the Ministry of Interior.

  • 25% Pakistanis die due to unnecessary use of antibiotics

    25% Pakistanis die due to unnecessary use of antibiotics

    Almost 70 per cent of patients in Pakistan are using unnecessary antibiotics, the National Institute of Health has revealed.

    According to the federal Institute, frequent use of antibiotics has led to bacterias developing resistance against the drugs.

    NIC has said that 25 per cent of the deaths that occur every year are due to the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

    A walk was held in Islamabad to raise awareness regarding use of antibiotics.

    Health experts say that patients should not take any medicine without doctor’s instructions. They have also said that the use of antibiotics is unnecessary in case of cold, flu, cough, sore throat or viral infection.

    Doctors say that continuous use of antibiotics can lead to long-term diseases.

    Drug-resistant microbes, including bacterias and viruses, have become a global health challenge. Human healthcare providers and veterinarians are facing an endemic of ‘superbugs’ that do not respond to traditional first and second line drugs, leading to complications and even fatalities.

  • Pakistani farmers can now sell on a smartphone application

    Pakistani farmers can now sell on a smartphone application

    Pakistani farmers can now sell their vegetables directly to their potential buyers. A smartphone application has finally saved them from the ruthless discrimination of the middlemen in Sabzi mandi’s

    Omar Majid Warraich, founder of Agrim@art has created a smartphone application, more than 700 farmers have already registered on it. Moreover, this platform was sponsored by Karandaaz, an investment platform sponsored by the bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    The company launched in August last year, Agrim@art reported sales worth 5.5 million rupees ($36,000) in its first three months. They are predicting to have 2,000 farmers working with them by March 2020. Here is how this startup materialised into a viable business platform.

    Warraich turned to National Incubation Center (NIC) to get help in the execution process of his idea. NIC is a public-private partnership based in Lahore that helps entrepreneurs in launching new businesses. They have launched a number of really successful startups.

    Startups are certainly a game-changer for Pakistan. The widespread bribery, corruption, and an unfriendly regulatory environment is now being challenged with innovation. In addition, foreign investors are starting to take notice of the ultimate potential of our country.