Tag: Pakistani Citizens

  • Massive data breach: 2.2 million Pakistani citizens’ personal information for sale online

    Massive data breach: 2.2 million Pakistani citizens’ personal information for sale online

    According to a report from Geo News, the personal data of 2.2 million Pakistani citizens has been compromised and put up for sale online. This breach occurred when hackers gained unauthorised access to a private company-made database that is utilised by hundreds of restaurants. 

    The hackers have even gone so far as to display some citizens’ data as samples in their online sale advertisement. In their claim, the hackers asserted, “We have hacked the databases of over 250 restaurants,” and they listed numerous food outlets. 

    The compromised citizen data includes contact numbers and credit card details. The affected software is widely used by many restaurants across the country. Furthermore, details such as the number of transactions and the amounts paid by citizens are available for purchase online. 

    The hackers are demanding 2 Bitcoins in exchange for the compromised citizen data, which equates to approximately $54,000, considering that one Bitcoin is valued at $27,000 based on market sources. In Pakistani rupees, this amounts to over Rs15 million. 

    As of now, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FBR) cybercrime circle has not received any complaints regarding this incident. 

    It is worth noting that the federal government recently issued a directive advising all information technology (IT) and financial institutions, including regulators, to avoid collaborating with, installing, or using Indian-origin artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (ICT) products.  

    This advisory was issued due to concerns that these products could pose a constant, concealed, and force multiplier threat to Pakistan’s critical information infrastructure (CII). 

    The government shared this cybersecurity advisory with federal and provincial ministries and sectoral regulators. The advisory highlighted that globally, AI products and services are widely employed by various industries, including the financial and banking sectors, to accelerate their growth. 

    The document also noted that the fintech sector in Pakistan, along with some banks, was engaged with Indian-origin companies that offered IT products, cybersecurity solutions, and AI solutions.  

    The use of Indian security products and solutions was considered a potential threat to Pakistan’s CII, particularly the banking sector, due to the possibility of backdoors or malware collecting logs, data traffic analysis, and personal identifiable information (PII).  

    Additionally, it pointed out the risk of direct Indian ingress into Pakistan’s CII through technical means and access control with passive monitoring capability. 

  • US Embassy in Islamabad reduces visa wait times for Pakistanis

    US Embassy in Islamabad reduces visa wait times for Pakistanis

    The US Embassy in Islamabad has announced to reduce the visa appointment wait times for Pakistani people.

    According to the official announcement by the US Embassy on their X, formerly Twitter account, ‘Demand for US visas is the highest it has ever been. We are processing more visa applications than ever before and are working hard to bring down visa appointment wait times.’

    In order to reduce the waiting time, the US has announced three ways for visa applicants from Pakistan to meet the ‘unprecedented demand’ for US visas.

    ‘First, we have expedited thousands of non-immigrant visa appointments. More than ten thousand Pakistani visa applicants originally scheduled for 2024 at the US Consulate General in Karachi are receiving notice that their appointments have been rescheduled for 2023, some as early as next week. If you have a visa appointment in the next few months at the US Consulate General in Karachi, please check your e-mail and log-in to your account at our website to confirm your expedited appointment time.’

    The second method is that ‘to create added flexibility for Pakistani travellers, visa applicants can rebook appointments at either the Consulate General in Karachi or the US Embassy in lamabad—whichever  works best for them. Our hope is that this will allow applicants more freedom and flexibility to find a convenient date, time, and location.’

    Furthermore,’starting September 25, US Consulate General Karachi will begin accepting new interview waiver applications for some applicants who have previously been issued US visas. Applicants can check ustraveldocs.com/pk to determine whether they are eligible, print out a confirmation letter, and submit their application materials to a drop box without the need for an appointment. The US Embassy in Islamabad is already accepting interview waiver applications for qualified applicants.’

    It is pertinent to mention here that the United States Embassy in Pakistan has announced that it will facilitate Pakistanis applying for the country’s visa with a new optional visa delivery policy.

  • Punjab police allocates Rs400 million for police force healthcare

    Punjab police allocates Rs400 million for police force healthcare

    Inspector General Police Punjab, Dr Usman Anwar, announced that an estimated amount of Rs300 to 400 million will be allocated towards the healthcare welfare of the police force. This funding will cover all essential medical tests and treatments for conditions such as heart diseases, kidney ailments, and other vital organ disorders.

    Dr Anwar conveyed this message through a video addressed to the police force on Monday, emphasizing the importance of health screening and the provision of medical facilities. He informed that 50 per cent of the constabulary has already undergone health screening, with certain districts achieving 100 per cent completion. The Inspector General commended the District Police Officers (DPOs) responsible for ensuring the health screening of the constabulary in their respective districts.

    During the health screening process, employees were made aware of previously undetected diseases, including hepatitis B and C. Dr Anwar assured that a treatment for Hepatitis C has been discovered, and the department will provide free treatment to all affected employees suffering from the disease.

    Regarding hepatitis B, he mentioned that a permanent cure has not yet been found, but supportive treatment options are available to benefit affected employees. In order to safeguard the remaining police force and their families from this disease, it has been decided to administer vaccinations. The police department will bear all expenses associated with this initiative.

    Dr Anwar highlighted the safety of the vaccine, stating that he will personally receive the vaccination as a testament to its reliability. These measures are being taken to prioritize the health, well-being, and treatment of police personnel. He urged the police force to stand united as an impenetrable barrier against criminals, oppressors, and terrorists. The primary duty of the police force, as stated by the Inspector General, is to protect the lives, properties, and dignity of Pakistani citizens.

    In a separate development, a sum of Rs200,000 has been allocated from the welfare fund of Punjab Police for the medical treatment of the mothers of two martyrs from the Lahore Police, Constable Ghulam Murtaza and Constable Ali Raza. Additionally, a medical grant of Rs100,000 has been approved for ASI Qadeer Akhtar of Multan Police to cover the expenses of his brain surgery.

    Furthermore, the Inspector General has authorized an honorarium for the staff working in training colleges and schools throughout the province. An amount of Rs1.25 crore will be distributed among the staff members in training institutes located in Lahore, Sihala, Multan, Rawalpindi, Farooqabad, and Sargodha.

  • Fact check: UAE DOES NOT deny visas to Pakistanis belonging to certain cities

    Fact check: UAE DOES NOT deny visas to Pakistanis belonging to certain cities

    Claim: A poster which stated that United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned visas for people belonging to various cities in Pakistan, has gone viral on social media. Some media outlets have also reported the news.

    The cities include Abbottabad, Attock, Bajaur Agency, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu, Hunza, Quetta, Kasur, Kohat, Kotli, Khushab, Khurrum Agency, Larkana, Mohmand Agency, Muzaffargarh, Nawabshah, Parachinar, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Skardu and Sukkur.

    A warning on the poster stated, “Dont apply visa for a person who has been born in any of the above-mentioned cities, your visa will be rejected and the fee is non-refundable.”

    Fact: Speaking to Geo News, Consulate General of the UAE Karachi Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi denied the news and termed it fake.

    Remeithi said that Pakistani citizens can apply for a visit visa and visas of other categories.

    He also revealed that he has issued visas to citizens born or residing in the aforementioned cities, from the Karachi consulate.

    The consulate general also said that rumours like this are spread from time to time.

    Verdict: FALSE

  • ‘I demand apology for tapping my phone’: Maryam Nawaz admits to leaked audio

    ‘I demand apology for tapping my phone’: Maryam Nawaz admits to leaked audio

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday admitted to the recently leaked audio between PML-N leader Pervaiz Rashid and herself.

    While addressing a press conference she said, “As a citizen of Pakistan, it was a violation of my rights to tap my personal phone call. Therefore, I am not going to comment on this issue unless I receive an apology.”

    “It was a personal and private conversation that I had with Pervaiz Rashid. Who had the right to tap my personal conversation?” said Maryam Nawaz.

    “Why was it provided to one media channel, and why was it on-aired? I want an answer to this,” said the PML-N leader.

    Maryam said, “I am not answerable about my conversation with Pervaiz Rashid Sahib and neither are any two common Pakistani Citizens.”

    Providing details related to the figures revealed in the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) report, she said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has 26 bank accounts, of which 18 were active, while only four were declared.

    “Imran Khan received the money from abroad in the accounts of four of his employees,” Maryam said, adding that the PTI submitted fake certificates to the ECP.

    “Imran Khan will have to be answerable to the people of Pakistan as to where he spent the foreign funding,” she said.

    “The PML-N, as well as the joint Opposition, demand Imran Khan tenders his resignation,” said Maryam.