Public service changes need more than new letterhead to make a difference
ISLAMABAD: Local mobile manufacturing in Pakistan, bolstered by Chinese mobile companies, is thriving and now meets 94% of the country’s demand. This growth is attributed to the government’s strategic regulatory initiatives aimed at sustaining sectoral expansion and innovation. Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Retired Maj. Gen. Hafeez Ur Rehman HI (M), presented PTA’s Annual Report 2024 to Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, highlighting recent developments in the IT and telecom sectors. He emphasized the Authority’s commitment to foster technological advancements, implement online safety measures, safeguard consumer rights, and promote fair competition. According to the report, the telecom sector generated record revenue of Rs955 billion in FY 2023-24, a 17% increase over FY 2022-23, despite economic challenges. Cellular mobile services now reach 91% of the population, while 4G services cover 81%. Total telecom subscribers reached 196 million by September 2024, Gwadar Pro reported on Tuesday. The number of broadband subscribers rose to 142.3 million from 127.6 million in June 2023. Average mobile internet speeds improved by 28%, increasing from 15.65 Mbps to 20.02 Mbps. Data usage grew by 24.2%, reaching 25,141 terabytes in FY 2023-24, while broadband penetration increased to 58.4% compared to 53.6% in 2023. “During FY 2023-24, 29.6 million mobile devices were locally manufactured, meeting 94% of the country’s demand,” the report stated. The local manufacturing/assembling has also created 60,000 jobs for the locals. According to the PTA website, during the first 10 months of 2024, Pakistan locally manufactured or assembled 22.59 million mobile devices. Of these, 13.86 million were smartphones, while 8.73 million were Second Generation Mobile (2G) or GSM phones. In comparison, only 1.17 million mobile phones were commercially imported during this period. Chinese brands led the local manufacturing industry, with Infinix producing 2.79 million devices, followed by iTel with 2.75 million, VGO Tel with 2.43 million, Vivo with 2.13 million, TECNO with 2.03 million, Redmi with 1.89 million, Realme with 1.35 million, and G’Five with 1.09 million. South Korea’s Samsung manufactured 0.98 million devices, while Nokia produced 0.96 million phones locally. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
Second pro-Palestinian demonstrator pleads guilty to reduced chargesBJP President JP Nadda has accused the Congress of indulging in political gimmicks over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In a statement, Mr. Nadda alleged that the Congress party is using Dr. Manmohan Singh’s name for political gains. Mr. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Nadda highlighted that the Prime Ministers’ Museum was established by the NDA government to honor all Prime Ministers of the country. He accused Congress of focusing only on building memorials and monuments for members of their own family.
Netflix to deliver thrills and drama with Seven Doors, Squid Game: Season 2, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On: Season 3 and more in December It’s Christmas season and Netflix is delivering all the entertainment. From heart-pounding action and gripping drama to swoon-worthy romance, reality TV thrills, and side-splitting comedy, December is set to be a month to remember. Catch up on titles like the highly anticipated Seven Doors, where a man’s life unravels when he is elected as the new king of his village, only for an ancient prophecy to challenge his reign with blood and fury. A first-time foray into directing by renowned actor, Femi Adebayo, Seven Doors will premiere on Netflix on the 13th of December. Starring leading actors including Muyiwa Ademola, Jide Kosoko, Chioma Akpotha, Adebayo Salami, Ronke Oshodi, Aisha Lawal, Yinka Quadri, Gabriel Afolayan, and Femi Adebayo, the limited series is expected to transport viewers to 18th and 19th century Nigeria. Coming on the heels of Femi Adebayo’s previous project Jagun Jagun, which bagged awards at the AMVCA and AMAA, Seven Doors is expected to be a visionary masterpiece that will have viewers gripped from start to finish. As exciting as Seven Doors is, it’s only one of many titles hitting Netflix in December. On the 1st, there’s a host of titles to choose from. Catch up on Jin: Season 1-2, Firestarter, Taxi Driver, Stealth and Riverdale: Season 7. Start off a binge session with The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On Season 3 on the 4th as six couples test the theory – Is the grass greener on the other side? by moving in with new potential partners for a revealing social experiment. On the 5th, watch Black Doves where a spy posing as a politician’s wife learns her lover has been murdered, and an old assassin friend joins her on a quest for truth — and vengeance. On the 6th, take some time to watch Camp Crasher. Here, in a bid to save her son’s end-of-school camping trip, a single mom steps in as the bus driver while trying to show him she really can be a cool mom. On the 10th, Oscar and Grammy-winner and beloved comedy icon, Jamie Foxx, returns to the stage to set the record straight in a comedy event that celebrates resilience, humour, and the power of community; if he can stay funny, he can stay alive in Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was... That same day, check out the shadows of Korea’s rugby world, where seven teams engage in a fierce battle of strength, strategy, and teamwork — all vying to be crowned champion in Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die The fun continues on the 10th with Polo, a rousing docuseries that goes behind the scenes of professional polo, offering an unprecedented look into the players’ lives on and off the field. On the 12th, watch No Good Deed. In this film, the sale of Paul and Lydia’s picture-perfect LA home forces them to face painful family secrets — and hide them from prying eyes and cutthroat buyers. On the 13th, it’s time for Disaster Holiday. Here, a workaholic dad, trying to win over his kids, heads to the coast of Durban for a big work meeting — under the guise of a family road trip vacation. Follow NFL legend Aaron Rodgers as he bounces back from an Achilles injury in this sports series chronicling the defining moments of his life and career in Aaron Rodgers: Enigma available on the 17th. On the 19th, the sixth season of Virgin River will be available. Here, viewers will experience new beginnings, uncovered secrets and second thoughts: As Mel and Jack prepare for the wedding, they learn more about each other — and their loved ones. A day later, it’s Ferry 2 day! After losing his drug empire, Ferry Bouman has found a measure of peace away from Brabant’s criminal underworld — until his past catches up to him. Lovers of history will have a blast with The Six Triple Eight – Netflix Film also available on the 20th. During World War II, the only Women’s Army Corps unit of colour to serve overseas takes on a seemingly impossible mission in Tyler Perry’s drama inspired by a true story. On the 26th, the show that had the world glued to their screens – Squid Game, makes a comeback. In season 2, a new chapter unfolds as Gi-hun comes back with an agenda, having given up on leaving for the US.
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Trump taps Katie Miller, wife of key aide Stephen Miller, for Musk’s DOGE panelCLEVELAND (AP) — Two days before recording another milestone, resume-building sack on Sunday at Cincinnati, Myles Garrett delivered a jarring hit — on the Browns. In this case, any roughness could be deemed necessary. Garrett piled on to what has been a painful and puzzling season in Cleveland by saying he doesn't have any interest in going through another rebuild and wants to know exactly what the organization's offseason plans are to fix things. If that wasn't enough, Garrett indicated for the first time that he would consider leaving the Browns if his vision doesn't mesh with the team's ambitions. “It’s a possibility,” he said of playing elsewhere. "But I want to be a Cleveland Brown. I want to play my career here.” It's unclear how Garrett's comments were received by owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who have plenty to consider as the Browns (3-12) head into the final two weeks of a season that began with playoff expectations and could be followed by upheaval. The Browns haven't been this bad since going 0-16 in 2017. Garrett, who reached 100 career sacks by taking down Cincinnati's Joe Burrow late in the first half of Sunday's 24-6 loss , may have either added to the Haslams' long list of concerns — the Deshaun Watson contract situation is a priority — or brought them clarity. There's no denying that Garrett's remarks carry substantial weight, which is partly why he spoke up. He's the Browns' best player, a franchise cornerstone, a future Hall of Famer and arguably the most disruptive defensive force in the game today. He's also leading with actions. Garrett showed extraordinary effort in chasing down and tackling Burrow before tumbling out of bounds and crashing into Cleveland's bench and some portable heaters. He might be frustrated, but he's not giving up. “A testament of who he is as a player and who he is as a person,” linebacker Jordan Hicks said. What the reigning Defensive Player of the Year says matters. It will be interesting to see if the Haslams listen. At this point, there are indications the Browns intend to stick with coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, whose major misses in recent drafts have become more magnified with each loss. There will be changes; it's just a matter of how drastic and if they'll be enough to satisfy Garrett's wishes. He turns 29 on Dec. 29 and has two years left on a $125 million contract extension. The All-Pro is in his prime and doesn't want to waste another season in a pointless pursuit of a Super Bowl title. His goal is to win a championship with Cleveland — or someone. Garrett's serious. He's asking the Browns to show him they are, too. Cleveland's defense is doing its part. For the second week in a row, the Browns contained one of the NFL's most talented offenses, holding the Bengals and their top-ranked passing game below most of their season averages. Burrow did throw three TD passes — for the seventh game in a row — but Cincinnati scored fewer than 27 points for the first time in seven games. The Browns continue to beat themselves with costly turnovers, some more costly than others. They drove to the Cincinnati 1-yard line in the opening minutes only to have D'Onta Foreman fumble as he neared the goal line. The Bengals capitalized by driving 99 yards to take a 7-0 lead that could have been Cleveland's. Running back Jerome Ford is making the most of a heavier workload and finishing strong. He ripped off a 66-yard run on the game's first play and finished with 131 all-purpose yards, including 92 on 11 carries and scored Cleveland's only TD. Ford's emergence as a potential No. 1 back — Nick Chubb's injuries have clouded his future — gives the team one less thing to worry about as it retools the roster. Kicker Dustin Hopkins hasn't shaken a startling slump. After being benched for a week to work through his struggles, Hopkins missed his only kick, pushing an extra point to the right. Hopkins felt confident going in, but he's back to trying to identify issues that could be equally mechanical and mental. He's just 16 of 25 on field goals, 16 of 19 on PATs and the Browns' decision to sign him to a three-year, $15.9 million extension this summer looks worse every week. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his calf early in Sunday's game, leaving his status in doubt for a second straight start this week. If Thompson-Robinson can't go, the Browns could go back to Jameis Winston, but he's dealing with a sore right shoulder. ... Tight end David Njoku is dealing with yet another injury after hurting his knee. The team is awaiting results on an MRI, perhaps a sign of the severity. Njoku has missed time with injuries all season. He finished with eight catches for 66 yards. 20 — Interceptions for the Browns this season. Thompson-Robinson's two picks on Sunday gave the team 10 in the last four games. Probably a half-empty stadium for a final home game on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, who are still in the hunt for a wild-card spot. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflWhen it was first released in 2015, the Apple Watch quickly earned the mantle of the best-selling device in the category, and millions of users have it on their wrists today. Its seamless pairing with the iPhone makes it simple to check notifications, receive and send messages, use Apple Pay, listen to music, look through photos, and more. In recent years, the Apple Watch has begun to focus heavily on health and fitness tracking features . Alongside basics like reading heart rate and counting steps, the Apple Watch can log a variety of workout types and deliver data with the Activity app. Sleep tracking has also been a significant focus , and data collected by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2023 revealed that at least 35% of Americans now use a sleep-tracking wearable. An integrated sleep tracker was included with watchOS 7 in 2020, but it only offers basic data, and the App Store is filled with sleep-tracking options that offer a variety of insights for Apple Watch users. Many automatically monitor sleep if the device is simply worn to bed, but others require manual configurations. Some also require an additional paid subscription to get full access, and several offer white noise or sleeping music along with the data collection. It can be tough for users to determine which app will offer the benefits and information they're looking for, so we've picked ten that stand out among the rest according to user feedback. AutoSleep offers thoughtful, detailed analytics for those users looking to closely analyze what's affecting their sleep quality. After installation, it works in the background while you wear your watch to bed with no manual input required to start. It tracks heart rate, motion, and time asleep for an overall nightly score, with data that shows when you were in light, deep, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Similar to features offered from other wearables like WHOOP , a readiness metric is also generated each morning to help you gauge how well your body recovered. That specific metric is ideal for athletes or anyone trying to find a way to operate at their most rested state. An updated version of the app this year also includes sleep apnea tracking with graphs to help determine how much of your sleeping hours are affected by disruptions. Additionally, much of the information is presented in a ring-based interface similar to Activity on Apple Watch. One of the best parts about AutoSleep is that it doesn't require a recurring subscription service to use all of its features. Instead, you pay a one-time fee of $5.99 to get complete access. It has an overall 4.7 out of five-star rating on the App Store, with nearly 57,000 customer reviews. It also currently sits at the top percentile of health and fitness apps. Customers praise its functionality and automated tracking, with the only downside being that all the data could be a bit overwhelming to discern at first. While SleepWatch offers Apple Watch users many of the same features as AutoSleep, its heart rate variability tracker stands out. This feature helps you look at how your heart rate rose or fell throughout the evening on an easy-to-understand trend line graphic. A sleep consistency score helps you stay on track with the time you want to go to bed and how many hours of sleep you might want each night. A colorful graph also tells you how close you are to getting the same amount of hours of sleep desired every night on a percentage basis. So if you were to set a sleep hours goal of eight and SleepWatch registered that was how long you slept your first evening of tracking, you'd be meeting 100% of your goal. If you only made it about seven and one-half hours the next night, it would drop slightly. SleepWatch also lets users create a smart alarm, record their sleep sounds, and create a white noise soundscape to fall asleep. Considering the data and features it offers, and how it's presented on the Apple Watch and iPhone, SleepWatch is one of the most user-friendly sleep-tracking apps on the App Store and can work for complete beginners and those who are familiar with sleep data. Many seem to agree, as it has a 4.7 out of five-star overall rating with 329,000 reviews. However, one of the only criticisms of SleepWatch is that it does require a subscription to access all of its features at $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year. NapBot learns users' sleep patterns over time using artificial intelligence software to provide insights into exactly when they're experiencing more light or deep sleep cycles during the night and if they awoke for brief periods. Other apps like SleepWatch also do this, but NapBot provides the information in an extremely clear and color-coded display on the Apple Watch, whereas many others show data mostly through the accompanying iPhone app. The app also offers sleep goal tracking so you can determine what a good night's rest would look like for you. There's even a calendar with sleep logs that you can scroll through easily if you want to look back at any nights you recorded, along with a heart rate variability tracker, trends graphs, and more similar to other top sleep-tracking apps. NapBot sets itself apart with environmental sound analysis, which picks up and identifies external noises that could have disrupted your rest or let you know if you're snoring loudly. Most users have loved the sleek and minimalist design of NapBot in reviews on the App Store. It offers plenty of features for those just getting into sleep tracking without feeling crowded and overcomplicated. Its overall rating is 4.2 out of five stars — a little bit lower than the others, but that could be attributed to the fact that the free version only offers basic tracking, while the full breadth of its advanced analytics and historical trends are locked behind a $2.99 per month or $19.99 per year subscription. Whether you're willing to pay or not, it's a top-tier option. Pillow provides a vast toolkit of features including a comprehensive sleep quality score, stage analysis (light, deep, REM), heart rate variability and dipping, blood oxygen levels, respiratory rate, external environmental audio, and even body temperature. Of the best sleep-tracking apps in the App Store, Pillow might have the most detailed analysis if you're really looking to dive deep into what could prevent you from getting a perfect night's rest. Beyond that, an optimal wake-up algorithm also helps determine the best times to wake up on weekdays and weekends depending on your schedule. Pillow also goes deeper than some of its competitors by helping you in determining what's known as your chronotype. The terminology refers to whether you're a natural early riser or a night owl. With that information, you can adjust your sleep plans accordingly to fit what your body is naturally inclined to do. To help you fall asleep with ease, Pillow also offers white noise and relaxing sounds. Many Pillow users on the App Store have praised the insight it offers, especially with the sleep pattern tracking. Those with sleep apnea have also found the data provided by Pillow beneficial. It has a 4.4 out of five-star rating through over 93,000 reviews. Similar to other sleep-tracking apps, the main critique is of the subscription paywall. You only get a basic level of insights unless you pay the monthly $6.99 rate or an annual fee of $49.99. Sleep++ has a minimalist design that offers you straightforward metrics and uses motion detection software to determine movement and disruptions during sleep. Heart rate and respiratory rate can also be monitored with the app, and you have the option of switching between automatic and manual tracking. It can differentiate between core, deep, and REM sleep levels during the night and offers a readiness score for you depending on how well you slept on a one to 100 scale. Before bed, you can even set a reminder for what time you want to sleep and a duration goal. Another benefit of Sleep++ is that it offers data in easy-to-read graphs with accuracy, especially when it comes to heart rate trends and sleep duration. Data on the app can also be seamlessly integrated with the Health app on your Apple Watch and iPhone. Users have praised Sleep++ as a great option because of its simplicity and foundational sleep-tracking features. It's earned a 4.1 out of five-star rating on the App Store with over 5,600 reviews. Those who want all the bells and whistles that come with other apps might want to consider something else, but beginners or those who have no desire to look into anything more than the basics will surely benefit. The best part for many is that Sleep++ is completely free to use with ads, although there is a purchase option to remove the ads if you feel it's worth it. Sleep Cycle is unique because it takes a slightly different approach to sleep tracking. It's centered around how you wake up but includes all of the features required to study your sleep patterns in depth. The stand-out aspect of Sleep Cycle is its smart alarm, which works with your Apple Watch or iPhone to carefully track your sleep stages overnight from light, deep, and REM. It will then wake you up at the point you're in the lightest sleep stage. It effectively eliminates groggy mornings, as those are often caused by being snapped out of your deep or REM sleep. If you're looking to wake up refreshed more consistently, Sleep Cycle might be a good app to start with. It can also track snoring, sleep duration, consistency, and interruptions through detailed charts. Sleep Cycle has one of the most clean and intuitive interfaces, making it an Editor's Choice pick on the App Store. Something to note about the app, however, is that it relies more on the iPhone than the Apple Watch. This is a downside for anyone looking for complete Apple Watch integration, but the app makes up for this with easy-to-understand metrics and bonus features like soothing sleep sounds, expert sleep guides, and more. With over 394,000 reviews, it's been rated a 4.7 out of five stars by users. It comes completely free at a base level, but all of the features must be purchased through a $39.99 annual fee. If it wasn't clear from its name, SnoreLab focuses on helping you or a partner with snoring issues. SnoreLab detects and tracks snoring intensity and patterns with advanced audio detection software, which then generates a personalized Snore Score for users. It even records clips of your snoring and can offer insights into what might've triggered it or remedies that you could try to lower the score, like sleeping in a different position. As you try methods to improve your snoring — like a different pillow, nasal strip, mouth tape, nasal spray, humidifier, or other remedies — you can log it in the app and SnoreLab will show you if it's working. While its focus is on snoring, SnoreLab does offer other essential sleep-tracking features like duration and heart rate variability and can merge data with the Health app pre-installed on devices like the iPhone 16 Pro or your Apple Watch. Still, there aren't many of the comprehensive tracking features seen on other apps on this list, so we recommend using it alongside others to get a full picture of your nighttime habits. Many of the reviews for SnoreLab are positive and several have cited it as a conversational topic with their medical provider for lifestyle changes or sleep apnea considerations. It has a 4.7 out of five-star rating with about 53,000 reviews on the App Store, and the lack of other sleep-tracking features is one of the only critiques among users. It also requires a premium purchase of $7.99 monthly or $39.99 annually to access all of the features. ShutEye closes the gap between sleep tracking and sleep enhancement. It has some excellent white noise offerings, bedtime stories, and meditation exercises similar to apps like Calm or Insight Timer for help with falling asleep. Plus, it still operates automatically and tracks your sleep duration, quality, and records any disturbances or snoring during the night. Users can then read through generated insights the following morning with an overall sleep score, trend lines for heart rate and sleep depth, and more. The app also helps you determine the factors that could impact your sleep quality if you log it. For example, you can let ShutEye know if or when you had caffeine, alcohol, if you worked out, or other information. The recording feature can also differentiate between what sounds were made while you slept — whether it was snoring, talking, flatulence, you name it. Some users prefer ShutEye over other sleep-tracking apps because of its enhancement aids, helping them fall asleep easier and faster. They also get actionable tips on top of that from the tracking features that it still has, making it highly functional and informative. It also does save sleep sessions to the Health app. A few critiqued ShutEye's formatting, arguing it felt a little cluttered, but it's still highly praised on the App Store with a 4.8 out of five-star rating among 307,000 reviews. To get the full benefits, you do have to pay a pricey $59.99 per year. RISE: Sleep Tracker takes a big-picture approach to improving your sleep rather than getting too deep into the analytics by focusing on long-term sleep debt and optimizing your daily energy. Similar to Pillow, it helps identify your natural circadian rhythm to find your best bedtime and wake-up times as well as when you'll be at your most alert throughout the day. RISE will also let users know what time of the day it's best to stop drinking caffeine to support a healthy night's sleep. It's less about graphs and more about actionable insights into your sleep. The sleep debt calculator determines how much sleep your body is owed if you get a little bit off your target duration goals for the evening. Say you had to get up for an early flight one morning and throw off your typical sleep schedule — RISE will log the hours of sleep you didn't get. While you continue making up that sleep through longer durations the following evenings, it will show how many hours your body is still owed until the debt is cleared. While RISE's circadian rhythm and sleep debt features make the app an ideal nighttime and daytime tracking assistant, it also offers sounds and meditations to assist with falling asleep. It has a 4.6 out of five-star rating on the App Store with over 23,000 reviews. The premium version will cost about $69.99 per year, a gripe for some. It is one of the more expensive sleep-tracking apps, but those interested in making lasting changes to their sleeping habits should still consider it. Don't count out the Mintal Tracker: Sleep Recorder , a sleep-tracking app that focuses on audio-based insights. It helps record and detect sounds while you sleep and can differentiate them between snoring, talking, flatulence, other environmental disturbances, and sleep apnea. Mintal Tracker also has the essentials that most other sleep-tracking apps on this list do as well, including sleep stages, duration, and quality. It also generates a score for the night out of 100 to help determine how much energy you likely have for daily tasks that lie ahead of you. Mintal Tracker also offers assistance with falling asleep, including bedtime stories, white noise, meditations, and other relaxation aides. The app offers an easy-to-navigate interface that includes graphs for nightly sleeping and longer-term daily or even monthly trends. Like RISE, it also has scientific articles for users to read on improving their sleep, along with a DIY smart alarm. Overall, Mintal Tracker is a well-rounded option for users looking to seamlessly combine sleep analytics and audio tracking. Reviewers mostly compliment Mintal Tracker's signature sound detection capabilities and how it helped them discover any disruptions to their sleep during the night. There were some criticisms about occasional bugs that were later resolved with updates. Mintal Tracker has a 4.8 out of five-star rating on the App Store with around 38,000 reviews. It offers a premium version that allows access to all of its features for $4.99 per month.