Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced on Monday that the government has blacklisted 111 online apps that were offering online interest-based loans.
The announcement came during a discussion on a motion raised by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, addressing concerns about the proliferation of such apps in the country. Minister Bugti mentioned that the Cyber Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has confiscated Rs 1.8 billion in interest and registered cases against those operating these mobile apps.
He also highlighted the government's efforts to take action against unregistered apps, emphasizing the challenges faced by the FIA in handling cybercrimes due to limited capacity and legal issues.
Source:Startup Pakistan

   
Pakistan's disappointing performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 saw them miss the semi-finals for the third consecutive time. Despite a strong start with two wins, a four-match losing streak dashed their hopes. Criticism arose due to perceived lack of intent and faulty game plans.
Former cricketer Aaqib Javed made a controversial statement, suggesting that bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were groomed for T20 cricket, leading to their struggles in the World Cup. This viewpoint faced backlash from media and journalists who anticipate a strong comeback from the duo.
Haris Rauf's record-breaking 533 runs conceded added to Pakistan's bowling concerns. Javed defended their T20 specialization, saying, "We brought them, trained them, and played them purely for the T20 format." Despite criticism, there's optimism that Haris and Shaheen will bounce back.
Pakistan's World Cup woes included five losses, a historic setback, with defeats against India, Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa. The team now gears up for a series in Australia, playing three tests starting from December 6, aiming to rejuvenate and reclaim their cricketing stature. Changes are expected to be in the pipeline for Pakistan Cricket after this World Cup disaster.
Source:Karakoram Plus

   
Unconfirmed reports hint at a potential drop in petrol prices in Pakistan amid global fuel price declines. The interim government, led by Kakar, will review prices on November 15, 2023, with a final decision expected. Globally, petrol prices have fallen around 3%, reaching a three-month low due to decreased demand. Brent crude settled at $79.54 per barrel, and US crude oil declined to $75.33. Sluggish sales indicate reduced consumer demand, raising concerns about a possible recession. Despite earlier speculations, the caretaker government refrained from reducing petrol prices two weeks ago.
Source: Karakoram Plus

   
   
   
   
I purchased these shoes just two months ago, on September 11, 2023. I have only worn them for casual office wear, never using them for sports activities such as running or playing sports. Despite their high cost of nearly Rs. 10,000/-, you can see a tear near my pinky finger after just two months of light use. This bad quality is unacceptable.
On sending emails to the company and complaining to them, they offered a mere 10% discount on my next purchase as compensation. I have to buy it again. How silly !!
I am deeply disappointed with their response and the overall quality of the shoes.

   

New iPhone 16 rumored features, a smartphone that is still a year away and will be the successor to the recently released iPhone 15 Pro. It is said that this terminal will receive the same improvement in the telephoto camera that Apple introduced as an exclusive to the model Pro Max. The IPhone 16 camera rumors are a periscope-type camera that allows you to use 5x optical zoom.
That upgrading will be significant, but iPhone 16 rumored features are also being rumored with Apple’s possible jump to a four-camera configuration on the iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone 16 Pro rumors have gained much more strength after an accidental leak.

We share iPhone 16 rumored features.
Apple has used a three-camera setup in its Pro and Pro Max series for many years. The first smartphone from the Apple company to have three rear cameras was the iPhone 11 Pro, which hit the market in 2019. Four years have passed, and by the time the iPhone 16 Pro is launched, five years will have passed, so it will be a good time for Apple to consider introducing an additional camera.
Adding more iPhone 16 camera rumors is a simple way to introduce improvements to a smartphone. However, these are only sometimes truly interesting, and in many cases, manufacturers prefer to improve the quality of existing cameras or add others with a higher level of performance. It has yet to be specified what function that fourth camera could have in the iPhone 16 Pro, which would also be present in the Pro Max, although this information is only a rumor, so we must take it as such.

iPhone 16 Pro rumors
Another iPhone 16 rumored features, and you are sure you will like it.
The trick that Apple played last year by incorporating only the new chip in Apple’s professional generation continues to give a lot of talk and even more so this year in 2023, when Apple presented the A17 Pro chip, a new processor that has the last name Pro in instead of Bionic, which means that if it continues with the same strategy, Apple would incorporate a Pro processor in the iPhone 16 bases. Fortunately, analyst Jeff Pu has shed light on this matter.
Source: Jaleebi News

   
Bank Alfalah, a leading commercial bank in Pakistan, has made an exciting announcement ahead of the World's largest shopping event, 11.11 Sale Day. The Bank's pioneering e-commerce platform, AlfaMall, introduces authorised and genuine products through affiliated brands on the 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) feature with 0% markup, allowing shoppers to indulge in their desired purchases with unprecedented ease.
AlfaMall is Pakistan’s first banking-led eCommerce platform. Introduced in 2019, it boasts an extensive partnership with over 150 brands and provides access to a diverse range of over 100,000 products. AlfaMall is Embedded within the Bank’s financial app Alfa, the marketplace offers cutting-edge electronics and tech gadgets to travel services, automobiles, and trending fashion and beauty brands, AlfaMall caters to every household's needs. With the BNPL option, customers can enjoy 0% markup on deferred payments, making premium products more accessible than ever. This facility is not limited to Bank Alfalah credit card holders but is also available to customers with credit cards from other banks. Customers can also pay through their accounts, wallets and orbit points.
In addition to the attractive BNPL feature, AlfaMall offers discounts up to PKR 10,000 on all products and services, ensuring same-day delivery through its trusted and reliable brand partners with an easy return and refund feature.
Commenting on this initiative, Muhammad Yahya Khan, Group Head Digital Banking Group, Bank Alfalah, shared his vision, stating, "At Bank Alfalah, we understand that 11.11 Sale Day is more than just a shopping event; it's a cultural phenomenon that brings joy and excitement to consumers. We want to empower our customers to shop through Pakistan’s 1st BNPL eCommerce pre-payment marketplace. This without the burden of financial strain, enjoying monthly instalments of up to 12 months without hidden charges.”
AlfaMall also offers an Alfa Islamic BNPL instalment facility, now available for all banks’ credit cardholders without physical documentation.  The unique features that make it one of its kind are instant approval, no processing fee, 0% on instalments, flexible repayment tenors, and quick processing while ensuring that the existing credit card limit remains intact and unblocked. This has added greater convenience for customers and makes their shopping experience even more seamless.
For people who prefer an in-person shopping experience, AlfaMall extends a unique opportunity. On November 10th and 11th, 2023, shoppers can visit Lucky Mall, Karachi, where they can purchase these sought-after products directly. But it's more than just shopping; visitors can immerse themselves in interactive games and enjoy the thrilling opportunity to meet their favourite celebrities. This two-day event promises to blend retail therapy, entertainment, and star-studded moments, making it a must-visit destination during the 11.11 shopping extravaganza.
Source: Startup Pakistan

   
"It's just because I have not performed the way I should have in the World Cup; that's why people are saying that I am under pressure. I am under no pressure. I have been doing this for the last two-and-a-half, [to] three years. I was the one who was performing, and I was the one who was the captain."
Babar Azam indicates that he won't be stepping down as Pakistan's captain.

   
Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar couldn't be any less impressed by our players' performance.

   
Sohail Ahmed presents the final options our team has been left with, as our time in the World Cup nears its end.

   
Former planning minister Asad Umar announced on Saturday his decision to resign from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as well as politics.

In a post on X, Umar, who had resigned as the PTI’s secretary general in May following the May 9 riots, said, “After more than one decade in public life, I have decided to completely quit politics”.
“I am resigning frombasic membership of PTI,” Umar wrote.

“As I had already stated publicly earlier that I disagree with the policy of confrontation with state institutions, and such a policy has led to a serious collision with state institutions, which is not in the interest of the country.”

He further said that he wants to thank all those who have supported him in public life.

“In particular I want to thank the NA 54 team and the voters who elected me twice. I have tried my best to serve the constituency that I was elected from. May Allah’s blessings shine upon the Pakistani nation,” the former minister concluded his post.

Several PTI leaders have left PTI following the riots that followed after party chairman Imran Khan was arrested in May this year.

The leaders include Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari and Fayyazul Hassan Chohan among others.
Source:Business Recorder

   
Google has issued a warning to users, notifying them that inactive Gmail accounts may face deletion in December. This aligns with Google’s earlier announcement in May 2023, where it stated its intention to delete accounts that had been inactive for two years
This recent communication from Google serves as a proactive alert to users, emphasizing that the policy extends beyond Gmail to encompass inactive Google accounts associated with various services such as Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar, YouTube, and Photos. The stipulated deadline for users to take action and prevent potential deletion is December 1, 2023.
To ensure users are well-informed and prompted to react, Google plans to send multiple reminders, including recovery emails, to those with inactive Gmail accounts until November 30. If users fail to take any action, either logging in or engaging with their accounts, the accounts or their content may be subject to deletion.

Google’s motivation behind this policy is rooted in security concerns associated with inactive accounts. In a blog post earlier in May, the company emphasized that inactive accounts pose a significant security risk. The security of such accounts diminishes over time, making them vulnerable to hacking, which, in turn, could lead to their misuse for illegal purposes or the spread of spam.

It’s crucial for users to understand that this policy is not a one-time event. Going forward, if a user allows their account to remain inactive for a period of two years, Google reserves the right to delete it.
To prevent deletion and safeguard their accounts, users are advised to log in at least once every two years. Importantly, this login activity doesn’t necessarily have to occur in Gmail specifically; using the account in any Google service, such as YouTube or Google Drive, will suffice.

It’s worth noting that this policy primarily impacts personal Google accounts and does not extend to accounts associated with organizations. Google is actively encouraging users to take the necessary steps to maintain the security and viability of their Google accounts.
Source: Tech DAD