Paying 5% Extra to Mobile Operators on Every Recharge for NO Reason

While browsing ProPakistani.com blog, I came through an Open Letter to Chairman PTA Dr. Muhammad Yaseen drawing his attention towards a serious matter regarding the 5% extra deduction by Cellular Companies on recharge.  The letter consists of very valid points. Call me absent minded or whatever but I never noticed, I am paying 36% tax on every recharge (10% Withholding Tax, 21% GST, and 5% so called Withholding Tax). I appreciate someone’s effort to write the letter and representing  approximately half the population of Pakistan.

I hope but not sure that PTA will take any action against this 5% extra deduction on every recharge, this certainly makes no sense.  Please find below the letter (I would suggest the writer to send a hard copy to Chairman PTA, well… there are little to no chances that he would bother to read but still why not give it a try).

Honourable Chairman,
Pakistan Telecommunications Authority

Issue: Charging 5% on Recharge by all Mobile Companies

I would like to take this issue into your kind consideration that for the last few months, to be exact from August 2008, all mobile operators have been charging 5 % extra charges on recharging the balance. I would like to mention following points which are showing that these charges are against all the rules and regulation and make no sense;

• When all the mobile operators are reducing call rates there is no sense of charging 5 % without giving any reason to the consumer. We still see no further hiring for call centers or network expansion that could really better their service, as they had claimed.
• In all the businesses and transactions when you are paying any amount to any one, none has to pay penalty for that payment rather relief has been provided to customers throughout the world. Does this 5% extra charges make any sense.
• After deduction of 31 % taxes (10% with holding tax and 21 % General Sales Tax) all the money goes in to the account of the operators then why this 5 % charges being deducted on recharge. Are they now paying this 5% amount to any powerful personality?
• We have near 8 crore mobile customers in Pakistan. If we assume that 1 crore of them recharge their account, then it amounts over 100 crore recharge on daily basis. If we calculate 5% this extra deduction, it is estimated that 5 crore are being collected illegally. Why this 5 crore is being looted from innocent customers.

Dear Sir, I would like to make this case a history in the consumer right protection. Your Excellency, it is a matter of make or break. We have to stand up against all the forces which are killing the customer’s right with out any fear and discrimination.

Your decision in this case will be, definitely a wining situation of the consumers and build trust on our system of justice.

Me, and other 90 millions are waiting for your kind decision.

Yours truly,

0322-5088031
ismailads@gmail.com

Letter Source: www.propakistani.com

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Pakistan’s Richest Man 2008 – Mian Muhammad Mansha Yaha (Net Worth $4.4 Billion)

With 40 companies on board and having the ownership of Muslim Commercial Bank, Pakistan, Mansha is headed up to a $17 Million Paper Mill. Nishat Group was country’s 15th richest family in 1970, 6th in 1990 and 1st in 1997. He is making investments in the country as well as outside the boundaries. He also planned to buy United Bank Limited but who doesn’t have opponents. Nishat Group consists of textiles, cement, leasing, insurance and management companies.

• Name: Mian Muhammad Mansha Yaha
• Source: 40 companies
• Net Worth: $4.4 billlion
• Country Of Citizenship: Pakistan
• Industry: Investments
• Marital Status: Married

Mansha had to bear the nationalization in the Bhutto Era but it was than compensated by the Nawaz Government (through Denationalization). Since then there is not one who can stop Mansha. He is still moving ahead.

Nishat Group Assets are $4.4 Billion. He is considered as Pakistan Richest Man but according to his friends, “he doesn’t show-off”.

Other Pakistan’s Billionaires 2008

• Name: Asif Ali Zardari
• Source: Industry: Politics
• Net Worth: $4 billion
• Country Of Citizenship: Pakistan
• Industry: Investments
• Marital Status: Married

• Name: Sir Anwar Pervaiz
• Source: Businessman
• Net Worth: $1.5billion
• Country Of Citizenship: Pakistan
• Industry: Investments
• Marital Status: Married

• Name: Nawaz Sharif
• Source: Politics/Businessman
• Net Worth: $1.4billion
• Country Of Citizenship: Pakistan
• Industry: Investments
• Marital Status: Married

• Name: Saddaruddin Hashwani
• Source: Businessman
• Net Worth: $1.1billion
• Country Of Citizenship: Pakistan
• Industry: Investments
• Marital Status: Married

(5 votes, average: 4.60 out of 5)

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@Internet Magazine (Pakistan) Launched Official Website ‘on .info extension’

@Internet is an Internet & technology related magazine in Pakistan which was launched in July 1999. @Internet has been successful because of it’s uniqueness and the respect it gives to it’s readers.

Recently, @Internet launched it’s website AtInternet.info which is still in its initial stages. I wish @Internet best of luck but being a loyal customer, I am not pleased with the domain extension. I do understand that its an information related magazine but still it was not supposed to be on .info extension. If @Internet is not satisfied with .com extension then go for .tm (Trade Mark)  extension. I don’t think that a Magazine that goes in almost every corner of the country is ‘price conscious’.

Now coming over to the design of website, the website is designed beautifuly and is cozy. I like the 3D guy playing around but agian, the Character is very much common on internet so @Internet should try some new Character instead. All 3D work is done professionally and awesome speacilly the pictures on home page for E-Guide, Reviews, Opinions, and Regular.

I again wish @Internet best of luck for their future endeavors.

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Formulation of Broadband Stakeholders Group – an Initiative by PTA

February 6, 2009 Islamabad: PTA has formulated a Broadband Stakeholders Group (BSG) in persistence of different suggestions during Broadband Open Dialogue session. First meeting of said group was held in PTA Headquarters, Islamabad. This meeting was headed by Chairman PTA, Dr. Muhammad Yaseen and representatives from Ministry of Information Technology, Universal Service Funds, Pakistan Software Houses Association, PTA, Broadband Service Providers, Cellular Mobile Operators, Telecom Vendors and Academic Circle partook.

Dr. M. Yaseen highlighted the vision and mission of BSG. He said that the basic purpose of BSC is to improve the co-ordination between various industry players. The participants appreciated the initiative by PTA. After the discussion it was decided that the minimum limit for broadband services will not be less than 256 KBPS and the target set for next three years is 5 million users.

BSG members were briefed about the Broadband Infrastructure, Broadband Content and Application, Take Up, Broadband Policy and Regulation Frameworks and availibility of Broadband services in rural areas. Dr Aamir Mateen was selected as the Chairman of BSG.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Paying Attention to PostPaid Users – Telenor Launches New Postpaid Packages

Its been a long time I have not seen any package from cellular companies for their postpaid customers specially Telenor. But it seems that Telenor is now giving attention to it’s postpaid customers as well and announced three new packages.

The packages are easy and understandable. One thing I want to mention here that Telenor get itself out of price war this time by offering different services for that price rather then lowering it.

Persona in my honest opinion failed to position itself as a postpaid brand because of it’s wrong positioning strategies in the start but its never too late. Hope to see some improvements (other then price reduction strategy).

TARIFF & PACKAGES DETAIL

21% CED tax applies on all Tariffs
10% withholding tax at bill applies

(1 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)

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Get Rid of Thumbs.db Files – Its Easy

Often you see thumbs.db files in your folders and usually re-created when you delete them. Actually, Windows creates these files for the arrangement of thumbnails and increase the show-up speed. If you want to get rid of these files, there is very simple solution for it.

• Go to ‘My Computer’
• Click on ‘Tools’
• Click on ‘Folder Options’
• Go to ‘View’ Tab
• Scroll down and find ‘Do not cache thumbnails’ and check that
• Click ‘Ok’

Now these files will not appear in your folders. Search all existing files and delete them. You want find many files if you don’t have much images on your hard disk.

That’s it. Hope it helps. Thank you

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Store & Share Your Files Online for Free Up to 25 GB with Widows Live SkyDrive

From the name ‘Windows Live SkyDrive’ it seems that Microsoft now want people to learn sky diving but its not so. Windows Live SkyDrive is a part of Microsoft Online Services, Windows Live Family. It’s new version is being launched. Last year Microsoft changed the name of Live SkyDrive from Microsoft Live Folder. Through this service, users were provided with online password-protected file storage facility for free. However, it was just 500 MB those days. According to some users, the storage limit is not that enough. Even Gmail had more then 2 Gigabytes space.

It was expected by the users, that SkyDrive will increase the limit to 2 GB at least. Meanwhile, Microsoft announced that the limit will be increased to 5 GB. But SkyDrive came up with such thing that users were not hoping because now SkyDrive is providing 25 GB free space for File/Folder storage. You can protect these files from others by using password or can share with others by putting the files in Public Folder.

One of the advantages of this service is that if you have a Hotmail account or any of Windows Live Family account, you don’t even need to sign up for SkyDrive. You can use the same username and password and be a part of this service.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Microsoft® Fingerprint Reader – Say Goodbye to Password Hassles

If you consider yourself among one of those who use many different passwords and forget, even for email checking, logging on to any community site or playing game, you have to sign in again and again, then its a perfect gadget for you.

Now with the help of Microsoft® Fingerprint Reader, there won’t be the need of entering the username and password again and again rather you will be signed in just by putting your finger on the device. It is very user friendly.

Though it is very helpful but Microsoft suggests not to use it for sensitive data like financial information etc. They still recommend using strong passwords for these.

Estimated price: Rs. 8,000 (PKR) or 110 USD

Can be purchased from: Amazon (Recommended)

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Zong 65 | 65 Paisas per 30 Seconds | Price War Continues

Zong now offers a new package Zong 65 allowing it’s subscribers to call at 65 paisas per 30 seconds on any network in Pakistan which broke all time lowest price record so far. This continues the price war among the GSM Service Providers in Pakistan. Mobilink recently offered a package of 68 paisas per 30 seconds on any network in Pakistan.

Package Details:

* GST of 21% is applicable on all rates.

Lets see how long this goes. In my honest opinoin, Zong should try to improve it’s network coverage and customer services rather then reducing the prices. A lot of my friends are using Zong and the signals are very weak.

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Nokia Announces 6700 Classic!

Nokia has announced it’s new mobile Nokia 6700 Classic a slim and complete mobile. Nokia 6700 Classic leads to an old model Nokia 6300 which, because of it’s style and functionality made record sales in 2006. According to the Senior Vice President Nokia, 6700 classic will be best selling mobile phone in 2009. Functionality, user experience and premium design, and material made the new Classic Phone the most beautiful.

Nokia Classic Sales package

• Nokia 6700 classic phone
• Nokia Battery BL-6Q (960 mAh)
• 1GB SD flash memory card
• Nokia USB headset (WH-203)
• Nokia Connectivity Cable (CA-101)
• Nokia High Efficiency Charger (AC-8)
• Nokia Quick start user guide

The Nokia 6700 mobile phone combines a smooth surface, rich materials and precisely crafted parts with a full metal keymat which completes the premium finish. Improving on all areas of its forerunner, the Nokia 6700 classic comes with a 5 megapixel digital camera assisted GPS navigation with Nokia Maps, and high speed data access meaning sharing images or video is faster and easier than ever.

Price & Availibility

It is expected the the new Nokia 6700 Classic will be launched in 2nd quarter of 2009. Estimated price is 235 Euros which is approxmetely equals to 24000 PKR.

Pictures

More details about specification can be found here: http://www.letsgomobile.org/en/compare/1778/nokia6700classic/

(4 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)

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