A parliamentary panel on Thursday termed the replication of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) a security threat and recommended to bind cellular companies to avoid such duplication. The mobile IMEI number is being replicated even 1000 times in the country which is a serious security threat and legislation should be put in place to make it compulsory for the mobile companies to keep data and avoid such duplication.
This was discussed in Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication (IT&T) which met with Shahi Syed in the chair on Thursday. Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Ismail Shah confirmed the replication of IMEI number saying that different measures including Type-Approval and moving towards database have been taken to control the menace.
Senator Rehman Malik recommended that a law may be framed to bind that IMEI number of imported mobile phone may be used in one mobile phone. The PTA Chairman, who is currently holding the additional charge of CEO National ICT R&D Fund, said that scholarships worth Rs 4.4 billion were offered. Further, 49,326 students, 3,566 teachers were trained, 4,761 scholarships were offered, 29 universities participated, 70 students secured top positions at their universities while 10 projects received awards in various ICT competitions. He further said that 121 projects worth Rs 2 billion approved where 55 completed, 30 in completion phase, 21 on-going and 15 are in completing formalities.
The committee was also given briefing on successful Technical R&D Projects, which include; (i) design and implementation of a prototype for a secure billing framework with real time detection of malicious end node connections (UET, Peshawar) (ii) multimodal sensing enabled real-time intelligent wireless camera networks for secure spaces (UET, Lahore), (iii) arrhythmia and sudden death syndrome detection hybrid network based telemedicine system (CASE, Islamabad), (iv) integrated scholastic learning system (Knowledge Platform, Islamabad), (v) development of a tele-surgical training robot and simulator (SEECS-NUST, Islamabad), (vi) safety assurance in high stress environments (SEECS-NUST, Islamabad), (vii) real time automated broadcast monitoring and information exploitation system (TechArete, Islamabad).
The committee appreciated the efforts and decided to hold a meeting with the experts, who developed these projects and would be given a chance for them to practically demonstrate their projects before the parliamentarians and media which would help in inculcating awareness among the masses.
It was further informed about an ICT entrepreneur development platform National Incubation Center funded by Company and outsourced to a professional management team with an objective to accelerate the growth and success of ICT entrepreneurship. The chairman said that it has been established at allocated space of about 18,000 square feet at National Information Technology Board (NITB) building, Islamabad with the capacity of 40 incubatee teams per annum. It will be achieved through a wide array of business support resources including but not limited to marketing, technical know how, trainings, physical space, shared information technology services and assistance in obtaining finance/start-up capital to ensure enterprise growth.
The chairman PTA said that new initiatives have been taken including Programs for PWDs, Research & Innovation Center(s), Cyber Security, artificial Security, renewable energy and big data analytics. The Additional Secretary IT Ministry said that Korean EXIM bank's team has completed feasibility study for the IT Park in Islamabad, which would be built on 45 acres of land. Further, two IT parks in Lahore and Karachi would also be established. The government has also stared work on 30 Telecentres in the country while the target is 500.