Thursday, December 11 2025

Only 41% experts get digital threat training
A recent survey by Kaspersky in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region, titled "Cybersecurity in the workplace: Employee knowledge and behaviour", found that just 41% of professionals in Pakistan received training on digital threats. The knowledge gap is significant, particularly as the majority of cybersecurity breaches are attributed to human error. The findings underline the need for IT departments to provide clear guidance and for organisations to implement structured, practical cybersecurity training that reaches employees at every level. Many cyberattacks today are deliberately designed to bypass digital defences by exploiting human psychology. "Social engineering" schemes, such as phishing emails, manipulate trust and urgency to trick employees into sharing sensitive information or initiating fraudulent transactions.
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Binance, JazzCash sign MoU for growth of virtual assets
Binance, the world’s leading global blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and users, and JazzCash, Pakistan’s leading digital financial services platform and part of the VEON Group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore potential collaboration aimed at supporting the responsible growth of virtual assets in the region. As Pakistan’s virtual asset regulatory framework continues to evolve with the establishment of Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to oversee digital asset activities, momentum is building to foster innovation while ensuring compliance. This MoU establishes a preliminary framework for discussions between the two organisations. Together, Binance and JazzCash intend to explore potential areas of collaboration related to education, awareness, and the possible development of virtual asset solutions that align with regulatory requirements and market needs.
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Systems Limited to acquire Confiz Pakistan through merger
In a corporate move, Systems Limited, one of Pakistan’s largest software firms, has announced plans to purchase Confiz Pakistan (Private) Limited through a merger The listed software firm shared the development in a Thursday notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). “The Board of Directors of the company, by way of resolutions passed through circulation on December 10, 2025, considered and approved the acquisition of Confiz Pakistan (Private) Limited, and all its direct and indirect shareholdings in the Confiz Group of Companies, by way of amalgamation/merger of Confiz with and into the company, in accordance with the provisions of a draft Scheme of Arrangement prepared under the provisions of Sections 279 to 283 and 285(8) of the Companies Act, 2017 and relevant transaction documents, subject to obtaining necessary consents and approvals,” read the notice.
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Wednesday, December 10 2025

NayaPay rolls out global QR payments in 50+ countries
NayaPay, a Pakistani fintech platform, has launched global QR payments in collaboration with Ant International's Alipay+ wallet gateway. According to a statement, the partnership enables NayaPay users to scan and pay at Alipay+ merchants across more than 50 countries. The service connects Pakistani consumers to international payment acceptance in sectors including retail, dining, transport, healthcare and entertainment. Under the arrangement, users can make payments abroad through QR scans with lower transaction costs and reduced processing steps. Alipay+ connects 40 international mobile payment partners to more than 150 million merchants globally. The company said the launch adds global QR acceptance to its existing services, which include Visa debit cards, local and international money transfers, bill payments and home remittances.
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Consumers face over 55% tax on mobile phones
Mobile phone users pay over 55% of the price of a handset in taxes, which is exorbitant, reflects the narrow-mindedness of policymakers and requires urgent reduction in levies to promote digitisation, revealed proceedings of a parliamentary committee meeting. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance on Tuesday described heavy taxes on mobile handsets as irrational and narrow thinking that served the purpose of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) at the expense of the economy. The government was charging over 55% of the prices of mobile phones in taxes, disclosed Member Operations Customs of the FBR Shakil Shah. He explained that taxes were collected on the basis of six price bands, starting from the base price of $30 to over $500 per set. On a minimum value of $700, the FBR charges Rs16,000 mobile levy, Rs22,000 regulatory duty, Rs11,500 withholding tax and above all 25% of the value of the handset inclusive of taxes as sales tax. By imposing these four types of taxes on a single handset of over $700, the FBR collected Rs18 billion in the last fiscal year.
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