The Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival 2010 is advancing with a new vision.

SICAF, celebrating its 14th festival, has tried to realize the imagination of animations and to be a driving force for the development of cultural contents. We should devote our energy to the realization of bigger imagination getting the cultural age of the 21st century. So we will try to make this SICAF 2010 as a progressive and evolved festival with new imagination. The exhibition, mixed with expertise and popularity, whose spectators can participate in, will be more reinforced than before.
International Digital Cartoon Competition:

SICAF proposes the present and the future of digital cartoon that dreaming various development and propagation. International Digital Cartoon Competitions’ cartoons makes a view point of “open type” beauty and possibility of industrial extension. Digital cartoon exhibition relief inventive  digital cartoon and propose digital cartoons of future by “new experimental cartoon”.

It’s an opportunity for PSEB member IT companies to take part in the said festival to earn business in animation.
Deadline for  International Digital Cartoon Competition:

The deadline has been extended till 26th April 2010, for participation in the competition.

In dedication to the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Butto the First Woman Prime Minister of the Islamic World the President of Pakistan inaugurated the fully operational and most sophisticated Information Technology Park Shaheen Complex Lahore on January 16, 2010 in Governor House Lahore

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PSEB, Shaheen Foundation and MOIT jointly arranged a post inauguration session on January 19, 2010 at Shaheen Complex Lahore at 05:00 pm. This session was chaired by Federal Secretary IT and leaders from IT & Telecom Industry were present to interact directly with MoIT and PSEB and discussed future IT plans. A tour to the facility was also organized for honorable guests.

The Secretary IT stated “The IT industry’s long-term growth can be secured by promoting the entrepreneurial spirit in Pakistan’s future workforce, and by establishing the infrastructure necessary to secure venture capital financing. PSEB has also made good progress in order to establish Pakistan’s first national IT park in Islamabad. Establishing the Shaheen Complex Software Technology Park is a positive step in the right direction.”

“I hope this park will solve the much-needed office space for the growing IT industry. I am delighted to share that with the declaration of this park the total available space managed by PSEB will increase considerably. I would also like to share that PSEB is making best efforts to acquire more buildings to expand the available IT space for the sector.” MD PSEB said on the statement issued here

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PSEB has signed a contract with M/s Shaheen Foundation and converted one of its prominent buildings ‘Shaheen Complex’ located at Egerton Road, Lahore into an IT Park. The state-of-the-art nine-story Shaheen Complex has a total covered area of 360,000 square feet and a rentable office space of 217,000 sq.ft. with two basements and is equipped with high speed fiber connectivity with redundancy and entails the most modern and top of the line civic amenities. The complex offers backup power supply, express lifts, access control and close circuit TV (CCTV) for vigilant security monitoring, centralized heating, ventilation and air conditioning, fully integrated fire detection and voice evacuation system, ample car parking and other civil defense essentials.

The CEOs of IT companies shared the progress, achievements, and challenges faced by their respective entities with the Secretary IT and Managing Director, PSEB, Mr. Talib Baloch. PSEB and MOITT are in the process of identifying viable solutions to address these challenges and to enhance the growth and credibility of Pakistan’s IT industry.

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) is all set to participate in GITEX DUBAI 2008 from 18th to 22nd October 2009. GITEX Dubai is among the world’s top three IT exhibitions and proves to be the most important gateway to the Middle East market. This flagship event has placed Dubai on the map internationally as an emerging global technology hub and it continues to be the most important gateway to the Middle East ICT market. Last year number of exhibitors increased to 3,361 companies, from 83 participating countries and approximately 129,884 visitors from 157 countries attended the event.

PSEB has been participating in this prestigious exhibition regularly for last several years. As a result valuable business leads have been passed on to the participating member companies. This year PSEB has sponsored the participation of eleven leading ICT companies who will be showcasing their products in this international event, he added.

The participating companies include Excellent Solutions, Trillium Information Security Systems, A2Z Creatorz, Royal Cyber Inc, Sidat Hyder Morshed (Pvt) Ltd, WallSoft, Confiz, SuperNova Solutions, Gillani Software, ClearCube Middle East. These companies are renowned world over in their respective areas particularly in software development, information security, web applications, financial applications, quality management, business process management services, graphics, animation and multimedia etc. The key target groups are users from the wholesale & retail sector, banking and financial services, the services sector, government agencies, industrial manufacturing, educational sector and all other users passionate about technology.

Mr. Sulman Hassan, Director International Marketing, PSEB stated that the biggest challenge faced by the IT companies in the prevailing socio economic situation of the country is access to market. The international marketing efforts of PSEB have provided a platform to the member IT companies to market their products and services in key foreign markets. Benefits generated through international exhibitions and delegations can be evidenced by the consistent increase in the foreign exchange revenues, creation of employment and improving the country image / perception the country”

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Pakistani IT companies will be looking forward to doing business with their counterparts in Dubai and networking with financial and technology leaders. The exhibitors will enjoy access to the expanding Dubai IT market and other regional IT powerhouses. The participants will also attend a variety of workshops and conferences involving leading IT professionals from around the globe

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) is a Government agency mandated to promote Pakistan’s IT Industry, including software, IT Enabled Services, hardware and call centers locally and globally. PSEB has been facilitating the IT Industry through its programs in Human Capital, Office Space, Marketing, Company Capability Development, Telecom Bandwidth, Industry Finance, Public Policy, Strategy & Research, and Facilitation. Government has already introduced a package of incentives including tax exemptions for the IT sector until 2016, 100% foreign equity and earnings repatriation and low-rent facilities for IT companies. Pakistan has a large talent pool of English speaking cost competitive and skilled workforce, large number of internationally certified companies and reliable telecom infrastructure.

PSEB works extensively with international trade associations, commerce bodies and media to promote Pakistan’s IT industry There are more than 1200 IT companies registered with PSEB which possess expertise in custom software development, ERP, Financial solutions, Mobile Content, Document Management, Enterprise computing and BPO.

the Pakistan Software Export Board’s (PSEB) Open Source Resource Center (OSRC), in collaboration with the Pakistan Computer Association (PCA), organized an open source operating system workshop for over 70 vendors at the Muhammad Ali Jinnah University, Islamabad. The hands-on training session included Linux orientation, system administration and troubleshooting.

Speaking at the workshop’s closing ceremony, the Chairman Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior, Senator Talha Mehmood, said that such workshops should be held more frequently so that Pakistan’s skilled IT professionals learn about modern developments in the field and serve the country by playing an active and more effective part in the growth of this important sector of the economy. He assured the participants that, keeping in view the importance of IT and the computer industry for the overall progress and development of the sector, he would raise the concerns of the IT industry at every possible forum. He urged the government to provide an enabling environment for the growth of the industry. Mr. Munawar Iqbal, Central President, PCA, and Mr. Khurram Islam Khan, Project Manger, OSRC, also spoke on the occasion.

This workshop was a part of the OSRC’s ongoing series of initiatives to combat software piracy in Pakistan by introducing open source as an alternative to proprietary software, to improve the participants’ skills-set, and to implement Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) at the grassroots’ level.

This was the OSRC’s and the PCA’s second collaboration. They had previously worked together to conduct the hardware vendors’ training program for 300 participants in Faisalabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta in 2008, where the OSRC’s customized training toolkits were distributed free-of-cost.

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and Ministry of Information Technology, Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited, is organizing one of the Asia’s biggest international Information Technology and telecom shows, ITCN Asia 2009. Approved by UFI (Paris) – the global association of the exhibition industry – the event is being held for the ninth consecutive year at Karachi’s Expo Centre, from August 11-13, 2009.

ITCN Asia is designed to be a one-stop meeting place for trade matching of the global and regional IT players with decision-makers from the business and government sectors. With leading and influential IT experts flying in from around the world, the exhibition will include high-profile international conferences on Information Technology, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), multimedia and broadcasting, and an e-marketing workshop. These conferences will provide an effective platform for the global industry’s professionals to exchange their knowledge of state-of-the-art research, development and applications in ICT with local players. The speakers will highlight their respective fields’ latest global developments and trends, and identify the immense potential available in Pakistan’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. They will cover significant ICT issues related to international standards, Pakistan’s telecom industry, mobile communication technologies, IT outsourcing, Internet marketing, the role of telecom and IT in the banking sector, and the automation and computerization of organizations.

PSEB is a Government agency mandated to promote Pakistan’s IT Industry, including software, IT-enabled services, hardware and call centers locally and globally. PSEB is all set to be a part of ITCN Asia; this year, it will sponsor the participation of twenty-nine member IT companies at the event. A2Z Creatorz, Bits Protection, Boundless Technologies, Business Beam, ClearCube Middle East, Cure MD, Efrotech Services, E-INGTECH, Ensign Communiqué, Excellent Solutions, Global Technologies, Infotech (Pvt.) Limited, Lumensoft Technologies, Marriala Consultants, Moftak Solutions, Plexus (Pvt.) Limited, RASG Consulting, RASTEK Technologies, RTE, Sabri Technologies, Server4Sale, Sidat Hyder (Pvt.) Limited, Softech Microsystems, Softech Systems, Supernova Solutions, Systems Limited, Tracking World (Pvt.) Limited, Volmax (Pvt.) Limited and Webiz Media (Pvt) Ltd. will showcase their products and services at the event. “I am glad to be a part of this event as it has been effectively providing an opportunity to converge, network and interact with the executive management eager to implement IT for the economic growth of Pakistan and other countries since the past nine years”, said Mr. Talib Baloch, Managing Director PSEB, in a statement issued here.

Government incentives to the international outsourcing community include 100% equity ownership, 100% repatriation of capital and dividends, and income tax exemption till 2016. Pakistan has a large talent pool of English-speaking, cost-competitive and skilled workforce, a large number of internationally-certified companies, and reliable telecom infrastructure. PSEB works extensively with international trade associations, commerce bodies and the media to promote Pakistan’s IT industry. PSEB has registered more than 1400 IT companies, which possess expertise in custom software development, ERP, financial solutions, mobile content, document management, enterprise computing and BPO.

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MOITT) are committed to act as a catalyst to raise the fast-track development and robust growth of Pakistan’s IT industry.

PSEB and MOITT are launching several initiatives to bridge the gap between the public and private sectors in order to effectively facilitate its member IT companies. As a first step, PSEB arranged a meeting of the CEOs of 40 Karachi-based member IT companies with the Federal Secretary for IT & Telecommunications, Mr. Naguibullah Malik.

The meeting was held to share the national IT vision with the companies. The CEOs shared the progress, achievements, and challenges faced by their respective entities with the Secretary IT and Managing Director, PSEB, Mr. Talib Baloch. PSEB and MOITT are in the process of identifying viable solutions to address these challenges and to enhance the growth and credibility of Pakistan’s IT industry. In this regard, Secretary IT shared “Vision 2015” with the CEOs, a comprehensive action plan for its sustainable growth and development.

Secretary IT stated, “At this point in time, emphasis should be placed on the revision of the existing policies and procedures in order to stay ahead of the competition, and full support will be extended to IT companies”

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PSEB’s member IT companies represented at this meeting include:
Kalsoft, TRG, Sidat Hyder, CRPL, A2Z Creatorz, TPS, Ensign Communiqué, Etilize, 360 Training, Mobile Complete, 110 Solutions, Invaterra, Prislogix, Infotech, Systems Limited, Amaana, FSD Solutions, Ten Pearls, E Planet, ZRG, NC INC, 4W Technologies, Secure Bytes, NDC BPO, Business Beam and Avanza Solutions.

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) is an apex body of the Government, mandated to promote Pakistan’s IT Industry in local and international markets. PSEB facilitates the IT industry through a series of projects and programs in infrastructure development, human capital development, company capability development, international marketing, open source, and the promotion of innovation and technologies.
Government incentives to the international outsourcing community include 100% equity ownership, 100% repatriation of capital and dividends, and income tax exemption till 2016. Pakistan has a large talent pool of English-speaking, cost-competitive and skilled workforce, a large number of internationally-certified companies, and reliable telecom infrastructure. PSEB works extensively with international trade associations, commerce bodies and the media to promote Pakistan’s IT industry. PSEB has registered more than 1400 IT companies, which possess expertise in custom software development, ERP, financial solutions, mobile content, document management, enterprise computing and BPO.

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) is all set to participate in GITEX DUBAI 2008 from 19th to 23rd October 2008. GITEX Dubai is among the world’s top three IT exhibitions and proves to be the most important gateway to the Middle East market. This flagship event has placed Dubai on the map internationally as an emerging global technology hub and it continues to be the most important gateway to the Middle East ICT market. Last year, GITEX Dubai attracted 3,300 companies representing 82 countries and approximately 125,000 visitors from 137 countries attended the event.

“As the United States economy slows down, due in part to the weak dollar, businesses in the Middle East are experiencing 5 percent increase as compared to 4 percent in the USA.  With the business and investment catching up in the Middle East and Asia – Pacific, the two regions are  becoming the fastest growing regions in the world. With the Middle East strategically positioned as a hub of global technology, PSEB and its member IT companies are now looking to capitalize their potential in this attractive market,” MD PSEB said on the occasion.

PSEB has been participating in this prestigious exhibition regularly for last several years. As a result valuable business leads have been passed on to the participating member companies. PSEB will create a customized country pavilion to highlight Pakistani IT industry’s skills and emerging potential in various areas. This year PSEB has sponsored the participation of eleven leading ICT companies who will be showcasing their products in this international event, he added.

The participating companies include A2Z Creatorz, Corvit Networks, Jin Technologies, Kraysis, Lumensoft Technologies, Mantaq Systems (Pvt) Ltd, Netpace Systems, NetSol Technologies, Ovex Technologies, Sidat Hyder and Systems Limited. These companies are renowned world over in their respective areas particularly in software development, web applications, financial applications, quality management, business process management services, graphics, animation and multimedia. The key target groups are users from the wholesale & retail sector, banking and financial services, the services sector, government agencies, industrial manufacturing, educational sector and all other users passionate about technology.

Mr. Talib Baloch, Managing Director, PSEB stated that the biggest challenge faced by the IT companies in the prevailing socio economic situation of the country is access to market. The international marketing efforts of PSEB have provided a platform to the member IT companies to market their products and services in key foreign markets. Benefits generated through international exhibitions and delegations can be evidenced by the consistent increase in the foreign exchange revenues, creation of employment  and improving the country image / perception the country”.

PSEB & Austrade have taken an initiative for creating networking opportunities between the participating companies from Pakistan and Australia during GITEX Dubai 2008. Through this platform participating IT companies from Pakistan will have an opportunity for matchmaking with their Australian counterparts.

Pakistani IT companies will be looking forward to doing business with their counterparts in Dubai and networking with financial and technology leaders. The exhibitors will enjoy access to the expanding Dubai IT market and other regional IT powerhouses. The participants will also attend a variety of workshops and conferences involving leading IT professionals from around the globe.

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) is a Government agency mandated to promote Pakistan’s IT Industry, including software, IT Enabled Services, hardware and call centers locally and globally. PSEB has been facilitating the IT Industry through its programs in Human Capital, Office Space, Marketing, Company Capability Development, Telecom Bandwidth, Industry Finance, Public Policy, Strategy & Research, and Facilitation. Government has already introduced a package of incentives including tax exemptions for the IT sector until 2016, 100% foreign equity and earnings repatriation and low-rent facilities for IT companies. Pakistan has a large talent pool of English speaking cost competitive and skilled workforce, large number of internationally certified companies and reliable telecom infrastructure. PSEB works extensively with international trade associations, commerce bodies and media to promote Pakistan’s IT industry There are more than 1200 IT companies registered with PSEB which possess expertise in custom software development, ERP, Financial solutions, Mobile Content, Document Management, Enterprise computing and BPO.

Amidst the damage of Evacuee Trust Complex (ETC) building where around 23 IT companies were housed, IT companies in Islamabad have restored their operations to normal from alternate facilities and are fulfilling contractual obligations to local and international clients. Mr. Talib Baloch, MD PSEB & Ms. Jehan Ara, President P@SHA said in a joint statement issued here after a meeting in Islamabad.

“Most of the Companies in the building were allied offices of international firms all of which have proper business continuity plans in place as a part of their strategic business plans”.

The bomb-blast outside the Marriott, Islamabad also affected Evacuee Trust Complex (ETC), as it is located just next to Marriott Hotel. The building was the hub of IT Industry in Islamabad with around twenty-three prominent ICT companies and various other Multinationals.

Although the soft structure of building was smashed with interrupted power and other infrastructure issues but the equipment, data /record and furniture other than glass structure of all companies is reported safe and intact. This temporarily paralyzed the operations of tenant companies in the building. In addition to a few minor and eight seriously injured, six causalities have also been reported. The deceased include three employees of tenant companies and three security guards at ETC building. PSEB and P@SHA offer their sincere condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in the vicious attack.

The building was initially sealed but after the intervention of Federal Secretary of Information Technology & MD PSEB, physical access was allowed to the tenant companies on emergency basis to remove their mission critical assets. Companies collected their critical equipment, furniture and records to restore their operations from alternate locations / facilities on war-footing basis. No theft or mismanagement was reported as companies moved their assets from the building. Many companies such as iKonami, Ovex Technologies, Cogilent Solutions, Jin Technologies, LMKR, PiSigma etc. have reinstated their operations from alternate sites in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. International community outsourcing IT to Pakistan has also expressed their satisfaction on continuity of business with Pakistani IT companies. The industry stands tall to fulfill all international and local business commitments. Mr. Ken Morse, MD MIT Entrepreneurship Center, USA, assured his continued support to Pakistan IT industry and confirmed his scheduled visit to Pakistan in November 2008.

To facilitate those affected, vigorous efforts are being made by PSEB to identify and arrange alternate facilities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for both IT Companies and Call Centers on urgent basis to ensure continuation of business. Office space of more than 268,000 sq ft. has been identified to ETC tenant Companies. Few of these locations are ideal to convert into Software Technology Park and negotiations are underway with the owners. More than 690 fully and partially operational seats for call centers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have also been arranged by PSEB and offered to the tenant companies, MD PSEB added.

Both the public and private sector is actively working together to reinstate the temporary loss suffered by the industry. President P@SHA, Ms. Jehan Ara reached Islamabad today to visit the building and met the affected companies. MD PSEB and President P@SHA requested IT companies having excess capacity to help each other by sharing office space. MoIT, PSEB, P@SHA and other industry leaders strongly demand the Chairman ETPB (Evacuee Trust Property Board) to take steps on war footing for the restoration of the building within next 30 days.

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) recently concluded free-of-cost 9-day Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) training program for thirty IT professionals of leading public and private IT companies in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. RHCE proves an individual’s ability to configure networking services and security on servers running a Red Hat operating system. The training was conducted in one of PSEB’s project Open Source Resource Center (OSRC), aimed to promote use of open source in IT industry.

Conducted simultaneously in the three cities from 18-27 August 2008, the OSRC collaborated with Techno-Ed (Pvt.) Limited, a Red Hat International-recommended local partner. Techno-Ed was the only authorized international partner of Red Hat International in Pakistan when the program was initiated. The participants will be certified after passing the five-and-a-half-hour hands-on RHCE exam in October 2008 for which international invigilators will be visiting Pakistan soon.

This training program aimed to convince companies, public/private organizations, institutes and SMEs to migrate to a more cost-effective open source working environment. The target audience included any industry’s experienced IT personnel, network and system administrators, IT managers, telephone company/network engineers, IT consultants serving the IT market, and experienced professionals working in a Linux/UNIX environment with IT companies in Pakistan.

“There are only handful certified local professionals in this unique yet demanded area. Such trainings aim to build capacity in the growing ICT sector. PSEB aims to conduct more of similar trainings in future to provide local sector with the international technical expertise.” PSEB official said in a statement issued here.

Ten experienced professionals from each of city were selected from the pool of applicants after careful scrutiny. The trainees were from leading public and private companies such as Air Weapons Complex, Alcatel-Lucent Pakistan, Crest Garments, Higher Education Commission, Infotech, Jaffer Brothers (Pvt.) Limited,  Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Micronet Broadband (Pvt.) Limited, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Information Technology, Muslim Commercial Bank Limited, National Defense College, Netsoft Solutions, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal, and Worldcall Telecomm.

PSEB is a Government agency mandated to promote Pakistan’s IT Industry, including software, IT enabled services, hardware and call centers locally and globally. PSEB has been facilitating the IT Industry through its programs in Human Capital, Office Space, Marketing, Company Capability Development, Telecom Bandwidth, Industry Finance, Public Policy, Strategy & Research, and Facilitation.

In an effort to address concerns of Pakistan’s IT industry with regard to stringent requirements by EU for outsourcing information and data, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has issued Recommendatory Guidelines for adoption of Model Clauses for transfer of personal data from the EU to third countries & Binding Corporate Rules for international transfers of personal data. These Guidelines are recommended for both – Pakistani IT and IT enabled businesses, especially the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) businesses looking to process data and personal information being transferred from anywhere in the EU to Pakistan as well as for businesses with a presence in Pakistan and frequently involved in global transfers of data.

Mr. Talib Baloch, MD, PSEB said “PSEB is aware of the stringent legal requirements by EU regarding outsourcing data for processing to countries outside the EU and the problems Pakistani companies, at times, face in getting business from EU.”  “PSEB is also aware of the marked differences between the requirements of the EU as opposed to the US in the area of Privacy law and Data Protection. Keeping in mind, that EU and the US markets are both important for Pakistani IT and IT enabled trade, the approach to be adopted must not adversely affect the possibilities of Pakistani businesses to export their services to either jurisdiction.” he added

Mr. Baloch was gratified with the patronage and encouragement expressed by the International businesses in the US & EU on becoming the first mover in the region to adopt compatible international best practices in the area of data protection.

Mr. Baloch indicated that this was the first step in implementation of the Road Map which is part of the Data Confidentiality Law and Framework Project which is underway and included work on legislative efforts to implement international best practice, PSEB, in the meantime, has issued “Recommendatory Guidelines” to facilitate the IT Industry and to encourage the companies in exploring adoption of the measures in compliance with the requirements laid down by the EU Directive on Data Protection. It is envisioned that by adopting these measures, the Pakistani IT and IT enabled businesses would be able to improve their legal coverage in exporting their services and enter into relationships for outsourcing of personal data from the EU to Pakistan. This will go a long way in adopting international best practices by Pakistani companies and demonstrate the contribution of the Pakistani public sector for adoption of the same. PSEB, however, strongly advised that in implementation of these measures and in any amendments thereto adequate legal advice be taken being the prudent responsibility of those adopting the same.

PSEB is a Government agency mandated to promote Pakistan’s IT Industry, including software, IT enabled services, hardware and call centers locally and globally. PSEB has been facilitating the IT Industry through its programs in Human Capital, Office Space, Marketing, Company Capability Development, Telecom Bandwidth, Industry Finance, Public Policy, Strategy & Research, and Facilitation.