Page 56 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia Launches National Artificial Intelligence Strategy

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday launched jobs for Saudis under its “Vision 2030” 10 years, SDAIA head Abdullah bin Sharaf
a national artificial intelligence strategy plan. The kingdom aims to train 2,000 Alghamdi told Reuters.
aimed at making it a global leader in the Saudi data and AI specialists over the next
field as it seeks to diversify its oil-based
economy. The National Strategy for Data
and Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI) will seek
to attract $20 billion in foreign and local
investments by 2030, a NSDAI statement
said. Speaking at the opening of the
kingdom’s Global AI Summit, the head of
the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence
Authority (SDAIA) - which will spearhead
the NSDAI strategy - said Riyadh would
announce several AI partnerships. “Saudi
Arabia will implement a multi-phase, multi-
faceted plan that includes skills, policy
and regulation, investment, research and
innovation, and ecosystem development,”
the statement said. Saudi Arabia is pushing
to diversify its economy away from oil,
boost the private sector and create more

Government to Issue Licenses for Smartphone Manufacturing in Pakistan

The Senate standing on Information Technology and ordinary telephones at the local level. Rubina Khalid also proposed
Telecommunication was informed on Friday that Pakistan that banks should be allowed to provide mobile handsets on
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will soon issue licenses for installments. All electronics items including vehicles are available
manufacturing Smartphones in the country. The committee met in installments. Not everyone can buy a mobile phone in cash,
under the chairmanship of Rubina Khalid on Friday who observed said Rubina Khalid. The committee proposed that PTA may
that easy access to smartphones is essential for achieving block mobile handsets if the customer defaults and does not pay
the Digital Pakistan agenda. Committee members proposed installments. Chairperson stated that withholding tax is levied on
PTA to bind mobile companies for providing mobile handset to mobile packages. Why do students come into the tax net and ask
the general public on installments. Member PTA said that the them for holding tax?, she said, adding that the committee had
Authority will provide licenses and companies can manufacture 4G proposed for tax exemption on net packages for students but it was
supporting phones by themselves. “PTA will soon launch license rejected by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The committee
for local mobile manufacturing”, said the official. The committee also discussed the matter pertaining to the non-payment of
recommended that PTA should discourage the manufacturing of PTCL retired employees’ pension. Rehman Malik got angry with
Pakistan Telecommunication Trust officials while saying that
elderly pensioners are being humiliated. The committee has been
giving instructions for two years, but PTCL management is silent,
said Malik, adding that the report of the sub-committee has been
presented in the House. “I have the evidence of how the buildings
were rented”, said Malik, adding that Parliament will issue arrest
warrants for two of the officers. The committee summoned the
board members of PTCL in its next meeting. The committee also
raised the matter of non-provision of internet facility in former
FATA. Closing anything is not the solution, said the chairperson,
adding that PUBG should not be banned, but parents should guide
children.

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