Latest news with #ShahidAhmed
Express Tribune
06-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Pakistani father praises COAS for arranging treatment after India expels ailing children
Listen to article The father two children sent back by India last week has praised Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir for taking responsibility for the treatment of the ailing children. The children, Abdullah (9) and Mansa (7), both suffering from congenital heart disease, had travelled with their father, Shahid Ahmed, to Faridabad, India, in April for life-saving surgery. After successful pre-surgical evaluations on April 22 and 23, the family was ordered by India's Foreigners Regional Registration Office on April 24 to leave the country within 48 hours. The expulsion came in the wake of the Pahalgam attack in Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), after which the Indian government took the controversial step of deporting even Paskistani patients who were undergoing treatment. Shahid Ahmed, a resident of Hyderabad, Sindh, condemned the decision, calling it 'inhumane and unethical.' 'There is no religion greater than humanity. Even Hinduism teaches compassion,' he said, adding that it took him seven years to secure an Indian visa for his children's treatment. On their return to Pakistan, General Munir facilitated the children's admission to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) in Rawalpindi. Shahid expressed deep gratitude to the Army Chief, saying the care at AFIC has far exceeded his expectations. Dr Mehboob Sultan of AFIC confirmed both children suffer from Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital condition involving heart defects and underdeveloped pulmonary arteries. Their treatment will include phased surgeries, with the first phase set to take place in the coming days. Brigadier Dr Khurram Akhtar stated that AFIC is fully equipped to treat complex cardiac conditions in children and adheres to international medical standards. 'There is no need to send such cases abroad. We have performed numerous successful surgeries here,' he added. Tensions between India and Pakistan reached new heights following a deadly attack on April 22, 2025, when 26 men were killed at a tourist site in Pahalgam, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India swiftly blamed Pakistani elements for the attack, but no evidence was presented to support the claim, which Islamabad vehemently denied. In response to the attack, India's Cabinet Committee on Security approved several retaliatory measures on April 23, including the closure of the Wagah-Attari land transit point, a travel advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid Pakistan, a formal notification of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and the revocation of multiple categories of visas for Pakistani nationals. On April 24, Pakistan's National Security Committee (NSC) issued a stern warning, declaring that any attempt by India to block the flow of water into Pakistan would be considered an act of war. The NSC also approved the closure of the Wagah border crossing. The following day, April 25, the Pakistan Senate unanimously passed a resolution rejecting India's allegations regarding the Pahalgam attack, calling them baseless and politically motivated. Tensions further escalated on April 26, when the Pakistani High Commission in London was vandalised during a protest by hundreds of pro-India and pro-BJP demonstrators. The protesters caused property damage, including broken windows and the splashing of saffron paint. Pakistan accused India of encouraging the violence, with Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar condemning the acts as being supported by "Indian state and agencies." British police later arrested two individuals suspected of involvement in the incident.
India Today
26-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Infiltrators Nabbed: Over 500 Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants Detained In Gujarat
5:31 The Indian government has launched a mega crackdown following the Pahalgam terror attack, destroying five houses of terrorists across Kashmir. Security forces targeted residences of Lashkar-e-Taiba members, including Ehsan Ahmed Sheikh in Pulwama and Shahid Ahmed in Shopian. Over 1,500 overground workers have been detained as part of the stringent action against terror infrastructure and logistical support networks.
Tahawul Tech
03-03-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
NTT DATA and Palo Alto Networks enhance private 5G security for industrial deployments
NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and IT services, recently announced a new managed security service powered by Palo Alto Networks industry-leading technologies to enhance private 5G security in industrial and operational technology (OT) environments. Delivered as a turnkey managed service, the innovative offering provides enterprises with a Private 5G network with the visibility and security needed in today's OT environments. Combining Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), OT/ IOT subscriptions with NTT DATA's Private 5G architecture, the new offering empowers clients with improved network visibility, access control and automated threat detection and response capabilities. With Palo Alto Networks NGFW, organisations can apply a Zero Trust security posture, incorporating machine learning (ML) to safely enable only the relevant connections, applications and protocols needed for their network. The NTT DATA Private 5G and Palo Alto Networks offering is easy to set up and manage, seamlessly integrating into enterprise IT/OT environments, allowing organisations to focus on new ideas and innovation while ensuring a high level of security. 'NTT DATA and Palo Alto Networks are creating a new standard for private 5G security and changing what's possible for industrial connectivity', said Shahid Ahmed, Group EVP of Edge Services at NTT DATA. 'By combining Palo Alto Networks advanced cybersecurity capabilities with NTT DATA Private 5G, we're empowering enterprises to securely embrace the next wave of digital transformation and drive innovation with confidence'. Private 5G networks are transforming industries such as manufacturing, healthcare and transportation. They bring fast and reliable connectivity to the edge and deliver seamless and secure communication in complex industrial environments. According to the 2024 State of OT Security report from Palo Alto Networks and ABI Research, 70% of industrial organisations experienced a cyberattack on their OT environment in the last year. Almost 25% of these organizations suffered attacks that led to operational shutdowns and disrupted business continuity. Tackling the visibility gap While private 5G networks are secure by design, features such as end-to-end encryption, which hides communications between devices to ensure the data is private and secure, can hide threats. This can limit deep visibility into network traffic and device activity, leaving security teams unable to proactively monitor and detect threats effectively. 'As security threats continue to rise across industries, enterprises are facing increased challenges protecting their critical infrastructure and data. The rapid expansion of IoT and OT devices is further compounding these risks creating a growing attack surface. Yet, companies still see security as an add on when it needs to be built into the initial design of the network. This is where Private 5G with its inherent security features and advanced measures are making security an integral part of the network', said Alejandro Cadenas, Associate Vice President at IDC. With this news, NTT DATA and Palo Alto Networks are solving this challenge. This unique offering provides: Real-time visibility: Clients can now gain insights into encrypted data from connected devices, traffic patterns and communications. Device profiling: Machine learning algorithms identify and analyse IoT and OT devices based on behaviour and risk. Zero trust security: Strict access controls ensure only authorised devices and applications can communicate. Automated threat detection: AI-driven tools quickly detect and remediate threats. Fully managed service: NTT DATA offers the solution as a fully managed service, bringing experience in both private 5G and network security to new and existing clients. 'As enterprises embrace 5G to accelerate digital transformation, security must be the cornerstone of that evolution', said Anand Oswal, SVP and GM, Network Security at Palo Alto Networks. 'Through our partnership with NTT DATA, we are enabling enterprises to fast-track their digital transformation with confidence by securing their networks and protecting critical data'. Tailored for industrial connectivity The new managed service is designed for industries that rely on secure, connected environments. Manufacturers can monitor devices and mitigate risks in real-time, energy companies can safeguard critical systems and transport operators can protect against disruptions to keep operations running smoothly. Roularta Media Group recently adopted NTT DATA's Private 5G network to modernise its global printing facilities and enable new use cases such as intelligent asset tracking and push-to-talk communications to streamline operations and improve productivity. The company is intrigued with making its OT network more secure. 'We recently deployed NTT DATA's Private 5G network to improve productivity across our facilities and unlock innovative use cases across our global printing operations. The implications of this network security enhancement will be a game changer for our business', said Luc Neysens, CIO of Roularta Media Group. Image Credit: NTT DATA
Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
SSGC admits LPG deal to impact supply
Officials of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Thursday admitted in a parliamentary panel's meeting that its agreement with a private company for converting natural gas into the LPG might impact gas supply to its consumers. During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum — presided over by Mustafa Mahmoodcommittee member Shahid Ahmed noted that gas shortages already exist in the country and yet the SSGC is planning to sign a contract with Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL). SSGC officials confirmed that the contract would impact local gas supply. They informed the committee that the JJVL will convert gas into LPG and sell it to the private market. The committee questioned whether this agreement would reduce Sui Southern's gas supply and sought full details of the JJVL agreement in the next meeting. The parliamentary panel also raised questions with regard to deregulation of the petroleum sector. Committee member Shahid Khan noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has abundant natural resources. He questioned whether a survey had been conducted regarding these natural reserves. The committee sought details about surveys for the next meeting. During briefing on gas storage projects, officials said there is a need for gas storage facilities in the country. They said there was a plan to build a new gas storage project in the country. However, the committee recommended shutting down the gas storage project, arguing that necessity should be evaluated first. MNA Sardar Ghulam Abbas noted that earlier it was said that there were vast gold reserves in Balochistan. "Where are those reserves? First we must verify what exists and what does not," he added, The committee also expressed concerns over the absence of the minister of state for petroleum in the meeting. The chairman noted that the secretary petroleum was abroad but the minister of petroleum should have attended the meeting. Officials stated that a formula had been proposed by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for petroleum sector deregulation and 35% of newly discovered gas can be sold to the private sector. They said efforts are underway to deregulate the petroleum sector. MNA Asad Niazi questioned what will happen to the provinces if deregulation occurs. Petroleum officials responded that Sindh had raised this issue again in the CCI.
