GECs
Sindh govt bans VOIP services to prevent terrorism activities
NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has said it has no immediate plans of banning aforesaid online services in Sindh.
A PTA spokesperson further clarified that it has not received any request from the Sindh government to ban Skype, Viber and Whatsapp for limited period.
On 4 October, the entire social media world in Pakistan had received a shock when Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon announced a three-month ban on VOIP based services mainly due to stop the terrorist activities in Karachi.
Just two days earlier, when an independent watchdog organisation – Freedom House – ranked Pakistan among the bottom 10 countries on net freedom.
The report stated that various political and social obstacles to net freedom have been put in place by successive governments in the name of fighting terrorism.
Earlier, there was a similar ban in Saudi Arabia, increasing on-net calls via Skype resulting in drop of revenues for Etsilat and other major telecom companies. They used the card of “Religion” stating that these services are spreading profanity in the youth and ultimately got those services banned in the country.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
