KARACHI: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd. (PTCL) is set to provide Netflix gift subscriptions to customers holding 8Mbps or more Internet capacity, a statement said Tuesday.
These Internet subscribers will be able to redeem up to six months of unlimited access to premium Netflix content, allowing them to catch their favorite on-demand TV shows, movies, original Netflix content and more on their smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles. PTCL will also let customers pay for their Netflix subscription via a monthly consolidated PTCL bill, instead of by credit card.
Having already hosted advanced caching servers for Netflix in Pakistan, PTCL has offered Netflix content to Pakistani PTCL users since last year as a trial. Seeing good traction from customers, PTCL now hopes to enable quality entertainment content for consumers in Pakistan, the statement said.
In 2016, PTCL became the first service provider in Pakistan to sign a collaboration agreement with Netflix. Bill Holmes, Netflix’s global head of business development, said: “The partnership marks an important milestone in bringing Netflix’s catalogue of premium content from around the world, as well as the best video streaming experience, to consumers in Pakistan.”
The offer is set to end on May 31, 2018.
PTCL to give its Internet users free Netflix subscriptions
PTCL to give its Internet users free Netflix subscriptions
Pakistan urges pilgrims to complete Saudi biometrics as Hajj preparations gain pace
- Government warns pilgrims biometric verification is required for Hajj visas
- Step follows tighter oversight after last year’s Hajj travel disruptions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government on Friday urged aspiring pilgrims to complete mandatory Saudi biometric verification for Hajj visas, as preparations for the 2026 pilgrimage gather pace following stricter oversight of the Hajj process.
The announcement comes only a day after Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said regulations for private Hajj operators had been tightened, reducing their quota following widespread complaints last year, when tens of thousands of pilgrims were unable to travel under the private Hajj scheme.
“Saudi biometric verification is mandatory for the issuance of Hajj visas,” the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement, urging pilgrims to complete the process promptly to avoid delays.
“Hajj pilgrims should complete their biometric verification at home using the ‘Saudi Visa Bio’ app as soon as possible,” it added.
The statement said the pilgrims who were unable to complete biometric verification through the mobile application should visit designated Saudi Tasheer centers before Feb. 8, adding that details of the centers were available on Pakistan’s official Hajj mobile application.
Pakistan has been steadily implementing digital and procedural requirements for pilgrims ahead of Hajj 2026, including mandatory training sessions, biometric checks and greater use of mobile applications, as part of efforts to reduce mismanagement.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, with the majority of seats reserved under the government scheme and the remainder allocated to private tour operators.
