Techies unite: Digital Youth Summit draws IT wizards

People from across the world will participate in discussions and share their success stories with Pakistan's youth

PESHAWAR:

The three-day-long Digital Youth Summit 2015 kicked off on Thursday at Sheraz Arena. This was the second summit arranged by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) with the help of the World Bank and other organisations.

According to Faisal Khan of Peshawar 2.0, the organisers were working on making the provincial capital a city of innovation, technology, art and design. He added 60 people from across the world will participate in panel discussions and share their success stories with the youth of Pakistan.

The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, World Bank country chief Rashid bin Masood and IT minister Shahram Tarakai. A large number of aspiring youngsters from the IT sector attended the first day of the summit. They came from all parts of the country.

In his inaugural speech, Khattak urged participants to share their ideas and success stories. “Through your active participation, we can better plan for our future socioeconomic challenges," said the chief minister. Khattak added times have changed and nothing is possible without trained youth in information technology.

He said KPITB, along with Code for Pakistan, has produced several innovative concepts that have proven rather helpful. The CM said the country was preparing itself for this era of ingenuity.

The World Bank, which is organising the event for the second time in Peshawar, stated DYS15 aimed to prepare the next generation of IT innovators. "We have given them opportunities to innovate, to make money and share their ideas with the world," added Masood.

"K-P, and especially Peshawar, is facing several challenges but there are also a lot of opportunities," said Masood. He added 60% of the country’s population was below 30 years of age. “They have to be equipped with technology to make things happen.”

The first lecture of the event was given by Shabbir Ali, who was invited from San Francisco. He pointed out that little importance is given to IT education in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2015.