‘Pakistani youth not being fully utilised’

Speaker discusses importance of technological advancement for country's development

KARACHI: Pakistan has the most dynamic youth in the world but they are not fully utilised due to our current system, said Ammar Hussain Jafri, director-general of the Centre for Information Technology.

He was addressing a seminar on Friday on E-Sindh Vision 2025, which was organised by University of Karachi's Centre for Digital Forensic Science and Technology (CDFST) at the Umaer Basha Institute of Information Technology. Speaking about the current state of the country, Jafri said Pakistan was one of three countries that failed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).



After the MDGs, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched in 2016 that consists of 17 goals, which will change the world, if implemented. "One million youth are now in varsities and they have a responsibility to serve their country," said Jafri, who is also a former acting director-general of the Federal Investigation Agency. He added that the country's strategic location is highly significant, due to which every super power is interested in Pakistan.

He was of the opinion that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be a great boost to the country's economy and a game changer. "Only 14% of our adult population uses the traditional banking system," said Jafri, explaining how criminals have now become sophisticated and cybercrime is increasing. He added that there is a dire need for cyber security.



Jafri believes that in Pakistan, institutions are busy in their solo flights. He said they must collaborate in order to bring a positive change because Pakistan is lagging behind, even when compared to developing countries, in technology. He added that universities have a crucial role to play in engaging the youth in order to achieve the goal of technological advancement. "We must fulfill the goals of E-Sindh Vision 2025 to successfully accomplish the targets of the SDGs," he said.

Faculty of management and administrative sciences dean Prof Dr Khalid Iraqi said the establishment of the CDFST, which is the first forensic science institute, will be a way forward in terms of combating issues of terrorism and law and order that Pakistan is facing. "We have a responsibility to educate our youth in the field of technology and computer science," he said, adding that the contemporary age is of computer science and technology.



Iraqi was of the opinion that Pakistan needs vision and direction because no nation can prosper without a positive vision or sense of direction. Criminals are set free due to lack of evidence, he said, adding that evidence must be presented comprehensively to curb crime. He added that the centre will play its role in assisting law enforcement institutions in this regard, since the centre is the first of its kind in the entire country.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2016.