Business

IT minister committed to ‘Digital Pakistan’

Highlights need for enhanced cooperation among states

APP January 17, 2017

DAVOS: Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rehman has stated that the transformation to ‘Digital Pakistan’ is a priority agenda with special emphasis on `Bridging Broadband Divide’ to enable socio-economic development through innovation and entrepreneurship.

She said this while presenting Pakistan’s information and communications technology (ICT) experiences and successes with the ICT Ministers of South Asia on ‘Digital Economy and Society in South Asia’ during the World Economic Forum annual meeting

“Pakistan aims to leapfrog its transition to a knowledge-based economy, creating a globally competitive and prosperous country that provides a high quality of life for all its citizens,” she said.

The minister is currently attending the World Economic Forum 2017 on the special invitation from the managing board of the forum and is a keynote speaker and contributor at the main events of the digital economy track.

Speaking on a session about “A Magna Carta for the Internet,” the minister pointed out that owing to the global nature of challenges on internet governance, enhanced cooperation among states and building consensus around a set of agreed international protocols has become critically important to strengthen the stability, trust and security in the cyberspace.

Rehman highlighted the need for protection of rights to enable an environment conducive to universal access to the internet for all segments and businesses. The minister, while speaking at the main event, acknowledged that the specialised track of the WEF on digital economy will immensely help hone global efforts and supplement strategies to reap the benefits of the digital revolution.

“It will not only lead to enablement of broad cross-section of our citizens but will also help us contribute to achieve the digital agenda.”

She shed light on the role of global collaboration; enhance industry partnerships and domestic policies which will determine the steep targets that the global community has to set for itself till 2030 to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2017.

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COMMENTS (2)

Mujahid Hussain. | 7 years ago | Reply please give orders to develop conducive environment to establish international companies such as paypal ebay etc.to attract international buyer of local products and services.we can create more jobs and self employment.

Tahir | 7 years ago | Reply Spreading broadband access around the country without policies to boost e-commerce is just plain rubbish. What has she done to develop conducive business environment for companies like Amazon, Ebay and Paypal. These e-commerce platform vendors have changed the market place and allowed local economies to attract global consumers for indigenous products and services. But Pakistan government has failed to develop technical, legal, logistic and banking infrastructure to allow e-commerce based transactions. Hundreds of thousands of people could have had sustainable jobs, creativity and entrepreneurship could have thrived, local industries could have attracted global buyers and people of Pakistan could have really seen the benefits of broadband and mobility infrastructure.

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