Alvi for improving internet in rural areas

Move aimed at meeting economic and technological challenges

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has directed the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication to improve accessibility to the internet facility in rural areas as well as to build innovative IT-based solutions and skills in a bid to meet the economic and technological challenges.

He made the remarks while chairing the second meeting of the committee on emerging technologies at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, according to a statement issued on Monday.

Highlighting the significance of information and communication technologies (ICT), the president said it had enormous potential to uplift the national economy, commerce, exports, education, healthcare, governance, infrastructure, agriculture and many other areas.

ICT played a significant role during the Covid-19 crisis as the technology accelerated digitalisation of many businesses and services including online work and video conferencing in and out of workplaces, Alvi said.

Apart from that, digitalisation also helped get access to healthcare, education and other essential goods and services, he pointed out.

The president emphasised the need for giving a boost to the vital sector by engaging with foreign and Pakistani IT experts for technological development of the country.

In order to improve the internet coverage in rural areas, he directed the Ministry of IT and Telecom to initiate measures to enhance the coverage in far flung areas so that students could gain uninterrupted access to online education.

The meeting was attended through video conference by Minister for IT and Telecom Syed Aminul Haque, IT Secretary Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus, and representatives of provincial governments and IT experts.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2020.

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