Fawad blames past court orders for hindering technological progress

Pakistan’s relations with digital companies deteriorated due to court decisions in 2014, says federal minister

RAWALPINDI:

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said that some previous court decisions hindered the technological progress in the country which was unfortunate.

“Technological progress received a big blow in our country due to some previous court decisions,” he said while addressing the two-day international media conference titled “Digital Media Ecologies in the New Normal Challenges and Opportunities” at the Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) in Rawalpindi.

The minister said that Pakistan’s relations with digital companies had deteriorated due to some court decisions in the year 2014.

"Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s decision to ban TikTok last year also caused damage to these relations," he said, lamenting: “Ban culture in the country has affected every sector.”

He added: “I plead judges not to hear cases relating to digital media,” he said.

'Those who want to wear jeans should be allowed to do so'

Referring to some universities imposing strict dressing codes, Fawad advised against enforcing strict measures.

“Those who want to wear jeans should be allowed to wear it. Others, who want to take an abaya should be allowed to do so,” he said.

The federal minister pointed out that Pakistan would not be able to attract foreign investment, if it did not alter its state policies. “Unemployment will end when foreign investment will come to Pakistan.”

He said: “The state cannot regulate everything, let the individuals decide what to do. Political and economic independence moulds an individual’s life.”

Fawad advised students to choose the career they desired. “Those who want to study should study, but others who want to play video games should do that as well,” he added.

Gone were the days when a person excelled in life only if they studied hard, he said. “Nowadays, you can find a 20-year-old billionaire," the minister said.

He said the media industry had witnessed a big change 20 years ago and would change dramatically in the next decade.

"Now the media industry is moving towards digital so educational institutions should also include essays and articles in the syllabus in that regard."

He said during the span of two and a half years, "our universities had rapidly moved towards channels, Twitter, Facebook etcetera".

'Pakistan to spend Rs140b on transmission systems'

Talking about the country’s power issues, the federal minister said Pakistan is generating electricity but encountering problems in its distribution.

He said Pakistan would spend Rs140 billion on electricity transmission systems.

Fawad said he had also asked the energy minister to see if poles and wires would be needed in the next 10 years or not.

Around 50 per cent of Europe’s vehicles were running on electricity, he said adding that after electric vehicles in Pakistan, the mechanic would be the first to lose his job in the next 10 years.

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