Strong telecom links cannot be avoided: IT minister

She speaks at telecom union conference in South Korea.

ISLAMABAD: Extensive cooperation between Pakistan and other countries in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) is imperative for the betterment of people and ensuring peace and prosperity across nations.

Minister of State for Infor­mation Technology Anusha Rehman stated this while speaking at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Con­ference 2014 in Busan, South Korea. She was heading a Pakistani delegation at the conference.

Korean President Park Geun-hye inaugurated the event, which was attended by ministers, dignitaries and representatives of the telecom fraternity from across the world.

According to the Ministry of Information Technology, the conference participants will set out a strategic plan for policy-making by the union and will also elect its management for the next four years. They discussed matters related to the policy and development of ICT across the globe.



The Pakistani delegation met ITU Deputy Secretary General Houlin Zhao, who was briefed by the minister of state about the recent developments and initiatives undertaken in Pakistan’s telecommunication sector.

The minister invited the ITU official to visit Pakistan, who accepted and praised the country for the steps being taken for the promotion of telecommunications.

Anusha Rehman also held bilateral meetings with the ministers and heads of delegations of different countries and organisations including Saudi Communications and IT Minister Mohamed Jamil Ahmed Mulla, Algerian Post and Information Minister Zohra Derdouri, UAE Telecom Regulatory Authority Director General Mohamed Al-Ghanim, US Department of State Ambassador Daniel Sepulveda and US Federal Communication Commission Chairman Thomas Wheeler.

She highlighted the vision of accelerated digitisation, initiatives for the setting up of technology parks at a swift pace, establishment of research and innovation centres and local manufacturing units. She also discussed possible areas of cooperation with these countries.

The state minister is also a finalist for the inaugural Gender Equality and Mainstreaming in Technology Awards instituted by the ITU from this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2014.

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