PTA Organized Conference on Digital Economy | InfoZonePK

PTA-DigitalEconomy

Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) in collaboration with The Internet Society – Asia Pacific (ISOC-APAC) hold three days INET Islamabad – Pakistan’s first-ever conference on the Digital Economy and the role the Internet can play in sustainable development. The inauguration ceremony was held in a local hotel at Islamabad. The three-day conference held from November 16-18 featured national and international speakers and ICT experts. The steps required and being taken towards a digital economy in Pakistanis being discussed during the conference. ICT agenda required for sustainable development is also a focus of the conference.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs and the chief guest at INET Barrister Zafarullah Khan appreciated the efforts of the Internet Society and the PTA in bringing to the fore issues at the national level, the important role the Internet and ICTs play and how the Internet has been one of mankind’s greatest inventions. He also emphasized the need for inclusive sustainable development across all sectors and the need for Cyber Security.

Earlier on, Dr. Syed Ismail Shah, Chairman PTA, opened the conference and highlighted the importance of a forum like INET where the challenges, opportunities and required development towards a progressive ICT industry can be discussed in an open and collaborative manner. He said that broadband penetration has increased from less than 2 percent to more than 10 percent within last one year exhibiting the vast growth potential for the sector and direct and indirect benefits for the economy.

“Affordable and reliable access to the Internet, and Trust in the Internet to provide a secure cyberspace are two things that are critical to the Digital Economy. Both these issues need a collaboration-by-many approach no one stakeholder group alone can make it happen”, said Rajnesh Singh, the head of the Asia-Pacific region at ISOC in his welcome speech. Along with other panelists, he also emphasized how affordable connectivity and reliable Internet access is key for all sectors of the economy at large.

On this occasion, Chairman PTA Syed Ismail Shah said that this conference was very helpful in highlighting issues related to cyber security, e-government and digital economy. PTA will continue to host such events in future also to have fruitful discussions.

Earlier, Chairperson Higher Education Commission (HEC) Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed opened the second day’s dialogue on the growth of ICT industry in Pakistan with efforts needed to bring more research and development projects to Pakistan.

“International transit prices in Asia are higher compared to North America & Europe”, explained the CEO of LIRNEasia Ms. Helani Galpaya. She emphasized on the role that the operators, civil society organizations and investors need to play in training the individuals involved to build their capacity on a larger scale. Managing Director Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) Mr.Asim Shahryar Husain also spoke at the occasion and briefed about the country’s IT industry and PSEB’s contributions to it with around$2.5 billion of revenue a year.

Asia-Pacific’s Director for the Internet Society (ISOC) Mr. Rajnesh Singh, on the issue of scarcity of data available on the e Internet in the national language, unveiled the initiative by the ISOC where three online identity-training modules were launched in Urdu by the Chairman PTA Syed Ismail Shah. The modules provide the user with a better understanding of the implications of their online activities. On the subject of digital economy in Pakistan Mr. Singh explained how the digital economy is integrated in all the sectors that contribute to the industry growth, be it any sector but without sufficient electricity, the benefits of all the e-services available for the consumer will fail.

PTA in collaboration with ISOC-APAC held three days INET Islamabad – Pakistan’s first-ever conference on the Digital Economy and the role the Internet can play in sustainable development. ICT agenda required for sustainable development was also a focus of the conference.