ISLAMABAD: The government is focusing to provide an independent information and communication technology (ICT) platform to youth to nurture them as entrepreneurs.
IT Minister Anusha Rehman expressed these views during her meeting with VimpelCom Chief Digital Policy Officer Stephen Collins, who called on the minister here in on Wednesday.
The minister said that the world has had witnessed a phenomenal growth in Pakistan’s IT and telecom sector during the last three years as the government had accorded highest priority to the development of ICTs. “This tech-revolution was not possible without the meaningful contribution of the private sector for realisation of our vision of Digital Pakistan,” she said.
The minister apprised the delegation of different key initiatives undertaken by the government and the ministry for the development of the IT sector. “We have established a national incubation centre under the public-private partnership and seven more such centres are in the offing. Through these incubation centres, we will be able to develop a cluster of entrepreneurs, who will become an asset not only for the sector but also for the country. We are devising a special training module for training of e-lancers to help our young generation earn their livelihoods by using latest technical skills.”
She went on to say: “We are rigorously pursuing the agenda of Digital Pakistan and spreading e-highways even in remotest and far-flung rural areas of the country. Our broadband penetration, which was has less than 3 percent, has swollen up to around 27% within the last three years. The number of telecom subscribers is crossing 130 million, which is another encouraging sign. Therefore, we believe that Digital Pakistan would not be a dream anymore.”
Stephen Collins appreciated the minister and the government for successfully pursuing multiple initiatives for development of IT sector in the country. He reiterated his company’s commitment towards facilitating the people of Pakistan with modern ICT solutions and offered to continue to work in this regard proactively.
