ISLAMABAD: The federal government has assured Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of full support for digitalisation and development of IT infrastructure, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Wednesday.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the assurance was given during a high-level meeting on the Digital Master Plan and the National Digital Commission held at Governor House, Peshawar. The meeting was co-chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
The meeting was attended by Federal Additional Secretary Ministry of IT Rafique Ahmed Buriro, Pakistan Digital Authority Chairman Dr Sohail, Pakistan Software Export Board CEO Faisal Jaidi, Ignite CEO Bilal Abbasi, Advisor on Science and IT Usman Saifullah, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Dr Fakhar Alam Irfan, IT Secretary Nisar Ahmed and other senior officials of the federal ministry and the provincial government.
During the meeting, Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Dr Sohail gave a detailed briefing on the Digital Nation Pakistan initiative and the National Digital Master Plan. They said that, in line with the Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan vision, all provinces were being integrated into a central digital infrastructure to provide citizens with economic, social and developmental facilities through a one-window system.
The meeting was informed that the digital ecosystem was aimed at improving service delivery in business, health, education and other key sectors.
Officials said all four provinces had been given representation in the National Digital Commission. They added that 500 digital platforms managed by the federal government were functional across the country, including 150 operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The federal minister assured complete cooperation of the federal government in resolving issues faced by the IT sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She said 800,000 youth from the province had already been trained under the DigiSkills programme.
She said that, under the Prime Minister’s directives, specialised training in artificial intelligence, modern digital technology and small business startup development would be provided to the youth of the province so that young men and women could access online employment opportunities from home.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi thanked the Prime Minister and the Federal Ministry of IT, saying the initiatives would play an important role in economically empowering the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to extending full support to federal measures and digital reforms.
Later, the federal minister visited the National Incubation Center Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Peshawar. She met male and female trainees, asked them about their startups, innovative technical projects and training programmes, and appreciated their talent and efforts.
