AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, Pakistan is set to become a significant beneficiary of the digital revolution, with digital access being considered as essential as electricity, healthcare, and education. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the importance of digital access and the role of youth in Pakistan’s digital development at the launch of the National Human Development Report 2023/2024 in Islamabad. The event marked a critical step in outlining Pakistan’s strategy to harness the digital transformation and ensure a better future for its citizens.
According to Press Information Department, Minister Iqbal acknowledged the key role of Pakistan’s youth, noting that the country’s young workforce has made Pakistan the fourth-largest contributor to the global digital freelancing industry. He commended the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its comprehensive report, emphasizing the government’s reliance on its findings to guide national development policies.
The Minister explained how the government has utilized insights from earlier UNDP reports to shape its current projects. He pointed to the government’s initiative to uplift 20 of Pakistan’s poorest districts, based on the Multidimensional Poverty Index introduced in UNDP’s 2018 report. Minister Iqbal emphasized the need to bridge the digital divide, stressing that digital access is a fundamental right in the modern age. The Minister praised the ongoing work to establish National Centers of Excellence in universities across Pakistan, focusing on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, big data, and cloud computing.
Minister Iqbal also outlined pivotal milestones in Pakistan’s digital journey, including the deregulation of the telecommunications industry in 1993, the launch of 3G/4G licenses in 2013, and Pakistan’s first digital policy in 2021. He stressed that the current UNDP report sheds light on the transformative potential of digital inclusion and called for a proactive approach to address the widening socioeconomic gap in the digital age.
The Minister outlined the future development trajectory for Pakistan, emphasizing the need to look toward 2047 and focus on achieving a sustained economic growth rate of 7% to 9% to meet the needs of an expanding population. He stated that Pakistan must aim for a $2 trillion to $3 trillion economy by 2047 to ensure economic stability and prosperity.
The launch event for “Doing Digital for Development” featured notable guests, including UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Kanni Wignaraja. The event drew a large audience of diplomats, policymakers, civil society representatives, students, and other stakeholders, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to embracing the digital revolution.