Pakistan on the way to achieve socio-economic development goals: Anusha

Pakistan on the way to achieve socio-economic development goals: Anusha

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Technology, Anusha Rahman Tuesday said that Pakistan will continue support and assistance to initiatives aimed at achieving country's shared goal of socio-economic development through safe and secure use of cyberspace.

She stated this while attending the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) e-Commerce Week, in Geneva, Switzerland being held from April 24 to 28, said a press release received here.

The minister was participating in the Mini-Ministerial Meeting, as a keynote speaker in the session titled "Assessing the e-Trade Readiness of LDCs", on the invitation of Secretary General of the UNCTAD.

The E-Commerce Week was the premier event for the governments, international organizations, the private sector and the civil society to discuss e-commerce for development.

The event was being held under the theme "Towards Inclusive E- Commerce", and will include high-level debates on E-Commerce, the digital economy and development.

Speaking as a Panelist in a session on "Cybersecurity and Cybercrime: New Tools for Better Cyber Protection", she said that Pakistan has followed the policy of free flow of information and open access to the internet.

The governments were to develop appropriate Cyber Governance Policies, in order to create a secure cyber ecosystem, generate adequate trust and confidence in ICT systems and transactions in cyberspace and thereby enhance adoption of ICTs in all sectors of the economy.

While chairing the session on "Inclusive Development and E- Commerce: Case of China', the minister highlighted that transformation to "Digital Pakistan" was on the priority agenda of the Government with special emphasis on `Bridging Broadband Divide' to enable socio-economic development to spur economic growth.

ICT/Telecommunication infrastructure and commercial communication services necessary for E-Commerce in Pakistan were well developed, due to the progressive and future looking Policies of Ministry of IT and Telecommunication.

Financial Inclusion Strategy of Pakistan has set target for providing financial services access to 50 per cent of the adult population by 2020.

The Minister of State was also expected to attend other important sessions, events and will be holding bilateral meetings with heads of leading technology companies and other dignitaries during the e-Commerce Week. (APP)