Transformation to Digital Pakistan is our priority, IT Minister

IT Minister said that transformation to “Digital Pakistan” is on the priority agenda of Pakistan.

Ms. Anusha Rahman, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication has been invited by the GSMA to participate in the Annual GSMA Ministerial Programme 2017 at Mobile World Congress 2017 which is happening in Barcelona, Spain.

Launched in 2006, the Ministerial Programme is a unique forum for the world’s most influential telecommunications leaders to unite and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the mobile sector. In the three day program, industry leaders exchange views on the state of mobile industry globally and regionally.

The Minister was a keynote speaker on “Championing the Digital Agenda” theme. She said that the transformation to “Digital Pakistan” is on the priority agenda of Pakistan with special emphasis on ‘Bridging Broadband Divide’ through innovation and entrepreneurship. She stressed the fact that the use of digital technologies is a key driver of enhancing productivity, economic prosperity and increasing the employment rate.

The Minister for IT & Telecom also participated in GSMA and the World Bank Roundtable discussion on “Building Sustainable Digital Identity Ecosystems for the Future” as well as the special session hosted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in continuation of the Digital Economy dialogue from Davos meeting.

She highlighted that digital transformation affects all the public and private sectors, as well as whole society. It is the responsibility of all the sectors to unlock the true value of digital transformation together.

She said that MoITT is working for the expansion of both IT & Telecom sectors in Pakistan. Highlighting the progress of Information Technology, she mentioned that IT sector has exports of over USD 2.5 billion and the Broadband penetration has jumped from 3% in 2014 to some 27%.

The IT and Telecom sectors are also generating new jobs as businesses utilize modern ICT technologies such as e-commerce, e-education, e-banking, e-health, and business related to IT applications.

The GSMA works on projects and initiatives that address the collective interests of the mobile industry and mobile operators. Mobile World Congress (MWC) is the largest gathering for mobile industry organized by the GSMA. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunications was declared the winner of the revered Spectrum for Mobile Broadband Award, at the Global Mobile Awards 2015.