Govt is committed to end digital divide: IT Minister Syed Amin Ul Haque

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque Monday said that the government is committed to end digital divide between the urban and rural areas of the country.
He said that effective measures are being taken for digitalization in the country, adding that Ministry of IT is taking every possible steps for better digital future.
The Federal Minister for IT was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Pakistan-ITU Digital Inclusion Week, 2022 held in collaboration between Ministry of IT, and International Telecommunication Union here. The two-day event is aimed at to raise awareness about the importance of mainstreaming digital inclusion in Pakistan in addressing the digital divide particularly among people in vulnerable situations such as girls, children, and person with disabilities.
He said that the government of Pakistan offered thanks to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for their splendid support for all the countries of the world in general and for Pakistan in particular, in the areas of women empowerment, ICT Accessibility and for Child Online protection.
Syed Amin Ul Haque said that it is the topmost priority of the government to empower women. Steps are being taken taken to equip youth with digital skills, he said. He noted that the digital revolution charactrized by artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and mobile robotics and many more such areas which were previously considered the technologies of the future, have now become the need of the time.
The Federal Minister for IT said that ICT For Girls Project of the Ministry was important initiative to empower women. He said that work on number of projects is going on for provision of telecom services in far-flung areas of the country.
He said that Ministry of IT has formulated National ICT Council for Persons with disabilities with the aim to support the special people with aasisstive technologies and make them the earning members. He said that cooperation between ITU member countries regarding digital transformation is vital.
It is pertinent to mention here that the event of Pakistan-ITU digital Inclusion Week is highlighting three main initiatives including Girls in ICT Day Pakistan, Accessible Cybercafé for all, and child online protection.
The ceremony was attended by Additional Secretary (Incharge), MoITT Mohsin Mushtaq,  Chairman PTA Maj Gen Retd Amir Azeem Bajwa,  Chairman P@SHA Zohaib Khan, senior officers of Ministry of IT, ambassadors, heads of attached departments of Ministry of IT and others.