Islamabad: Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja has affirmed the government’s commitment to digital transformation across various sectors, specifically highlighting agriculture and textiles. Addressing a plenary session titled “Developing a Resilient Economy: Fostering Digital Innovations in Agriculture, Textiles, and Beyond,” organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), she emphasized the importance of technological advancement in enhancing productivity, promoting sustainability, and building economic resilience.
According to Press Information Department, Ms. Khawaja expressed the ongoing efforts of digitalization within the country, underscoring the era of technological progression and innovation. She highlighted significant environmental challenges, such as climate change, water scarcity, and soil degradation, which pose threats to agricultural output. By integrating IT and digitization in agriculture and textiles, the minister believes Pakistan can move towards economic resilience and sustainability.
The minister also pointed out the use of innovative digital technologies, like blockchain, to ensure transparency and traceability in textile supply chains. She expressed optimism about leveraging similar technologies to boost textile production in Pakistan. Furthermore, the government’s commitment extends to fostering digital innovation as part of the Digital Pakistan Policy, with an aim to incorporate AI and IoT within the agricultural and textile sectors.
In her address, Ms. Khawaja emphasized the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture to spur innovation in agriculture and textiles. She noted initiatives such as National Incubation Centers (NICs), training programs, Software Technology Parks (STPs), and IT Parks, which are pivotal in this endeavor. She also highlighted the IT sector’s potential to enhance national exports and the government’s focus on a reformative agenda for sustainable development. The minister concluded by acknowledging the critical role of a skilled workforce in any country’s advancement, stressing the importance of data in maximizing project benefits.