Islamabad: The government of Pakistan is steadfast in its commitment to the Digital Pakistan vision, aiming to bridge the digital divide and boost the country’s economy through significant technological advancements. This pledge was reiterated by Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, during her keynote address at the Digital Nation Summit, which took place in Islamabad on Wednesday.

According to Press Information Department, the summit, organized by GSMA in collaboration with the Ministry of IT and Telecom, featured discussions on enhancing digital infrastructure and inclusion across Pakistan. Minister Khawaja highlighted the government’s efforts in digitalizing key sectors of the economy, governance, and society, noting substantial growth in teledensity and broadband subscriptions which signal positive strides towards these goals. She also emphasized the role of the telecom industry in economic uplift and announced ongoing work on a National IT Policy focused on ease of doing business and tax incentives to spur growth in the IT sector.

The summit also addressed the need for digital gender inclusion and the integration of youth into the digital economy by equipping them with necessary skills. Julian Gorman, Head of APAC at GSMA, supported this vision, stating Pakistan’s potential to become a leading digital nation with the right investment in infrastructure, innovation, data governance, security, and human capital.

Key figures such as Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, and senior representatives from the telecom and IT industry, including CEOs and officials from the Ministry of IT and Telecom, were present to discuss and support the transformative initiatives aimed at fostering a connected, inclusive, and economically robust Pakistan.