Oxfam in Pakistan and Bargad in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MOITT) organized a 2-day consultative meeting on Digital Pakistan Policy (DPP) 2021. A member of MoITT, Junaid Imam, notified that the Digital Pakistan Policy is expected to be launched by end of August 2021, furnishing the necessary elements to tab the digital global market, economic growth, and citizen empowerment.
Imam said the DPP 2021 was developed through an extensive consultative process from all four provinces and the two regions (Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir). The meeting also talked about the ways to incorporate; rural youth especially women, transgender persons, and disabled persons in the DPP 2021.
Junaid Imam, while addressing the Conference, said; “Digital transformation can aid in creating an equal future, where women and girls along with marginalized communities will be eligible to access better opportunities and live without the hazard of poverty.”
Read more: MoITT commences the formulation of Digital Pakistan Policy 2021
The meeting was accompanied by officials of the MoITT and representatives of Federal Commerce Ministry, Kamyab Jawan National Youth Development Program & Office of the PM Advisor on Youth Affairs, Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Climate Change, National Commission on the Status of Women, Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IWCCI), Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITES, Oxfam Youth Advisory Board (YAB), academia, INGOs, civil society and youth organizations/networks, private sector, incubators, practitioners of digital social enterprises, transgender persons, differently-abled persons, and parliamentarians.
Sabiha Shaheen, Executive Director, Bargad said that policy design is as important as policy execution, the real issue is to make policy work for the marginalized groups. Barkan Saeed, Chairman PASHA, said the digital policy should define actionable initiatives. Rural youth need inexpensive internet, devices, and abilities to benefit from Pakistan’s potential in the export market globally.
Seher Afsheen from Oxfam emphasized the need for robust digital transformation. Highlighting the benefits of a digital Pakistan, she shared how she expects the Digital Pakistan Policy (DPP) 2021 to pave the way to stimulate growth and development, especially for the youth and women who represent roughly 60 percent and 49 percent, respectively, of the population. The policy must ensure women and girls have equal access to Information Computer Technologies that will help curtail inequalities, support gender equality, increase productivity, and improve access to health and education, thereby assuring fair participation in social, political, and economic spheres by beating the obstacles of isolation.
Pakistan’s digital footprint is rapidly increasing and with the country’s huge young population it is only going to get bigger. Going digital is the only answer to our administrative issues, our economic miseries, and social problems like education and healthcare access.
Source: Pro Pakistani
