Stressing the need for steps to ensure Internet Governance in Pakistan, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed has said that there should be a task force comprising representatives of government, academia, industry and civil society that should devise the future strategy for proper internet governance in the country.
He expressed these views while addressing as chief guest at the launching ceremony of Pakistan School on Internet Governance (PkSIG) along with inauguration of a four-day workshop at HEC Secretariat, Islamabad.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC, Dr. Ismail Shah, Chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Dr Raza Bhatti, Executive Director HEC, and Mr. Anwar Amjad, DG (IT) HEC were also present on the occasion.
The 4-day workshop, which is first-ever event under PkSIG, will cover political, legal, economic, socio-cultural, technological and other dimensions of the Internet Governance within the context of the Pakistani national imperatives. It will include practical oriented workshops, round tables, and case presentations.
In his speech, Hussain commended the initiative of HEC and its partners for launching such a School. He said that all stakeholders including government, private sector, civil society, and academia will have to play a proactive role for policy making related to Internet governance and its effective implementation.
He said that Internet is a driving force for change, adding that steps for internet governance in Pakistan are extremely necessary. He pointed out the problems facing Pakistan in terms of Internet accessibility and productivity and emphasized upon addressing them.
He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC) should also be a part of Internet governance, as Internet can play a pivotal role in achieving the CPEC objectives and that PkSIG is the first step towards a long journey.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that PkSIG will help individuals from Pakistan to better understand the global and regional Internet Governance issues, settings, and processes while gaining access to comprehensive and structured knowledge on various aspects of Internet Governance, and the actors, issues and settings surrounding it.
