Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rahman Wednesday highlighted Pakistan’s initiatives taken under the Universal Service Fund (USF) to promote Information and Communications Technology (ICT) across the country.

Addressing a key session of the Digital Society track at the World Economic Forum (WEF) here, she said, “The availability of digital platforms has eased service delivery and e-education, e-learning, e-health, e-agriculture etc are some of the avenues where industry can actively work with governments.”

The title of the session was “Unlocking Societal and Industry Value of Digital Communications.”

The minister said industry and government priorities should be synchronised and sustainable partnership models need to be operationalised under the public-private partnership (PPP) to achieve societal and industrial benefits.

The minister also attended the joint session of the Broadband Commission and the World Economic Forum. With the theme of “Internet for All Communities”, the special session provided a high-level discussion platform deliberate upon methods and initiatives to boost connectivity and digital development initiatives.

The minister highlighted the initiatives undertaken by Pakistan through its USF to spread the ICT services across the length and breadth of the country. The Minister further applauded the ITU/UN Women initiative “EQUALS”, and termed it as a landmark global programme for providing equal opportunities for women and girls in the global technology revolution.

She also attended the World Economic Forum dinner reception by the executive chairman and the management body of the World Economic Forum.

The minister appreciated the efforts and initiatives undertaken by VimpleCom in Pakistan for the promotion of ICTs for development. VimpleCom is the parent company of Pakistan’s largest cellular operator Mobilink.

Telenor Group’s Chairperson Mrs Gunn Warstad and President and CEO Sigve Brekke also called upon the minister in Davos.