Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak said that his government established information technology board to equip the youth with the innovative technology as the future of economy would be based on digitalisation.
He said that his government was going all out to beef up the socio economic development in the province. He stated that his government was making efforts on productive lines, adding that human resource development was the key to economic development.
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of digital seminar, co-sponsored by Information Technology Board (ITB) and World Bank (WB). Health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai, Secretary Information Technology Daud Khan, Country Director World Bank, Country head UNDP officials, USAID officials, USID officials, GIZ officials and other international organisation officials also attended the seminar.
The chief minister was taken aback by the ground reality, that with all the resources and the required level of commitment, government had not used technology to increase its potential. He said, “We are adapting innovative technologies coupled with pro investment policy and clear cut targets and still, we are leaning behind other countries. This cannot be our destination. However, right approach and flawless planning would take us forward to fulfill our targets”.
Pervez Khattak said that his government lured domestic and foreign investors with unmatched incentives and at the same time, it established the Information Technology board in order to remove the hopelessness in youth. Other participants assured that the future of the youth was bright as the process of development and prosperity of the province initiated by his government would take help them towards to their destinations.
The chief minister said that CPEC converted the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into the most feasible destination for investors. Khattak said, “We will never beg others but we will work ourselves. When we have the resources, then we do not need to look at others for loans. Our development efforts entice the investors to come forward and invest in this province”.
Pervez Khattak said that this new age came with new dimensions of development that have created big opportunities for the youth. The development of the youth was ranked at the top in his government’s priorities, he added. He also talked about the sports ground constructed for the youth and other recreational and sporting programmes in addition to training the youth to become the skilled work force for the industrialisation process in the province.
The chief minister said that when he took over the government, every public sector institution was inept due to political interference. He expressed that the rulers had been self-centric, adding, that no previous leaders planned the future of the nation. He said that he took upon the job to revamp the system, alter the institutions to deliver and the process still continues. He hoped that KP would be a transparent and corruption free province soon.
Referring to the benefits of CPEC, the chief minister said that it would usher an era of true development in the province. He said that he succeeded in negotiating an alternative route starting from Gilgit via Shandur Chitral, Dir to Chakdara. He said that he deplored the federal government approach towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that KP province was kept in the dark for two years but later, he realized it and started his own efforts. He said that he went to China, held a road show there and succeeded in signing 82 MoUs in different sectors. He assured that he would not take any loans and put pressure on the provincial coffers. He called upon the youth to receive the technological know how so that they could contribute towards the development of their country. Khattak welcomed both, domestic and foreign delegates, and told them that their recommendations would shape the future digitalisation process in the province.
