Islamabad - While presenting policy statement at the World Summit on Information Technology (WSIS) Forum 2015 in Geneva, Minister of State for Information Technology Anusha Rehman said that the telecommunication infrastructure of Pakistan provides supportive environment for the sustainable growth, in line with Post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals.
According to a handout, the minister further highlighted that the government has now accorded due policy emphasis to building demand for consumption of these services to ensure sustainable and beneficial diffusion of ICTs in the society particularly broadband in the rural areas; and is committed to complete the ecosystem of ICTs from the development of application and services to the provision of access and delivery of the services and applications to all.
The minister also participated in a dialogue on “Post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals and WSIS Action Lines”. This high-level deliberated upon leveraging of WSIS process and Action Line follow-up to support the post-2015 development framework and SDGs.
During the dialogue, Minister IT highlighted the spread of telecommunication services across the country and initiatives taken by the government for making ICT services accessible to all, particularly, the initiatives taken under the Universal Service Fund Programs.
Minister held bilateral meetings with the delegation of the United Arab Emirates. Both the sides discussed matters of common interest and agreed on mutual cooperation between the two countries.
Furthermore, the minister also visited Pakistan Mission to World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. Pakistan Permanent Representative to WTO briefed the minister about the activities carried out by the WTO Mission, particularly the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). The Minister commended the efforts of WTO Mission for safeguarding Pakistan’s interest at the organization and assured of full support of Ministry of IT to realise completion of these Agreements in best interest of the Country.