ISLAMABAD - Speakers at a consultative meeting said that Digital Pakistan Policy (DPP) 2021 is being formulated through a comprehensive consultative process from all four provinces and the two regions (Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir).

The two-day consultative meeting on Digital Pakistan Policy (DPP) 2021 was jointly organised by Oxfam in Pakistan and Bargad in collaboration with Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MOITT). 

It specifically discussed ways to include rural youth especially women, transgender persons and disabled persons in the DPP 2021.  The participants were briefed about the process of developing the Digital Pakistan Policy 2021 by the Ministry officials present at the event. 

The policy is expected to be launched at the end of August 2021 and this two-day meeting was part of this process. It specifically discussed issues and policy solutions for digital inclusion.

Speaking on the occasion, Member IT Syed Junaid Imam said the policy is a start to the digital era for Pakistan and will provide necessary elements to tab the digital global market. He said digitisation is not only about business, it is also for providing services to marginalised groups. Overall objective of the DPP 2021 is economic growth and citizen empowerment, he added

Sabiha Shaheen, Executive Director, Bargad said that policy design is as important as the policy implementation. The real issue is to make policy work for the marginalised groups in implementation.

Consultative meeting oraganised on Digital Pakistan Policy 2021

Seher Afsheen from Oxfam stressed the need for robust digital transformation. Highlighting the benefits of a digital Pakistan, she shared how she foresees the Digital Pakistan Policy (DPP) 2021 paving the way to enable growth and development, especially for the youth and women, who represent roughly 60% and 49% respectively of the population. Barkan Saeed, Chairman PASHA, said the digital policy should specify actionable initiatives. Rural youth need affordable internet, devices and skills to benefit from Pakistan’s potential in export market globally. Raza Sukhera gave a presentation on the DPP. Ali Salman and Iqbal Haider Butt presented results of earlier consultations on digital inclusion and policy review. Ms Aisha Humera Moriani, Senior Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce concluded the first day.