Govt Should Make Internet more Accessible, Affordable and Secure: AIS

7.Honourable-Guests

Emergence of new mobile and Internet technologies like 3G or 4G might not transform anything in itself but its responsible, strategic and widespread usage has the potential of developing a vibrant, transparent and progressive new social contract amongst governments, private sector and communities in Pakistan.

This consensus emerged at Asia Internet Symposium held under the Pakistan Chapter of Internet Society over the weekend. The first AIS deliberated on “Internet Governance in Pakistan–building multi-stakeholders’ collaboration”.

Chairman PTA Dr Syed Ismail Shah, CEO of Nayatel Wahaj ul Siraj, regional director Asia Pacific Internet Society Rajnesh Singh, ICT Consultant Pervaiz Iftikhar, Member Ministry of IT Amir Malik, Google Pakistan consultant Badar Khushnood, DGH Legal PTA Ali Asghar, Corporate Head Telenor Aslam Hayat, Internet Policy Analyst Fouad Bajwa along with representatives from Internet Industry, government institutes, academic institutes, technical community, ITES (IT Enabled Services) Companies, civil society organizations and technology media deliberated during the one day symposium.

During the plenary and panel discussion, speakers were of the view that Internet can become a tool for progress and prosperity especially for 60 per cent of rural population across Pakistan. They urged the government to seriously consider Internet as a driver of change and not just a wastage of time.

Many of the speakers agreed that the governments who used Internet as an engine of growth have seen a rise in GDP anywhere between 0.1 to 1 per cent. Consensus remained that Internet is just a tool and not a mean and it is the usage of this tool which can create enabling environment for all segments of society for which government has to develop an all inclusive national ICT policy.

Wahaj ul Siraj was of the view that generally freedom of Internet usage has been remarkable and it gives the government, private sector and even NGOs to develop it into an engine of growth for larger populations. Internet can be used to educate parents, children, youth, women and of course men about their rights and responsibilities.

Aslam Hayat from Telenor while commending 3 and 4 G initiatives hoped that government would refrain from imposing GST on Internet in the coming budget. He argued that Internet and mobile users are already subjected to 39 per cent taxes and any new tax on them would hamper its usage hence the progress of the country.

Fouad Bajwa pleaded to the government to ensure the privacy of the Internet users by making the regulatory authority like PTA more responsible, transparent and in charge of the Internet and mobile traffic.

4-Amir-Malik-with-Syed-Ismail-Shah 3-Wahaj-us-Siraj-with-Syed-Ismail-Shah

5-Panel-Discussion

Chairman PTA Dr Ismail Shah said that Internet governance is a hot topic. He said that it is an effective tool for governance, jobs, education, health care, women empowerment, and youth engagement. He said that Internet users are growing rapidly and currently there are almost 3.5 million active users across Pakistan. He hoped that multi stakeholder dialogue will give some tangible suggestions to PTA and government for using Internet for improved governance.

Amir Malik said that Pakistan has the potential of increasing its GDP by 0.1 per cent by employing Internet as a tool for communicating with the communities, private sector and its various constituents. It can help kick start a new wave of growth simply by having information hence knowledge about their immediate surroundings, government efforts and private sector.

Renowned linguist Dr Sarmad Hussain pleaded that Internet can be a means to preserve and promote not only six of the main languages spoken by 95 per cent of population by even 60 plus languages spoken across the country by just five per cent of population.

Rajnesh Singh appreciated the heightened awareness of Internet usage for governance in Pakistan and hoped that He said that this new era of digital age or information-based societies is bringing a fundamental transformation in relationships within societies. He hoped that regional and cross border cooperation will continue to grow as traditional geographic boundaries become largely symbolic in the face of the Internet and technologies, applications and services.

After an intensive discussion, following key points came out with regards to Internet Governance in Pakistan:

1 – Government has to take a lead in making Internet more accessible, affordable and secure by collaborating with global, regional and national Internet Governance Forums to learn from best practices and experiences of others. Use of the Internet and all that it enables for social and economic empowerment is much needed in Pakistan.

2 – Government should initiate a multi stakeholders consultative process to assess both the supply and demand side of Internet usage besides looking at the access, freedoms and privacy issues. Any ICT national policy should identify challenges and opportunities for collaboration among the Stakeholders to ensure the continued evolution and growth of the Internet.


  • Internet is the biggest source of entertainment, I have read suggested book on FB kamasutra and it improved my knowledge lot, I am done theoretically now seeking f partner friend to do some practicals

  • Govt. should simply buy some common sense. Its ridiculous if a symposium has to tell them petty things.


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