Pakistani IT ministry, SCO Secretariat to enhance cooperation

Islamabad: Ministry of Information Technology and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretariat will enhance cooperation.

This consensus was reached during the meeting of SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming and Pakistani Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque here.

Matters of common interest and related to Information and Communication Technology were discussed during the meeting.

The two sides agreed to increase cooperation between Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, and SCO Secretariat, said an official statement.

Federal Minister for IT Syed Aminul Haque apprised the SCO Secretary General about the steps taken by Ministry of IT in the field of information technology and telecommunication.

“We want to work with SCO in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Services and digital connectivity,” he said, adding that Pakistan can become digital hub regarding IT experts, better facilities and time zone for SCO member countries.

The Federal Minister for IT maintained that the IT sector of Pakistan had great potential. “Ministry of IT is playing effective role for the development of IT and Telecommunication sector of Pakistan,” he added.

The minister underscored that empowerment of youth especially women is the topmost priority of Ministry of IT.

SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming paid tribute to Federal Minister for IT for the important steps taken in the field of IT and Telecommunication. Steps for empowerment of women, data protection, and provision of broadband services in unserved and underserved areas of the country are laudable, he added.

He underlined that the SCO member countries can work on Artificial Intelligence, and regarding e-education, e-health and e-commerce in far-flung areas.

Additional Secretary (Incharge) Minister for IT and Telecommunication Mohsin Mushtaq and senior officers of the Ministry were present in the meeting.