Islamabad (IMTISAL BUKHARI )
Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, providing the public with access to modern technology is a top priority. She stated that due to the government’s positive policies, the IT sector has witnessed significant growth. Addressing a ceremony at the Expo Centre, she said that youth are a valuable national asset and that more than 700,000 children will be provided IT training during the current year. She added that victory in Maarka-e-Haq demonstrated Pakistan’s strong cyber security capabilities to the world, while the national economy is now moving in the right direction.
The minister said that youth are a precious asset, noting that around 150 million boys and girls fall within the youth age group. To expand employment and development opportunities for young people, millions have been provided free training. Over the past two years, nearly 300,000 children have received IT training, while 750,000 more will be trained this year.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that Pakistan must be developed as a global brand, which requires collective effort. She emphasized increasing IT exports and said measures are being taken to attract direct foreign investment. Under the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government is promoting a knowledge-based economy. She added that the IT sector has become a catalyst for growth in other sectors, and the government is taking comprehensive steps to further strengthen this field. Ensuring public access to the latest technology remains a key priority, for which all available resources are being utilized.
The federal minister said that inclusive and sustainable economic growth is the government’s foremost objective. She recalled that there was a time when people feared Pakistan would default, but under the prime minister’s leadership, the government not only averted default within two years but also put the economy back on the right track. She said political and economic conditions have improved, the country is moving towards stability, the IT sector is growing rapidly, and foreign investment continues to increase.
Shaza Fatima further stated that Pakistan achieved victory in Maarka-e-Haq, and the world witnessed its success. She credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for playing key roles in this achievement. She said that cyber security played a decisive role in the victory, as comprehensive backup preparations had been made. Pakistan’s IT experts and youth reassured the nation of success and ultimately delivered results, earning global recognition for Pakistan’s cyber security capabilities.
She also stressed that the promotion of e-commerce is the need of the hour. The government has launched the “Aasan Khidmat Service Center” and has transitioned towards e-commerce. She added that the IT sector will witness further growth in the coming days.