NEWS DESK
Islamabad: The “ITU-Pakistan Digital Inclusion Week: Meaningful ICT for All” was organized by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Pakistan and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Islamabad, Pakistan. This event was supported by the Government of Australia, represented by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) in their support to the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific to implement the ITU Asia Pacific Regional Initiatives.
The Digital Inclusion week aims raise awareness and highlight the ongoing digital inclusion initiatives led by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union, to bridge the digital divide, particularly amongst people in vulnerable situations such girls, children and persons with disabilities.
In promoting a multi-stakeholder and inclusive approach in digital development, this event will gather various stakeholders and partners that are supporting this effort. ITU-Pakistan Digital Inclusion Week: Meaningful ICT for All will highlight three ongoing digital inclusion initiatives:
Girls in ICT Day Pakistan 2022 International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated worldwide every year on the 4th Thursday of April (28 April 2022). Girls in ICT Day provides an opportunity for girls and young women to see the benefits of ICT in enabling their career and aspiration. To date, over 377,000 girls and young women have taken part in more than 11,400 celebrations of International Girls in ICT Day in 171 countries worldwide. The MOITT and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) continued the collaboration in 2021, organizing the Girls in ICT Day Pakistan, in partnership with the Pakistan Government, the United Nations, GSMA, Code for Girls, international organizations, and other stakeholders.
In order to develop and implement a national initiative making the internet safer for children and young people, to raise awareness of the issues and to deal with them in a practical way, it is vital to bring together all the key stakeholders and players. The international collaboration and partnerships also help share the lessons learnt, and receive international expert’s feedback to strengthen child online protection mechanisms in Pakistan.
Accessible Cybercafe for all The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) aims to support the Persons with Disabilities by establishing an Accessible Cybercafe for All and introduce digital skill programs to bridge the digital divide. Digital skills will enable the persons having visual and hearing impairment, mental illness, physical disability, autism and other vulnerabilities, with ICT skills, and support their education, businesses, and employment opportunities. ITU with the support of MOITT, Pakistan, is launching the Accessible Cybercafe for all, and the Digital Literacy Training Program that will mainstream ICT accessibility and digital skills.