Post Event Report

Two Days International Conference and Workshop on ICTs for Good Governance in Pakistan

Dated: 1- 2nd December 2013 Marriot Islamabad

About The Conference: Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) have now been recognized as the engine for growth and a source of energy for the social and economic empowerment of any country, specially a third world country. Relationship between ICTs and improved services, to the common man in the areas of health, education, agriculture, governance etc. have now become a proven success for the Governments in developing countries. Today, governments are empowering masses through ICTs as it can prove to be effective short-cut to higher levels of equity in the emerging Global Digital Networked Information Economy. Framing Information and Communication Technology Strategies and Policies are complex exercises which encompass a variety of issues covering areas such as infrastructure, human challenges, technology, architecture, standards, administrative, information, security, financial, legal, privacy, quality of service. In order to coordinate the related initiatives in Public and private sector organizations Pakistan Institute of ICTs for Development Islamabad ( www.PIID.org.pk ) organized a two days Workshop/Conference on 1-2 December 2013 in Islamabad. Conference was attended by large number of participants especially from remote areas of Baluchistan, KPK, GB, AJK and FATA. Federal Education Minister, Prov. Ministers of Education, IT and Agriculture from KPK, Senators, MNAs, Secretary CADD, Chief Executive HEC, VCs, Head of number of Public and Private Organizations were among the participants. Professionals and specialists in their talks and panel discussions stressed the need for using ICTs to bring Good Governance in Education, Health, Agriculture, E-commerce and delivery of Government services at the door steps of People of Pakistan (Good Governance). Main Decisions Made

a) Establishment of “ICTs for Development Think Tank of Pakistan (ICT4D-TTP)” to bring all stake holders in Pakistan on one page. Mr. Ammar Jaffri Chief Executive PIID would function as National Coordinator of the Think Tank.

b) Prov. Education Minister of Information Technology and Education Jointly announced the formation of ICT4D – Task Force of KPK and this task force would work in coordination with ICT4D-TTP and take advantage of all achievements made by the Think Tank in other parts of Pakistan.

c) ICT4D-TTP would approach other Prov. Governments to establish ICT4D Task Forces.

d) Federal Education Minister of Education Mr. Baleegu Rehman announced his full support to the Think Tank on ICTs for Development and desired that a formal proposal may be sent to Federal Government for the required cooperation model.

e) ICT4D-TTP would promote Public-private partnerships and Muti Stake holder approach to promote ICTs for Development in Pakistan.

Way Forward and Agenda of ICT4D – TTP in 2014: ICTs for Development Think Tank of Pakistan ( ICT4D-TTP ) comprises of senior level representatives from Public and Private sector organizations, Universities, Technology partners and NGOs promoting and using ICTs in Development sectors of Education, Heath, Agriculture, E-Commerce and Good Governance in Pakistan. Mr. Ammar Jaffri National coordinator would approach other relevant Public and private sector Organizations to bring other professional and organizations on board. As a way forward, Five teams have been constituted to take the initiative further as follows:- a) E-Education Task Force of Pakistan. b) E-Health Task Force of Pakistan. c) E-Agriculture Task Force of Pakistan. d) E-Commerce Task Force of Pakistan e) E-Governance Task Force of Pakistan. Each Task Force would prepare and submit the initial concept paper and action items to be completed during 2014 by 25th Dec 2013. Some of the guidelines (Presented by Mr. Ammar Jaffri National Coordinator ICT4D-TTP in first meeting of Think Tank in Marriot Islamabad on 1st December 2013) are as follows:-

a) Task Force would do the Mapping of all ICTs for Development supported development initiatives in different parts of Pakistan, especially in Remote areas of Pakistan. (Preparing Data Base)

b) Identify and Document all Public, Private and NGOs engaged in these initiatives c) Identify Strengths, weakness and reasons of delayed in implementations of these

initiatives d) Each Task Force would Identify and Liaison with Regional and International

Initiatives on ICT4D and work as a bridge between Public and private sector organizations and these International organizations

e) Each Task Force would identify, Document and make professional bridges with Pakistani professional working abroad and try to bring them in main stream efforts in Pakistan. All existing facilities and arrangements being offered by Government of Pakistan would be availed at initial stage.

f) Task Force would help Overseas Pakistani to bring Direct Foreign Investments in Pakistan in areas of ICTs for development in Pakistan.

g) Task Force would document and try to remove the bottlenecks being faced by foreign investors due to complicated processes and regulatory systems. Relevant

Ministries would be approached to facilitate foreign investors to invest in ICTs for Development sectors in Pakistan.

h) Holding of awareness Conferences and Workshops on the subject of ICTs for Development in Pakistan.

i) All Stake holders would be brought on one page to put in place an Eco System which could provide all ‘COMPONENTS’ necessary to introduce ICTs in Development Sectors of Pakistan.

j) To facilitate trainings and required coordination at country level with all Public and Private Sector Tele Centers, Pakistan Tele Center Network (www.PTN.org.pk) has been tasked to prepare action plan for 2014.

k) Each Task Force would bring all relevant Public and Private stakeholders on Board with Inclusive Approach.

l) To start with all panelists in the conference in relevant subjects i.e. Education, Health, Agriculture and Good Governance would form the Task Force coordinated by the Coordinators and the Task Force may include any member(s) from any part of Pakistan.

Photos of the Event:

Federal Minister Education, Mr. Baleegh-ur-Rehman addressing the conference

Minister of IT and Agriculture, KPK Mr. Shahram Khan addressing the conference

Minister of Elementary Education, KPK Mr. Muhammad Atif Khan addressing the conference

Mr. Ammar Jaffri, National Coordinator of ICT4D Task Force, delivering his valuable thoughts on ICTs in the opening session

Minister of Elementary Education, KPK Mr. Muhammad Atif Khan, Vice Chancellor SUIT Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, along with the Chairperson of “Center for Women Entrepreneurship”, Ms. Zareen Ammar

Panelists during the session of E-Education

Panelists during the session of E-Agriculture

Panelists during the session of E-Health

Panelists during the session of E-Governance

Guests & Audience Attending the Conference

Plaques for the Moderators and Panelists