Islamabad (31st October 2023): The Internet Governance Conference, a pivotal event focused on addressing pressing issues in Internet governance and resource allocation within the Asia-Pacific region, was held today in Islamabad.

The conference was attended by industry leaders, experts, government officials, and national and international stakeholders from the telecommunication and information technology sector. Notable speakers included CEO Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) Foundation, Ms. Sylvia Cadena; who shared the Foundation’s particular focus on Pakistan for projects in the social sector; and Director General APNIC, Mr. Paul Wilson.

Chief Guest, Caretaker Federal Minister for IT & Telecom, Dr. Umar Saif, also shared his insights and vision for the future of Internet governance. He appreciated the efforts of PTA and other stakeholders such as APNIC for contributions in this domain.

The Federal Minister, emphasized the urgency of addressing the challenges related to Internet Governance. He underscored the importance of overcoming these challenges to enable businesses to flourish. He also highlighted the potential of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) in Pakistan, stressing the need to evolve the internet architecture to align with the demands of the contemporary era and enable Pakistanis to become first class internet users.

Chairman PTA, Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, in his address stated, "We are committed to resolving Internet Governance issues through collaborative efforts with stakeholders in Pakistan. PTA is actively partnering with various organizations, including APNIC, ISOC and ICANN, to enhance capacity building, establish IXPs, facilitate the transition to IPv6, and foster community engagement."

The conference concluded on a resounding note, underscoring the importance of transitioning to IPv6 for increasing broadband penetration in Pakistan. This conference featured a comprehensive agenda, encompassing discussions on regional and global Internet governance, strategies to enhance Internet Exchange Points (IXP), the role of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), the transition to IPv6, and capacity building activities to empower network operators and stakeholders.

 

Malahat Obaid
(Director PR)