ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Pakistan has sought help from the United Nations' Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) in promoting information communication technologies (ICTs) for the benefit of the people and extending micro-finance in rural areas.

"Experiences have shown that ICTs can be used very effectively in administering micro-finance schemes in a successful manner and the UNESCAP should use its broad reach to share successful experiences in other developing countries with Pakistan," said Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari.

The minister was speaking at a meeting with UNESCAP Executive Secretary Dr Kim Hak Su. Nanda Krairiksh, chief of the UN commission, and senior officials of the Ministry of Information Technology were also present.

Dr Kim discussed with Mr Leghari the UNESCAP's proposal to set up a high-class ICT Training Centre at Korea. He said the proposed ICT training centre aimed at extending support to the commission's 59 member countries.

The minister lauded the UN commission's effort and assured Dr Kim full support from Pakistan. However, he emphasized that several regional countries like Pakistan had made great strides in the ICT arena and now needed a high-calibre human resource pool to feed this phenomenal growth.

He said it was of paramount importance that local training was made available in latest technologies. "In this regard, the training centre being set up in Korea should set up branch facilities in Pakistan," he said, adding that Pakistan was not seeking financial support, but rather expertise and know-how only.

The minister also proposed to Dr Kim that the commission should identify its needs in the ICT applications so that local IT companies could develop solutions accordingly.

"The UNESCAP could then market these solutions to other member countries which would not only generate revenue for the local IT industry but more importantly, it would establish Pakistan's creditability as a destination for world class ICT development," he added.

Dr Kim told the minister that the UN commission boasted of a pool of regional advisors in various disciplines, including ICT, and they could be engaged to help the government of Pakistan in these areas. The minister welcomed the gesture, saying his ministry would formally request the commission soon to lend support of its specialists.