ISLAMABAD: Secretary General of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) Deemah Al-Yahya on Thursday said the organisation would promote Pakistan as an attractive country for foreign investment in the information technology sector and a provider of cloud services.

She said the DCO member states could benefit from IT initiatives of each other and stressed the need for building partnerships with governments, private and non-profit sectors to have a meaningful impact in creating digital prosperity.

During a meeting with President Dr Arif Alvi, a DCO delegation acknowledged the initiatives taken by Pakistan to include women in digital economy, and the government’s goal to double the size of the country’s IT industry through introduction of dedicated tech zones.

Deemah Al-Yahya is heading the DCO delegation to Pakistan, and during the meeting with the president, she said the organisation would work for digital empowerment of women and youth, besides enabling them to create employment opportunities instead of looking for them.

The DCO consists of seven countries — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Nigeria and Oman.

Talking to the DCO delegation, President Alvi said digitalisation of the “governance system and working of parliament” would be completed by 2023.

The president stressed the need for promotion of virtual education in the country and called for steps to increase the number of graduates of information technology.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021