ISLAMABAD: Dr Umar Saif, the caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, has stressed the need for tackling internet governance issues.

The minister shared the future vision he had in his mind regarding internet governance at the Internet Governance Conference held on Tuesday. The event was organised by the Pakistan Telecom­munication Auth­o­rity (PTA) to discuss the internet governance and resource allocation within the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr Saif underscored the importance of overcoming these challenges to enable businesses to flourish, highlighting the potential of 5G and Internet of Things in the region. Moreover, the minister stressed the need for evolving the internet architecture to align with the demands of the contemporary era and enable Pakistanis to become first-class internet users.

The conference was attended by industry leaders, experts, government officials, and national and international stakeholders from the telecommunication and information technology sector.

The speakers included CEO of Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre Foundation Sylvia Cadena and APNIC Director General Paul Wilson.

“APNIC Foundation’s particular focus is on Pakistan for projects in the social sector,” the speakers said.

The conference underscored the importance of transitioning to IPv6, which is the latest protocol used by internet services, which enhances the protection of the IP of the device, for increasing broadband penetration in Pakistan.

The conference featured a comprehensive agenda, encompassing discussions on regional and global internet governance as well as strategies to enhance internet exchange points.

The speakers discussed the role of content delivery networks and the transition to IPv6 as it includes capacity building activities to empower network operators and stakeholders in this regard.

PTA Chairman retired Maj Gen Hafeezur Rehman also addressed the conference.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2023