SciDev.Net

Freefoto.com

Pakistan's representative at the United Nations (UN) underlined the important role that the UN can play in promoting information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a tool for international development, in a speech to the UN Economic Issues Committee on Tuesday (16 November). Asad Khan called on the organisation to do more to promote technology transfer to developing countries, for instance through the activities of the United Nations University.

Khan also welcomed other existing UN initiatives such as its ICT Task Force, but said he was "disturbed" that the UN was unwilling to provide its Institute for Training and Research with rent-free offices, despite the institute offering free training facilities to member states. He said Pakistan hopes the General Assembly will address this situation.

Pakistan's ICT initiatives include the National Commission for Science and Technology. Khan said that this and other programmes have created a large and skilled information technology workforce.

Link to full article at ThePakistaniNewspaper.com