April 22, 2025 (MLN): The significance of a strategic expertise partnership between Pakistan and ASEAN international locations was highlighted as a key consider driving inclusive and sustainable improvement, with Federal Minister for Planning, Improvement & Particular Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, calling for a brand new period of regional collaboration.

Minister Iqbal addressed the ASEAN-Pakistan Know-how Expo 2025 because the Chief Visitor on the Nationwide College of Sciences and Know-how (NUST) in Islamabad.

The 2-day occasion introduced collectively distinguished delegates from ASEAN member states, academia, trade leaders, and college students to foster collaboration in science, expertise, and innovation, in keeping with the press launch.

In his welcome remarks, Umar Khan, Challenge Director of the Nationwide Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA) at NUST, acknowledged the pivotal position of Minister Ahsan Iqbal in establishing key nationwide analysis facilities.

He highlighted that the NCRA, together with the Nationwide Centre of Synthetic Intelligence, Nationwide Centre of Large Knowledge and Cloud Computing, Nationwide Centre of Cyber Safety, and the Nationwide Centre of GIS and House Functions, have been all launched in 2017-2018.

These initiatives have been a part of the Minister’s imaginative and prescient to propel Pakistan right into a technology-driven future.

Khan famous that Minister Iqbal’s unwavering dedication has reworked these initiatives into thriving ecosystems of innovation, commercialization, and nationwide influence.

In his keynote tackle, Minister Ahsan Iqbal underscored the importance of the Expo as an emblem of shared dedication between Pakistan and ASEAN nations to harness the transformative energy of expertise.

He emphasised the twin nature of technological change, which affords immense promise but in addition presents severe challenges.

From synthetic intelligence to wash power, Minister Iqbal famous that disruptive improvements are reshaping world economies and societies and highlighted the dangers posed by the rising expertise hole, digital divide, and expertise mismatch in growing areas.

Minister Iqbal outlined the widespread challenges confronted by Pakistan and ASEAN international locations, together with local weather change, youth unemployment, and uneven digital infrastructure, whereas additionally pointing to shared strengths resembling a younger and tech-savvy inhabitants, strong universities, and a rising urge for food for innovation.

He acknowledged that this synergy kinds the inspiration for deeper cooperation in science and expertise.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s sturdy dedication to its partnership with ASEAN, Minister Iqbal proposed a forward-looking imaginative and prescient for ASEAN-Pakistan expertise collaboration.

He outlined three strategic pillars to drive this agenda: fostering data and expertise change by means of tutorial partnerships and innovation fellowships, and constructing joint analysis and improvement platforms in rising fields.

Moreover, he emphasised making certain that expertise contributes to sustainable and inclusive improvement, significantly in areas resembling local weather resilience, well being, and training.

The Minister additionally highlighted latest milestones in Pakistan’s journey towards a knowledge-based financial system.

These embody the launch of the Nationwide AI Coverage, the creation of Particular Know-how Zones to draw world funding, the digitization of governance by means of the E-Pakistan initiative, and the strengthening of establishments like NUST and Ignite to help startups and utilized analysis.

He emphasised that the long run should be constructed by means of cooperation, innovation, and shared imaginative and prescient.

Commending NUST for its management in expertise training and analysis, Minister Iqbal known as upon the youth to develop applied sciences that serve not simply markets however the larger public good.

He expressed hope that the ASEAN-Pakistan Know-how Expo would mark the start of a brand new period of collaboration, shaping a wiser, greener, and extra inclusive future for the area.

In his concluding remarks, Minister Ahsan Iqbal issued a compelling name to motion, urging all stakeholders to reimagine ASEAN-Pakistan relations not merely by means of the normal lenses of commerce and diplomacy, however as a dynamic expertise alliance for inclusive and sustainable prosperity. 

Minister Ahsan Iqbal proposed a number of initiatives to reinforce ASEAN-Pakistan technological collaboration.

These included establishing an ASEAN-Pakistan Know-how Cooperation Discussion board that may convene yearly to determine joint initiatives, change progressive concepts, and consider collaborative progress.

He additionally prompt launching an ASEAN-Pakistan Startup Bridge to attach incubators, enterprise capitalists, and entrepreneurs throughout the area, fostering a vibrant cross-border innovation ecosystem.

Moreover, Minister Iqbal emphasised the significance of selling regional requirements and interoperability in digital applied sciences to make sure environment friendly, seamless collaboration amongst member states.

He proposed the co-hosting of expertise expos, hackathons, and innovation challenges to crowdsource options to shared developmental challenges and stimulate youth-led innovation.

Lastly, he advisable institutionalizing a structured digital dialogue, bringing collectively policymakers, academia, trade leaders, and younger innovators to make sure that expertise insurance policies stay inclusive, future-oriented, and people-centered.

Posted on: 2025-04-22T18:27:51+05:00