Remarks by Ambassador Khalil Hashmi on 2024 World IOT Top 500 Summit An Intelligently Interconnected World for A Win-Win Future

July 19,2024

Mr. He Xuming
Chairman, World Internet of Things Convention (WIOTC) Executive Committee
Distinguished guests 
Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good morning to everyone!

It is my great pleasure to be part of today’s august gathering, and I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to WIOTC for inviting me to speak at this event that holds immense significance and promise for our future. The theme of this year’s Summit carries a shining message that views Information Technology (IT) as an instrument to realize deeper connectivity and win-win cooperation among nations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Emerging digital technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IOT) are revolutionizing the way we live and work. The fourth industrial revolution is ushering in a new era marked by digitally interconnected world. Thanks to cutting edge technologies, we are witnessing a global digital landscape that is characterized by unprecedented levels of data generation and analysis, increased automation and intelligent systems as well as new economic and social opportunities of cross border trade and investment as well as stronger regional and global cooperation.  

Statistics show an exponential growth in the IOT market in recent years, and projections are that it would continue to grow to reach approximately 3 trillion USD by 2030 - with use of over 50 billion inter-connected products and devices around the world. This remarkable expansion presents a significant opportunity for world economies to harness the power of IoT for driving economic growth and social well-being.

Against this backdrop, I would like to appreciate the unremitting efforts of WIOTC in promoting IoT development and digital economy as well as bridging the digital divide and delivering on Sustainable Development Goal 9 which envisions generating employment and income through innovation.  

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a developing country with a youthful population, Pakistan is witnessing a bourgeoning trend towards the adoption of IoT. The Smart City initiative launched by the Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with China’s technology giant Huawei, is helping improve infrastructure and quality of life of millions of our citizens. In addition, IoT is also being patronized through various policy initiatives such as Digital Pakistan Policy; National Cyber-security Policy; and ongoing work related to the policy on Artificial Intelligence. Together with these frameworks, the Government of Pakistan has introduced special measures to promote startup culture in the country, including through the establishment of Special Technology Zone Authority along with lucrative monetary and fiscal incentives for the technology companies to set up R&D centers and manufacturing bases in Pakistan. 

This growing focus on digitization of economy, society and governance as well as on investment led growth offers wide ranging opportunities for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan in diverse fields from e-commerce and digital agriculture to healthcare technology and high-tech mining. To facilitate investors, we have established a one window facility named ‘Special Investment Facilitation Council’ or (SIFC) that seeks to provide ease of doing business, remove systematic bureaucratic barriers, and optimize synergy between the governments at the federal and provincial levels. The SIFC is headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan himself signalling the highest level of commitment, assurance and ownership to our international partners and investors, especially those from China. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Pakistan and China are iron-clad brothers. Our time-tested, historical relationship is characterized by mutual trust and respect, and is built on shared values and goals of common prosperity. Driven by the spirit of all- weather partnership, China has made several significant contributions to Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, most notably the laying of optical fiber cable that stretches from Kashgar to Karachi to enhance our IT connectivity and efficiency. Our two countries reached a consensus recently to identify Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a priority sector in the second phase of high quality development of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor - known more commonly as CPEC. Importantly under CPEC, we have decided to establish an innovation corridor to promote tech driven innovation, entrepreneurship and development of skilled human resource.   

The future holds immense potential for further expanding our cooperation and partnership in the IT sector. China’s emphasis on new quality productive forces and Pakistan’s young workforce along with growing focus on skill development offer bright prospects for win-win cooperation between our two countries. We look forward to further benefitting from China’s rich experience and vast reservoir of knowledge in digital technologies and infrastructure to upgrade online connectivity, digital economy and overall technological landscape of Pakistan. 

As we seek to realize greater connectivity between China and Pakistan and with the world at large, our two countries could consider developing a mutual framework to promote e-commerce, digital payments and entrepreneurship as a means to stimulate growth and support livelihoods for our peoples. We could also increase the number of e-commerce platforms, dedicated to promoting trade and commerce by leveraging new trends in digital technologies. We must also build on the existing cooperation in the education sector to collaborate further in frontier technologies through scholarships, skill development programs and R&D exchanges. Our two countries may also coordinate closely to ensure participation in IT forums, exhibitions and conferences organized in China or Pakistan. Now that we also have signed on the modalities for third party participation in the CPEC projects, we could also jointly invite other international partners to join our endeavors for digital transformation. Such collective efforts will pave the way for building a Global Digital Community of Shared Future in the New Era. 
 
Thank you & Xie Xie!