ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has emphasised on promoting information technology (IT) education to ensure rapid progress of the country.
Addressing the National Idea Bank grand finale on Thursday, the president said that virtual education has become a reality especially after Covid-19 and “we must take advantage of it to increase the number of graduates.”
The president said that the generation gap between the decision makers and the youth needs to be minimised to get full advantage of the digital revolution in the world.
Calling for promotion of information technology, artificial intelligence and virtual learning, said the future development of the nations was linked with the swift adoption of modern technology.
He said artificial intelligence and the fourth industrial revolution are the bases for future development of the nations. The president urged the universities to multiply the number of their enrollment to feed the local as well as the international market.
Referring to the available modern tools like Zoom and others, the president said in the modern era, the massive knowledge and data exists in clouds accessible to all even beyond human consumption. Even he said digital information tools are also challenging the formal educational structures as currently, everyone could get education while being at home. Even 80% dentistry can be learnt virtually, he added.
The president said the development in this hi-tech era does not require any huge investment, rather small startups could outshine the giants. He said though Pakistan has lagged behind the race of technology, however, the country can join the league by nurturing ideas coming through the National Ideas Bank.
Citing Pakistan’s youth bulge, the president said many countries want to absorb tech graduates from the market which necessitates the universities to increase the number of their students. He said by 2030, the world would need around 80 million cyber security experts for it being a subject of modern day warfare.
He said in the past, Pakistan lost around 95% of expert minds like doctors and engineers to other countries in absence of the institutions to absorb them.
Earlier, the president distributed cash awards among youth for bringing best ideas in the fields of natural resources, construction, E-commerce, agriculture, health and education.
