Digitalisation of economy vital to empower women: President Alvi

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that the digitalisation of the economy is essential to empower women and bring other deprived segments into the mainstream.

Addressing the plenary session of the 24th Sustainable Development Conference, the president said the disbursement of the cash assistance to women under the Ehsaas programme directly to their bank accounts would make the women more financially empowered.

The banks have also introduced schemes for women to make them establish their own businesses, which would ultimately make them play a constructive role in the society, he said, adding that the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the world multiple ways to do the things online and the nations making the decisions accordingly would excel.

He lauded the society’s support, as well as the government’s prudent policy of smart lockdown and data-driven decisions to support the poor and economy, which saved the people, as well as the economy.

He also spoke highly of the government’s mass vaccination drive, which, he said, had helped educate the masses about the importance of preventive care instead of curative one, which was also costlier.

Pakistan is the fourth largest country for the prevalence of diabetes, which was also preventable, he said, adding that the Covid-19 pandemic also provided an opportunity to promote online learning, which the nation could not adopt earlier despite availability of tools.

The president said the think tanks like Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), the organiser of the conference, should identify the new trends and exploit them.

Highlighting the strengths of the Pakistani nation, he specifically mentioned the hosting of millions of Afghan refugees by the country, which the developed countries could not do rather than let them drown in the oceans.

He also referred to Pope Francis recent statement during his visit to a refugee camp at Greek Island of Lesbos, in which he termed the neglect of refugees “shipwreck of civilisation”.

President Alvi also asked the think tanks to ensure that their work was also bought by the opinion makers like the government and parliamentarians, which otherwise would not have any impact base in the decision making.

Criticising the trend of fake news, the president urged the people to be cautious of the phenomenon, which could adversely impact the nations and damage the people’s mindset.

Earlier, the SDPI executive director appreciated the government’s timely steps to contain the pandemic and commodities’ prices, which also saved the people from food scarcity.

The adoption of online life was essential, as the information technology has made the people netizens of the internet world.

He said 250 speakers from 20 countries would address the three-day conference who would ponder over new lessons and opportunities for sustainable development.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Dr Sania Nishtar said the Covid-19 pandemic has given a lesson to the world that health was a national security issue and also compelled the people to do the things digitally.

She said Pakistan has put in place the largest social protection network, which was declared the fourth fastest programme by the World Bank and the third fastest in the world in the context of the pandemic.

Dr Sania Nishtar said that the government has been laying special emphasis on digitalisation even prior to the pandemic, as it had launched 20 programmes under the Ehsaas Initiative.

Pakistan is the first country, which is paying higher stipend to girls for their enrolment in schools, she said.

SDPI Board of Director chairman Shafqat Kakakhel also appreciated the government’s smart lockdown policy, massive cash disbursement and targeted subsidy to contain commodities price hike.

The SDPI’s research encompassed multiple subjects like climate change and environment, besides providing advocacy on urgent issues, he added.

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