ISLAMABAD: Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrived in Islamabad on a three-day visit to oversee a financial inclusion initiative by Pakistan’s central bank, and met with the foreign minister on Monday.
Queen Máxima has been serving as the UN Secretary General’s Special Advocate (UNSGSA) for Inclusive Finance for Development since 2009. This is her second visit to Pakistan after an earlier visit in February 2016.
While appreciating the UNSGA’s dedication to promote financial inclusion, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said during a meeting at the foreign office, that the royal visit would provide greater impetus to ongoing initiatives in the country. In addition, a select group of civil society members working on the financial inclusion and development of women in Pakistan were present at the meeting.
Earlier, the visiting royal chaired a meeting on financial inclusion in Islamabad during which she noted Pakistan’s advancement in the field, but said “more needs to be done,” according to state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
Addressing the gathering with representatives of UN agencies, World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in the audience, the queen stressed the need for use of technology to bring improvement in the financial inclusion.
During her visit, the queen will attend the launch of Micro Payment Gateway, an initiative by the State Bank of Pakistan aimed at reducing the costs of small payments and promoting financial inclusion.
Inclusive finance for development is one of the government’s key priorities.
Queen Máxima is also expected to meet with President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan, as well as a range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
She is actively engaged in promoting access to financial services at a reasonable cost, with the aim of improving economic and social development opportunities in countries across the world.
Dutch queen arrives in Pakistan on three-day visit
Dutch queen arrives in Pakistan on three-day visit
- The queen met with the Foreign Minister and civil society members
- This is the queen’s second trip to Pakistan in four years
Planning minister says Pakistan to set up advanced technology centers to support economic growth
- Ahsan Iqbal says planned centers to focus on artificial intelligence, quantum computing and nanotechnology
- He also cites satellite technology as key tool for climate monitoring, early warning and disaster management
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to set up technology Centers of Excellence, including facilities focused on quantum computing and nanotechnology, as it seeks to benefit from rapid advances in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, state media reported on Friday.
The announcement was made by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who said the government aims to position Pakistan to compete in future technologies that are expected to drive economic growth and reshape global industries.
Quantum computing, which uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information far more quickly than conventional computers, has applications ranging from complex data analysis and cryptography to climate modeling and materials science. Nanotechnology focuses on engineering materials at the molecular level and is widely used in energy storage, medicine and electronics.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Iqbal said countries that master artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing and space technologies would lead the global economy in the coming decades.
“During the address, the minister said Pakistan’s efforts to align itself with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, space innovation and emerging technologies reflect the country’s ambition to participate confidently in shaping the future,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“Ahsan Iqbal further announced that the government plans to establish three Centers of Excellence, including a National Center for Quantum Computing and a National Center for Nanotechnology, aimed at upgrading the national economy,” it added.
He informed the ceremony that measures were underway to develop a new Silicon Valley in Pakistan “to promote cross-fertilization of ideas and innovation by bringing talent, research and industry together under one roof.”
The minister also highlighted the role of technology in tackling climate challenges, noting that satellite systems are increasingly used worldwide for disaster management, early warning systems and climate monitoring.
Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, can benefit from satellite technology to track weather patterns, manage floods and improve disaster preparedness, he said, adding that more than 9,000 satellites currently orbit the Earth and are transforming how economies and governments operate.
Iqbal said the planned centers would support Pakistan’s broader “Uraan Pakistan” vision, which focuses on exports, digital development, energy and infrastructure, environmental resilience and social equity, Radio Pakistan reported.
