ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for better Internet access for the masses during his meeting with a delegation of the Global Systems for Mobile Communication’s (GSM) Asia Pacific, despite Pakistan’s ongoing ban on social media platform X.
Pakistani authorities banned X on Feb. 17 after protests swept the country over rigging allegations in the general election held earlier this year. The government defended the “legitimate” ban in court, saying it was aimed at addressing the country’s national security concerns.
Additionally, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retired) Hafeezur Rehman reportedly said the authority plans to restrict the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to prevent users from accessing X. The move was criticized by digital rights activists and triggered fears of digital censorship and Internet freedom.
“Better access to the Internet for the common man, improvement of digital infrastructure, e-governance, vocational training of digital skills among youth and innovation and promotion of business in this sector are focused,” Sharf told a four-member delegation led by GSM Asia Pacific chief Julian Gorman.
As per the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Sharif said his government was implementing an action plan for reforms and digitization of the information technology sector, adding that it would also allocate a “historic” development budget in the current financial year.
He noted that Pakistan was working to increase IT exports on priority. The Pakistani prime minister said his vision revolved around every person in the country having access to a smartphone, broadband Internet connection and every business having a QR code facility.
The visiting delegation briefed the prime minister about GSM’s role in promoting telecom services across the world, including Pakistan. It expressed interest in further enhancing cooperation with the Pakistani government in the field of IT and telecom, the PMO said.
Amid X ban, Pakistan pushes for better Internet access in GSM Asia Pacific talks
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Amid X ban, Pakistan pushes for better Internet access in GSM Asia Pacific talks
- Pakistani authorities banned social media platform X in February, triggering concerns about Internet freedom
- Telcos authority has reportedly said it plans to restrict the use of VPN to prevent users from accessing X
Pakistan president meets UAE counterpart, explores trade, investment opportunities
- Asif Ali Zardari is in UAE on four-day visit to strengthen bilateral ties, review bilateral cooperation
- Both sides discuss regional, international developments, reaffirm commitment to promote peace
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari met his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday during which both sides explored new opportunities in trade, investment, energy and other sectors, Zardari's office said.
Zardari arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening with a high-level delegation on a four-day official visit to the UAE to review trade, economic and security cooperation.
"The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the longstanding and brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE," a statement from Zardari's office said about his meeting with the UAE president.
"They reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and explored new opportunities in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, technology, and people-to-people exchanges, highlighting the significant potential for expanding economic and strategic partnership.
Zardari highlighted the significance of Al-Nayhan's visit to Pakistan last month, the statement said, expressing appreciation for the UAE's continued support for strengthening bilateral ties.
It said both sides also exchanged views on a range of regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to promoting peace, stability and sustainable development.
The meeting was also attended by Pakistan's First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, the Pakistani president's son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Pakistan's ambassador to the UAE.
ZARDARI MEETS AD PORTS CEO
Zardari earlier met AD Ports Group CEO Captain Mohamed Juma Al-Shamisi to discuss the group's investment initiatives in Karachi.
"Both sides agreed that the expansion and modernization of port infrastructure would strengthen trade flows and support Pakistan’s broader economic development and country’s seaborne trade," the President's Secretariat said in a statement.
It added that Zardari described the AD Ports Group's long-term investment and expanding role in Pakistan's maritime and logistics sector as a key pillar of Pakistan–UAE economic cooperation.
Pakistan and the UAE maintain close political and economic relations, with Abu Dhabi playing a pivotal role in supporting Islamabad during periods of financial stress through deposits, oil facilities and investment commitments.
The UAE is Pakistan's third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States, and a key destination for Pakistani exports, particularly food, textiles and construction services.
The Gulf state is also home to more than 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest overseas Pakistani communities in the world, who contribute billions of dollars annually in remittances, a crucial source of foreign exchange for Pakistan’s economy.
Beyond trade and labor ties, Pakistan and the UAE have steadily expanded defense and security cooperation over the years, including military training, joint exercises and collaboration in counter-terrorism and regional security matters.
