The two-day Digital Youth Summit 2021 (DYS ’21) hosted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in Peshawer opened to the public today, with a large number of tech entrepreneurs, students, investors, and enthusiasts flocking to the venue to hear some of the brightest minds in the local and global IT industry share their insights and experiences.
Attendees began arriving early for the event, braving Peshawar’s Saturday morning frost to secure a spot to hear speakers express their opinions and learn from trainers from global internet giants like Google and Meta (Facebook), who are offering seminars on crucial digital skills.
The main speaker sessions of the DYS are being held at the Pearl Continental, Peshawar’s marquee, with workshops on specialised skills being held concurrently in separate halls. A separate display hall shows both new and established tech firms’ goods and services.
The summit began with statements by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for IT, Science, and Technology, Atif Khan, and Minister for Information and Higher Education, Kamran Bangash, who described the provincial government’s strategy for digital transformation and the expansion of the province’s IT industry.
Atif Khan’s speech centred on the possibility for transformation enabled by information technology. He volunteered his skills to aid young entrepreneurs in the province, pledging to assist them in navigating legal and financial obstacles as they try to accelerate company growth.
“The emphasis is on creating a healthy environment while harnessing assistance from abroad Pakistanis,” he said.
Bangash discussed the significance of digital governance and data analytics in ensuring transparent and successful policymaking.
He also stated that digital skills have contributed significantly to the growth and contribution of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa economy, and he emphasised the importance of strengthening ties between business and education.
Meanwhile, courses on how to effectively advertise on Facebook, how to freelance, and how to sell on Amazon were offered in rooms crowded with young men and women eager to learn skills that may help them turn their fortunes around in Pakistan’s embryonic digital economy.
