Asia Internet Symposium, Islamabad 2014

About

This era of digital age or information-based societies is bringing a fundamental transformation in relationships within societies and bridges cultures, individuals, businesses, governments and indeed the wider community at large. It is expected that regional and cross border cooperation will continue to grow as traditional geographic boundaries become largely symbolic in the face of the Internet and technologies, applications and services it enables. As we rapidly embrace the digital age with innovation and creativity enabling and enhancing what we do and how we do it, it is important and timely to look into larger governance issues around these information and communication medium and particularly the Internet.

Internet governance subjects such as management of critical resources, Security and Privacy, Access and Diversity, Piracy and Innovation, Content Regulation, Network Neutrality and Internet for Development have provided the need for a new working agenda for developing and developed nations and calls for multi-stakeholder collaboration in achieving what is truly possible with the empowering nature of the Internet. Much more attention is being placed on multi-stakeholder dialogue about the Internet and its future – and this is being pursued globally, regionally and locally.

The Internet Society’s Asia Internet Symposium Islamabad will provide an opportunity for focused discussions on topical and current Internet Governance topics and include multi-stakeholder dialogue on building a strong future for the Internet in the country. With a recent rise in Broadband Internet penetration and improving digital literacy ratio in Pakistan, the Internet is regarded as the right tool for innovation, social empowerment, economic development and future progress of the community at large.

The following key points will be considered in determining the following with regards to Internet Governance in Pakistan:

               –  Identifying key issues of focus for Internet Governance in Pakistan. Leveraging best practices and experiences from global, regional and national Internet Governance Forums. Use of the Internet and all that it enables for social and economic empowerment.

               –  Identify challenges and opportunities for collaboration among the Stakeholders to ensure the continued evolution and growth of the Internet.

 Participants / Invitees

• Representatives from Internet Industry.
• Representative from Government Institutues.
• Representatives from Academic Institutes.
• Representative from Technical Community.
• Representatives from ITES (IT Enabled Services) Companies.
• Civil Society Organizations.
• Technology Media.

Agenda