Islamabad, Dec 14: In order to better prepare Pakistan to tackle its social, economic, and environmental issues, the two-day Data for Development (D4D) Symposium ended with a renewed dedication to utilizing data for sustainable development.
The conclusion of the “Data for Development” (D4D) symposium, an initiative to strengthen the role of data in driving sustainable development across Pakistan, was hosted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), according to a press release. Policymakers, development professionals, and stakeholders convened at the event to talk about the potential and problems related to data collecting, protection, and use.
Romina Khurshid Alam, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, praised D4D as a ground-breaking program during her keynote speech. “By bringing together all pertinent stakeholders from public departments across the nation, this project is driving a paradigm shift in development,” she said.
Alam emphasized the value of data in tackling systemic problems, especially in industries like agriculture where problems like inadequate crop nutrition call for evidence-based remedies. “Data is the cornerstone of policy, not a byproduct.”No intervention is possible without strong, accurate, and timely data,” she said.
She emphasized Pakistan’s susceptibilities to climate change and pointed out that making decisions effectively is frequently hampered by a lack of trustworthy data. She called for a data-centric strategy to address urgent issues and increase economic resilience.
Alam also praised the media’s and civic society’s efforts to increase public understanding of the use of data for development. She emphasized that having access to well-informed data would help lawmakers make better choices, which would ultimately benefit the country.Pakistani food
During the ceremony, Alam received a souvenir in recognition of her achievements.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Assistant Representative Dr. Rubina Ali underlined the pressing need for developing countries to improve their data management capacities and the growing problem of “data colonization.” “Effective implications, data protection, usage, and collection are critical skills for development,” she stated.
“AI will change the world in ways mankind can’t imagine, and we must be prepared for it,” Dr. Ali said, highlighting the revolutionary potential of emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI). The Prime Minister’s aide was thanked by Dr. Ali for her steadfast support and dedication to the cause. The D4D project’s accomplishments in enhancing public sector capabilities were also highlighted in a brief documentary that was shown.
A passionate vote of gratitude was given to all participants and stakeholders for their dedication to the D4D program by Dr. Sajid Amin Javed, Deputy Executive Director of SDPI.
