The Arms Control and Disarmament Centre (ACDC) and the Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (Islamabad) hosted a webinar on “Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development: Exploring New Opportunities for Pakistan” on March 25, 2020. The webinar was moderated by Mr. Najam Rafique, Director CSP-ISSI while the introductory remarks were given by Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director ACDC-ISSI. Mr. Fawad Chaudhary, Federal Minister for Science and Technology was the chief guest at the occasion and the distinguished panel of speakers included: Dr. Abid Qayyum Sulehri, Executive Director Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI); Dr. Usman Chohan, Director for Economics & National Affairs, Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS); Dr. Mohsin Islam Tiwana, Head of Research Department and GM Technology at NUST College of EME and Mr. Khawaja Mohammad Ali, Chief Information Security Officer at the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan (ADBP).
The webinar began with the introductory remarks by Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director ACDC-ISSI, who stated that the world is witnessing a technological revolution. Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Quantum Computing, 3D printing, 5G, Blockchain, drones, robotics and other top emerging technologies are providing us with endless possibilities to achieve progress, growth, peace, prosperity and a sustainable future. To benefit from this revolution, it is the right time for developing countries like Pakistan to invest their time and resources in emerging technologies. He also said that by utilising emerging technologies states can achieve the objectives of human safety and security. It can help rapidly achieve 17 life-changing goals, commonly known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN in 2015.
