PTA chairman inaugurates P@SHA’s Rs 20m SIF
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Dr Muhammad Yaseen has inaugurated ‘Social Innovative Fund’ (SIF) of Rs 20 million of the Pakistan Software Houses Association P@SHA for IT and ITES.
The inaugural ceremony of the event was held here on Thursday at PTA Headquarters, During the address, PTA chairman congratulated P@SHA team on the announcement of ‘Social Innovation Fund’. The chairman said, “In modern theory, ‘Diffusion of Innovations’ is a key path to spread new technologies for the development of modern societies. He said in our society Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can have a positive impact on markets, thus driving innovation. He said future of ICTs are likely to evolve twofold in the shape of Internet, where everyday objects can make online communication for dynamically exchanging resources, applications, services and knowledge. He said, “I strongly believe that this fund will assist a lot in exploring the innovation in our society.”
Objectives of this fund are a new beginning of reaping the associated business, entrepreneurship and social benefits of this exponential ICT infrastructure of Pakistan, he added.
Talking on the occasion, P@SHA president said, “We are certain that we will be able to get some creative juices flowing, spark the beginnings of a few unique solutions, finance some great ideas and provide mentoring to young people who have the passion, the talent and the motivation to make a social impact on our society.”
She said young people have innovative ideas and are able to identify and drive solutions that can tackle urgent social and community challenges. All they need is for someone to work with them to fine-tune and thrash out the ideas and a limited amount of capital to get the ideas off the ground.
She said the initial seed money for this fund has been provided to P@SHA by Google Inc in the form of a grant. As the fund proves its worth, there is a likelihood that more organisations will add into it. She also appreciated the efforts of the PTA in developing ICT market in Pakistan and providing support toward the launch of this fund.
Addressing the ceremony Google’s country consultant in Pakistan said that the grant was to support social entrepreneurship and innovation and was a natural follow-up to the $1 million that Google had provided Pakistan as part of the flood relief effort.
PTA Member (Technical) Dr Khawar Siddique Khokhar, Member Finance (acting), Shabbir Ahmed, P@SHA President Ms Jehan Ara, Google Country Consultant Badar Khushnood, PSEB MD Zia Imran and other senior officers of the authority attended the meeting.
Source: Daily Times
Date:7/15/2011
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