In a world increasingly reliant on digital connectivity, Huawei continues to spearhead efforts to bridge the digital divide through its commitment to the ITU’s Partner2Connect Digital Coalition. The tech giant, having joined forces with the coalition in 2022, pledged to bring connectivity to over 120 million people in remote areas across 80 countries by 2025. Today, as we stand on the precipice of the “Thriving Together with Tech: Realizing Sustainable Development” event, Huawei is eager to share the strides made in achieving this ambitious goal.
The event, scheduled for November 21, 2023, in Dongguan, China, and featuring parallel sessions globally, serves as a platform to unveil the tangible progress in global connectivity initiatives. A significant focus is on the symbiotic relationship between technology, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
Huawei’s collaboration with the ITU and other partners has materialized in groundbreaking projects, one of which is the Gokina Smart Village initiative in rural Pakistan. This collaborative effort involving Huawei, ITU, Universal Service Fund (USF), Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MoITT), and UNDP has successfully brought network coverage and essential services to an area previously lacking connectivity and untouched by technology.
In his address, Hassan Nasir Jamy, Federal Secretary, MoITT, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all the partners for achieving a significant milestone in our journey towards a ‘Digital Pakistan’. “It is indeed an honor to share the remarkable progress we have made in collaboration with Huawei and other esteemed partners. The Smart Village Pakistan Project is a beacon of hope, a symbol of progress, and a testament to the power of collaboration. Together, let us build a ‘Digital Pakistan’ that leaves no one behind.”
“In education, we identified a critical need for science teachers, particularly in girls’ schools. Through our collaboration with partners like Huawei and ITU, we have harnessed digital education providers, such as ‘Tele-Taleem’, to bridge this gap. In healthcare, the challenges were limited medical services, time-consuming access to health facilities, and a lack of emergency services. In response, our partnership with innovative e-health providers like ‘Sehat Kahani’ is bringing essential healthcare services to the doorstep of these communities,” Hassan added.
He further added: “In alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Digital Pakistan vision, we embark on a transformative initiative taken by Huawei—the Smart Village Pakistan Project. This initiative, born out of collaboration with the Universal Service Fund (USF), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Huawei, symbolizes our commitment to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that no community is left behind in the digital era.”
Ethan Sun, CEO of Huawei Technologies Pakistan, said: “The Gokina Smart Village Project is not just about connectivity; it’s about transforming lives. It aims to overcome challenges such as limited access to essential services.”
Speaking to the media, Deputy CEO and Director Subsidiary Board of Huawei Pakistan, Ahmed Bilal Masud highlighted the progress and achievements of Gokina, saying, “Huawei’s focus on education, health, and digital skills is aimed at bridging societal gaps. Our collaboration with Tele-Taleem for e-education, Sehat Kahani for e-health, and our holistic approach to digital skills and entrepreneurship reflect a strategic effort to tackle the basic life challenges faced by local residents”.
The unique ‘Gokina Village’, a smart village near Islamabad, stands as a testament to collaborative innovation, bringing together diverse communities in Pakistan. This smart village initiative, equipped with education, health, and essential services, holds immense potential for contributing to economic development. We take pride in our ongoing collaboration, constantly generating ideas to make a meaningful impact in these remote areas of Pakistan. ‘Gokina Smart Village’ exemplifies collaborative development, uniting experts from various industries with the public sector to create a high-value, scalable model that opens doors of opportunity for underserved and unconnected communities.
