ISLAMABAD: Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhary Fawad Hussain has said there is a dire need to change syllabus of Media sciences to cope with the needs of the modern era.
Addressing a two-day International Media Conference at Fatima Jinnah Women University in Rawalpindi, the minister said that Pakistan’s relations with digital companies had deteriorated due to some bad decisions in past.
He said “we have to prepare ourselves for coming challenging times”. He also said that the country should welcome and invite technology companies to educate and improve the students.
Fawad advised students to choose the career they desire. “Those who want to study should study, but others who want to play video games should do that as well,” he said.
Gone are the days when a person excelled in life only if they studied hard, he said. “Nowadays, you find even a 20-year-old is a billionaire,” the minister noted.
The minister said that women’s participation in media and technology is imperative for the betterment of the country.
Fawad said that some previous court decisions had hindered the technological progress in the country.
“Technological progress received a big blow in our country due to some previous court decisions,” he said holding these decisions liable for the deterioration of relations with digital companies.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) decision to ban TikTok earlier last year also caused damage to these relations, he added. “Ban culture in the country has affected every sector.”
“I plead judges not to hear cases relating to digital media,” he said. Referring to some universities imposing strict dressing codes, Fawad advised against enforcing strict measures.
“Those who want to wear jeans should be allowed to wear jeans. Others, who want to take an abaya should be allowed to do so,” he said.
The minister pointed out that Pakistan would not be able to attract foreign investment if it did not alter its state policies. “Unemployment will end when foreign investment will come to Pakistan,” he maintained.
Last year, Chaudhry had spoken out when the Punjab Assembly passed the Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill.
“This is a dangerous attitude that will throw us into a vicious circle of sectarian and religious extremism,” he had said. “In Pakistan, Islam is neither threatened by TikTok nor books.”
