Seminar on protecting children in cyberspace held

Speakers at function on the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day Sunday urged government and parents to make children aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the use of internet. The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was celebrated on Sunday.
A ceremony was held in this regard at a local hotel, jointly organised by Ministry of Information Technology and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with 'protecting children in cyberspace' as this year's theme.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest, Engr. Shaukat Ullah, the
Parliamentary Secretary Information Technology said government believed that legal, technical and institutional challenges posed by the issues of protecting children in cyberspace are global and far reaching and these can be addressed through a very integrated strategy with the help of all stakeholders on board.
He noted that academia, telecom industry, NGOs, and the parents could come forward in tackling these problems. Further, he hailed the role of telecom sector in the development and growth of national economy saying that it has become fast growing sector in the last two years and contributed a lot to national exchequer.
The Federal Secretary for Information Technology, Hifz-ur-Rehman said that internet has become vibrant and important medium for accessing the information across the globe. He said there were about 1.5 billion internet users in the world with 90 percent of teens and adults connected through this medium.
Further, 1 in 5 children are predator each year, while using internet, he said and called upon the government, industry and the parents to join hands for protecting youth from technology related threats and ensure cyber safety. He said government has promulgated an ordinance in this connection. Rehman called upon the parents to educate the children of the benefits and fall outs of the internet instead of snubbing them.
He said we don't need to be harsh with the solutions of internet use and its effects, but need to come out with intermediate or flexible solutions. 'We have not only to use the technology but harness it because it is key to success,' he added.
Other speakers too emphasised the need to educate the children of the risks of internet use saying that both parents and teachers should have awareness of these issues.