Officials from HITEC University Taxila participated in the National Broadband Forum, organized by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which successfully brought together industry leaders, academia, and government officials to strengthen industry-academia linkages and discuss key developments in the IT sector. The prestigious event was graced by the presence of Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, Chairman Senate of Pakistan, and Ms. Shiza Fatima, Minister of State for IT and Telecom. The honorable Chairman PTA, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Hafeez ur Rehman, warmly welcomed all the esteemed guests and participants.
Attendees from HITEC University Taxila, who were invited by PTA to attend the forum, included Prof. Dr. S. Kamran Afaq (Worthy Vice Chancellor, HITEC University), Prof. Dr. Junaid Ali Khan (Chairperson, Department of Computer Science), and Dr. Saima Shaheen (Head, Software Engineering Program). In representation of Dr. Saima Shaheen, Mr. Talha Saeed, Lecturer, Software Engineering Department, participated in the event on her behalf.
The event provided a platform for discussions between academia and multiple CEOs from the IT industry. Key areas of focus included enhancing collaboration between universities and the IT sector to address industry needs, promote research and development, and bridge the skill gap between graduates and industry expectations.
The forum successfully highlighted the importance of industry-academia partnerships in fostering innovation and ensuring the growth of Pakistan's IT sector. Attendees shared insights, exchanged ideas, and explored avenues for mutual cooperation to drive progress in the digital economy.
The National Broadband Forum was a significant step towards building stronger ties between educational institutions and the IT industry, aligning with the broader goals of technological advancement and national development.