RIYADH, 21 May 2007 — The Pakistan Writers Club (PWC) organized a literary meeting here to mark the UN World Information Society Day.
The PWC adopted a resolution calling on the government of Pakistan to popularize the use of Internet by ensuring its easy access to the people throughout the country.
Abdur Rauf Moghul, the general secretary of the PWC, spoke about the significance of the UN World Information Society Day.. He said May 17 marks the anniversary of the signing of the First International Telegraph Convention (ITC) and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Moghul said the wide use of Internet has revolutionized life in the West and it is one of the main reasons for the West’s success. He said the world is witnessing a digital revolution and those who lag behind would be the losers.
PWC President Faiz Al-Najdi spoke about the importance of information in the present day world. He began with a quote by Thomas Jefferson, “Information is the Currency of Democracy” and said that the digital revolution has brought about fundamental changes in the way people think, behave, communicate, work and even earn their living. This is the secret behind the success of the developed nations.
He said that while the digital revolution has extended the frontiers of the global village, a vast majority of the people remains unaware of the new developments. As a result the gulf between knowledge and ignorance and the rich and poor is widening. He said that creating awareness about information by observing such days can help bring about a fundamental change in poor countries.
Others who spoke included: Ashiq Hussain, H. M. Fayyaz, Syed Bashir Ahmed, Shahjahan Sherazi, Naim Awan, Ali Asif Rashid, and Omair Tariq Nadim.
