Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima has said that the growing use of the internet among children has become a global concern and that international-level legislation is needed to protect minors from its harmful effects.
She expressed these views while participating in the ‘Safe Scroll National Policy Dialogue’ programme.
Shaza Fatima said children across the world were becoming increasingly connected with the IT sector, adding that even young children were achieving major milestones in the field. She noted that today’s children could not be kept away from information technology, as the more they were stopped, the more they would be drawn towards it.
The federal minister said that dealing with cyber threats required not only laws but also improvement in the surrounding environment. She said the government was working with great seriousness to address cyber-related issues in the country.
She added that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and other government institutions were taking steps for cyber awareness and education.
Shaza Fatima stressed that children must be guided towards the positive use of the internet, saying there was a need to train them and develop a sense of responsibility.
