Dr. Umar Saif a well-known Pakistani computer scientist and the one who put all his efforts in digitalizing Punjab is named UNESCO chair for information and communication technology for development.
By becoming the first international UNESCO chair in the field of ICTD which will surely help Pakistan to stronger their feet in the field of information technology and will help Pakistan in becoming the center for brilliance in using information technology for development, and will address UN sustainable development goals (SDGS) by using technology.
Umar Saif leads the Punjab technology board and he is the one looking for all the IT projects in the country most famous province, is the graduate of the Massachusetts institute of technology and university of Cambridge. Umar is the only Pakistani who is named among the top 35 innovators in world by MIT technology review in 2011, and a young global leader by the world economic forum in 2010.
He is the only Pakistani who is honored with the Google faculty research award, Mark weiser award, MIT technovator award and Microsoft research digital inclusion award. He is also granted with British Outstanding Alumni Award 2017.
In 2014, he presented with sitara-e-imtiaz by the government of Pakistan, and he is named as the most influential Muslims in the world in 2014-18.
“UNESCO chair is a pride for Pakistan and is recognition of our hard work in using the technology to solve the problems of the people of developing countries, including better reach to education, good healthcare, technological based agricultural practices, rural internet connectivity and digital financial inclusion” Dr. Umar commented.
“This chair will help Pakistan in bringing some positive change and will become the global center of ICTD with this , ITU will established strong cooperation with world leading universities such as United nations university (UNU), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Washington” he added.
While sharing his views Dr Richard Anderson from University of Washington, “Umar as of the founders of the ICTD field, is well qualified to hold the chair with his good leadership and record of entrepreneurial achievement.