UNITED NATIONS, September 27 — Minister of State for Virtual Assets Bilal Bin Saqib has called for the Global South to play a greater role in shaping global technology decisions rather than remaining merely a consumer of emerging technologies.
Speaking at a high-level forum on Social Business, Youth and Technology held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Saqib stressed the need for developing economies to have a meaningful voice in decisions governing the rapidly evolving global technology landscape.
“The Global South must not only be a consumer in the technology sector but also be part of decision-making,” he said.
His remarks highlighted growing calls for developing countries to have greater representation in international discussions surrounding emerging technologies, digital finance and technology governance.
Saqib also highlighted Pakistan’s growing focus on digital finance, saying the country was playing an increasingly important role at the global level in promoting the sector.
The UNGA sidelines bring together government representatives, policymakers and other stakeholders for discussions on global challenges, policy priorities and international cooperation.
Pakistan has been seeking to expand its presence in emerging digital sectors, with virtual assets and digital finance becoming part of the country’s broader technology and financial policy discussions.
Saqib’s remarks placed that effort within the wider debate over how developing economies can participate not only in adopting new technologies but also in shaping the rules and decisions governing their future use.