The opening ceremony of the International Symposium on Data Technologies (ISDT) was conducted with great enthusiasm at the National Center for Physics (NCP) Islamabad, marking a significant start to the symposium. The event was honored by the presence of the Chief Guest, Syed Muhammad Ammar Naqvi (Special Secretary, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication). In his address, he expressed confidence in Pakistan’s ongoing digital transformation initiatives and highlighted the Ministry’s role in policy development, strengthening ICT infrastructure, and improving governance and public service delivery to support socio-economic advancement.

The Director General of NCP, Dr. Qaisar Ahsan, spoke about the institution’s contributions as a collaborative hub connecting academia, industry, and researchers for the advancement of Pakistan’s IT landscape. Dr. Adnan Noor, Vice Chancellor of Information Technology University (ITU) Lahore, also shared his views on strengthening institutional partnerships and promoting sustained collaboration. Dr. Tanzeel Murtaza, Director IT at NCP, emphasized the growing importance of data technologies as a driving force behind innovation and highlighted the need for joint efforts in technological development and skill building. Prof. Junseok Hwang, Director of the SNU Global R&DB Center South Korea, spoke on human-centered transformation beyond civilization, highlighting the evolving relationship between technology and society. Their remarks collectively reflected a strong commitment to excellence, innovation, and self-reliance in the evolving field of data technologies.