Mirza Ikhtiyar Baig (Economist): It is another great initiative of the present government as the Prime Minister has inaugurated an E-Commerce Portal that is going to benefit the trade in Pakistan to a great extent. It is need of the hour that Pakistan adopts all such channels where people can do business through e-commerce. The young generation is already involved in e-commerce but to a limited level. We need a quantum jump in this regard. The people will gradually get affiliated with e-commerce once it is properly implemented. The E-Commerce portal will facilitate the people who want to engage with the freelance work. As for growth of e-commerce in Pakistan is concerned, the challenges to overcome are digitization of payments, improvements in last-mile logistics and better regulation to protect customers and empower them to claim refunds.

Dr. Aliya Hashmi (Economist): It is a good development that the incumbent government is motivating the youth towards digitalization. The world is heading towards digitalization and it is an opportunity for the youngsters to get motivated to adopt e-commerce. Pakistan has been on the mission for years to shake up its economy and create a cost-effective agenda to achieve broad commercialization. The development of e-commerce in the whole world has made it possible for economic development. With the rampant rise in E-commerce and explosion of mobile commerce, the economic playing field for women in Pakistan is changing rapidly and has a positive transformative impact on women entrepreneurs. The E-Commerce Portal inaugurated today by the Prime Minister will promote and facilitate freelancers and e-business in Pakistan.

Brig. (Retd.) Ghazanfar Ali (Defense Analyst): Unfortunately, the world is not ready to assist the Afghan government and its people due to the pressure of the United States. The world witnessed that the United States during its illegal occupation of Afghanistan destroyed the infrastructure of the country. The US President has committed another blunder to the Afghan people by splitting Afghan assets of seven billion dollars between humanitarian aid and victims of the September 11 attacks. Pakistan is trying its best to provide relief to Afghan people at a time when humanitarian crisis is looming over the war-torn country. The United States and the world must understand the ground realities and take appropriate steps to eliminate the sufferings of Afghan people. Pakistan is, time and again, calling the world bodies and the international community to come forward and get engage with Afghan government to support the Afghan people in this difficult time.

Dr. Huma Baqai (IR Expert): The European Union, West, United States and even the World Bank have agreed to release billions of dollars for the re-construction in Afghanistan. The question is how the money will be disbursed. For this purpose, international recognition of Taliban government is mandatory. Moreover, there is a need to get the banking system operational in the land-locked country. The Taliban government is gradually complying with the international demands, including re-opening of girls schools from March. If the world at this point of time does not come forward in support of the Afghan people, there will be a humanitarian crisis and once again there will be anarchy and chaos in the country. There could also be an influx of a large number of refugees that will affect the neighboring countries. It is time for the world to go beyond lip-servicing and take practical measures to facilitate Afghan people.