KATHMANDU: Chairman of the National Assembly, Narayan Prasad Dahal, emphasized that advancements in science and technology have fostered innovation, making human life easier and more dynamic.
In his address on Monday at the 149th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, Dahal highlighted the necessity of formulating and implementing laws that ensure everyone has equal access to technology and its benefits.
He noted that the transformative capacity of states is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals launched in 2015.
However, he expressed concern about the widening gap among countries in terms of access to and capacity for information technology. “Still, over two billion people are deprived of information.
Collective efforts are imperative to address the challenges posed by inequality. All individuals must be guaranteed equal access to IT and innovation,” Dahal underscored.
Dahal pointed out that world parliaments, through their legislative functions, could play an effective role in resolving issues arising from the expansion of IT, such as privacy breaches, cyber threats, and the spread of propaganda.
For relatively backward countries, he stressed the need for international assistance and cooperation to develop and expand IT, engage in research, mobilize resources, and involve youth.
He also expressed hope that the exchange of best practices among parliaments on science and technology worldwide could help bridge the gaps between developed and developing countries.
Dahal praised the Union’s initiative to incorporate artificial intelligence into its action plan by forming a taskforce on science and technology.
“The Union is a significant forum for fostering debates that help address the world’s pressing problems, such as climate change, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, poverty, and inequality,” he observed.
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