STAFF REPORT ISB: The Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN) and the Progressive Youth Forum (PYF) welcomed more than 300 attendees to the 2014 Social Media Summit held recently in Islamabad.
Abdullah Dayo, a US exchange programme alumnus, social media activist, and general secretary of PYF, organized the summit, which is funded by a small grant from the Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN).
“You have an extraordinary capacity to make a positive impact in your communities and your country-and social media is a powerful platform for your voices to be heard,” said US Ambassador Richard Olson on the occasion.
On the occasion, the attendees, including journalists, bloggers, social activists, students, and US exchange alumni shared their experiences and exchanged ideas on a range of topics. Panel sessions also focused on social media for youth activism, peace promotion, womens empowerment, entrepreneurship, digital storytelling, and the impact of social media on the changing landscape of journalism.
The speakers included noted journalists, social media and civil society experts, and entrepreneurs. The summit, which also includes Skype sessions with international social media experts, will culminate in a group exercise: a debate on the future of social media in Pakistan.