ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called for the facilitation of cross-border data sharing as a means to tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change and pandemics. Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, the minister emphasized the need for the international community to leverage data as a tool for empowerment, collaboration, and progress. According to Radio Pakistan, Ahsan Iqbal underscored the necessity of a global framework to ensure the equitable use of data. He highlighted the importance of inclusive participation from developing nations in shaping international data governance standards, stressing that all countries should have a voice in the development of these standards. The minister also emphasized the importance of establishing ethical guidelines to protect individual privacy and data sovereignty. For Pakistan, he stated, the responsible use of data is essential to building a future characterized by equity, innovation, and sustainability. Ahsan Iqbal pointed out that data-dr iven decision-making has the potential to increase productivity by up to 20 percent in key sectors such as agriculture and healthcare. He called on the global community to prioritize the development of ethical and equitable data-sharing practices to maximize the benefits of data for all nations.