The issues and challenges of the information age faced by the Muslim world have resulted in establishing the ‘Inter Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT)’. The very reasons for establishing the INIT include;
- Most of the Islamic countries lack in skilled work force and required infrastructure;
- Shortage of IT professionals due to brain drain/emigration of experts to the developed countries;
- Majority of the Islamic countries import computers and peripherals with minor assembling being done locally;
- The software development is only in the nascent stage and the capability gap with the developed countries is widening;
- Inadequate investment in human resource development and information & communication technologies.
The time has come when the Muslim world need to pool its resources and help bridge the widening gap in technological advancement and must formulate joint programs of action to achieve the best results. The Muslim countries, therefore, need to build a bigger and better base for their present and future needs. They must not only strengthen their national IT Systems but also endeavor to develop the institutional mechanisms for the benefit of Ummah.
Thus realizing the importance of Information Technology in the socio-economic development of the Muslim World and in order to bring the Muslim World at par with the advanced nations, the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) proposed to establish the Inter Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT or Network, used interchangeably) among the member Islamic countries.
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