Biratnagar: A thematic session focused on various dimensions of information technology was held on Friday at the Birat Trade Expo. With information technology as the central theme, presentations and discussions were conducted on cybersecurity, AI for entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and e-commerce.
In the cybersecurity session, Superintendent of Police (SP) Kavita Katuwal, Chief of the Morang District Police Office, warned about the growing risks alongside the benefits of technology.
“AI and information technology have made life easier, but their misuse is also causing significant harm,” she said. “Today, one doesn’t need to carry a gun or a knife—having a mobile phone and a laptop is enough to commit fraud.”
Sharing real-life incidents of online scams, she revealed that nearly NPR 2 billion is lost to fraud every year.
“Banks never ask for OTPs, yet people give them out trusting others,” SP Katuwal said. “Even educated people from good families are falling victim to scams.”
She highlighted cases that begin with social media friend requests, emotional conversations, misuse of private photos, and eventually lead to financial exploitation. Warning the public, she said, “Do not trust anyone too quickly, do not share passwords with anyone, and do not post abusive content on social media in anger—cyber laws can take action against such behavior.”
Urging people to immediately inform the police and guardians if an incident occurs, she added that misuse of technology can lead not only to legal punishment but also to life-altering consequences. She assured that Nepal Police is always ready to assist in such situations.
Karun Thapa, CEO of Silver Gate Software Pvt. Ltd., delivered a presentation on AI for Entrepreneurship, explaining the use of AI in business.
“If you ask AI the right questions, it provides excellent answers,” he said, adding that the use of AI has increased rapidly since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022.
According to him, AI is significantly helping in areas such as virtual assistants, music and video creation, logo design, business planning, and budgeting.
“Platforms like Google, which have massive data, have made tools like Gemini even more powerful,” Thapa explained.
Ishwor Bhandari from Purwanchal University presented on digital marketing and e-commerce, stating that social media has now become both the platform and the marketplace.
“Earlier, it was hard to imagine selling products through Facebook; today, the situation has completely changed,” he said. “If an online community can be built, it creates huge opportunities.”
He emphasized that digital business is not limited to any age group or class and that everyone can benefit from it.
During the program, students raised questions about the use of AI in research and offers received on platforms like Telegram. Responding to these queries, SP Katuwal advised participants not to fall for the temptation of getting rich overnight and to remain cautious of banned or unreliable platforms.
Program coordinator Anil Sharda stated that the event delivered important messages to participants about the correct use of technology, necessary precautions, and the opportunities it offers.