The President Arif Alvi recently clarified the need for internet connectivity in Pakistan by signing a contract for the installation of fibre optic cables. He stated that internet connectivity is the first pillar of the Digital Pakistan Policy. According to the IT Minister Syed Aminul Haq, internet connectivity is vital for the development of the country’s IT sector. The importance of internet connectivity in Pakistan is acknowledged by all stakeholders.
Public consultations to be held on 2021 Digital Pakistan Policy
The Government of Pakistan has planned to hold public consultations on its 2021 Digital Pakistan Policy. The meeting was attended by the Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Industries and Production, Minister for Commerce and Finance, Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra, Chairman Privatization Commission, and Federal Secretary Bilal Azhar Kayani.
The participants expressed their sympathies to flood victims in Pakistan and demanded adequate support for Pakistan. The Finance Minister underscored the importance of providing Pakistan with adequate assistance. He said that the Government would continue to support Pakistan’s efforts in stabilizing its economy. The Minister also expressed his gratitude to the UK Government for its humanitarian and development assistance.
The Finance Minister met the President of the World Bank, David Malpass. The two parties shared their economic vision for Pakistan and conveyed their condolences on the loss of life due to the floods. They discussed ongoing projects and ways to enhance collaboration. The Finance Minister thanked H.E. Almurshed for the support and promised to keep working with Pakistan.
The ECC approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 3.2 billion for MNFS&R. This money will be transferred to the NDMA to distribute wheat seeds in flood-affected districts. The Federal and provincial governments will also contribute to this additional fund.
The meeting also discussed modalities to support the business community and boost exports. This will help businesses expand and thrive. The Finance Minister assured the delegations that he would address their concerns in a timely manner. In addition, he assured that the government would hold public consultations on the 2021 Digital Pakistan Policy.
The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The two officials shared their vision for Pakistan’s economic revival. They also discussed the need to coordinate the monetary and fiscal policies to strengthen the economy.
Actionable initiatives to be included in the policy
The Digital Pakistan Policy is a welcome move towards a more digitalized country. According to the government’s statistics, over 165 million people are now mobile subscribers, 70 million are active internet users, and 60 million have smartphones. By 2025, it is estimated that 74% of Pakistanis will be connected to the internet. The new digital policy will help the country’s economy and empower women and girls.
The vision of a digital Pakistan must be realistic and focused on stakeholders. It must be able to meet the expectations of various stakeholders and create value for society. The government needs to identify the needs of each stakeholder to ensure success. In order to do that, it should create a Digital Transformation Center for CPEC. The DTC should be linked to the National Information Technology Board, a body constituted by the Ministry of Information Technology and the Pakistan Computer Bureau.
The DTC should design policies to foster digital transformation. Moreover, it should also focus on removing obstacles that prevent investors from investing in CPEC. Lastly, it should develop roadmaps for e-governance in Pakistan. The digital transformation strategy must include two primary goals: the medium-term goal is to achieve 100% digitalization for investors and the long-term goal should be to launch e-governance as a whole.
To be more effective, the digital reformation of Pakistan should use modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data management, which will speed up the process of e-governance. As the fifth-largest country in the world, Pakistan can make use of technology for effective governance and policymaking, as well as service delivery.
Other actionable initiatives to be included in the Digital Pakistan policy include ensuring that social media platforms register in Pakistan within three months. They must also have a permanent office and database servers in the country, and they must maintain the privacy of their users. They should also prevent live streaming of illegal content and provide investigators with the data in readable format.
The digitalization of Pakistan must be supported with increased FDI and openness to international trade. Digitalization should complement existing bilateral, regional, and domestic policies. Actionable initiatives that support these goals will help the country succeed in the digital transformation. The success of Pakistan in this transformation is highly dependent on its ability to adopt new technologies, improve FDI, and create a better digital economy.
Impact on citizens’ quality of life
The impact of digital government in Pakistan is currently being examined in order to better understand the current state of digitalization. The digital government strategy encompasses all aspects of information technology, focusing on the needs of citizens. It includes the development of integrated government databases and applications that will facilitate citizens in a variety of ways. These systems can improve productivity, transparency, and efficiency. It can also lead to increased broadband penetration and increased digital literacy.
The digitalization of Pakistan is a critical aspect of the country’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. Technology has enormous potential to help the country meet its benchmarks, such as ending poverty, providing quality education, ensuring peace, and ensuring access to clean drinking water. The smartphone, one of the symbolic technologies of digitalization, has helped provide better access to information, reliable communication, and financial services to even the most remote areas.
Digital Pakistan also aims to empower youth, women, and girls. These three groups make up the majority of the population, and improving their access to ICTs will help address inequalities and promote gender equality. In order to achieve these goals, the digital Pakistan policy must include all citizens and help them get connected and empowered to the digital world.
In order to develop a digital Pakistan policy, the government must create a Digital Transformation Center (DTC). The center must be linked with the National Information Technology Board (NITB), which is a fusion of the Pakistan Computer Bureau and the Electronic Government Directorate. This center is charged with coordinating the government’s digitalization efforts.
While bringing people online is the primary goal, policy, censorship, and surveillance must also be considered. The government has banned a range of applications over the years. The most recent ban was on TikTok, an application that has millions of users in Pakistan. The government has also acknowledged the influence of the TikTok creators and has met with the creators of TikTok several times.
As a country, Pakistan is attempting to implement the CPEC, a massive infrastructure project that uses digital technology. While this project has brought in much-needed investment, it also brings with it a number of challenges, including the need to develop an innovative digital economy and improve financial inclusion. The World Economic Forum’s Competitiveness Index 2018 puts Pakistan at 75th position in terms of financial inclusion and innovation.
