Tazeen Akhtar
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) has strongly recommended making Pakistan digital, which is a dire need of the country and without which there is no chance of catching up with the world in the future.
He has said that Pakistan has 2 IT Superpowers around, India and China. We are behind all countries in our region including Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka in IT. We are behind in human development as well.
He noted this at the ” Empowering a Digital Pakistan” conference organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) and Center of Pakistan and International Relations (COPAIR), Ahsan Iqbal Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives also participated in the event and assured that the GOP is fully committed to the digital Pakistan.
Pakistan in the World – July / Aug 2024
Here it is worth mentioning that Pakistan started the E-governance project some two decades ago during General Musharraf’s government but it is not fully implemented even after 20 long years. E-governance minimizes corruption and maximizes the output of the government departments that are mostly and severely criticized by the public and media for their delaying tactics, red tape, and habitual lethargy.
Jauhar Saleem said It is very unfortunate that a country of 250 Million population that is mostly young at the average of 22, third largest in the IT trained youth and still lagging behind only because we did not embark upon modern technology and digital transformation.”
“India is number 2 after the USA in IT. Indian exports of IT are $200 Billion. China is catching up with the USA. There are 100 Unicons in India having a worth of $1 Billion. Pakistan has no Unicon, Jauhar shared.
Pakistan in the World – Feb-March 2023
President IRS emphasized, ” Pakistan requires skill development but the skills that are demanded by the industry and market. Gov and private sector should join hands to work in this sector. We should facilitate the private sector. We have to provide opportunities to our freelancers.
He spoke highly about E-governance in some countries that were tribal societies once and now doing everything with digital technology from justice to land record systems. Digitization not only facilitates but helps improve the economy as well.
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem underscored the importance of aligning policies and institutions with modern technologies to speed up the digital transformation process in the country. He pointed out that there was a digital divide, with some sectors of the economy and society benefiting from digital transformation adequately while others lagged behind.
He stressed the need for expanding upon e-governance and digitization of all public services on the one hand and promoting digital awareness and adoption of best practices on the other. Pakistan could now only catch up with other high-growth economies through digital transformation at a fast pace.
Govt fully committed to Empowering a Digital Pakistan, Ahsan Iqbal @ Conference hosted by IRS & COPAIR
