Finally Digital Pakistan Policy approved by cabinet, Pakistan is one step closer toward digitization. Pakistan’s ICT sector has achieved another great milestone in today’s date as finally cabinet approved the “Digital Pakistan Policy” in its meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The approval of this policy is itself a landmark for ICT sector which is definitely going to brighten the future in many ways.
The policy was presented by Minister for IT Anusha Rahman and Secretary (IT) Mr. Aamir Ashraf Khawaja has presented the policy to the Cabinet. The approval was granted during a meeting chaired by PM at Islamabad on Tuesday.
In this meeting, they also approved National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) apart from Digital Pakistan policy.
The policy will act as foundation of a holistic Digital Eco-system with highly developed and advanced concepts for fast delivery of next-generation digital services, applications and content.
What is the main focus of this policy?
The main objective behind this policy is to ensure the availability of easy, affordable and reliable high-quality ICT services to improve citizens’ quality of life and economic well-being. This Policy also consists of a particular chapter for the fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for the IT/ITeS industry to draw the attention of foreign investor in order to advance the IT sector.
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The following four comprehensive points shows the main targeted areas of ICT
- Sectoral Digitization
- Cross-Sector Collaboration
- IT Sector Sustainability
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
What are the Policy Goals?
- Holistic Digital System
- Standardization
- Promote the use of ICT in education
- Youth and Women empowerment
- Promote Innovation in IT Sector
- Increase software exports, IT remittances & Domestic Market
- ICT standing of Pakistan
- Reduction in Digital Divide
- Promoting E-Governance
- Increase foreign and domestic investment
- Establishment of IT Zones
- Promotion of Entrepreneurship
- No Citizen (even persons with disabilities) to be left behind
- Promotion of E-commerce
Where does Pakistan stand in a race of global digital economy?
We all are aware with the fact that when it comes to technology adaption Pakistan takes it times and when we talk about time, it means a lot of time. The 3G services were launched with a delay of 14 years whereas 4G with a wait of ten years. However, now it’s the right time to fill this gap by launching new technologies on the time in future.
According to IT Minister, the verdict to launch of 5G services in Pakistan and its effect would be taken by the next appointed government.
The approval of this policy is huge success but still there is much more work to be done to achieve the target of $10 billion in IT and ITeS exports by 2020.
