ARTICLE #4

National ICT Policy Aims to Double Country's GDP

KARACHI: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has chalked out a plan to double the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita along with private sector by enhancing agricultural yields with advance information and communications technology (ICT) -based systems and applications up to the next decade.

It aimed at generating more than 500,000 jobs in sectors of ICT and IT enabled services through various projects and initiatives throughout the country.

The National ICT Policy 2012 draft made public recently for the suggestions of experts and stakeholders of ICT stated that the cellular phone network will be exploited for education and access to information, localisation of content and broad-based growth of the ICT and ITES sector.

The government and private sector are on the same page to using ICT as a key enabler to drive development across all sectors with focus mainly on education, agriculture, health, governance, entrepreneurship and empowerment.

The policy laid its focus on increasing the enrolment and quality of graduating students from computer science schools in Pakistan. Moreover, the exposure of children will be increased in schools and high schools to applications of computer science at an early age.

In the preparation of this draft policy document, a number of stakeholders have been involved: the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITES (P@SHA), members of civil society, the technology industry in general, the telecommunication community, the services sector, academia, media and socio-political activists as well as various government entities.

This National ICT Policy document contains actionable milestones and fundable projects, reflecting the point of views of primary stakeholders and the technology industry.

The policy document focuses on driving primary pillars and principles based on the interventions required in each sector affected by technology in Pakistan. In the policy, the focus will be on tapping into economic opportunities within Pakistan through IT as an enabler to drive the local economy.

The policy has been envisioned to improve the quality of life of citizens to the highest attainable levels by ensuring availability of accessible, universal, affordable, modern and high quality IT facilities and services within the country.

Moreover, it aims to accelerate digital literacy and integration in Pakistan, built on facilitating access, awareness, security, trust and fostering research and innovation.

The policy document will be reviewed annually to assess the impact of the document at that stage as well as the effectiveness of the recommended intervention programmes.

The experts and stakeholders submitted their suggestions by July 20, 2012. It will be approved by the ministry and forward to the federal cabinet.

SOURCE: Daily Times