Engineering Post Report
The global pandemic of Corona Virus (COVID-19) has created an urgency to adapt our entire outlook towards life and work. In this respect, digital technology is already considered globally as an effective intervention to manage the turbulent economic conditions.
According to the official sources, we too have to reprioritize our policies more aggressively towards technology adoption and innovation to to respond to such global crisis impacting us deeply.
Pakistan is still at the lower rung in pervasive adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), inspite of very high growth in mobile cellular subscription base.
For this the federal government has launched two major transformative initiatives .The timely action oriented emphasis on Knowledge Economy and Digital Pakistan initiatives will have long-term positive effects for the country, such as opening of new vistas, more digitalization in the domestic areas, venture capital funding , e nlarging base of exportable ICT skills and financial inclusion of the marginalized segment of the society. Subsequently these would result in more job creation , increased software exports, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and creation of wealth.
Accordingly, many new projects are planned to be launched in the ICT sector during financial year 2020-21. These include Blended Education Programme by Virtual University, Centre for Artificial Intelligence and National Centre of IoTs, PakSat MM1, establishment of Pakistan Space Centre, Cross-border OFC for alternative international internet connectivity, establishment of Software Technology Zones for accelerated entrepreneurial activities, digital agriculture, IT industry support programmes such as marketing strategy for software exports and enhancement of skills based through international certifications.
In addition to these, special emphasis on online public services is also being laid to facilitate the citizens as well as the working of the government departments convenience and continuity .These projects would help in building a high-quality digital ecosystem and vibrant ICT industry to start recovery from the impact created by pandemic of OVID-19, the sources hoped.
