Going digital?

Pakistan has been enthusiastic about jumping on the IT bandwagon. Almost all political parties have at least outwardly embraced the Digital Pakistan slogan, and given the rate of technological advancements across the world, this energy is what the country needs. In this regard, it is encouraging that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to create an IT park through a public-private partnership, providing working space for freelancers and startups, software houses, a library, a research centre, conference rooms and space for the exhibition of IT products. Last year, former caretaker IT minister Dr Umar Saif announced the country’s first-ever IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) export strategy with an aim to take the IT exports of the country to $10 billion in the next three years from the existing over $2 billion. Pakistan has also been highlighted at various tech events conducted in the Middle East, emerging as a potential choice for IT businesses across the globe. Consumers, too, are also embracing tech products. According to an SBP report, mobile and internet banking has seen a significant surge in the country, with mobile and internet banking users reaching 16 million and 11 million respectively.

While all of this sounds promising, there are some underlying problems that can derail the government’s plans to become a top IT exporter. Last year, the country saw a repeat of the internet shutdowns it used to have in the late 2000s and the early 2010s, at a time when Pakistan was going through unspeakable security problems. In 2023, after the May 9 riots, the government shut down the internet for three days, bringing tech-enabled platforms to a halt and affecting the daily wage earners connected with such apps. Since then, the government has been experimenting with internet disruptions discreetly (and not so discreetly). When the officials concerned are asked about the blockade, they reply vaguely. A couple of days ago, rights activists and civil society organizations sought the restoration of X (formerly Twitter), which has been under an unannounced blockade for almost a month. These tactics will cost the country dearly.

In today’s digital age, businesses have multiple options. Internet disruptions in our country can push them away to a better market where they can perform their operations smoothly. If we are to make the most of the digital age, it is essential to understand this ecosystem well and realize how our arbitrary measures can push the country to the back in the race for IT exports. Social media has its drawbacks too, and authorities’ concerns about the use of the platform to spread anarchy and unrest in the country are valid. However, these challenges require digitally viable solutions. The blanket ban on platforms will only harm Pakistan. Digital growth cannot happen in a vacuum, and it is time the government left its traditional methods of crackdown and let the digital ecosystem survive in the country.