INP-WealthPk

Digitisation of Economy Key to Sustainable Growth

April 14, 2022

By Hifsa Raja ISLAMABAD, April 14 (INP-WealthPK): Pakistan Vision 2025 is meant to make the country become a strategic enabler for an accelerated digitisation ecosystem to expand the knowledge-based economy and spur socioeconomic growth. Since the launch of the digitisation policy, Pakistan has seen its IT exports increase by 70% during the last three years, creating immense opportunities for the tech-savvy generation, mostly people under 30, who make up 64% of Pakistan’s total population. The Centre of Economic Research in Pakistan notes that the country’s economy has to be fast digitised for sustainable growth. It is noteworthy that internet use in Pakistan has been increasing. According to estimates, Pakistan has 118.8 million internet users, which make it the 8th fastest growing country in the world as far as internet connectivity is concerned. The broadband subscribers in the country have also increased to 114 million and the internet penetration rate is 52.02%, according to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. By further increasing the internet penetration rate, Pakistan can make access to internet easier, which will boost fast digitisation of economy. According to PTA, the internet adaptation rate in Pakistan has increased after Covid-19 outbreak as the pandemic enforced lockdowns, making both government and private sector entities to devise work-from-home policies and heavily rely on internet. So, in a way the pandemic pushed countries to fast embrace technology. Speaking about Pakistan’s progress towards digitisation, Kaukab Ikram Mughal, an honourary secretary of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), told WealthPK that the world is fast moving towards paperless environment and digital technologies, and Pakistan should follow the suit. “The government can enhance its revenues by ensuring speedy digitisation of economy. Opportunities can be increased through online marketing and business risk can be reduced through online payments,” said Ikram Mughal of CILT, a prestigious body of transport and logistics professionals. He said payment service providers and operators should promote e-commerce to speed up the digitalisation process. “For fast-track digitalisation, the government should extend incentives to IT sector to increase exports of goods and services. The government should also promote innovation, entrepreneurship and startups.” He told WealthPK that Pakistan’s human resource is the youths as they can fast adopt the digitalisation process. “Digitisation of economy is the key to achieving sustainable growth. The policymakers should strive to attract investments in the IT sector under the Digital Pakistan Vision to strengthen the economy.”