Adil Rana
The rapid globalization with all its positive ramifications has created new
designs of unprecedented developments in technology. Every country in the world
with a desire of becoming more developed technologically and economically,
adheres to the rule of ‘adopting and adapting’ to new emerging technologies to
increase socio-economic growth. Technology plays a vital role to increase
productivity, thus becoming a yardstick for economic development as well as
better living standards. The technology boundary has sharply divided the world
into two categories: the countries possessing overwhelmingly advanced
technologies and the countries extremely at a backward level with few or no
technological capabilities. Technologically advanced countries such as the US,
China and Russia have been able to utilize the visionary minds of their
scientists, engineers and academia to foster their growth in technical as well
as social sciences sectors. For instance, the United States created its Silicon
Valley in Northern California decades ago, due to fact that the realization of
the ‘market of science’ and technological development came very early in the US.
Though the technological growth ratio can be enhanced in Pakistan as the country
possesses enormous potential in the IT industry but unfortunately, Pakistan is
lagging behind in technological advancement. The reasons responsible for slow
progress in technology include lack of funds, less encouragement for the
development of different industrial products, negligence at higher levels, lack
of visionary approach and no infrastructure for R&D. Another area that requires
more attention (and more precise funding at higher levels) is the education
sector in Pakistan. There is a big difference between the quality of education
that the private sector and government sector schools and colleges offer.
Countries like China and India are profoundly investing in tech education with
advanced and innovative research in IT, while Pakistan is still following 20th
century methods at school and college level.
Industrial and technological development in Pakistan is usually stalled by lack
of resources and investment in human development. This is another factor that
has created hurdles in the innovation sector. Many countries are operating
various types of valuable start-ups such as Flipkart having $15 billion worth.
In Pakistan, no start-up of that worth has ever become operational. Although
some online business websites like Daraz are in the mainstream but not globally
as active as other enterprises of various countries. The reason for this is the
existing flaws in approach and negligence at the governmental levels to launch
promotion campaigns for innovation and entrepreneurship. Pakistan is ranked 105
out of 129 in the 2019 Global Innovation Index which marks a very low progress
for the country. It is evident that the tech industry all over the world is
making progress just because of innovations and creativity. To some extent,
Pakistani authorities were quite successful in recent years in persuading global
tech masters such as Facebook, Innovation Lab, SheMeansBusiness and
WeThinkDigital to invest and cooperate at different technical levels for the
enhancement of hi-tech growth in Pakistan.
Many countries in the world have developed disruptive technologies and are
constantly investing in it. In the private sector, some prominent Pakistani
nationals tested their nerves by introducing some very disruptive ventures in
the country. To name some, EasyPaisa, Go’mobishop and Finja are some examples
but plenty more are needed in this field to create an influential effect in
economic growth and development. There are multiple reasons why Pakistan is
lagging behind in the IT production field and cannot get up to the mark to
produce companies like Dropbox and Google, but the main reason is the lack of
enabling environment. Companies like Dropbox and Google started their journeys
as a small start-up and their core principle was ‘disruptive innovation’. In
Pakistan, to create an enabling environment, steps must be taken to enhance the
role of innovative thinkers.
Another area which should be investigated is the Intellectual Property (IP)
rights industry. For the development of IP industry in Pakistan, the protection
and the legal framework for IP businesses can create an environment for
innovative thinking, product manufacturing and management and more scope for
online businesses with acute chances of capturing international e-markets. The
contribution of IP to national economy comes in the form of patents and Pakistan
is still years behind in this field. In a report published by Global
Intellectual Property Center, it was mentioned that more than 55 million
Americans are employed by IP-intensive industries across the world, which
accounts for $5.8 trillion, which is an amount greater than the GDPs of United
Kingdom and France.
The 21st century is the century of tech-based innovation, and technology is the
core growth driver for prosperity. Though Pakistan’s IT exports have increased
by 2.44% in the previous years, the total economic growth has not shown
prominent stability. To further increase the ratio of IT exports, Pakistan must
devise a new ‘tech policy’ to cater the need and requirements of the IT sector.
(The writer is MPhil scholar at NDU)