Digitization in many countries has been a huge success. It has been greatly helpful in enhancing efficiency, improving transparency and controlling corruption. Pakistan is still using non-digital ways of documentations and provision of services resulting in poor performance (mostly government institutions). People face harassment, lack of cooperation and delayed delivery of services as a result and for getting the job “done” people have to “grease the palms” of the officers. Hence corruption is ever growing.
The present government, has been trying to control corruption at many levels however, as long as the things remain in “human hands”, things are not going to change any time soon. Therefore, the government has been seriously working on digitization since the last few months.
PM Imran Khan, in this regard is launching the ‘Digital Pakistan’ campaign at the Prime Minister House, today.
Most of the countries in the region have already been digitized and have become more efficient in service delivery besides controlling corruption e.g. United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have already gone “human touch” free. They introduced this concept where they have their own laws, procurement systems and have their own dispute resolution mechanism. Public procurement has been completely made paper free. These countries have online tenders and people apply online. If the documentation is not complete, application is not processed.
It is expected that digitization can bring betterment in documentation, minimize corruption, and will help avoid problems faced by people through tactile documentation. Once launched, the documentation process will be made paperless
And records will be computerized. The campaign will function under the Ministry of Information Technology. PM Khan had assigned this task to IT ministry which has been done within the course of three months.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui had said that digitizing Pakistan is the top priority of the government.
Leading the primary meetings of Prime Minister’s Taskforce on Information Technology and Telecom in Islamabad, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui had also included that Pakistan will move towards advancement and success through data innovation and information technology.
The federal minster had said that infiltration of fiberization, broadband, cell phones and advanced mobile phones will be upgraded across the country and included that PTI government is committed for advancement of information technology in the country.
In an exclusive interview with Matrix Media, Haroon Sharif (Ex-Chairman, Board of Investment) had appreciated the government for its constant efforts to bring out a better Pakistan also he had suggested the idea of complete human touch free Pakistan. To use modern technology as much as we can, up till we will keep following human touch procedures and using old school rules our system would not be able to compete with others.
