Islamabad : (Parliament Times) Digital technologies are fundamentally changing the way people live,
work, learn and entertain across the globe. It has opened up a myriad of possibilities for
everyone to improve their lifestyle by provision of information, education and occupation.
However, those who lack the ability and know-how to navigate this digital turf can end by being
marginalized and at a disadvantage. Not only this, without mass induction of basic digital
proficiency, no nation can truly benefit from the opportunities of the digital arena at a macro
level.
Pakistan is one developing country which has abundant potential for digital progression. Same
is being capitalized under the PMs vision of Digital Pakistan; which is based on access &
connectivity, digital infrastructure development, e-Government, digital skills training and
innovation & entrepreneurship. But how do we expect to fully take advantage of these
endeavors when roughly only a quarter of the adult population utilizes the internet.
On the Inclusive Internet Index of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Pakistan stood at the
68th place out of 86 countries surveyed, with a mean score of 54.5 relative to the South Asian
average of 61. And one of the key reasons for this low ranking is digital illiteracy. Moreover, a
study conducted by the GSMA found that around 40% of mobile phone owners who do not use
the mobile internet have difficulty understanding how to use their mobile handset. This reflects
the level of rudimentary technological knowledge of people.
Although there is a raging obsession and penetration of mobile applications utilized in daily
routine tasks such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Uber, Easy-Paisa etc. but none are exploited to their
full potential. Social media is primarily used to scroll content, and drivers for ride hailing
services are not capable to navigate Google Maps. There is still an enormous market space
untapped in the financial sector as well, as only 18% of Pakistanis have ever used a digital
financial service in their lives.
Furthermore, no one can deny the truth that digitalization has paved pathway to a new working
dynamics. Automation, digital platforms, and other innovations are changing the fundamental
nature of work. Work is now being fragmented and spaced around the globe via the marvel of
internet and cloud computing. This industry is expected to generate gross service revenue
between $15 billion and $25 billion by 2020 as per a World Bank report, with a significant
chunk taken by freelancers. Not only this according to a survey conducted by the World
Economic Forum, 71% of tasks that were undertaken by humans in 2018 will be reduced to 58%
in 2022. The rest will be done by machines. These are alarming insights into the future and
without being digitally literate, it is almost impossible to survive in such circumstances.
It is a universally accepted fact that education is considered as the most powerful instrument,
to eradicate poverty and gear up socio-economic development and welfare of a society. The
requirement of the hour is to educate ourselves with the digital technologies surrounding us.
Many institutions are now offering short term courses to equip the masses with basic digital
literacy. One such platform is DigiSkills.pk, an initiative of Ignite National Technology Fund, a
company owned by Ministry of Information Technology, to provide free of cost 3 month course
on digital literacy. This course will help people in learning office productivity tools that are part
and parcel of modern work environment. It will provide hands on training in Microsoft Word,
Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Internet and Email applications. These applications fit in
all types of the modern working environment. Though, this course is designed for beginners,
but it is also useful for people who have basic computer knowledge. It aims at raising and
improving the users’ knowledge and competency of computer usage.
DigiSkills is Pakistan’s largest training program, through which 1 million trainings over a period
of 2 years are to be given. However, it is imperative that such programs are continued for a
longer period of time so that the entire nation can take advantage from them. The full benefits
of the digital transformation will not be realised unless Pakistan continue to invest in such
appropriate education mechanisms. Only then can usage of digital technologies boost
productivity and reduce inequality across the board.