Digitalization and Pakistan

By: Iqra Javed

Youth Ambassador YEP

UNDP Pakistan

           The Information Technology has captivated the imagination of millions around the world for opportunities. It offers in transforming the market place and the rules govern way we communicate, make decisions, and do our business. Digitalization is the process of emerging new technologies in human life, which can be like sounds, images, scientific ways, documents, sites, and other progressions for converting information into digital shape.

For instance, previously, Letters were sent to each other for communication. However, contemporary digitalization has changed the face of this source of communication via introducing mobiles, chat, email telephones, etc.

 In Pakistan, the digitalization has just kick-started. Nobody knows how many years it will take to mold into a revolution. The gigantic challenge for Pakistan's digital vision is to spread internet access throughout the country include villages.

  Pakistan has the vision to digitalize Health, Education, Commerce, Employment, Judiciary System, etc. sectors. So, the citizens could avail maximally.  According to the year 2016, the number of internet users in Pakistan is 34,342,400 means 17.8% of the population use the internet through different sources like 3 and 4G`s packages, Wi-Fi, etc.  A large number of internet users in Pakistan meet this via mobile phones. The total users of mobile phones in Pakistan as surveyed in 2016 is 131.41 million.

   Pakistan is the world`s those countries that are still underdeveloped. The word “Under Develop” Indicates to needs of more efficiency and progression and to fulfill these tasks, the government must be connected with the citizens of the state and this possible through modern Information technology system or E-Governance.   

         In the UK, for exiting from EU the government decided to know the discerns of their nation by electronic voting, also called ‘BREXIT VOTE”. Thousands of people actively participated and used this right and suggested government for exiting from European Union

Similarly, here are the many other things, which are now becoming faster, accessible, and technological. It has turned into the necessity of time and it is changing the world in a global village.

DIGITALIZATION IN GOVERNMENT:

E-Government could make easy access to citizens. But those who don`t have technology access can’t get gain from it. Because E-Government will provide E-services which need “Technology” to access.

Here are some examples of it.

  Ali lived in the village with his mother and father. No education, health, justice, and other needs are available in his village. His parents crop the reaps and sow seeds like Rice, banana, gram, etc for the whole country. The government has introduced Electronic systems for whole departments. Unluckily, those who don` have the technology, are not part of this system because the whole system is based on “Technological structure”.

  One day, the father of Ali got a high illness. No doctor and hospital were there for urgent treatment. They were very underprivileged and could not meet the expenditures of the hospital thus his mother decided to move towards the city and to sell their pet animals. Now they were in the city, they went to the hospital where the doctors were absent. The mother of Ali was shocked because she didn`t know about it even a bit. At the same time, his father had passed away. The issue was that if they would have technology access, they could easily find the hospital where the doctors were present and due to unavailability, Ali lost his Father. Whether the government had the system of checking the availability of Doctors and Patients but due to not access Ali and his family couldn`t get any benefit from it.

RISKS WITH  E-GOVERNMENT:

      Digitalization is the need of time today. But unluckily it has marked question on privacy and security of the human race. Previously data was sorted out offline but now after digitalization, computers, and websites, which provide access without any troubleshooting, do the work. The easy access of data creating many problems like hacking, Viruses security risks, etc.  In recent times, around 150 countries included china has become the prey of the largest cyber assault. The hackers have stolen significant information, files, and demanding a huge pay for rescuing them against it with thread.

     In the same way, before some months, the Web site of Aligarh University in India was hacked though the websites enable for making out information to the public across the world instead to visit the place. However, it creates also unsecure conditions for seclusion. The Google shows millions of websites in just a click but it also controls the eye mean what we see, Google is seeing. The records of privacy can be accessed also.

       Some criminals attack in the course of “mail bombing”. In this, a great number of emails are sent to people and if they reply, then hackers overwhelm on the complete personal details. Although the websites and social accounts have, the importance it can discourage privacy policy because the cyber attackers hack the IP addresses, router information at ease to reach the records.

       In e-governance, if government uploads all information, projects` details, etc, anybody can get it and the combative groups can use it for any blasts or other activities. We have seen the Election commission of Pakistan website had been hacked which is harmful to the policy of any state.

      In today`s world the jobs are announced/ posted on sites. We cannot obtain fake or fact. We see many fake companies which offer jobs through websites and make fool to people. If a candidate goes for the post to be interviewed. The situation can be unsecure and different rather than as per information. In past girls had been harassed and raped owing to fake jobs and because of the financial loss of citizens.  They collect personal details and important documentation that promote the human`s smuggling. It is the very biggest issue in which the self of a male/female seems as target. I think the self-privacy is cordial than all.

 If a student has no Technology reach, he cannot avail from E-Education services like online documentation, Online result etc. Consequently, he will go back.

   The E-police couldn`t serve for the people with no access to Technology. Because they couldn`t get registered their FIRs. If there will any agitations/complaints about the behavior of Police, Any Thread, or if they will have the information concerning any illegal activities, dubious persons, crimes and other militant wings, The people couldn`t share information.

 The E-Business will be also possible through technology. Without it, societies cannot find any advantage from it.

The digitalization will not give any existence to without technology society as I have mentioned above some examples. However, the areas which have access and the people of underdeveloped, move from distance also, due to financial disorders and incapability, couldn`t get any benefit with E-government`s services.

        Pakistan has the vision to digitalize Health, Education, Commerce, Employment, Judiciary systems, etc. sectors. So, the citizens could avail maximally.  According to the year 2016, the number of internet users in Pakistan is 34,342,400 means 17.8% of the population uses the internet through different sources like 3 and 4G`s packages, Wi-Fi, etc.  A large number of internet users in Pakistan meet this via mobile phones. The total users of mobile phones in Pakistan as surveyed in 2016 is 131.41 million.

       Whether Pakistan will adopt the completely digitalized system without in rural areas, it means it neglects approximately 50,588 villages` citizens because they are poor and unaware, could not afford the services of the modernized world. Whereas they don`t have pure and clean water for drinking. The government will have to initiate the system for villages. It will make available all the digitalization programs at their doorstep. As we know how many problems, they face, while with help of mobile phones and internet access they can easily resolve their issues like Health, Education, Jobs, Business, Agriculture, Justice and could use their right for the better election of the regime. 

       The difference in mobile phone ownership between urban and ruler areas as compared to 94.7% compared to 83% respectively. However, the difference in the percentage of households that have an internet connection is notable, with 17.4% of urban homes having access. There are no ample incentives and regulatory measures from the government and it is to create an environment for attracting investment for services in rural areas also. Consequently, the government could achieve the goal of digitalization in Pakistan properly.

Four Pakistani Young Leaders Represented Green Flag at Global Conference on Gender Equality from Lahore

Women Deliver 2019 is the biggest conference on Gender Equality that was held from June 1–6 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. All of them are also part of Award-winning Women Deliver Young Leaders Program.

The conference was attended by 8500 people and influential from around the world. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at the opening ceremony with other head of states.

Umair Asif ED/Founder Kafka Welfare Organization spoke as a guest speaker at the opening of Silent Disco Session Youth Zone. The topic of the session was Empowerment of Women and Girls through the power of sports and play based on personal experience. He said, Women in sport defy gender stereotypes and social norms, make inspiring role models, and promote gender equality. Twitter: @ranaumairasif

Vlogger and Social Activist Namra Nasyr joined a session as a guest speaker titled “Changing Dynamics for Women in Workforce”, organized by Johnson and Johnson.
She spoke on a special dialogue about ‘The Importance of mentorship ‘.

Joshua Participated as a guest speaker in a session organized by Bill and Melinda Gates Institute. The topic of the panel discussion was “Achieving gender equality by 2030”

Laraib Abid presented her poster at digital posters session and won Ingenuity fund by 120 under 40.
                            

Candidates commit to a charter of demands to lead quality-focused education reform in Lahore

Candidates commit to a charter of demands to lead quality-focused education reform in Lahore

Lahore: With a few days left to the General Elections, several contesting candidates from major political parties gathered to speak at a multi-party convention to discuss the state of education in District Lahore, and commit to citizen-led charter of demands to ensure quality education across the government-run schools.

The convention was organized by Alif Ailaan and Ilm Dost, in collaboration with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agahi, Shaur Welfare and Kafka Welfare Organization.

Politicians joining to speak at the event included Senator Dr Musadik Malik and Shaista Malik from PMLN, Zulfiqar Ali Badr, Iftikhar Ahmed and Asim Bhatti from PPP, Ameer Bahadur Khan Hoti (ANP), Zubair Niazi and Dr Nausheen Hamid from PTI, Zaeem Qadri (IND), Hafiz Salman, Jibran Butt, Zikr Ullah Mujahid and Ameer-ul-Azeem from Jamaat-e-Islami, Zeba Ahsan from PMLQ.

Analysis of the educational landscape in Lahore revealed that availability of schools beyond primary access and poor quality education are the two most important factors contributing to failing education standards in Lahore that set the tone for candidates’ plans to reform schools in their constituencies.

While speaking at the session, Dr Musadik Malik promised to introduce broad-based learning to equip children with knowledge and tools of all disciplines at school-level. He also stated that PMLN would now focus on improving quality as during the past 5 years their focus had remained on access given the sheer number of children out of school in Punjab. Dr Nausheen Hamid of PTI will have her party prioritise science education, train science teachers and upgrade science curriculum. She talked about the latest PTI manifesto that focuses exclusively on STEM education. Most of the candidates spoke of increasing budget allocation towards education and strict regulation and monitoring of both private and public schools. Pak Sarzameen Party’s representative promised to provide free education from Grade 1 till Matriculation.

The session also offered an opportunity for voters to ask their candidates of their plans to improve schools upfront. One speaker from the audience questioned the candidates over their party’s efforts to provide facilities for children with disabilities in schools. Another speaker suggested party reps to focus more on industry-academia linkages with schools and universities to improve quality of learning and increase job opportunities upon graduation.

As per Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, released by Alif Ailaan, Lahore ranks 32^nd nationally and 19^th provincially on Education Score (that measures learning, retention and gender parity) with the learning score as low as 53.93.

Based on the learning assessment conducted by Punjab Examination Commission, Lahore ranks the lowest in learning outcomes in subjects of English, Math and Science. For both Classes 5 and 8, students have scored less than 50% in these foundational subjects. This can be attributed to a lack of functional science labs in 155 high and higher secondary schools.

Moreover, out of 1202 total public schools in the district, there are only 234 middle schools against 610 primary schools that make up half of all public schools in Lahore. Lack of schools beyond primary levels explains why there is a steep drop in the enrolment rates as we move up the higher classes and shift of students to private schools, especially from Class 10 (46,468) to Class 11 (3161). Less than 1 out of 5 schools in Lahore district are public.

A comparison of private and public schools also shows more private schools at every level, which means parents, have to pay more to private schools for their children’s education throughout.

For Lahore’s future elected representatives, providing affordable quality education through government schools in addition to enrolling all 290,000 out-of-school children in Lahore is the biggest challenge awaiting them.

All participants agreed to commit to a Charter of Demands that was based on the demands of parents, teachers and community members in Lahore to have the schools and quality of education improved in their respective constituencies in the coming months.

The demands are as following:

1.     Upgradation of schools to primary to middle, from middle to high, from high to high-secondary schools.

2.     Construction of science and computer labs for modern and quality instruction to students

3.     Complete facilities in form of labs and equipment to be provided to schools to help students learn the latest techniques in biology, chemistry and physics

4.     Construction of more government schools at every level and improvement in their quality so parents can provide their children with affordable, quality education.

5.     Appointment of teachers for science and computers, and establishment of libraries

6.     Training of teachers so they are able to teach according to modern learning practices

7.     Introduction of biometric system to ensure regular attendance of teachers

8.     Popularization of healthy co-curricular activities in schools

9.     Increase in education budget and school principals to be trained for effective utilization of the allocated school budgets.

1.  Introduction of scholarship schemes for needy students