'Moving towards automation'

Business Recorder op-ed writer Farhat Ali in his latest contribution for this newspaper titled "Moving towards automation" has highlighted a very important subject that is indeed critical to creating an environment in which a slew of benefits could accrue to public at large. Automation, according to the writer, will ensure limited direct contact between the government functionaries and public. This step on the part of the government was in fact overdue. As argued by the writer, this measure will surely ensure transparent and even-handed application of tariffs, rules and regulations for all, thereby limiting the discretionary powers of the government functionaries and the corruption associated with such powers. Of course, the best route to kill corruption is to nip it in the bud. The World Bank Group, for example, considers corruption a major challenge to its twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity for the poorest 40 percent of people in developing countries, including Pakistan. Automation of systems and processes will contribute towards efforts aimed at minimizing, if not eliminating, corruption in the country.