The International telecommunity celebrates 145th World Telecommunication Day on May 17th, which continues to play an invaluable role in forging partnerships amongst the governments and the private sector to advance the development of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs).
The theme of this year's World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is "Better City, better life with ICTs" befittingly calls for improving living standards while protecting the environment through application of communications technologies.
Pakistan is using potential of ICTs in education, employment, environment, empowerment, energy and equality as the visionary tools of the incumbent government's manifesto.
The government is acting to solve the problems of youth, which stands at almost 60 per cent of population of over 170 million by using ICTs and highlighted innovative use of Universal Service Fund for expanding Broadband penetration, establishing community tele-centers and affordable voice telecommunication system availability by outreaching to the rural and far flung areas of the country.
The contribution of ICT Research and Development (R&D) Fund towards research and development in ICTs related projects and providing scholarships for students, training teachers and thus enabling export of skilled workforce for flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Benazir Income Support programme as government's initiative of using technology based smart cards in ameliorating hardships of the poor womenfolk is also playing an important to eradicate poverty.
ICTs in addressing major challenges Pakistan facing today and Pakistan is looking at the utility of ICTs as one of main drivers of economic development. Broadband being an important element in this regard can help address many challenges related to governance particularly in the field of education, health, energy, infrastructure development, etc. It can be also equally beneficial in the field of disaster management and fighting cyber crime.
The role of ICTs to provide solutions to challenges of poverty reduction, education and health care prevention as well as natural disaster/emergency management and unemployment can not also be ignored.
The Telecom Industry of Pakistan has flourished by leaps and bounds in the recent years and overall teledensity, subscriber base, technology advancements and influx of Foreign Direct Investment as Telecom is an important sector economy contributing about 3 percent in the national GDP.
Telecom industry needs to be supported in all respects with strong public partnership where Government should act as facilitator and private sector should invest for providing modern telecom services to all areas of Pakistan besides creating employment opportunities.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications performed well in all its spheres during 2008-210 as the over all teledensity increased from 58.7 percent to 63.5 percent and the total FDI was recorded at $2.253 billion. Despite inching towards a saturation stage, the telecom sector received $1.438 billion in year 2008 and $815 million in 2009 as FDI in different projects in the ministry and attached departments.
The ministry has introduced the third generation (3G) Mobile Services in place of existing second generation (2G) technology to attract FDI in the field to support broadband applications for high-speed internet access, interactive multimedia value and high resolution video services. A transparent auction of the frequency spectrum licenses for 3G under a newly revised policy is expected to bring substantial FDI in the sector.
In addition the ministry launched an e-government directorate to facilitate internal efficiency within the government. A good number of departments improved their internal computer communications and exposed themselves to other public sectors services and operations. Distance learning education is another important project for students themselves away from campuses in order to spread education all over the country through information technology.