The evolution of Pakistan's social dynamics and interactivity has accelerated tremendously over the past two decades. It gained impetus from the advent of modern telecommunications and global electronic media accessibility across the country, including the relatively remote regions.
The seamless communication links and networks, established throughout the country have enabled amazing advantages for the citizens in their professional activities as well as their social and family lives.
Our nation has thus gained new capabilities to interact more freely, enhance awareness and improve co-ordinated efforts in nation building. Due to a robust communications sector today, we see timely and extensive awareness on numerous socio-political issues, including health, economy, law and order, global developments etc. Therefore, we are now more equipped to proactively confront and respond to natural disasters too.
With the convergence of information and communication technologies, information exchange is now taking place more swiftly on a global scale, allowing faster, easier and more economical communications. Thus global expertise can be sought instantly, on various matters of national importance. The powerful growth in the telecommunications sector of Pakistan was also a significant contributor in the robust economic growth and hyper-commercial activity of the country, over the past one decade. This sector today comprises several eminent multi-national and local companies, creating an innovative cellular environment.
Since these sophisticated cellular companies follow modern business principles, they operate on clearly defined policies for Corporate Social Responsibility too. Thus a proactive telecom sector is bringing several added advantages for the Pakistani society, besides world-class telecommunication facilities. These Telcos have so far made meaningful contributions to the various social segments, enhancing the Pakistani citizens' quality of life.
More recently, Pakistan is going through a major crisis that has added to the economic challenges faced by a large part of the country. Large scale floods have devastated crops, properties and valuables in all provinces. According to the United Nations, this is the biggest calamity of modern times, bigger than the Tsunami and the recent Haiti earthquake combined. It directly affected more than 20 million people and drowned one-fifth of the country. Millions of families have been displaced and forced to live under the scorching sun, or take refuge in relief camps or government buildings. These unfortunate Pakistanis are left without resources or livelihood to acquire food and other basic necessities of life. Their lives and health are now under constant threat from the water-borne diseases emerging from stagnant dirty waters in the agricultural fields, towns and cities.
In these times of dire need, many people responded to the plight of the flood victims. Despite 'donor fatigue', felt during the 2005 earthquake, the international community and friendly countries are coming forth with sizeable contributions to support the relief and rehabilitation efforts. The corporate sector of Pakistan is also actively engaged in helping the displaced families resettle in their homes with high spirits, sound health and respectable livelihood options.
Modern information and communications technology also helped substantially in warning the people about the approaching floods. Thus, most of them were proactively evacuated from the flood threatened regions, to reduce the loss of precious lives.
In the telecom sector of Pakistan, the first company to respond to the floods was Mobilink, along with its parent company Orascom Telecom. These two cellular leaders have launched the largest relief initiative from the corporate sector in the history of Pakistan. A relief package worth Rs 85 million has been committed, as volunteer employees of Mobilink have already reached out to 100,000 affectees. Mobilink has delivered massive amounts of healthy food, purified water, hygiene packs and other essential daily items to the flood victims.
Orascom has also launched international campaigns in other countries to raise funds and awareness for flood relief in Pakistan. The Mobilink Foundation Torchbearers are devoting regular volunteer hours in the flooded areas, serving and assisting the suffering people. Employees' salary contributions, friends and family donations and an SMS donation drive are additional efforts, generating another 10 million rupees. Additionally, prefabricated shelters worth over Rs 140 million are also being donated under this relief initiative, which is now worth Rs 236 million.
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and its sister concern Ufone have also donated Rs 53.5 million to the Prime Minister's flood relief fund. Among others, Telenor has pledged generous monetary donations for the flood relief activities and also signed a memorandum of understanding with PRCS for relief activities. Telenor Pakistan also volunteered to assist in the ongoing relief efforts in Charsadda. They took active part in the registration of coupons, logistical support and distribution of relief goods too.
These are testing times for everyone in Pakistan, where all possible support is needed by the unfortunate flood victims. Other industries and commercial sectors should also derive inspiration from the commendable response of the telecom sector and help in overcoming these national challenges.
(sheeraz.mohiuddin@gmail.com.)