National ICT Policy

There are many ways to approach and develop a national ICT policy framework. Over the last eleven years a number of initiatives have been undertaken in this area by individuals and groups sponsored by our technology industry association (P@SHA), Ministry of IT (MOIT), by the state (the Planning Commission), local and expatriate Pakistanis. Within the list of above initiative policy documents have been developed keeping in view long term national goals, vision and outlook; by initiating and documenting stakeholders conversations; by surveying industry groups and their customers; by comparing our efforts with regional initiatives and finally by reviewing where we are and where we need to be in the future.

While at a broad policy level we have information as well as recommendations on using ICT for growth, development and employment creation it was felt that an updated national policy document with actionable milestones and fundable projects, reflecting the point of views of primary stake holders and the technology industry association was required. We needed a document that would reflect our assessment of gaps in the state of national ICT and the role we can play in plugging those gaps. A document that was specific enough to build a case for recommendation to ICT Taskforces yet deep enough to stand on its own in the policy conversations and debates we initiate.

As part of our efforts to prepare this document we reviewed the work done by a number of our predecessors, engaged members of civil society, the technology industry, the telecommunication community, the services sector, media and socio-political activists. The document was then selectively presented for initial feedback and reactions and the feedback was incorporated after discussion. As a final step the document will be presented at three forums in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to key stakeholders for a final round of discussion before its release to the policy community in Pakistan.

A different orientation

Earlier policy initiatives were primarily industry centric.  In its early stage the ICT and ITES industry was external focused with a large number of companies targeting the software export market. Given the industry focus and the government initiative to increase the pace of exports, the primary intervention theme was to do the needful required grow software exports. From building a pool of skilled and trained human resources to providing internet connectivity, from reviewing curriculum to exhibiting internationally, almost all core policy initiatives focused on the external market.

However one of the lessons that we have learnt from the last decade of policy implementation experience is that a national ICT policy has to be national in its focus and emphasis. While software exports have grown at an impressive rate over the last decade the domestic technology consumption figure is now just as significant and almost half as large, if not more, than our total international contribution. More importantly both contribution figures (exports, domestic consumption) ignore the enabler impact of technology on other related sectors such as banking, insurance, government, manufacturing, media, education, defence and agriculture.

But beyond technology, ICT and ITES play a significant role in national development and GDP growth. Two projects that support this point of view are the Tameer Bank/Telenor easy paisa project and the NADRA national identification card database. Besides documenting the economy, both projects have created the potential to add another 2% – 3% to the national GDP and will consistently do so over the next many decades.

Imagine the impact similar projects could create in the area of education, literacy, agriculture, trade, market development manufacturing and media.

Hence the need to create a national orientation within the ICT Policy making process. The objective is to not drive the process by a sense of patriotism or philanthropy but recognition of the economic opportunity unsolved problems represent in the domestic market.

The opportunity comes in two dimensions. The first is solving a problem through technology and getting paid for it. The second is the reference sites and domain expertise the solution creates for the collection of firms solving that problem which can then be used to pitch for work globally.

For example, we have recently seen freelance cell phone developers morph into specialized mobile application developers morph into mobile animation shops, morph into mobile gaming companies within a span of 3 to 4 years. With the right set of incentives and mentoring a similar roadmap could be repeated for companies working with financial services, health, telecommunications industry, manufacturing and agricultural technology.

Please read the P@SHA National ICT Policy draft recommendations document and view the youtube presentation below which was shared with the first Stakeholders Group presentation in Karachi this Saturday. We have similar presentations planned for Lahore and Islamabad later this month but feel free to share your comments and feedback on this document In this post we share the presentation and the draft recommendations document shared at the first stakeholders meeting held at the P@SHA Secretariat in Karachi on 15th October 2011.

1. P@SHA National ICT Policy draft recommendations for circulation – The draft recommendation policy document

2. P@SHA National ICT Policy draft recommendations presentation – The power point pitch

P@SHA National ICT Policy draft recommendations stakeholders session

P@SHA National ICT Policy Recommendations Presentation – The mp3 video presentation (also see the Youtube edition)