Framework for Economic Growth, Pakistan - Planning Commission

International conference on “Framework for Economic Growth, Pakistan”that data storage capacity is a very importantfactor in that. Let me quote Bill Gates here.He said in 1981 that to have a personalcomputer 640 K data storage capacityshould be enough for anyone. He was happyto quote it at that time.In IT sector, Pakistan has a major constraintof electronic security. Infrastructure forelectronic data security is not in place. Wealso don’t have electronic commercedeveloped as it should have been. We alsohave a social responsibility of conservingour local languages. Linguistic heritage isnot being taken care in IT. Universities etc.should come ahead to promote locallanguages. Industry-academia connectivityshould also be encouraged. Connectivitywithin university environment is alsoimportant. We also need to connect withvarious mother institutions. There should becross discipline accessibility and access toworkshops etc.***Discussant: Muhammad SaleemDirector General Pakistan Telecommunication AuthorityI appreciate Mr. Amer Z. Durrani as he hasgiven very informative and analytical paperon connectivity. He has also discussed aboutthe access and disparity between rural andurban areas. He has also highlightedimpediments in the connectivity and issuesrelated to broadband connectivity.When we talk about connectivity, thingscan’t be completed unless we discuss somerevolutionary changes which have takenplace in ICT sector. If we compare ICTsector of 2003 with today, whenderegulation process was started, we findthat how much revolution has taken place. Ifwe look at number of telecom subscribersthere were only 0.2 million mobilesubscribers in 2003 and we crossed figure of1.7 million subscribers. Similarly when welook at government collection we find thattax collection in this sector was Rs. 30billion in 2003 and now government iscollecting more than Rs 100 billion a year.Looking at foreign direct investment it wasUS $ 6.4 billion between 2006 and 2010which had opened up about one million jobsin the country. There are still many issuesabout connectivity but I want to bring toyour notice that at present about every tehsilheadquarter in each province is connectedthrough fiber optic. We are looking forwardfor ‘3G’ technological revolution now. Withthe introduction of 3G the scenario will betotally changed as we would be havinganother telecommunication revolution inPakistan.***Discussant: Fatma GulSenior Economist, UNDPFirst of all I am thankful to the governmentof Pakistan and UNDP, Pakistan office fororganizing such a profound conference. Lasttwo days of conference have exceeded myexpectations and I was surprised byparticipation, the criticism made andinformation of the people of this country.71