DIGITAL technology is reshaping the world rapidly.

It is transforming everything — from the way

governments and citizens interact to how markets behave and consumers shop and pay their bills.

It is boosting industrial and agricultural productivity across the globe, revolutionising healthcare and
education, and enabling smart young men and women with little cash in their pockets to create
billion-dollar companies.

New technology is also changing itself very rapidly while disrupting economies and businesses.
Economists and policymakers agree that digitisation helps an economy grow quickly, improves the
business environment, creates jobs and alleviates poverty much faster than the ones that choose not
to embrace it.

So, it is sad to note that Pakistan has failed to adopt digital technology the way it should have and
keep pace with its advancement. As countries such as Bangladesh are digitising their economies to
fuel innovation, growth and jobs, we are still struggling with slow, patchy internet connectivity and a
poor digital infrastructure.

Our young entrepreneurs are finding it hard to access the funds required for business growth or to do
business with the rest of the world. Attempts made by successive governments to push digitisation of
the economy have mostly been erratic and have lacked direction.

Against this background the Digital Pakistan initiative has raised some hope that the government has
at last decided to make a concerted effort to promote digital technology in the country.

The initiative “sets Pakistan’s digital ambition” and is “designed both for the government and private
sector to work towards a digitally progressive and inclusive Pakistan” by enhancing connectivity,
improving digital infrastructure, investing in digital skills and literacy, and promoting innovation and
entrepreneurship.

It is a good sign that the push for the initiative is marked by a commitment by the young and energetic
to see it through. This aspect generates expectations and makes the digital future of Pakistan all the
more worth looking forward to.

Nevertheless, it will be a mistake to expect a change overnight. It is going to be a long run. For digital
technology to create an impact on economic development, we will first require consistent efforts and
political commitment, substantial investment in infrastructure and appropriate policies to catch up with
the rest of the world.

RECENTLY, Forbes published an article naming Pakistan the fourth fastest-growing freelance market in
the world, with a 47 per cent growth in freelance earnings. While this is seen by some as a glimmer of
hope in the midst of serious economic uncertainty, a deeper look into the ‘gig economy’ and the
nature of freelance work reveals reasons for concern.
As artificial intelligence and the internet of things become more widespread, workers on manufacturing
floors and in the agricultural sector may be replaced by machines and robots. The rise of digital
assistants and bots with machine-learning capabilities mean many other workers such as administrative
assistants, call centre agents and customer service professionals may find their skills redundant in the
future.

While digital transformation in Pakistan is imminent and should be welcomed, it will also bring
efficiencies which are likely to result in lay-offs. Is this an indication of a future with fewer jobs and high
unemployment, where jobs such as bank tellers and factory workers will be obsolete? With businesses
engaged in a competitive and ruthless race to improve their bottom line and to innovate, automation
and digitisation of everything are the ultimate goals. Do we have re-training programmes for workers
whose skills will soon be irrelevant, and do we have the capabilities to equip the next generation of
workers with relevant skill sets?

We need to take steps to ensure that our education system is enabling our youth to find jobs in the
digital future. In addition to traditional skills such as tailoring and appliance repair, our vocational
training centres must also adapt and focus on the new skills needed for the future, such as coding and
programming. Technology can only help workers if they have the right expertise.

On the other hand, the digital revolution is also bringing amazing new technologies which have the
power to change lives. Technologies that are empowering people with disabilities and can see, hear or
speak for them, and technologies that are doubling as doctors and clinics in areas with inadequate
healthcare.