Latest news with #DigitalPakistan
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Bitcoin data centres to boost employment opportunities
Listen to article Pakistan plans to use its surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining in an effort to expand digital economic activity and increase foreign exchange earnings, officials say. The country's total power generation capacity stands at 46,000 megawatts, significantly exceeding demand. In summer, power consumption reaches 26,000 megawatts, while in winter it falls to just 10,000 megawatts. Due to seasonal variations in electricity usage, the government aims to divert excess capacity to Bitcoin mining. Under the plan, 2,000 megawatts of electricity will be allocated for this purpose. Officials say the initiative will provide a source of income without relying on imports and will help boost foreign reserves. The government, in collaboration with the private sector, will develop Bitcoin mining as part of its broader 'Digital Pakistan' strategy. Authorities say the move will generate state revenue and create job opportunities for youth through the establishment of modern data centres. Better utilisation of Independent Power Producers' (IPPs) capacity will also support the stability of the national power grid, according to the plan. Read: Pakistan's crypto bet: digital dream or power misstep? Previously, government announced to allocate 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the first phase of a national initiative to power bitcoin mining and AI data centres, finance ministry said. The allocation is part of government's plans to use its surplus electricity to bitcoin mining and AI data centres. Country's energy sector is grappling with challenges, including high electricity tariffs and surplus generation capacity. The rapid expansion of solar energy has further complicated the landscape, as more consumers turn to alternative energy sources to mitigate high costs. The initiative is spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), a government-backed body, which is part of a broader strategy to monetize surplus electricity, create high-tech jobs, and attract foreign investment, the ministry said. The allocation is the first phase of a broader, multi-stage digital infrastructure roll-out, it added.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan, China explore tech joint ventures in AI, smart cities
KARACHI: Pakistan and China are exploring new joint ventures in artificial intelligence, smart cities and digital innovation, Pakistan's IT ministry said on Friday, following a high-level meeting between Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong in Islamabad. The meeting reaffirmed both countries' intent to deepen bilateral cooperation in emerging technologies and to build on their long-standing digital partnership through knowledge sharing, joint ventures, and technical capacity building. 'This dialogue opened avenues for joint ventures, knowledge transfer, and capacity-building in critical sectors of the digital economy,' the IT ministry said in a statement. 'Both sides emphasized the importance of leveraging technology for inclusive development and committed to advancing mutually beneficial initiatives that reinforce the digital cooperation between Pakistan and China.' Khawaja outlined Pakistan's strategy to harness digital tools for economic growth and improved public services, while Ambassador Jiang expressed Beijing's continued support for 'practical cooperation and expertise exchange' in key areas of innovation. The two sides discussed deepening collaboration across smart city initiatives, artificial intelligence applications and wider digital transformation goals. The ministry said the meeting marked a step forward in advancing Pakistan's vision for a tech-driven economy. The Pakistan government's 'Digital Pakistan' initiative is a comprehensive strategy focused on expanding broadband and 5G infrastructure, promoting digital literacy, youth engagement and innovation, developing e‑governance services for citizens and supporting investment in tech startups, IT zones, and export-driven IT firms.
Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Building digital Pakistan beyond big slogans
The story of transformation begins with a single keystroke, a child's first coding lesson, and a nation's unwavering belief in its future. South Korea's digital transformation began with massive investments in educational infrastructure. Singapore's smart nation initiative started with comprehensive teacher training. Estonia's digital society emerged from a commitment to technological innovation in schools. For decades, successive governments have treated education as an afterthought rather than the foundation of national development. The question isn't whether Pakistan can join the digital revolution or not, the more fundamental worry is whether we have the courage to reorder our priorities and invest in the minds that can lead it? While billions have been invested in the infrastructure and so called e-governance systems, the Pakistani government continued to neglect the education sector. The Digital Pakistan vision focused heavily on connectivity and digital services but failed to adequately address the fundamental challenge of preparing Pakistan's human capital for the digital age (who fundamentally are the users of this infrastructure). With over 60% of its population under the age of 30, Pakistan holds what economists call a 'demographic dividend', a youthful, dynamic workforce capable of driving prosperity. But this advantage is only meaningful if we equip our young people with the right skills, and the vision to use them. The foundation crises The transformation must begin where every great journey starts, in the classroom of a six-year-old. Pakistan's primary education system, serving over 22 million children, needs more than incremental improvements on paper, it demands a complete reimagining. The first pillar of Digital Pakistan lies in universal digital literacy. Every primary school student should have access to tablet-based learning platforms loaded with interactive content in Urdu, English, and regional languages. Countries like Rwanda have successfully implemented one-laptop-per-child programs that cost less than $200 per student annually, a fraction of what Pakistan spends on non-essential government projects. Teacher training represents the most critical investment. Every primary school teacher should receive certification in basic digital pedagogy, not as an additional burden but as an empowering tool. Master trainers from leading universities like LUMS and NUST could develop cascading training programs, creating a network of digitally fluent educators reaching every corner of Pakistan. Certainly. Here's a concise and impactful version: Digital transformation will break down geographical barriers, enabling students and educators from remote villages to access the same high-quality resources, lectures, and expertise that have long been confined to major urban centres. This democratization of knowledge can level the playing field and unlock the full potential of talent across the entire nation. Building digital citizens As students progress to secondary education, the focus shifts from digital literacy to digital fluency. Secondary schools should establish 'Innovation Labs' where students learn coding, robotics, and digital design. What is being taught at colleges should move down to school level. These labs don't require massive investments, they need strategic partnerships with leading tech companies who could sponsor equipment and provide mentorship through rotation programs serving multiple schools per district. The curriculum overhaul must be comprehensive yet practical. Computer science should be mandatory, but equally important are digital literacy modules integrated into traditional subjects. Students could create documentary films about local heritage, develop apps for identifying local flora and fauna, and publish digital magazines showcasing regional writers. Pakistan's linguistic diversity (with over 70 languages spoken) could become a competitive advantage in creating multilingual digital content. Centres of excellence and innovation – blockchain and beyond The final stage of transformation is with the Higher Education in Pakistan. Local universities must transform from knowledge consumers to knowledge creators. The country's 200+ universities vary dramatically in quality, but this diversity can become a strength through strategic resource sharing. Leading institutions like NUST, the University of Punjab and Quaid-i-Azam University should establish 'Digital Knowledge Hubs' that smaller universities can access, providing online courses, virtual laboratory access, and research collaboration platforms. The higher education curriculum needs radical and urgent updating. Engineering programs should integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning from the first year. Business schools should focus on digital entrepreneurship and e-commerce. Medical schools should incorporate telemedicine and digital health technologies. International partnerships can amplify these efforts exponentially through dual degrees, research collaborations, and faculty exchanges. Universities must take the lead in exploring and integrating cutting-edge technologies like blockchain, quantum computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) into their academic and research agendas. Blockchain, for instance, offers transformative potential for secure digital identities, transparent public services, and tamper-proof academic credentials , innovations that can directly address many of Pakistan's governance and trust deficits. By establishing dedicated research centres and industry partnerships around these emerging technologies, universities can position Pakistan not just as a consumer, but as a creator of next-generation solutions. This academic leadership is essential to ensure the country keeps pace with global innovation and builds a future-ready economy. Economic transformation Digital Pakistan's economic impact extends far beyond education. A digitally literate workforce attracts international investment, creates high-value jobs, and develops innovative solutions to local challenges. Countries like Estonia, Singapore, and South Korea have demonstrated how educational transformation drives economic growth. The IT sector could become Pakistan's largest export industry. With improved education, the country could produce world-class software developers, digital marketers, and tech entrepreneurs. Pakistani firms could compete globally in artificial intelligence, fintech, and e-commerce. The current IT exports of $2.6 billion could grow to $25 billion within a decade with proper educational investment. Traditional industries would also benefit from digital transformation. Agriculture could adopt precision farming techniques, manufacturing could implement Industry 4.0 technologies, and services could leverage digital platforms for growth. Small businesses could access global markets through e-commerce platforms developed by Pakistani entrepreneurs. The social revolution Digital transformation has the power to weave the entire nation into a unified digital golden thread, connecting regions, communities, and individuals through shared platforms for learning, collaboration, and innovation. By breaking down geographical and social barriers, it allows students in Gilgit to access the same quality of education as those in Lahore, and entrepreneurs in Balochistan to connect with global markets just as easily as their counterparts in Karachi. Crucially, it also opens doors for women and girls, especially in conservative or underserved areas, to learn, earn, and lead from within their own homes, reducing gender inequality and empowering a new wave of social mobility. A unified, inclusive digital ecosystem doesn't just modernise Pakistan, it redefines who gets to shape its future. The path forward Beyond big slogans, the journey toward Digital Pakistan requires immediate action across multiple fronts. Infrastructure development comes first, every school needs reliable internet connectivity through expanded fiber optic networks and subsidized access. Funding mechanisms must be innovative and sustainable. The government should establish an 'Education Technology Fund' supported by taxes on digital services and international partnerships. Private companies should receive tax incentives for educational investments, while alumni networks contribute to scholarship funds and infrastructure development. Public-private partnerships can accelerate implementation. International tech companies establishing operations in Pakistan should contribute to educational development. Local companies should adopt schools and provide ongoing support. Diaspora communities should engage as mentors and funding sources. The moment of truth Pakistan possesses unique advantages that other digitally transformed nations lacked. Our large population provides scale for digital solutions. Our cultural diversity offers rich content for educational platforms. Our diaspora community provides global connections and expertise. Our young demographic ensures rapid adoption of new technologies. The timeline for digital transformation is surprisingly short. With dedicated efforts, Pakistan could achieve universal digital literacy in primary schools within five years, comprehensively digitize secondary education within seven years, and bring universities to international standards within a decade. The economic benefits would begin appearing within three years and accelerate rapidly thereafter. The roadmap is quite clear, train teachers, update curricula, and foster innovation. The resources are available through creative partnerships and international cooperation. What's missing is the political will to prioritise education over short-term gains and the social commitment to embrace change. The article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Recorder or its owners
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Meta to help advance digitalisation
Listen to article Pakistan and an international technology company have explored the potential of advancing digitalisation, promoting the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and enhancing cooperation in public sector innovation and capacity building. Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja held a meeting on Thursday with a high-level delegation from Meta, led by Sarim Aziz, Director of South and Central Asia Public Policy. The minister highlighted the government's strong commitment to the Digital Pakistan vision, noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a weekly review meeting on national transition towards a cashless economy. She reiterated that building a digitally empowered society was central to the prime minister's vision of Digital Pakistan, where emerging technologies play a pivotal role in governance, service delivery and economic transformation. Meta's team briefed the minister on the company's latest developments in AI, including the LLaMA open-source models, generative AI applications for the public sector and progress on local language models including Urdu.
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Budget: will it power tech economy or stall its promise?
Listen to article The federal budget for FY 2025-26 arrives at a critical juncture. As Pakistan grapples with economic fragility, youth unemployment and declining investor confidence, the technology sector still offers one of the few credible paths towards sustainable growth. But even this promise risks fading, choked by a familiar cycle of lofty declarations with little follow-through. For years, slogans like Digital Pakistan, IT exports and Startup Pakistan have echoed across stages and press conferences. Yet these remain ceremonial, rarely backed by budgetary or institutional commitment. The FY26 budget, like many before it, acknowledges the sector but stops short of empowering it. References to digitisation and startups are there but feel like afterthoughts. There is no substantial allocation to expand fibre broadband or improve rural connectivity. These are foundational requirements for any meaningful digital economy. The Universal Service Fund remains underpowered. Key areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cybersecurity are barely acknowledged. These are not futuristic ambitions. They are current global imperatives. The neglect of public cloud infrastructure is particularly telling. Around the world, governments are investing in sovereign cloud to ensure data control, cybersecurity and efficient citizen services. Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to rely on outdated hosting and procurement models while spending heavily on foreign software licences. We have not created the policy or regulatory environment that would attract global players like Microsoft, Oracle or Amazon to establish localised cloud zones in the country. This is not just about reducing costs. Localising global cloud infrastructure means protecting national data, supporting critical fintech and public services, improving cybersecurity and restoring investor confidence. Countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia and even Kuwait have been able to achieve this successfully. Pakistan, despite its population and potential, has not. The reason is not capability. It is the lack of political will and policy coherence. To move forward, fiscal incentives are not enough. We need a complete overhaul of our licensing systems, a clear cloud procurement framework and enforceable data protection policies that support international standards and welcome strategic investment. Our underperforming technology exports are another missed opportunity. Despite talent and diaspora strength, Pakistan's IT and IT-enabled services exports remain flat at around $3 billion. Delegations continue to travel to international expos labeled as promotion, yet few convert into meaningful outcomes. We lack market intelligence, follow-up mechanisms and synergy with embassies or trade bodies. The country must shift from exhibition-based engagement to targeted market expansion. That means using data to identify high demand regions, strengthening diaspora commercial diplomacy and aligning visa, trade and marketing policies accordingly. Forex Retention Cards and a robust Digital Export Facilitation Portal can reduce friction and support growth. Startups in Pakistan also remain underserved. Early stage capital is scarce. Regulatory inconsistency deters innovation. Public innovation agencies like Ignite are underfunded. Gender inclusive policy support is largely symbolic. And there is minimal room for experimentation in areas like fintech, healthtech, agritech or education technology. Pakistan needs a government-backed Tech Growth Fund, tax holidays for early stage startups and regulatory sandboxes that allow innovation to mature. Grants for women-led ventures are not just desirable, they are essential if we want to build an inclusive technology economy. All of this is complicated by a harsh and fragmented tax regime. Advance income taxes, overlapping provincial levies and ambiguous procedures punish digital businesses. Freelancers and software exporters struggle with remitting earnings. The FY26 budget has ignored these fundamental friction points. It is time to reinstate long-term tax exemptions for digital exporters, introduce zero rating for in-house developed software and unify digital taxation through a single window. Otherwise, we risk driving our best talent out of the country while chasing token foreign exchange. Behind these gaps is a more systemic failure. There is no central authority responsible for driving digital transformation across government. Ministries and agencies continue to operate in silos, leading to duplicated projects, inconsistent platforms and wasted resources. The establishment of a Central Digital Governance Authority is not a luxury. It is a national need. This body must have legal authority and cross-institutional mandate to drive implementation, track performance and ensure accountability across public sector initiatives. Another missed opportunity is talent development. The budget refers to skills but offers no strategy to future proof the workforce. What we need is not more unstructured training but a national education model aligned with global demand. Leading tech nations invest in talent as their core asset. Pakistan has the youth but not the planning. A National Digital Skills Fund must be created in partnership with global tech providers such as Microsoft, Cisco and AWS. The school curriculum must be upgraded to embed STEM skills and computational thinking. Skilling must be scalable, industry driven and outcome based. We cannot outsource this to non-profits and hope to compete globally. In the end, the FY26 budget appears more focused on fiscal optics than digital transformation. It may satisfy IMF checklists but it does little to address the urgency of economic reinvention. Other nations are building cloud parks, launching national AI strategies and attracting tech investment at scale. We are still debating whether digital transformation is viable. It is not just viable. It is vital. Pakistan's technology economy can be the engine that drives us out of crisis. But engines need fuel, direction and commitment. That means infrastructure. That means policy. That means institutional leadership. We must move from ceremonial launches to systemic reform, from scattered events to connected ecosystems and from policy talk to measurable performance. The world will not wait for us to catch up. Neither will our young people. The time to act was yesterday. The time to recover it is today. The writer is ex-MPA of the provincial assembly of Sindh, tech professional and education and child rights activist
