In a busy city somewhere in the world, a young entrepreneur wakes up to the sound of his smart home system gently playing his favorite morning playlist. As he gets ready for the day, his AI-powered assistant updates him on the latest news ranging from politics and sports to advancements in renewable energy, healthcare and digital infrastructure.
As soon as he leaves the house for office, the automated vacuum cleaner initiates its cleaning cycle ensuring a pristline living environment. His entire day is a seamless blend of technology and innovation, a testament to the rapid advancements shaping the world around us. Just when we admire these global advancements ,we also need to acknowledge a sobering truth: Pakistan, despite its significant potential is falling behind in several crucial aspects of technological progress. This gap is not just a matter of national pride but a critical issue that is having an impact on our economic growth, healthcare, education and overall living standard. Around the world countries are making remarkable progress in various fields. The World Economic Forum’s Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2024 highlight innovations such as AI-powered scientific discovery, carbon-capturing microbes and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces.
These technologies promise to revolutionize industries and enhance sustainability by improving overall lives. For instance, AI is accelerating scientific research leading to breakthroughs in healthcare and environmental conservation. Carbon-capturing microbes are being developed to combat climate change by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, highlighted in the COP29 Baku. Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces are optimizing wireless communications making data access more efficient and sustainable. In contrast, Pakistan faces significant challenges in adopting and integrating these advancements. Our digital infrastructure is underdeveloped with limited access to high-speed internet in many areas. This digital divide hampers our ability to participate in the global digital economy and restricts access to online education, e-commerce and telemedicine. Moreover, our investment in research and development (R&D) is woefully inadequate. According to the World Bank, Pakistan’s R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP is among the lowest in the region. This lack of investment stifles innovation and prevents us from developing homegrown solutions to our unique challenges.
To bridge this gap we need to prioritize with digital infrastructure. Even the previous week had been about internet slowdowns primarily attributed to widespread use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Federal Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja clarified that the government has not intentionally slowed down or blocked internet services. Instead the surge in VPN usage especially after certain apps were restricted has led to increased internet traffic, causing slower speeds. Earlier this year it was reported that slow internet was costing us approximately $50 million per day. We need to realize that expanding high-speed internet access across the country is crucial and this issue needs to be sorted on priority basis. Increasing funding for research and development is essential as well. This will promote innovation, support scientific discoveries and help develop technologies tailored to our needs.
We also need to invest more in education and skills development to prepare our workforce for the future. This includes promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and providing training in emerging technologies. Collaboration between the government, private sector and academia can drive technological advancement. Public-private partnerships can help fund research, develop infrastructure and create an ecosystem that supports innovation.
The story of technologically advanced life shared in the start is not just a distant dream but a potential reality for Pakistan. By addressing our current shortcomings and investing in our future, we can bridge the gap and ensure that Pakistan is not left behind in the global race for technological advancement. The time to act is now, and the path to progress is clear.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad.
