Punjab has traditionally been Pakistan’s most prosperous province. Known as the land of five rivers, the province is blessed with an abundance of fertile flatland, thereby giving it the overwhelming majority of Pakistan’s agricultural and industrial output. According to the latest Pakistan Economic Review, Punjab accounts for 62 percent of Pakistan’s agricultural yield and 46 percent of its industrial output, reflecting the huge impact that it has on the nation’s economy.
Not content with just sitting back and consolidating on its traditional avenues of commerce and trade, the Punjab government is forging ahead with a highly-ambitious plan to diversify the region’s economy by facilitating the spread and reach of technology, introduce e-government initiatives, and inculcate a strong element of technological entrepreneurship.
The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) led by CEO Dr. Umar Saif, is at the forefront of efforts by the administration to help citizens gain access to technology as well as to interact with the government in a more transparent and accessible manner. The Punjab E-gateway Project, planned and executed by the PITB, has a clear and defined vision to “develop Punjab as a hub of IT activity and innovation and to utilize IT in order to improve delivery of public services to citizens.”
More tech for common people
One of the first things that Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif did after assuming office in mid-2013 was to announce the provision of 100,000 laptops free of cost to deserving college and high school students across the province. Although derided by critics as a flashy public relations stunt, and later criticized for a lack of transparency during the procurement process, the project is now in its third year and is emblematic of the government’s desire to spread ICT services to each and every corner of the province. The idea is to make technology accessible for ordinary citizens so that there is a force multiplier effect, helping sectors such as education, health, and communication and eventually impacting entrepreneurship.
In a short span of time, the PITB has launched a plethora of e-services for citizens, including eLearn Punjab, Disease Surveillance System, and Health Watch. By automating government processes, it is believed that there will be a much greater degree of transparency and accountability, thereby helping engineers in using data analytics for better management of public health crises, disaster management, and early warning systems.
Imran Moinuddin, Stanford alumnus and co-founder of incubator DotZero, has worked closely with both PITB and Dr. Umar Saif and is optimistic about the impact that the Punjab government’s e-initiatives will have. “One of the most positive aspects to come out of these steps is a more accurate data management system,” he tells Tech in Asia. “Analytics can be used to determine the success and efficacy of various schemes and help to fine tune efforts.” Moinuddin is quick to praise the efforts of chief minister Sharif and describes him as a tireless administrator, constantly striving for greater efficiency, but at the same time trusting and backing his technocratic team to deliver. “In other provinces such as Sindh and KPK, the problem isn’t a shortage of good ideas and projects – it’s one of execution. In Punjab, we are witnessing a greater degree of acceptance and willingness to implement radical solutions.”
Incubating startups
PITB’s flagship projects to promote technological innovation and entrepreneurship take the form of two startup incubators – Plan 9 and the more recently launched Plan X. Launched in August 2012, Plan 9 has incubated over 60 startups thus far, including success stories such as Bookme.pk, Markhor, and Eyedeus Labs which have pitched their products to global audiences. Plan X, which was launched in September 2014, is less of an early-stage incubator and more of an accelerator, helping startups expand their customer base and gain access to funding opportunities. Startups such as X-Gear, Travly and Baby Planet have received mentorship from Plan X and are now looking to grow their established businesses.
Another element in the Punjab government’s outreach is the Arfa Software Technology Park (ASTP), a seventeen-storey building located in Lahore and Pakistan’s largest technology center. Designed to host both local software companies and foreign investors, the park is home to both Plan 9 and Plan X as well as global heavyweights such as Microsoft, Dell, and General Electric, among others. The site regularly hosts startup events to help local companies come on the radar of foreign and institutional investors.
Part of the goal behind all this is to propel Punjab into the ranks of the top 75 state governments in the world – up from its current position of 131. The recent move to deploy free wifi in public buildings is likely to further solidify the push towards access to technology. If all this can be sustained, Punjab may very well undergo a holistic information technology revolution.
Source: https://www.techinasia.com/punjab-pakistan-tech-citizens-startups/
