It is hard to interpret the PTI’s ‘Naya Pakistan’ that also embraces conservatism, but there is little denying the fact that Pakistan is on the cusp of a social transformation.

The change, however, is not driven by sit-ins and rallies, but by a fast-evolving information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The trend has been gaining momentum as market forces and stakeholders — public, private sector, MNCs and trading partners — pool their resources and knowledge in the hope of reaping rich dividends. The renewed spirit of cooperation is helping better plug Pakistan with the rest of the world.

Successful private technology companies that have expanded exponentially over a relatively short period of time are upbeat, ready to support the government in its efforts to develop a technological infrastructural framework. The democratic essence of information technology business nudges companies to act against their natural instinct of privatising gains and socialising losses.

Some IT firms are promoting incubator projects and providing mentoring services to new business aspirants that are inclined to transform innovative ideas into marketable business models.

“Mobile-commerce has already arrived. We are keen to develop infrastructure for e-commerce to enable companies like Paypal to provide their services in Pakistan as well,” says PTA Chairman Dr Syed Ismail Shah

Convinced of the value of technology in improving the quality of governance — like service delivery, transparency, efficiency etc — and the quality of life of the people (greater awareness of choices), relevant leaders across the political spectrum are showing greater flexibility to learn, adapt and support initiatives directed at facilitating information technology development.

The US, which leads the world in technological advancement, seems to have spotted the quiet growth in the ICT sector in Pakistan and its potential. After energy, ICT has been identified as an area where closer ties and engagement can yield mutually beneficial results.

US Ambassador Richard Olson, who is currently leading a high-level ICT delegation from Pakistan to Silicon Valley, told Dawn in San Francisco that his country is willing to assist Pakistan in developing an ICT ecosystem and internationally accepted standards to generate an environment that is conducive for investment in the sector.

Commenting on the utility of the exercise, he said, “I hope and wish to top it over my last initiative”. Last year, Mr Olson had led an energy delegation to Houston, which generated $15m worth of business for US companies. The multiple engagements with the US State department and the likes of IT giants Microsoft, Google, Cisco, TiE and Oracle demonstrate the seriousness of the initiative.

Dr Miftah Ismail, advisor to the prime minister on technology, told this scribe that the government is committed to removing irritants and facilitating the development of the sector, which, he said, is crucial to improving the quality of governance and accessibility of social services. The role of the sector in generating employment opportunities for the youth is also crucial.

Dr Syed Ismail Shah, chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, sees a great future for ICT in Pakistan, as 3/4G technologies get fully leveraged by mobile companies and the competition brings android phones within the reach of ordinary citizens.

“There is no downside to this development. The opposition is based on ignoran­ce. Mobile-commerce has already arrived. We are keen to develop infrastructure for e-commerce to enable companies like Paypal to provide their services in Pakistan as well,” he told this writer privately.

“For the last two years, Youtube has been banned in Pakistan. As long as Pakistan fails to withdraw such abrupt draconian measures, I do not think persuasion can work on global investors. The government must lift the ban and desist the temptation to act unilaterally against global norms to earn international trust,” commented Jehan Ara, president of the Pakistan Software House Association. She was also critical of the public sector IT hierarchy, which, she felt,was infested with petty politics and preferred not to eng­age with the private sector at the policy level.

Dr Umer Saif, chairman, Punjab Infor­ma­tion Technology Board, said the province is leveraging technology to serve people. “We disbursed money worth millions amongst the flood affectees in a record four days”.

Syed Iqtidar Zaidi, CEO of Techaccess Pakistan, said he has been supporting incubators and mentoring youngsters at several engineering institutions and technology institutes, and wishes to open a technology colony soon near Islamabad.

The bigger Pakistani IT companies are said to be worth $15-25m. The collective wor­th of the sector, which has about 1,500 firms, is estimated at over $2bn. The growth in the employment rate is stated to be over 40pc, from a narrow base 10 years back.

Experts believe if the thrust is maintained, the sector could grow at fast pace to cross the $11bn-mark in the next five years, till 2019.

The writer is visiting Silicon Valley, San Francisco

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, October 20th, 2014