ISLAMABAD: Despite an improvement in some areas of the technology policy, Pakistan has not been able to take advantage of opportunities that a digital future holds due to lack of a robust policy direction.

The commerce ministry published Pakistan’s e-commerce policy in October 2019 to address this issue. In its working paper, ‘Transforming transaction: does Pakistan’s e-commerce policy deliver?’, public policy think-tank Tabadlab explores the strengths and weaknesses of this e-commerce policy.

Authored by technology policy expert Anum Malkani, the report takes a look at Pakistan’s existing policy landscape to support digital transformation, specifically e-commerce.

As the world digitises at breakneck speed, statistics suggest that Pakistan may be left behind unless proactive policies are implemented to increase digital access and catalyse digital transformation of the economy.

Since the current government came into office, there have been a number of developments with the publication of three discrete policy documents to support e-commerce and Pakistan’s ability to play catch-up in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Digital Pakistan Policy of 2018, the Digital Payment and National Payments Strategy 2019 and the E-Commerce Policy Framework 2019.

But the report of the think-tank said creation of organisational silos had resulted in fragmented policy direction. Despite some progress, there remains ambiguity on the current status and future direction of key issues such as data protection, digitisation of the economy and foreign direct investment (FDI) in e-commerce.

Analysing the e-commerce policy itself, the working paper identifies some crucial fixes to existing gaps that threaten the realisation of Pakistan’s e-commerce potential.

These recommendations include the development of a coherent roadmap with key milestones, timelines and mechanisms to track, monitor and evaluate progress by the National e-Commerce Council.

Without proper planning and funding, these initiatives are at risk of never being launched or being poorly executed, or being abandoned before completion.

There also needs to be clarity on the allocation, availability and deployment of funding to fast-track the proposed interventions as numerous recommendations involve significant outlays in terms of human and financial resources to be effective in achieving the desired objectives.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2020