DIGITAL PAKISTAN POLICY: A

Digital Pakistan Policy is a pivotal stride toward technological progress and innovation. A rigorous comparative analysis is used delving into a multifaceted landscape of Digital Pakistan Policy, shedding light on achievements and hurdles. The legislative reforms, infrastructural enhancement, and innovative initiatives are evidence of the sweeping impact of this policy resulting in E-Commerce and IT Growth. However, persisting gaps, the absence of necessary legislation, and the least focus on skills development require attention. Amidst the ever-changing political milieu, policy stability stands as a cornerstone for sustained progress. This study illuminates a spectrum of untapped potential and success requiring exigency to get the best fruitful result. By comparing the policy against international best practices, this research provides pivotal strategic directions and insight paving the path for shaping the digital journey


INTRODUCTION
With the advancement of Information and communication technologies (ICTs), governments across the globe have formulated policies to get the most out of this advancement.Although developed countries had taken revolutionary steps to infuse technology into different aspects of life in the early years of the 21 st Century.Pakistan initiated steps for the introduction of technology in different aspects of government and the Ministry of Science and Technology started an IT development program in 2001 through the creation of several taskforces for the introduction of e-Governance and E-Commerce (Ara, 2001).The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) initiated steps for starting new steps at the Government level for the introduction of the latest technology (MoST, 2007).
According to the 2017 Census, Pakistan has More than 64% of the Youth aged below 30 years (Talib, H. L. and M. 2022).For the best utilization of this youth, a revolutionary step toward digitization is required.Pakistan having a burgeoning population and eager toward a growing economy took a transformative step by introducing Digital Pakistan Policy in 2018.The Policy aims to best utilize ICTs for sustainable economic development, enhance the quality of life, and improvement of governance.
Pakistan was ranked 4 th in the international freelancing market in 2017 (Odesk, 2017).Pakistan's online services export grew by 70% before the announcement of this Policy (SBP, 2017).Pakistan's first IT Policy was announced in 2000 under the Pervaiz Musharaf regime which has been replaced by Digital Pakistan Policy in 2018.
This policy has a wide range of initiatives for the services as well as the ICT sector which includes the promotion of Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce), expansion of broadband infrastructure, initiatives of new skills program training, and digitization of government services.This policy also aims to empower youth, especially women and girls, and to enable innovative steps for new start-ups.

Fig-I Digital Pakistan Policy †
This research paper aims to critically evaluate the Digital Pakistan policy by evaluating the set targets and achievements made after the enactment of this policy.We will also analyze dimensions of policy like alignment with global applied best practices, its economic impact, and overall readiness of available infrastructure to support this policy.This paper also aims to provide valuable insights for policymakers, and researchers regarding digital transformation initiatives in Pakistan.

METHODOLOGY
This research uses a comparative analysis research design for analyzing the Digital Pakistan Policy and steps taken to achieve the goals of the policy and critically analyze them to provide a solution for unattained goals.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
As we know the World has been working for a long to make the most of ICTs in every field of life.To improve IT usage continuous programs are conducted and they monitor and analyze performance and productivity (Turban McLean et al 2004).While going to opportunities and challenges in ICT Pakistan, it has been revealed that the IT infrastructure available in Pakistan is not capable of infusing the latest technology in Pakistan and political stability also has been a hurdle in the implementation of Policies relating it ICT (Kundi et al. 2008).
In the evaluation of the government's ICT policy to find out gaps in the implementation of this policy it has been found that several factors affect the implementation of ICT Policies including lack of participation of citizens in the policy-making process, political instability, inconsistent policies, and no protection for private organization relating to ICT (Baqir et al, 2009).While focusing on the effectiveness of E-Commerce, it has been found that the Digital Pakistan Policy has been designed to boost the economy through subsidized broadband, technology parks for new employment opportunities, and research (Javed, A. 2020).

Goals of Digital Pakistan Policy
The Vision of this Policy is to become strategic and enable digitization for the expansion of a knowledge-based economy and socio-economic growth.Similarly, this policy is designed to get holistic digital strategy digitization of different sectors, growth of the current market through e-commerce, Empowerment of Youth, women, and girls through IT skills, and promotion of entrepreneurship.The objectives also include increasing exports of IT products, improving ICT ranking, E-Governance, increasing investments through ICT, and introducing international standards in the IT sector.The key components of this policy are elaborated one by one hereafter.
• Legislation † Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication With the announcement of this policy, the Government announced income tax, withholding tax, and minimum tax exemption till 2025 for all registered startups.Moreover, there is the exemption of sales tax on the export of IT services and IT start-ups are allowed to open foreign exchange accounts in Pakistan.The other incentives include: • 5% cash reward on remittances.
• 5% sales tax on domestic services.
• 5% interest rate on long-term loans for the opening of IT Startups.

Initiatives of Digital Pakistan Policy
Although this policy is sin quo non to the must require IT innovation in the public as well as the private sector.However, there are various lacunas in this policy as well as the implementation of the policy which will be thoroughly discussed here.Legislation After the enactment of the Digital Pakistan Policy, only two pieces of legislation have been done during five years namely Removal of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, oversight, and Safeguard) Rules, 2021, and Universal Service Fund Rules 2023.Moreover, six different drafts of legislation were under process under the Digital Pakistan Policy(MOIT&T, 2022).It is necessary to mention here that no new Acts or any amendment in Acts have been made to enable IT Policy to be implemented in letter and spirit.Moreover, no new regulations have been made.
It is pertinent to point out here that the National Information Technology Board (NITB) has shared a plan to shift E-Office / E-Government on mobile phones through a dedicated application enabling officers to clear their work from home.This project will be completed by June 2023.

Pakistan's Largest Software Technology Park
According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2022, the Pakistan Export Board has 21 operational Software Technology Parks.Economic Affairs Division and EXIM Bank South Korea are building Pakistan's largest Software Technology Park in Karachi on a loan of $158 million, which will be completed by 2025.The software will house IT Companies, Incubation Centers, Software Testing labs, etc.

IGNITE (National Incubation Center)
Another key setup taken was IGNITE whereby top IT Notchs has committed to make investments of 10.4 Billion Rupees and till December 2022, 4.7 Billion revenue has been generated.This project has created 1.1 million jobs and inducted 934 start-ups in the project (Ignite, 2022).This project has been declared one of the Champions Projects by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2022 (ITU, 2022).

National Grassroot IT Research Initiative
Through this initiative, the undergraduates of the Universities are invited to submit their final year projects (FYP) whereupon they have been granted financial support.

ICT for Girls and Persons with Disability
Although the Government has initiated loans for women and girls to make IT startups but still the participation of Women in the IT Sector is still low.According to a report by the Pakistan Software Housing Association, 18% of Women and Girls entrepreneurs are working in the software industry.In 2015 a total participation of 5% was seen from the women's side in the IT sector which has grown to 14% in 2021.

E-Commerce
The E-Commerce sector in Pakistan has grown tremendously.According to the State Bank of Pakistan, a 107% soar in transactions has been seen from 4.5 million to Rs. 106 billion over a year.Whereas 32% growth has been seen in the number of merchants from September 2021 to December 2021 which is a significant number.• Bait-Ul-Mal Portal The Bait-Ul-Mal Portal is being developed for Bait-Ul-Mal Headquarters and its regional officers located across the country.The purpose of the software/portal is to get the registration of students, especially females from backward areas for technical education.

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Although, after 18 years, the Digital Pakistan Policy was a good initiative by the Government, however, several critical points have been found in this policy.These critical drawbacks require attention in the next policy to achieve the real essence of Information Technology economically and technologically.

Readiness for Adaption of Technology
According to the Technology and Innovation Driver Ranking Report of 2018, Pakistan has been ranked 88 for technology and innovation whereas India is at 34, Bangladesh at 86, and Philpine at 59.This shows our lack of commitment to ensuring the adaption of new technology in the Country.

Fig-5: Ranking of Technology and Innovation † † No Legislation for E-Governance
Although Digital Pakistan Policy is aimed to transform governance and government system to electronically run the system.The policy is aimed to make amendments to PPRA Rules, Rules of Business, and Secretariat Instructions.E-Government has been announced and is being run on a pilot basis in different Ministries, however, no such binding has been made through legislation to make egovernment / e-office mandatory to run official business in the public sector Ease of Doing Business for Startups From the below-given stats of the State Bank of Pakistan, in 2021-22 Pakistan's IT exports were $1.9 billion which was $1.1 Billion in 2018-19 before the announcement of the Digital Pakistan Policy.† † WEF Readiness for Future Production Report, 2018 Fig- 6: IT exports and Remitences till April 2022 ‡ ‡  Whereas the figure shows that $40 million were imports for IT equipment.Moreover, important payment platforms like PAYPAL may be approached to start their services in Pakistan to provide ease to the exporters and service providers.

Political Stability
It has been witnessed in the past that the policy announced by the previous government was either abolished by the new government or no focus has been given to that policy.The same is the case with this policy.After the change of government in 2022 no special care has been made for accomplishment of goals under this policy.

No Focus on New Skills Development Universities
The Government has not focused on the establishment of any new university specifically for skills development.Although National Skills University in Islamabad is working, however, such kinds of universities are necessary to be established at the provincial level.

Focus on Made in Pakistan
As per National Economics Survey, Pakistan's local manufacturing in 2016 was $0.3 million had only 03 companies working in mobile manufacturing plants in Pakistan.Whereas, this revenue generation has pledged to 7.16 million in 2022 and 2.83 million smartphones have been manufactured creating 22,000 jobs.The companies working on "Made in Pakistan" has reached 30 which is not a good increase, however, it can be more if special focus is given.However, it is imperative to mention here that government should approach big tech giants for making investments in the Manufacturing of ICT products as seen in the case of India and Bangladesh which have brought Google, Facebook, Apple, and other tech giants to India.Although, this research was desk based on a qualitative approach, however, limitations in finding data regarding IT exports, human resources in ICT, and unregistered tech startups were faced during this research.Even though it was required in the first decade of the 21 st Century, however, Pakistan can reach in top countries of the ICT market if the government pays special attention to this sector.We have seen that the ICT sector is growing surprisingly without many incentives.However, if given priorities, we can boost our economy, and the ICT sector can give a breakthrough which is the need of the hour for Pakistan's economy.The Government should continue this policy by announcing its policy for 2023-2028 in the future focusing on lacunas given in this research as well as in the economic surveys.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The government of Pakistan should focus on the IT Sector to increase exports of ICT services for running government affairs by giving short-term and long-term plans for IT freelancers, startups, and companies.Special incentives may be announced for domestic manufacturers to start industries in Pakistan to reduce IT imports and move toward Made in Pakistan products.Special initiatives be taken to establish skills development universities, first at the Provincial Level and then at regional and district levels.All policies should be state-owned rather than government-owned which will bind the new government to carry on such policies or to give a special reason for discontinuing any policy.Amendments may be made in ROB and Secretariat Instructions to make E-Office and E-Governance mandatory for government officers to get the most out of the latest technologies.Government should work on its legislation and other process to enable ease of doing business making Pakistan ready for new innovative technologies.For exporting parts to manufacture MADE IN PAKISTAN products, the government should announce special incentives for new companies.

Fig- 4 :
Fig-4: Transactions and Estimation of E-Commerce **E-GovernanceWith the start of the Digital Pakistan Policy, the main focus of the Government of moving toward egovernment.E-Government improves service delivery.The key aim of the government of initiate egovernance and make paperless procurement.The government has launched the following apps for Government Citizen (G2C) services.•Pakistan Citizen Portal App.• Computerization of Land Records in KP and Punjab

Fig- 7 :
Fig-7: Exports and Imports of Various Sectors in Pakistan § § According to National Economic Survey 2021-22, Pakistan's ICT exports plunged to Rs. 11,665 Million during 2021-2022 which is 39% of total exports during 2021-2022.This shows that the ICT sector has the potential to run the government's affairs if given priority.

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Infrastructural Development • Human Resource Development and Freelancing in IT • Readiness for Adoption of Technology and Software Exports • ICT for Girls and Persons with Disability • Local Manufacturing • E-Governance • Proposed Electronic Services to Different Socio-Economic Sectors • IoT, AI & Robotics Fiscal

Incentives in Digital Pakistan Policy
Initiatives for IT Research Enhancement ‡ The government has also launched Kamyab Jawan Program whereby 513 billion rupees have been disbursed to the youth for initiating their startups in IT.The details of sector-wise loan disbursement and job creation are best elaborated in Fig-3: Job creation through the Kamyab Jawan Program §