World heading towards ultra-fast 5G networks while Pakistan still unclear about 3G

Interned speed linked to pace of national development: Farida Rashid

Steps for smartphone manufacturing in Pakistan, waiver of import duties demanded

Islamabad: August 27

The Islamabad Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on Tuesday asked the government to take steps for rapid introduction of digital wisdom and computer-aided intelligence in Pakistan by auctioning 3G licence.

Mobile phones are no more a basic communication tool but a device to change lives therefore foreign investors should be invited to set up smartphone manufacturing facilities in Pakistan and meanwhile all taxes and duties on imports should be abandoned to provide new opportunities to masses, it said.

World is heading towards ultra-fast 5G networks, 100 times faster than 4G, but Pakistan is yet to introduce of 3G technology which is frustrating, said Farida Rashid, President IWCCI.

She said that Interned download speed is directly linked to the pace of national development which must be realised at policy level.

Farida Rashid informed that currently 200 telecom operators across 75 countries are providing 4G mobile network services which are three times faster than 3G. Another 200 operators are in process of upgrading their networks to provide over 100 MB speed on mobile phones.

Estimates suggest that by 2018 half of the world’s population would be connected through 4G networks which is still a dream for people in Pakistan.

5G networks would be commercially available within few years changing the way we think and operate, it would be beginning of a new era where language and culture would be not a barrier therefore government should take steps ensuring that we don’t miss the boat, she demanded.

Farida Rashid said that we cannot ignore closely-connected digital world, driven by the mobile internet, smart devices and social networks which improves wisdom, human capabilities and business efficiency.

The next wave of digital onslaught will bring greater wonders and make our work and lives more efficient, intelligent and convenient and offer new possibilities for mankind.

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Dysfunctional education system a threat to society, economy

Effective education core to Pakistan’s prosperous future

Call to revive primary education system for national development

Islamabad: (July 25)

Pakistan’s education system which has become dysfunctional due to decades of neglect pose a serious threat to the society and economy unless improved on war footing, an educationist said Thursday.

Pakistan is among top illiterate countries, every tenth illiterate child in the world is Pakistani while country holds second position on the global ranking of out-of-school children, said Dr Naeem Ghani, Chairman Sultana Foundation.

Speaking at a seminar, he said that lack commitment on the part of policymakers has left 25 million children without schools while their number will swell to 50 million in fifteen years with disastrous social and economic consequences.

He said that around 23 per cent of school-age children are deprived of education while 17.6 per cent of them are actively engaged in the child labour.

Dr Naeem Ghani said that too much focus on higher education is taking tool on primary education as thousands of schools are without building, boundary walls, and other facilities.

Schooling of the girl child is extremely important as no education policy can work without gender balance which is yet to be taken seriously, he said.

Apathy on the part of authorities is responsible for declining quality of education which can be reversed through fresh investments in this sector which is core to Pakistan’s development.

He noted that our education system does not provide for a substantial percentage of students to move beyond the primary level.

Pakistan is still a long way from achieving universal primary enrolment which should be taken seriously, he underlined.

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