ICT a catalyst for poverty eradication

THE ROLE of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for poverty eradication and for economic growth is vital. There are clear evidences that link investment in ICTs to enhanced economic growth and pro-poor growth. ICT is not only a sector within the economy of the country but its complementary factor is pro-poor infrastructure, private-sector development, and rural livelihood. In the wake of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the role of ICT has become more pertinent to evaluate and monitor the services provided or to gauge progress on SDGs or to facilitate development sector to achieve SDGs. In developed countries private sector has invested rapidly on ICTs infrastructure but in Pakistan this trend is very slow. Studies in the growth of the developed countries suggest that ICTs do have a strong role. Since the conditions in developing countries are very different, so that the link between cause and effect is still under debate. Pakistan should more focus upon; how the developed communities work with ICTs for poverty eradication. It is proven that almost in every circumstances the use of ICT bring efficiencies especially in services sector, and improves the choices of opportunities for every walk of life. ICT also plays a pivotal role for good governance which is critical to poverty eradication. ICT strengthens good governance to facilitate and enhance public sector efficiencies many fold. It can be easily used by public sector organizations to transform relations with the citizens, especially those who are living in rural or far flung areas. With the coverage of latest telecommunication technologies 3G and 4G, the spread of ICT enabled services is far easy and cheaper than in past. ICT infrastructure is changing the terms under which knowledge can be created and disseminated. ICT facilitates the process of codification and transmission of knowledge about technology; it enhances the positive learning externalities of knowledge generation by magnifying the possibilities for recombination of ideas and information; it dilutes the “tyranny” of geography by providing new ways for researchers to escape national boundaries; it increases the “distribution power” of innovation systems, diminishing the time to market of new products and services, while enhancing the dissemination, application, and use of “mature” technologies. Developed ICT infrastructure provides transparent, accountable, efficient, effective, and rapid system to interact with the citizens which is need of the time as we are facing severe shortage of confidence upon government policies and the implementation processes, after the launch of current IT policy. This will not only promote enhanced government and improved working environment, but also save money and hassle for common citizen. We should develop cross-cutting ICT applications as tools, not goals, and link them to develop co-operation between government agencies and citizens. There is a growing need to pay more attention to an enabling pro-poor environment in ICT-related regulations and policies.