The Global System for Mobile Communication’s innovation Fund has announced three Pakistani startups as winners out of 597 applications.
These startups are working on the inclusion of Mobile, Internet and Digital technologies in Pakistan. The winning startups Vceela and Orenda Pakistan will get a grant of £668,000 (Rs146 million).
The head of Asia Pacific GSMA, Julian Gorman, said that digital technologies would transform how people work and live in Pakistan. By 2023 the economic contribution of the mobile industry in Pakistan will reach $24 billion that is 6.6 per cent of the expected Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Pakistan has also moved forward with significant mobile services tax reforms. “As we saw in the GSMA 2020 Digital Societies Report, which tracks the progress of 11 focus countries in the Asia Pacific, Pakistan is advancing its societal, economic and digital ambition, as outlined in Digital Pakistan Vision,” Mr Gorman said.
Pakistan has achieved one of the highest scores overall as per the GSMA report on the digital society index.
Federal Minister for Information Technology (IT) Syed Aminul Haq said that the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MOITT) lauded the efforts of the GSMA for its endeavours to bring revolutionary changes in the field of telecommunication in Pakistan.
He added that the reforms taken by the incumbent government in the telecommunication sector have made it possible for investors in the broadband and communication sector to facilitate the investors’ sentiment.
He said the “right way of policy” has been implemented by the government, which was one of the demands of the telephony and internet service providers for the last 24 years.
Haque has also said that the government was taking steps to provided 3G and 4G services all across Pakistan, but the COVID pandemic has changed the landscape. However, the Telecommunication sector strategy has not changed because of high demand and technological relevance.
Not just GSMA, even World Economic Forums (WEF) has ranked Pakistan as one of the best countries in terms of affordability of ICT services.
