Can digital technology potentially have a transformative impact on Pakistan’s development?

With all of Pakistan’s human development indicators having declined in recent years, a timely new report asks a pivotal question. Can digital technology play a role in the country’s development, enabling it to leapfrog to a better future? The UNDP’s 2024 National Human Development Report for Pakistan seeks to answer this question and more. It puts forward the compelling argument that digital technology can be a vital enabler to enhance human development in Pakistan.

The UNDP report Doing Digital for Development assesses in detail how digital transformation can be a critical vehicle to drive socio-economic development in Pakistan. It identifies the challenges and opportunities on the path of digital empowerment. It sees digital technology as a transformative and democratizing force “capable of bridging the gap between existing human development deficits and a future of prosperity and growth.”

In surveying the challenges of the country’s uneven digital playing field, the report points to several disparities and weaknesses, presenting a number of telling facts in this regard. With over 87 million Internet users, Internet penetration is around 46 percent. This means over half the population has no Internet access. The country has 71 million social media users representing 30 percent of the population. Pakistan fares poorly in leading global indices measuring digital progress. It is ranked 45 out of 52 countries in the World Internet Development Index (2023), compiled by China. This is based on indices of IT infrastructure, digital technology and innovation capability, digital economy, digital governance and cybersecurity.