‘Smartphones can help bring development’

The main focus of lecture was to draw the attention of the participants to the challenges of the developing world

LAHORE: While most technology is designed primarily for the one billion people living in the developed world, affordable smartphones may become a powerful tool for solving core problems in poor countries, said g (ITU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Umar Saif while delivering his keynote lecture at the University of Washington (UoW) in Seattle, US the other day.

The speaker pointed out that the Punjab Government has deployed technology for the uplift of education, health and other social sectors for last few years.

The main focus of his lecture was to draw the attention of the participants to the unique challenges of the developing world. “We have been practicing such smartphones interventions in Punjab that has improved the rate of immunisation, attendance of teachers and students in public schools, presence of doctors in hospitals and reduced the level of corruption in government departments,” he said.

The reduction in dengue cases was another proof of smartphone applications, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2016.