Awareness or lack thereof

In the push to regulate the use of the internet to censor material that is displeasing for Pakistani religio-cultural values, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will find relief in knowing that nearly 69% of Pakistan’s population aged between 15 and 65 is unaware of the internet. LirneAsia, a Sri Lankan think tank, published data on general awareness about the internet in a survey from 2,000 rural and urban households across Pakistan. Although the force to regulate the use of the World Wide Web has been rapid and strong, the utility of internet access has certainly been overlooked. Expanding access to the internet and spreading awareness has a multitude of benefits.

The first consideration for advantages of the World Wide Web is communication and then education. In 21^st century education, experts are pushing for better integration of technology into curricula with access to devices already available in some Pakistani classrooms. The Education Department should take note of this statistic and plan for changing this reality to provide access and build awareness. Of primary consideration are under-resourced schools in urban and rural areas. Simultaneously, those schools cater to students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and access to high-tech phones is certainly a later-order concern for parents worrying about meeting basic needs for their families.

Smartphones, however, are gradually becoming cheaper which means we can expect greater awareness over the next few years as more Pakistanis will be able to afford them. This will be achieved faster if the economy stabilises, inflation is reversed, and the state of employment and access to quality education are improved. Facilitating citizens in gaining immediate access to knowledge, education, and exposure to different world cultures to build tolerance can prove to be transformational.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2018.

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