Rural Development in Pakistan Through Multipurpose Community Telecenters

Khalid Mahmood

University of the Punjab

Lahore

PAKISTAN

Pakistan: Some Facts

Area: 796,095 sq. km. (Second largest in South Asia)

Admn Division: 4 provinces, FATA Population: 149 million Literacy: 48% Per capita GNP: US$ 492 Poverty: 33% pop. below poverty line

Rural Pakistan Over 50,000 villages Population: 61% of total Literacy: 37% (in women 10%) Occupation: Agriculture (24% of GDP employs 48% of

total work force) Problems

– Poor living standard– Poor education– Poor health– Lack of clean drinking water– Improper sanitation– Poor communication

Telecommunication Infrastructure Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), set up in 1996,

as regulatory authority Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd. (PTCL) – Main

service provider – Showed impressive growth in last 5 years – record profit last year

5 million fixed phone lines 3,000 exchanges Teledensity: 2.87% National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) with 72,000

lines Special Communications Organization (SCO) with 92,000

lines Many private organizations set up public call offices

Cellular phone

Started in 2000 4 operators 3 million connections Penetration rate 1.4% PTA has issued licenses to 2 more operators Number will surpass fixed lines by end

2004 Potential demand of 25 million by 2018

Rural telephony

2.4% villages have access Teledensity 0.77% PTA’s top priority area PTCL plans to connect 50% villages by end

2004 WLL technology will be used New connection fee reduced for rural area

Computers

PCs are rapidly spreading 700,000 PCs Increasing at 100,000 per year 25% urban schools have PCs 5% rural schools have PCs

Internet Started in 1996 200+ ISPs 1700+ cities and towns covered 3 million users Access charges reduced drastically Available for remote areas on local call charges Thousands Cyber Cafés 90% use Net for communication and

entertainment

IT policy 2000

Compulsory computer literacy in high schools

Internet in educational institutions Promotion of WLL technology in rural

areas Encourage telecom operator in rural areas Encourage IT in rural development,

education, health, e-government

Cable TV

Rapidly growing industry 9 million TV 2 million cable TV 900+ cable TV licensed operators

Public libraries

300+ public libraries All in big cities and towns Not in good condition No library in villages Rural area people use school/religious

school libraries, personal libraries, private subscription libraries, mosque libraries, shrine libraries

Community based information system New concept in Pakistan Sustainable Development Networking Program

(SNDP) of IUCN set up 3 Cyber Community Centers (CCCs) in 2001 in remote areas

In cooperation with local NGOs With limited staff Offer Internet surfing, e-mail, online chatting,

computer training On payment

Lessons learnt from CCCs

Lack of awareness Less use Very limited effects No women users Technical problems Not financially sustainable

Future plans – PTCL

PTCL planning to set up tele-info-centers in rural areas

Proposed services include national/international PCO, fax, Internet, email, voice mail, word processing, document printing, document scanning, computer hands-on training, photocopying and multi-media on payment

Existing 444 telegraph offices should be used

Future plans in northern areas

International Development Research Center (IDRC), International Center for Integrated Mountain Research (ICIMOD) and the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) are planning to set up Internet Service Center in Gilgit and Skardu

First phase – an ISP – is complete

Challenges to ICTs in rural Pakistan Low literacy Lack of awareness about ICTs Affordability of ICTs Absence of local content on Web Interrupted power supply (only 58% villages have

facility) Failed experiments of MCTs in other developing

countries Lack of political will (priority to other basic

facilities)

Opportunities for ICTs

Only way to help poor villagers Awareness at government level Promotion of distance education New local government system –

decentralized decision making Promotion of WLL technology

A Model for ICTs – We proposePolicy formulation At federal government level Key role for Ministry of Information Technology National Task Force with representatives from

– Ministry of Education

– Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development

– Pakistan Library Association

– Telecom operators in private sector

– National and international NGOs

Model – Planning

Pilot project Views of concerned govt. departments and

NGOs Community needs assessment

Model – Management Franchised model Local advisory committee Govt. departments provide subsidy

– Building by local govt.– Funds for lib. material by local govt.– Training, technical support and coordination by

National Task Force– Beginning equipment by NGOs– Phone, fax and Internet by telecom operators– Electricity by public electricity supply company– Marketing by local schools

Model – Building, Equipment, Technology May be set up in local government office, school,

community center, post office, or any private house or shop

2 rooms are needed Hardware include 3 to 4 PCs, Laser printer, photocopier,

UPS, scanner, CD-writer, laminator, binder, telephone set, facsimile, television, video cassette player and audio cassette player

Software include office applications, Internet browser, anti-virus programs, educational software, recreational software, networking software, web page design and multimedia software

WLL technology

Model – Services to offer Basic services in first phase

– Telephone sending and receiving fax messages; access to computers; printing; scanning; photocopying; access to Internet; sending, receiving and translating e-mail messages; providing meeting space for small groups; access to government forms and information; word processing; training in computer use; binding; showing videos; laminating; lending library materials and providing reading room

Advanced services in second phase– Developing local databases; designing and maintaining web

pages; supporting distance education; tourist information; tele-medicine; tele-trading; graphic design; video or still camera hire; employment agency; and online banking

Model – Targeted user groups

Local government functionaries Teachers and students Health workers Farmers Small business entrepreneur Local NGOs Sports clubs General population

Model – Promotion

Local advisory committee Local government functionaries Posters, leaflets and brochures Community meetings Opinion leaders Religious institutions Local school system

Model – Sustainability

Most important issue Networking of MCTs Focus on local community needs Public-private partnership

THANK YOU