ISLAMABAD The first-ever Digital Development Index (DDI) report was released on Tuesday. While over half of the country lacks internet connection, districts that do better in terms of digital transformation are also among the better performing places in terms of human development.
The report, which was prepared in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is a component of the National Human Development Report 2024, which Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal introduced.
The nation was ranked as having “moderate” digital development by the survey, which also pointed out that women are neglected by it and that 83.5 percent of them said their parents or spouses control their phone ownership.
Wealth is a significant determinant of digital growth, as the report shows that digital development in Pakistan’s richest quintile was 15 times higher than in the poorest quintile.
According to the first Digital Development Index, more than 80% of women’s phones are “controlled” by their spouses or parents.
The district with “very high” digital development is Islamabad; other districts in the “high” category include Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Haripur, and Abbottabad.
It revealed a significant relationship between districts with greater human development results and those performing better in terms of digital transformation.
The nation is ranked low on the Human Development Index (164 out of 193) and high on the Gender Inequality Index (135 out of 166).
According to the analysis, the digital divides make subpar development outcomes even worse.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Iqbal asserted that the government was dedicated to utilizing the advantages of technology innovation in order to enhance employment opportunities, promote financial inclusion, boost livelihood prospects, and provide effective public services.
The minister emphasized the government’s duty to close the digital divide in all areas, acknowledging that internet access is a basic need in the modern day, comparable to necessities like energy, healthcare, and education.
UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director Regional for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja said that over 60pc of the population in Asia-Pacific was online, with women and marginalised groups being significantly underrepresented.
“Pakistan is the sixth largest contributor to the global middle-class growth between 2022 to 2030, contributing 25 million,” she said.
“Targeted digital transformation efforts for this growing middle class could greatly improve the country’s productivity,” she said.
“Our ambition is to contribute to a future-oriented Pakistan where digital transformation becomes a hallmark of its inclusion and a cornerstone for its prosperity,” stated Dr. Samuel Rizk, the resident representative of UNDP Pakistan.
According to the survey, nearly half of Pakistan’s districts have low DDI scores, and over half of the country lacks internet connection due to poor digital infrastructure and affordability issues. The report pointed out that Pakistan’s human development outcomes will continue to be low and underserved in the absence of fair access to digital technologies.
