ICCET Sets Trend For Progressing Through Technology

Technology has been put to various uses since it was first conceived, and its usage as one of the essential tools that must be utilized by any country wishing to progress in the 21^st century is universally evident and recognized. It isn’t just individuals who have recognized this, but the phenomenon was acknowledged at the government level, amongst businessmen and entrepreneurs, students, academia and institutions. The knowledge has led all these various bodies to try to create awareness and to make a shift and use technology to bring about improvements in Pakistan.

As a direct consequence of this, a number of seminars, conferences and workshops have been arranged by various institutions to discuss ways in which individuals and organizations could use technology to bring about a positive change. At one such event, titled ‘International Conference on Computer and Emerging Technologies,’ ICCET at the Shah Abdul Latif University in Khairpur, the Provincial Minister for Education in Sindh, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haque said that “the IT and emerging technologies sector can go a long way in hastening development and education in Pakistan’s rural areas.” At the event, he also encouraged Research and Development as being crucial to the development of technology in Pakistan and encouraged the opening of a “Center of Research for Rural development through ICT” at the university.

Pir Mazhar-ul- Haque is not the only one either, who feels that Pakistan encompasses all the elements necessary for advancement and growth, vital for not only survival but success today and in the future. He felt that “in this era of globalization we need to enable and train our young generations to not only overcome challenges but to be successful. To attain this goal, we must provide them with the best education and appropriate skills.”

The ICCET, which started on April 22, 2011 at Khairpur also discussed the idea of using technology to improve the lifestyle and standards of living in rural area of Pakistan, such as Khairpur. For the purpose therefore, Shah Abdul Latif University brought together members of the government, various government institutions and their faculty members to discuss how this move could be achieved.

As a member representing the government at the conference, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said that the government “has been putting a lot of importance in promoting software export in Pakistan.” In this instance, he also spoke of software technology exports could help boost Pakistan’s trade and better Pakistan’s image at the international front as a country with a fast developing IT market. At this point, the Minister also said that IT industry can contribute a lot to bridging the trade gap evident in Pakistan. “The world’s software demand is growing at a very fast pace and we can certainly get a significant amount of this trade by providing the international market a continuous supply of quality and dedicated professionals.”

He further added that advancements in science and technology are no longer ‘an elusive goal’ even for developing countries like Pakistan. In this case, Sindh unfortunately lacks in the technical education and skill development needed to show substantial growth in the IT sector. “Despite the government’s spending huge amounts to receive this much desired growth, the outcome remains unimpressive,” he said, before citing the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Program as an example. This initiative in particular aims to equip the youth with the ability to promote employability in conformity with market demands, both locally and internationally.

For a rural area like Khairpur, such a paradigm shift towards technology would not be very easy, so then the question arises that why should Khairpur, or other rural areas of Pakistan even consider using technology as part of their daily routine?

Progress can be defined as just another way to change for the better, and according to Prof. Dr. Nilofer Shaikh, Vice Chancellor SALU, Khairpur, “computer technology has revitalized the world with e-correspondence, video conference has brought us closer and best of all, all theses process cause a lot lesser pollution than our traditional methods of working.”

The ICCET at Shah Abdul Latif University was a step from Khairpur in the right direction. Through a large number of research papers presented during the conference, the attendees to the conference received an ample amount of recognition nationally and internationally as it helped them understand how they could use technology to benefit themselves. It led Dr. Manzoor Soomro, Chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation, and honorary Chief Guest at the event to say that such conferences should be held annually since they “help participants produce result-oriented development in the field of emerging technologies.”

But it is not just Khairpur that needs to be developed. Such conferences and awareness-raising campaigns need to be carried out in rural areas across Pakistan to create awareness amongst the masses in utilizing technology to better themselves and their lives.

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