We have all seen various eras of computing. From the mainframes of the 1960s and 1970s to desktops in the 1980s and 1990s followed by cloud computing of the 2000s where data center companies like Google and Facebook owned all user data, the world is now transitioning into the next era of computing – the era where our data will be owned by us and no third-party platforms.
Disruption takes years. It takes persistence, resilience and undeterred belief in the larger vision of the startup. It requires bravery. After laying the foundation during the past decade, Pakistan’s startup ecosystem is taking its first steps in that direction.
Pakistan’s strategic response to COVID-19 has been extraordinary. The foundation of all efforts has been based on one word: Empathy. PM Imran Khan’s perspective from the onset has been clear focus on the 80% while ensuring service delivery to all.
Pakistan is the third most affected country by an acute water shortage, as ranked in an IMF study. Global warming and climate change have affected the monsoon season and annual rainfall received.
Pakistan’s beauty lies in its diversity diversity of its people, culture and landscape. It is also this diversity that poses a challenge in policy formulation in a way that it celebrates heterogeneity yet sets a nationalist outlook.
The start-up ecosystem in Pakistan has entered the next phase. It has moved from being nascent to more indigenous in nature.
Since its inception, Pakistan has always primarily been an agriculturereliant economy. With the Green Revolution of the 60\’s being a growth impetus, the sector contributes around 18% to the GDP, employs 42% of the total labour force, and constitutes 75% of total exports revenue.
As the pandemic coronavirus spreads to 180+ countries, pushing states to opt for precautionary lockdown, 1.6 Million of the world’s children are out of school.
The Government of Pakistan is taking responsibly calculated measures. The underlying primary concern are the poor the labor class and daily wagers, the homeless and small enterprise owners.
The oldest institute in Pakistan is Government College University Lahore. Established in 1864, it obtained a full University status in 2002. Notable alumni include Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Dr. Abdus Salam whose genius changed the world as we know it. The legacy of this institute has had a lasting impact.
