Page 82 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

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Bangladesh Launches Digital One-Stop Services

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Sajeeb Wazed Joy said: “Our goal is that, by Digital Bangladesh. With the launching of
Wazed Joy has inaugurated here three the year 2021, majority of citizen services digital municipality services system in nine
digital one-stop services - “Eksheba”, will be provided either on their fingertips of municipalities and one city corporation as
“Ekpay” and “Ekshop” - to enable the mobile phones or through our union digital a pilot project, the government has a target
people to get different government centers at the doorsteps of people.” He to reach the services to 300 municipalities
services, utility bills and fees payment termed the launching of the digital services by 2021, he added.
facilities and e-commerce. According as “buildings blocks” to implement the
to a report of the nation news agency
-- BSS, citizens will be able to pay water
bills and holding taxes, get municipality
or city corporation certificates, automated
property management and e-trade license
facilities under the pilot program. The
newly launched “Eksheba” is a single
platform where the citizens will get 162
government services. All government
services (3,000) will be connected to the
digital platform in phases. The “Ekpay” is
a one-stop payment platform where the
people will get facilities to pay utility bills,
education related fees and other payments.
The “Ekshop” is the country’s first “rural
assisted” e-commerce platform which will
enable people to get necessary products
in an easier and faster way. Through this
platform, people will be able to buy rural
products. Speaking on the occasion,

Pakistan’s Mobile Ecosystem Contributes US$16.7 Billion to GDP

The mobile ecosystem in Pakistan is between the government of Pakistan and Pacific on several key human development
playing an increasingly important role, mobile industry leaders. GSMA recognized indicators including education, health,
which is evident from its contribution to Pakistan’s efforts to incorporate mobile and gender equality. GSMA suggested
economic growth. The telecom system technology in driving social development enhancing digital and financial inclusion
contributes around $16.7 billion, 5.4% and economic growth. It stated that the and stated that Pakistan’s population
of gross domestic product (GDP), to the mobile broadband network now covered was still in transition and timely actions
economy, according to a research report. 80% of the population and 97% of internet were needed for harnessing the benefits
The report, titled “The power of mobile connections were mobile. “Pakistan of digitalization. “Mobile offers the most
to accelerate digital transformation in has nearly 700,000 cellular Internet of extensive and inclusive platform to access
Pakistan”, stated that the country was Things (IoT) connections across areas the internet and digital technologies,
deriving socioeconomic benefits from including agriculture, clean energy, and which are vital for the Pakistani economy
digital transformation, however, its safe water solutions.” Mobile operators and its growth in an increasingly
rapid population growth could increase and the ecosystem also provided direct connected world,” said GSMA Head of
pressure on the existing infrastructure. employment to around 320,000 people in Asia-Pacific Julian Gorman. Also present
This may, in turn, hinder efforts to increase Pakistan in 2018, said the report. Despite on the occasion, Minister of Information
social development. GSMA suggested this, Pakistan still has much to do to realize Technology and Telecommunication
the use of mobile platforms for national its development aspirations as outlined Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the
development plans to incorporate devices in the country’s digital transformation government, private sector, and the wider
for improving gender equality, health, initiative, the report added. The youth ecosystem must work together to deliver
education and reducing poverty. The bulge in the country is the catalyzing the promise of digital Pakistan. “The
report, which examined the transformative factor in the early realization of the digital mobile industry is an important partner
opportunities presented by the mobile- ecosystem, which is helping Pakistan to deliver transformational change in the
enabled digital services in Pakistan, in swiftly catching up with its neighbors digital era and ensure that we bridge the
was launched at a roundtable meeting in South Asia and countries in the Asia- digital divide,” he said.
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