A Conduit Implementation Of Existing Policies

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Typically, a policy designates a required process or method within an organization. It is also a guiding principle designed to influence decisions, actions, etc. A national ICT policy sets out the nation’s aims, principles and strategies for the delivery of information and communications technology. If technology and industry are coming together around the internet, governments that settle on policy and regulate industry must recognize the fact and adapt their policy-making simultaneously. In this article we would will look and examine the National ICT policies of Pakistan and specifically do an evaluation of policy that is being currently emphasized in different Government sector of the country. Indeed, in future information technology policies and development aspirations of the country, needs to be reconstructed and redesigned to engender the economic augmentation and participations of underprivileged stakeholders.

Keywords: Administrative; Governance; Legislations; Management; Mechanisms; Network; Policy; Technologies; Strategies; Stakeholders

INTRODUCTION

A policy is a guiding principles designed to influence actions. Typically, a policy designates a required process or procedure within an organization and "it is a brief plan to guide the decisions and actions" [1]. The policy process includes the identification of different alternatives, such as programs or may be spending the priorities, and the basis of the impact they will have [3]. Policies in a short term can be understood as management, financial, and administrative mechanisms arranged to reach explicit goals and supreme interests. The policy can also be an official written statement of a contract effecting insurance, or certificates thereof, by whatever name called, and including all clauses, riders, endorsements, and papers attached thereto and made a part thereof. National level policy like the ICT as these touches on governance In the light of these considerations we can provisionally define a policy as a set of decisions which are oriented towards a long-term purpose or to a particular problem [4]. Such decisions by governments are often embodied in legislation and usually apply to a country as a whole rather than to one part of it. We should understand and highlight that a policy is meant to provide proactive decision-making, not to be reactive in decision-making [2].

BACKGROUND STUDIES

Indeed, ICT is a combination of many other technologies and the term technology is a convergence of microelectronics and high tech computing. The modern era in micro-conductors has enabled the storage of enormous amount of data while integration of fiber optics and fast Ethernet in networks has facilitated quick distribution of information through communication networks [7], [10]. Linking high computing devices and allowing them to communicate with each other creates networked information systems based on a regular protocol. This has radically altered access to information and the structure of communication; extending the networked reach to many parts of the world [8], [20]. More simply ICT refer to technologies and tools that people use to share, distribute, gather information, and to communicate with one another, one on one, or in groups, through the use of computers and interconnected computer networks. They are mediums that utilize both telecommunication and computer technologies to transmit information (e.g. cell phones, smart phones) are part of ICT infrastructure [5],[12]. In contemporary application, international telephone calls are increasingly made through the internet’s network of networks, and television and radio are broadcast via the internet [6], [8]. Today’s local area networks must be connected to the internet and secure copies of data are now made through the internet rather than onto a local disk. An effectual information system is essential for efficient management, operation of public and private sectors. But there is a shortage of locally generated information needed for efficient performance of these sectors. In order to meet this objective, ICT usage in every sector shall have to be accelerated in terms in terms of information generation, utilization and applications. But this can only be realized if there are procedures to facilitate adoption of relevant ICTs in every roots of the economy [13]. This therefore calls for need of formulation of ICT policies both in organizational level and national level. The internet is accessible through mobile phone networks, which use it to present content to the user and digital movies will be soon distributed through the internet to cinemas [14]. The ICT Sector can be grouped into three major categories;

Sector # 1

Information technology uses computer systems, which become indispensable in modern societies to process data and save time and effort [19].

Sector # 2

Telecommunications technologies include telephones and the broadcasting of radio and television, often through satellites [19].

Sector # 3

The best known is the internet, but which has extended to cell phones technology, VOIP, satellite communications, and other forms of communication that are still in eminent [19].

POLICY AS PLAN OF ACTION

A national ICT policy sets out the nation’s aims, principles and strategies for the delivery of information and technology, If technology and industry are coming together around the internet, governments that decide policy and regulate industry must recognize this fact and adapt their policy-making accordingly [4]. Furthermore, United Nations Economic & Social Commission for Asia Pacific further goes on to list the following as common objectives of ICT policies aspirations to meet;

a) Increasing the benefits from information technology.

b) Helping people and organizations to adapt to new circumstances and providing tools and models to respond rationally to challenges posed by ICT.

c) Providing information and communication facilities, services and management at a reasonable or reduced cost.

d) Improving the quality of services and products. Providing citizens with a chance to access information; they may further specify the quality of that access in terms of media, retrieval performance etc.

e) Attaining a specified minimum level of information technology resources for educational institutions and government agencies.

f) Providing individuals and organizations with a minimum level of ICT knowledge, and the ability to keep it up to date.

g) Helping to understand information technology, its development and cross disciplinary impact.

PAKISTAN`S ICT POLICY arrangement

The United Nation body goes on to note for Pakistan that; "Pakistan`s ICT policies of necessity have also to take into account other policy areas, such as education policies, information policies, trade and investment policies, and cultural and linguistic policies. However, the mere establishment of a written Pakistan`s national ICT policy has value in itself. At a minimum, it conveys the message that the government is forward looking and intends to pursue the utilization of ICT in society. Governments should, of course, aspire to more by putting the policy content into actual practice and becoming a role model in applying ICT in their own administration and services"[14]. The objectives and content of ICT policies have similarities and differences in international, national, local and organizational contexts. The ICT policy process has for a long time lacked political leadership, which has been reflected in the absence of a national ICT strategy and ineffective coordination between different government departments and agencies with ICT responsibilities [11], [15]. This for a long while also embraced the absence of ICT policy process open to participation by all stakeholders and based on public argument and debate until recently. A number of civil society organizations, private sector and media groups in Pakistan had been actively contributing to the development of an ICT regulatory framework. Some roles that a government should take as a foresight plan for country`s IT sector;

i) The Government must be one of the most important ICT promoters and consumers, through e-government, science & technology, public health, and economic plans [18].

ii) Sustain Internet uses and applications in all Governmental levels [13].

iii) Implement information and training campaigns about Internet’s benefits and potentials [13].

iv) Craft a national agency specialized on information society, integrating members of the public and private sector, the civil society, and the academia [13].

v) Generate a provisional level agency specialized in information society matters, in order to make compatible policies and initiatives implemented by Government [13].

vi) Collaboration between private & public societies, with a clear agenda and strategy to build on and draw from local knowledge and experiences [16].

Initial key concerns were fundamental issues of access and removal of monopoly in telecom sector provision as well as integration of telecommunications into national economic development programming. The ministry of IT had observed in that the draft policy document which has been circulating in government did not have a strong vision and promised that "the Government would fast track the development of an enabling national ICT policy through a multi-stakeholder consultative process" [12]. If we want to promote social justice, then ICT policy will be a key factor in this battle, and we cannot afford to remain outside the ICT policy-making process.

STAKEHOLDER`S IN POLICY

Although policies are formally put in place by governments, different stakeholders and in particular the private sector make inputs into the guiding principle process and affect its out-comes. The government therefore provides an environment – this is providing resources (e.g. time, money and logistic supply) to start the process of an ICT policy development [7], [14]. According to world summit on information society by UN, led by the main actors within the governments, the private sector and civil society. In addition, there are many UN agencies and intergovernmental bodies participating in the process [2]. The six major stake holders in the IT policy of Pakistan are;

Government: Enabling policies, conducive to private sector investment [4].

Collaborators: Build capacity, in collaboration with Government agencies [4].

Civil society: Inform policy making in terms (i.e. access, learning, poverty, governance) inside the country [4].

Local consumers: Participate in development, application, setting standards; ensuring consumer protection [4].

Regulator: Issue licenses, tariffs, interconnections, standards, frequency management; numbering; domain etc [4].

Investors and service providers: Develop an efficient IT sector, commercial integrity, strong corporate governance, high quality standards; participate in provision of universal access [4]. When all these stakeholders are consulted, then this is an all inclusive venture and ensures that the policy development process and final product is acceptable.

EVALUATION AND PROSPECTS OF POLICY INSTRUMENTS TOWARDS CITIZENS

In evaluating Pakistan`s ICT policy, we intend to use the term "Evaluation of a ICT policy", as it is being stipulated by UN Economic & Social Commission for Asia Pacific [20]. In this research article we have evaluated the ICT policy by some basic instruments;

6.1 Expansion of Interoperation of public services

The national ICT policy recognizes that the current ICT infrastructure is poor and needs to be improved. The policy goes on to mention need for provision of infrastructure, energy and roads, support software development, promotion of local manufacturing among others [16]. A good point to note here is the policy recognition of power of open source software. But, the ICT policy of Pakistan is just generic (e.g. how will it promote local software development). The Republic of Ghanaian IT policy proposes no duty on computer hardware [18]. The Republic of Bangladesh IT policy one is even more explicit on how to interoperate the IT laws on public sector [16].

6.2 Expansion of policies to correspond the requirements of ICT

The policy digresses on this area and starts talking of promotion of local content. Though, the issue of legislation is mentioned in e-commerce. The policy talks of enacting of legislation to support e-commerce [20]. But , the country`s IT policy is silent on the security challenge, the pricing issue, the intellectual property issue, protection of harmful content among others. It seems the draft were not aware of the security and copyright and ethical challenge posed by IT.

6.3 Monitoring the usage of ICT, Measuring impacts

In Pakistan`s IT policy, the role of other stakeholders is ignored. The non-government organizations and other development partners of the country should be encouraged to help build the necessary capacity in this area. Furthermore, with increase in the use of Internet & information technology in every sphere of human activities, formulation of new laws or amendment to the obtainable ones should be done as deemed necessary, to ensure security of information [12].

ENDORSEMENTS

Various policies may encourage or discourage the application of IT. If information technology are to be part of a sustainable activity there will need to be a suitable policy environment [15]. The country`s future national IT policy should be committed to support IT innovation in the country by providing incentives for locally produced software and hardware. It should provide quality IT infrastructure and the government should be confident by coming up with workable implementation and actions [11]. The enhancement could be done in Pakistan`s IT policy by adopting the following strategies;

Future Vision: The current national ICT policy is quite generic. It eliminates strategy from the vision where the policy looks at vision, principles and guidelines; the strategy should look at Implementation plan, which’s got to do what by when, benefits and cost [7].

Checks & Balance: It has been noticed that the implementation part is mostly ignored. Though the policy is found in the ministry of IT website, not mention of its implementation process, funding, and maintenance of the present systems is done. In order to strengthen the IT policy there should be a defined check & balance mechanism [7].

Standardization: This is again an overlooked in Pakistan`s ICT policy. The Bangladesh policy is very clear on this. It goes on to recognize role of universities, and private sector in ensuring a realistic policy. Therefore we should also have to take keen steps for updating, standardizing and implementing the ICT policy of our country [1].

Reorganization: Recognition of ICT as an enabler but not an independent discipline. Information Technology can be a powerful tool for development, both because of ICT inherent characteristics and mounting empirical evidence that suggests it can in fact contribute a great deal to development goals. It can do so at micro level by increasing the effectiveness and reach of development interventions, enhancing good governance and lowering the costs of service delivery [3].

Moreover, the right complement of targeted IT interventions has the potential to play an even more substantial role in accelerating a sustainable dynamic of social and economic development in developing countries [1]. Pakistan`s IT policy fully ignores this important aspect. The Pakistan`s consequences of meager implementation of IT policy become relegated to consumer status of technology instead of innovators. Poor ICT policy will also make Pakistan loose advantage of its diverse cultural heritage that should form technological development. Broke ICT policy will mean that the trend of imported technology solution will continue to pervade the continents’ market and put a barrier to developing innovations for Pakistan technological solutions.