Top 8 Technologies for Pakistan in 2023
This is my list of top 8 technologies for Pakistan that are at the breakout point in the world and how are they faring inside Pakistan.
Also see,
Small and Medium Enterprises in Pakistan
Crypto Currency and Bitcoins in Pakistan
Technologies Pakistan must acquire for the people
Artificial Intelligence (AI) smart machines and security
Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant are about to morph into emotion recognition along with segments of AI. Move over lady friend, these virtual assistants’ will also empathize with you.
Startups in the United States like Vicarious, Kindred, and Osario are at the breakout moment in AI use in manufacturing. Vicarious that handles Industrial Robotic applications of AI even has big shots like Mark Zuckerburg and Elon Musk in the kitty.
AI could be named as the topmost technology of 2020; let’s see how it’s doing in Pakistan.
AI technology in Pakistan
In Pakistan, besides NUST University’s center of Artificial Intelligence and FAST University’s Bachelor’s degree, not much has been done in the area.
President Arif Alvi started the President’s Initiative on AI and Computing (PIAIC); at least he is trying to get somewhere.
Although the pay of a foreign qualified AI programmer in Pakistan could be upwards of Rs 0.5 million, minus the Freelancing income, not many kids prefer the field due to intense competition to get placements abroad.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
When the protagonist of the cyber world is lives inside their own world, it’s Virtual Reality.
When the protagonist is outside the cyber world, with the help of screens, display devices, projectors, and sound systems that would be Augmented Reality.
Both concepts are conveniently being used in the training of military personnel in several countries.
Virtual Reality in Pakistan
Virtual Reality in Pakistan is somewhat functioning in the prototype stage of various simulator projects.
Although VR startups in Pakistan like Heptica, WonderTree, and Retina VR are mentioned in various projects, none of them have made it to mass production.
Simulators are being used in the military to train soldiers and flyers in targeting and fighters flying then some are being used in other professions like simulators for classrooms, surgery, Hajj, and medical ambulators.
There is a significant talent pool of VR specialists working as Freelancer, but what is absent is the ecosystem of Venture Capitalists and mass production Project Management that makes each new product a one-hit-wonder, at the most.
On the contrary, kids have imported VR Goggles and play games like there is no tomorrow.
Virtual or Augmented Reality in Pakistan?
Augmented Reality requires even more robustness in the Research Ecosystem in Pakistan, which is nonexistent; although this website says otherwise.
Big data mining and quantum computing
With the complexity of systems being rolled out every year increasing, so is the backend data that is generated to keep the system performing optimally.
Several Chinese and Google engineers have claimed to have achieved the ‘computing supremacy’ of radical speed in solving mathematical problems.
Although the claims are still disputed what it definitely shows is that a big breakthrough is near. Therefore, Big Data mining in human genetics, cancer research, pandemic prevention, nuclear systems control are very attractive to invest in.
Big names are coming into quantum computing like Google, Intel, Microsoft, and Ali Baba as they already have volumes of data on people, their movements, and preferences.
Big Data Technology in Pakistan
In Pakistan, there is the President’s Initiative on Quantum Computing and a few Freelance companies that work for people abroad.
Block Chains and democratization of money
Block Chains are digital safe connected in a chain that is secured through a consensus of stakeholders and does not require a separate gatekeeper.
This means that the general population would not require a guardian angel hovering over their money, getting free food.
The best outcome of Blockchains is that BitCoins, the cryptocurrency, possibly due to BlockChain availability, are now accessible to all and also free from manipulation by governments or individuals.
In theory this fact looks very promising.
That’s why several countries are trying to keep their block-chains, cryptocurrencies, digital wallets, digital exchanges relatively secure and not completely un-regulated.
Block-chains and cryptocurrency in Pakistan
In Pakistan, there are many stories of people becoming millionaires overnight because of investing in cryptocurrencies, but it is still a huge risk.
The risk is mostly in the digital exchanges and authenticity of the cryptocurrencies.
Pakistanis generally buy cryptocurrencies from western countries, using their blood relative’s accounts, as there is no PayPal or any good globally accepted payment portal for Pakistan.
Automation Autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things and cloud computing and 5G
With the Chinese ahead of the Americans in rolling out their 5G ultra hi-speed internet network in the world, every device, computer, machine, vehicle, delivery truck, and the home system will require a data storage cloud
This data cloud will temporarily park information, to help in not overwhelming the processing in a moment.
This Internet of Things cloud at home and in the office will naturally be extended to the roads in the cities, in the first phase, to have vehicles drive, change lanes and park autonomously.
Uber, Lyft would be delighted to lay their hands on this technology.
Automation and Internet of Things in Pakistan
The technology is just about breaking out in western capitals, with Pakistan preparing to launch 5G licenses with two local telecom operators Mobilink Jazz and Zong China Mobile.
Both the telecom operators demonstrated 5G speeds up to 1.43Gbps and 1.5Gbps respectively; that is lightning speed recognition, results, video, and phone response, for the layman.
The only problem is that although tiny tot freelancers are making a killing on TikTok and Bingo, the real wealth to be obtained from 5G is in the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, and machines is yet to be realized.
This is something Pakistan is nowhere close to utilizing.
Top technology of 2020 in the society of Pakistan can revolutionize education, surgery, city-dwelling, logistics, and media.
People Recognition and cognitive technologies and computer vision
Cognitive technologies are currently being used by law enforcement and retail companies to track their target people based on the profile data.
The system can pull out the moment the person of interest pops up in the facial recognition camera.
Cognitive Recognition is also homing on to emotion recognition people.
Cognitive and Recognition Technology in Pakistan
Pakistan has mostly focused on closed-loop security systems that recognize perpetrators’, that too on a small scale.
Real cognitive recognition technologies, software, equipment is yet to be developed.
Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web Apps are the ones that give App like features on mobile phone web browsers.
What is it significant, you ask?
Progressive Web Apps (PWA) in Pakistan
In the case of VEON purchase App in Pakistan, the developers couldn’t reduce the data space requirement for VEON download to below 16GB, which is the storage space for 50% of mobile subscribers in Pakistan unsubscribed it
When considering the total subscriber base is 166 million, this is quite a loss.
VEON eventually collapsed, but Daraz.pk and AliExpress are doing perfectly fine, even with their PWA.
There is plenty of ‘App-ortunity’ in PWA in Pakistan.
Space travel
Last year, several thousand satellites were launched in the world, and the first privately funded project SpaceX sent two astronauts into Earth’s orbit.
Space Travel Technology in Pakistan
Pakistan is still training its scientists in basic space research and science (SUPARCO) as they did in the 1960s. Enough said.
Pakistan World Ranking in Technology
- Pakistan Global Innovation Index Ranking 107 out of 129 countries in 2020
- Pakistan Global Connectivity Index Ranking is 75 out of 79 countries in 2020
- Pakistan Ranked 105 out of 109 in WEF Global Information Technology Report 2013
What does Pakistan need to do for Technology?
Pakistan needs enabling environment in universities, free of religious or administrative coercion
Science and Technology in Pakistan
Also, massive investment in Science and Technology is needed to achieve technological development.
Information Technology in Pakistan
Information technology has a direct link to significant increase in productivity of people and Pakistan already has a core group of IT specialists that can quickly be put to work
The only problem is that the rulers in Pakistan don’t want the people to do well enough so that they lose power and control.
Conclusion on Technologies for Pakistan
Till now the Pakistani government has been focused on importing technologies that reduce poverty and to create jobs, and understandably so. To make big money like the Global players USA, China and India do, Pakistani scientists, have to be given the big money, unbridled freedom and enterprising structure necessary to develop and roll out these top 8 technology trends of 2020.
