Govt seeks $200m WB loan to strengthen digital connectivity

The government has submitted a project to the World Bank, seeking $200 million to strengthen digital connectivity as a key foundation for the development of digital economy, and to enhance the government's capacity for digitally enabled public service delivery.

The proposed project, to be financed by the loan from the International Development Association (IDA), will focus on critical digital infrastructure, platforms and supporting regulations for digital services.

The project will be implemented in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), provincial capitals and in selected second and third tier cities where broadband infrastructure will be expanded. Focus on second and third tier cities is likely to improve students' access to online classes and also will enhance access of knowledge workers, small and medium enterprises and start-ups creating new businesses and new jobs.

Project to be implemented in selected places

The provision of new or upgraded high-speed internet access for unserved and underserved district hospitals and secondary schools in the selected first tier cities where backbone network infrastructure is already available will be supported.

The list of locations will be confirmed by the ministry of information technology and telecommunications in consultation with ministries of health and education and provincial governments.

At this stage, it is not clear which second tier and third tier cities would be selected and so this selection would be further expanded during project preparation. While provincial capitals do not have any geologically sensitive hotspots, they have a significant number of historical and cultural heritage sites. Similarly, ICT territory includes Margalla Hills National Park which is a protected area allowing only restricted activities.

The project forms part of the World Bank's consolidated assistance programme to Pakistan in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has made it apparent that without access to reliable connectivity and devices, millions of Pakistanis are being further cut off from vital information on health and safety, online learning, the opportunity to participate in a new economy, and have their voices heard, thereby highlighting many mediumterm challenges to digital transformation that need to be overcome.

A World Bank document on the project critically notes that in Pakistan women have significantly less access to internet usage, compared to men.