The technology in use determines the present and also the future of a society. No group or nation can claim a place among the prosperous if it does not exercise control over the latest knowledge and resultant technology.
Like many other developing and underdeveloped countries, Pakistan has remained unable to transform its economy, society and state institutions according to the global economy. Therefore, we missed both post-modernisation and globalisation-based IT revolution, resulting in persistent tribal and feudal structures and a weak economy. The failure meant that the majority fell victim to ‘digital divide’, with multiple negative effects like millions of unskilled labours and many others in work force but unable to ensure optimum use of productivity in their respective organisations or fields.
In this scenario, the PML-N government in Punjab decided to distribute laptops among students, with a sole criterion of merit. The move is a natural outcome of the PMLN’s vision to equip the youth with state-of-the-art of knowledge and tools so that they can become part of the mainstream workforce and today’s globalised economy.
Before going into further details, some words about the ‘habitual critics’, who are ‘not unsurprisingly’ claim to represent liberal and progressive schools of thought in Pakistan. From the ‘secular PPP’ to the ‘indefinable change-famed’ PTI and power-hungry PML-Q, all of them are of the view that the venture is just a political stunt and wastage of resources. They also say that the distribution of laptops is ‘spontaneous reaction to the tsunami fear’.
Without wasting time on unfounded criticism, one may ask them some simple questions: What is their plan of action to bridge the digital divide? Did they ever think of updating the means of production and modifying the social relations in a manner that people are able to think and produce beyond the limited horizon of pseudo traditional societal affiliations? What is their proposed remedy to initiate a socioeconomic process culminating into a progressive and developed Pakistan with vibrant democratic polity? Why themes like social mobility are not on their agenda?
These questions get more importance given their posture as if they are the lone torch-bearers of modernity and democracy, while the PML-N is something of a representative of pseudo anti-development conservative forces. People want clear answers as they are not going to be fooled by slogans-only manifestos. They understand who have always aligned with and acted on the behalf of traditional economic interests, revolving around ignorance and mental slavery.
