Around 69 per cent Pakistanis between the ages of 15 and 65 do not know what the internet is, an information communication technology (ICT)-based survey has revealed. The survey was conducted by LirneAsia, a think-tank based in Sri Lanka that carries out ICT research, Dawn news reported on Monday.
The report is based on a survey of 2,000 households in Pakistan. LimeAsia claims that the sampling methodology was designed to ensure representation of 98 per cent target population aged 15 to 65 at a national level.
Conducted between October-December 2017, this demand side survey helps understand how users use or do not use ICT services.
“The 152 million active cellular subscribers mentioned on Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) website, despite a good SIM registration system, tell nothing about the subscribers — whether they are men and women, rich or poor and does not really help understand access and usage gaps,” LinreAsia CEO Helani Galpaya said in the report.
The study points out that lack of internet awareness is a considerable problem across Asian countries, including Pakistan, where just 30 per cent of the population in the age group of 15-65 is aware of the internet (they were asked if they use the ‘internet’ without explaining what it is).