Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart City in Pakistan

IoT in simple words is a technology which allows daily use objects to be sense, monitor and control from your smartphone. It includes everything from your hand watch to monitor your blood pressure, fuel alert in car, alert if your refrigerator out of eggs, coffee maker, air conditioner, smart doors and so on. All the devices embedded with sensors which allow devices to be smart enough and able to share information to its owner or communicate with other device. For example, your watch will tell your coffee machine to make your favorite coffee at morning wake up. Isn’t cool?

Main purpose of cultivating IoT is only to make life easier. IoT is revolutionizing many sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, transportation, smart homes, industries and manufacturing. Though, other countries are achieving target of smart city. In Singapore, the city can even detect if people are smoking in unauthorized zones or if people are throwing litter out of their buildings.

Pakistan is now in the state of adopting IoT in every sector. Pakistan telecom market is highly favorable with over 50 million number of 3G/4G subscribers. IoT is cost effective solution, as prices of sensors and processing devices are being decreased, while internet users are increasing.

Pakistan government needs to take some serious steps now for future. Although, Punjab government is leading in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and implementing free wifi project which aiming for smart city. But this is not enough, Pakistan needs stat-of-the-art research center for future smart city in each province to promote IoT and its application for smart cities, especially for the city like Karachi. Without this step, smart city is just a dream!

Engr. Yasir Iqbal

Karachi.