The Internet penetration in Pakistan stood only at one percent and is likely to touch over 16 percent by 2009. Cyber Internet Services Director and Chief Operating Officer Ansar-ul-Haq stated this, while speaking on "Trend of Internet Advertising in Pakistan" organised by the Marketing Association of Pakistan (MAP) here, on Thursday.
In the US the annual Internet advertisement market stood at $3 billion and is growing at 26 percent, he said, adding, "The market in South Asia has grown a lot too and it is affordable as compared with the US or European market."
He said, "In 2005, online advertising in India is expected to grow by 35 percent, or $270 million in the shape of revenues."
"Online advertising is becoming a serious rival to the traditional sort," he said, adding, "Google's new advertising service could make the Internet an even more valuable marketing medium."
Ansar said, "Internet advertisement are booming, TV and other media remain mixed. Online advertising really moves offline product."
He said Singapore is the number one in information technology readiness and United States stands at seventh position.
The growth of international electronic marketing stands at 2.8 percent annually.
While criticising the government, he said that the government should act as an enabler, not a barrier. The government announced broadband policies and at the same time, the state-owned and infrastructure-rich, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) increased service charges by 700 percent.
There should be co-ordination between the departments and the government, which was lacking in the country.
He said the government claimed that by providing Internet facilities to 800 cities and towns across the country an IT revolution has been initiated. But after two years of this claim the Internet penetration stood only at one percent.
On the other hand, India has 4 percent Internet penetration, while Internet penetration in the US stands at 68 percent.
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