This is apropos a letter to the Editor carried by the newspaper in recent days. Imagine providing a quantum computer with comprehensive data regarding Pakistan’s economy, demographics, education system, agricultural sector, transportation infrastructure, energy production, governance structures, taxation mechanisms, trade relationships, labour markets, and social indicators.

Instead of evaluating a handful of policy options, the system could potentially analyse millions of possible combinations simultaneously.

For example, Pakistan’s agricultural sector could benefit immensely from such capabilities. A quantum system could evaluate soil conditions, weather patterns, irrigation availability, fertilizer utilization, seed varieties, transportation costs, market demand, and export opportunities to identify the optimal agricultural strategy for each region of the country. The result could be higher yields, lower costs, improved food security, and increased farmer incomes.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

Qamar Bashir

The writer is a former Press Secretary to the President, An ex-Press Minister at Embassy of Pakistan to France, a former MD, SRBC Macomb, Detroit, Michigan