Umar Saif harnesses internet for the poor

Dunya News

Umar is working to bring internet-style networking to Pakistanis who dont have access to the Web.

While many young tech wizards strive to invent the next iPad, Pakiwstani Umar Saif is working to bring Internet-style networking to millions of Pakistanis who dont have access to the Web. He could shake up the countrys politics in the process.Umar’s efforts recently earned him recognition by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as one of the worlds top young technology innovators.The trigger for his research was a 2005 earthquake that killed 80,000 people and caused widespread destruction.About 20 million Pakistanis use the internet, about 11 percent of the country’s total population of 187 million. But there are more than 108 million Pakistani cell phone subscribers.