The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences

ISSN: 2411-0132(E), 2411-5487(P)

Vol-2, Issue (1): 1-3
www.theexplorerpak.org

THE IMPACT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ON THE HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY AFTER

EARTHQUAKE
Saima Mushtaq
Department of Anthropology, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Corresponding Author:
Saima Mushtaq
PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Saim.khan991@gmail.com
Abstract: Telecommunication is broadly defined as the transmission of information by means of electromagnetic
signal over copper wires, coaxial cable, fiber-optic strands, or the airwaves. The purpose of this study was to
explore the changes occurring in economy due to the development in telecommunication after the earth quake in
Rawlakot, Kharick, AJK. The sampling technique utilized was convenient based, while a sample size of 100
households was used. The study used both quantitative and qualitative tools of data collection. The SPSS and
frequency table were used to find out the effect of telecommunication on economy. The present research shows
that telecommunication is affecting economy positively and furthermore it shows that new technologies have
many negative and unethical effects on the human beings.
Key Words: Telecommunications, ICT, Technology

INTRODUCTION
The word telecommunications define as the
mixture of Greek and Latin ancestry in the
twentieth century which means the art of
transmission of information from a distance or
one place to another. Nowadays defines as the
differently telecommunications is broadly
defined as the transmission of information by
means of electromagnetic signals: over copper
wires, coaxial cable, fiber-optic strands, or the
airwaves (Jonathan and Weiser 2007).
In Rawalkot AJK the telecommunication system is
disturbed due to the earth quake of 8 October
2005.after the quake the land line number were
disconnected and exchange system is also
destroyed. In 2005 the Rawalkot city has no other
network like mobile services. There is only land
line system known as. Since the dawn of human
history, people have devised means of
communicating at a distance (Crowley and
Longman 2006). Before the earth quake
electronic communications that were practiced
so far (radio, telegraph, land-line telephone,
television) has raised that ability to extra
information. Some feasibility constraints are due
to the lack of knowledge or the economic means

to access ICT equipment or services (Schwanen

and Kwan 2008). Nowadays in Rawalkot Kharick
all types of electronics are in used.
The telecommunication effect the economy in
many ways. Now we can mostly tasks through
using telephone or mobile network. It affords
opportunities for social interaction with friends,
store personnel, and casual passersby (Chung, et
al. 2002).
A number of scholars suggest that they apply to
some extent in the context of everyday urban
travel and long-distance business travel as well
(Albertson 1977).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
During in my present research used both
qualitative and quantitative methods have been
explore the impact of telecommunication on the
economy after earthquake. The study was
conducted at household of the khraick town in
Rawalakot AJK. The 100 sample size was taken
randomly of household. The data is collected
through the questionnaire and for the data
analysis the spss were used as statistical tools.

RESULTS
TABLE.1: Effect of Telecommunication
Questions
Responses
Were you using ICT
Yes 37%
before earthquake
No 63%
Do you think that
Positive 46%
telecommunication
Negative46%
has affected the
Constant 8
economy
Number of the ICT
0
1
users in your
1-3
50
family
4-6
42
7-9
7
which kind of
TV
36
devices you had
Radio
11
used before the
Computer 2
earth quake
Digital
4
TV & radio 18
None
8
TV & digital 21
Packages provided
by the telecom
Yes 83
companies have
No
17
increased the ICT
use?
Have your
travelling
expenditures
Yes 83
decreased due to
No 17
use of
telecommunication
technology
What does the
effect of new
telecommunication
Positive 72
technologies on
Negative 28
household
economy after
earthquake
Table 1 shows that the results which changes the
impact of telecommunication on the household
economy after earthquake. Researcher asks the
question to respondents were you using ICT
before earth quake. The 37% people were using
the ICT before the earth quake and 63% were not
using ICT before the earth quake. Before the
earth quake in Rawalakot kharick town has only
land line number were used and no other devices
were used before the earth quake. After the

earth quake many foreigners companies come

here and introduced the cellular phones in
Rawalakot. The above results shows that 46%
people think that telecommunication affected
the economy positively. The 46% people respond
that telecommunication has negative effect on
the economy. The 8% people were saying that no
effect on economy due to the telecommunication
and remain constant. The people of the kharick
explain that the telecommunication has many
benefits. Due to new technologies we
communicate very fast and easily to the other
person but its increase in the expenditures and
too many expenses.
In table 1, question 3 explains that the 1%
household has no ICT user. In 50% household
have 1-3 ICT users and 4-6 members which have
used ICT in 42% household. The 7% household in
which 7-9 persons are used ICT in present study.
Respondent ask the question which kind of
devices used before the earth quake. The result
shows that the 36% people used television before
the earth quake and 11% were using radio. The
only 2% were using computer and 4% were using
digital phone. In given table the shows that 18%
people were using both devices television and
radio and 8% were using none of them. The 21%
people were using both television and digital
phone before the earth quake. Before the earth
quake people were used mostly radio, television
and digital phones. The channels were mostly
used on television PTV and radio channel are
FM.
Question asks by the researcher packages
increase the ICT user. The 83% population said
yes packages provided by the telecommunication
companies have increased the ICT use. The 16%
people disagree with them. The persons of the
Kharick Rawalakot explain that the after the earth
quake the use of ICT increased but the main
reasons are packages. The ICT more used due to
the packages which is given by the company. In
some extends the use of packages are positive
but mostly used in wrong way. Respondents say
that packages waste the time of the youngster
and other people. Due to this disturbance is also
increased because without package no one did
long call to anybody.

Researcher asks the question that due to

telecommunication
travelling
expenditures
decreases. The shows that 83% people are said
that travelling expenditures decreased due to use
of telecommunication technology and 17 %
disagree with them. Respondents say that their
travelling expenditures decreased due to the use
of telecommunication because before the
telecommunication persons are travel to convey
the message. In old days respondents are travels
in miles for any work or the purpose of convey
the massage but nowadays through technology
message convey just a second and its not
expensive. So the technology has great benefits.
The results shows that 72% population says that
the positive effect of new telecommunication
technologies on household economy. The 28%
population responds that negative effect of new
technologies on their household economy.
Mostly respondents say that no negative effect
on the household budget due to the
telecommunication expenditures but some of
them are disagreeing with them. Researcher
meet with one family in field work which is think
that mobiles are not for women and its taboo and
they didnt give to women.
DISCUSSION
Result that the overall telecommunication have
many benefits in household budget but in the
other hand many negative aspect are also
present. Due to ICT telecommunication the
communication is very easy and fast nowadays
and world make a global village. In some extend
respondents says that the technology increased
the expenditures because in one household
mostly everyone has own mobile phones which
increased the expenditures of the household. A
number of scholars suggest that they apply to
some extent in the context of everyday urban
travel and long-distance business travel as well
(Albertson 1977). Nowadays the smart phones
are introduced which is defiantly effect the
household budget. Respondents say that no
doubt the travelling expenditures are decreased
due to the use of telecommunication and very
easy and fast way to communicate and convey
the massage just in the second.
CONCLUSION
In over all researcher got the results before the
earth quake the telecommunication has not

found in well shape in the Rawalakot kharick. The

ways of living mostly were simple. After the
earthquake in this area new ways of
telecommunication were introduced and people
are more aware. Mobiles phones are used in
positively and the other hand there is many
negative aspects in use of mobiles.
REFERENCES
Albertson, Lesley A.
1977 Telecommunications as a Travel
Substitute:
Some
Psychological,
Organizational, and Social Aspects.
Journal of Communication 27(2): 32-43.
Crowley, David, and Paul Heyer Longman
2006
Communication
in
History:
Technology, Culture, Society. Pearson
Allyn and Bacon, USA.
Chung, Chuihua Judy, Jeffrey Inaba, and Sze
Tsung Leong
2002 The Harvard Design School Guide
to Shopping Harvard University Graduate
School of Design.
Nuechterlein, E. Jonathan, and Philip J. Weiser
2007 Digital Crossroads: American
Telecommunications Policy in the
Internet Age. Cambridge, MA: The MIT
Press.
Schwanen, Tim, and Mei-Po Kwan
2008 The Internet, mobile phone and
space-time
constraints.
Geoforum
39(3):1362-1377.
Publication Date: Jan-31 -2016
2016 The Explorer Islamabad Journal of Social Sciences-Pakistan