ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: Federal Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Monday said his ministry had planned to introduce Information Technology (IT) education in 2,000 schools in the country.

He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the World Summit on Information Society National Consultation in Pakistan, jointly organized by the IUCN and UNDP.

Since IT as a separate subject has achieved primary importance, therefore, the issue has to be addressed on emergency grounds, he said

“As part of this project, we are also planning to set up modern IT labs and hire qualified teachers to impart quality education to our young generation under this major subject”, the minister said.

He said Pakistan was strongly committed to the process of World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) and the prime minister had also consented to lead the delegation himself to the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society to be held in Geneva from December 10 to 12.

He claimed that a significant progress had been made in selected areas ever since the IT programme was launched in the year 2000.

“The bandwidth rates were reduced drastically, internet penetration was extended to nearly 90 per cent cities and towns, the total international and domestic bandwidth was increased manifold, mobile telephones saw a phenomenal growth, and a major thrust in the IT human resource development was launched both at the skill development as well as formal education,” he said.

Mr Leghari said the steps taken by his ministry indicated the right priorities because the basic pre-requisite for IT development was infrastructure, whether in the telecom and data networks or the human Capital.

However, he admitted that the common man was yet to see the benefits of the IT revolution.

He said his ministry had also approved a project to give on- line access to the lawyers from all the district bar rooms throughout the country with a view to speeding up the processing of the cases and alleviating the difficulties of the citizens at large.

Similarly, he said, the proceedings of the National Assembly and Senate were also being automated to make available for public information through the Internet.

Former information minister, Javed Jabbar, termed information the most vital resource needed to be tapped to empower the people.