16 May 2004	Sunday	25 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, May 15: The Punjab information technology department has finalized a project to set up computer laboratories in all government schools in the province.

This was stated by Punjab Information Technology Minister Abdul Aleem Khan at the annual prize distribution ceremony of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Raiwind Road, on Saturday.

He said the project would be launched from Lahore in next financial year.

He said the project was being launched to enable the poor students to study IT at the government expenses.

He said the IT department had sought sufficient budget to set up laboratories in government schools.

The minister said the IT department was also working on a project to computerize the land revenue record. In the first phase of the project, record of Lahore and Sialkot was being computerized, Mr Khan added.

He said the IT department would also implement another project "Motor Transport MIS System" during the next financial year. Every vehicle would be issued trackable computerized number plate through a government nominated private agency. The computerized number plate would carry complete record of the vehicle.

He said this project also included provision of infrastructure to electronically connect all the 34 districts in the province for development and maintenance of office record of vehicle registration and tax.

Mr Khan said the IT department would also link all districts and provincial government departments with their administrative departments.

The minister said the IT department was also planning to publish a list of all the recognized and registered IT institutes so that students could know the institutes' status before admission.

He observed that the unrecognized institutes operating in small rooms were posing a great threat to the future of students.

The minister announced provision of 150 computers and two airconditioners to the COMSATS institute.

Earlier, institute rector Dr Junaid Zaidi and project director Shaukat Hayat said the institute was offering free IT, engineering and management education to its one third students.

The minister also distributed prizes among the position holders.