04 June 2004	Friday	15 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 3: Banks will now offer loans on concessional rates under a special package to their clients for purchase of computers, the Sindh Minister for Information Technology, Syed Mustafa Kamal, said after a meeting with State Bank Governor Dr Ishrat Husain.

According to a press release, the minister urged the SBP governor to launch a special concessional credit scheme for purchase of computers as was being done for television, domestic appliances and cars.

Dr Ishrat, according to the press release, endorsed the provincial minister's suggestion and promised to issue necessary instructions to the banks in next few days. Meanwhile, Sindh Information Technology Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has expressed the hope of investment from several Singapore IT companies in the province.

The minister recently visited Singapore and met several executives and experts of IT companies there and informed them of the investment prospects in Sindh. A fax release said that the minister held a detailed meeting with Chang Yew Kong, president Singapore Technologies, and discussed with him Sindh's potential to absorb foreign investment in IT sector.

He met more than a dozen executives and experts of several leading IT companies and sought information regarding application of IT in E-Police, immigration and other allied organizations. The minister has claimed that quite a good number of Singapore IT companies have expressed intention of sending their teams to Karachi to explore investment opportunities.