KARACHI, April 25: A digital library established by the Dow University of Health Sciences at the Sindh Medical College was formally inaugurated by the Adviser to Chief Minister for Information Technology, Noman Saigal, on Wednesday.

DUHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Masood Hameed Khan said the digital library was established to meet the requirements of higher education and research with the provision of access to scholarly information based on electronic delivery.

He said researchers, faculty members and the students of DUHS could use that facility and strengthen the research culture. He said there were 300 work stations offering access to 20,000 full text journals, 250 national and international institutes, one million articles and 4000 e-books available in the digital library. The library would benefit graduates, postgraduates and faculty members of DUHS, Sindh Medical College, Dr Ishratul Ibad Institute of Oral Health Sciences, he added.

Mr Saigal announced Rs100 million as assistance for the DUHS and assured it of government’s support in other projects. He also announced to provide laptops to students and faculty members with the help of bank loan on easy installment basis.

He said the government had chalked out a programme to raise the current number of 1.3 million computer users in the province to 3.6 million by October 2008, adds APP.

He said the project launched this month was part of the scheme to turn the technology public-friendly. “The idea is to empower the masses and help them benefit through a facility which is used in all spheres, particularly in health and education sectors,” he said.

The adviser said under an arrangement with Intel and Muslim Commercial Bank the IT department would provide laptops and personal computers to medical students. He said the employees associated with government departments, students, researchers and teachers working in private and public institutions could approach the bank for financing in procuring Inter PC or laptop.