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NEWSBITS
Rs25m IT project to boost local software industry
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is set to implement the single largest IT project of $25 million which will not only support the local software industry, but also create sizeable job opportunities for computer experts.
This was stated by SBP Governor Dr Ishrat Hussain speaking as the chief guest at the concluding session of the three-day Pakistan Developers Conference 2004 on June 17, 2004, organized by Microsoft Pakistan.
Dr Ishrat Hussain said that banks are also conributing towards the growth of local software industry by spending $100m. A data-warehousing project is also under way to link all the banks in the country.
“This is the age of innovation and now the corporate sector seeks new ideas to add value to their products,” he expressed and urged software developers to come forward and share their experiences to help develop innovative solutions.
It is already obvious as to how innovative technology has made it possible for banks to reduce the cost of business operations and maintain services products and reaching out to customers, he said. The SBP chief advised developers to come out of their stereo type mindset and become part of the IT revolution.
Earlier, in his concluding remarks, Microsoft Country Manager Jawwad Rehman told participants that out of 4,000 aspiring candidates, only 1,500 could be accomodated due to lack of space and arrangement.
He also stated that the software industry in Pakistan was set to grow as President Gen Pervez Musharraf, IT ministry were making efforts in this regard.
Microsoft Corporation Regional Marketing Manager Lara Martini on the occasion highlighted the future plans of the corporation with special reference to Pakistan.
Dr Sayeed Ghani, chairman MIS and Computer Science, Institute of Business Administration, highlighted the opportunities for young developers and future challenges in the IT industry of Pakistan.
He underlined the issues such as piracy, low literacy rate, local non-demand, project mis-management, substandard local softwares are main hurdles for Pakistani software market.
The three-day conference was divided into 50 sessions which were presented by 20 foreign speakers. — Ghulam Mohiuddin
Internet policy within a month: Awais
Federal Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has informed that the ministry would soon announce a broadband internet policy to provide fast and effective connectivity to users at cheaper rates.
The minister was speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day “Pakistan Developer Conference,” organized by an international software development firm. Mr Leghari said the departments concerned had completed their tasks and the policy would be announced within a month. The potential of DSL broadband services in the county has been evaluated and the policy in this regard would be a revolutionary step in the IT sector, he added. The minister said in order to achieve broadband service growth in the country, content and end user industry (sale of personal computers) needed to grow in parallel.
He said the government’s policies to liberalize the telecom sector had borne fruits as more and more potential investors from around the globe were seriously looking at the available opportunities. He also pledged to help the IT industry seeking reduction in costs incurred on the digital cross connectivity. The minister called for bringing the fruits of information technology to the people.
Mr Leghari said the IT ministry was going to launch a programme to provide computers to people on instalments at affordable rates. In this regard, there is a proposal to collect Rs1,000 per month with any of the utility bills from people intending to purchase computers on instalments, he added.
He said the ministry had also allocated a sizable amount to help the local IT industry by creating demand for work for the software development houses. The minister said the deregulated telecom sector in the country was ready to take off as around 100 local and foreign firms had finally applied for land line telephone operation licenses. — Sci-tech World Report
DCET to remain under the Centre
The Federal Education Minister, Zobaida Jalal along with Federal Secretary Education Sajid Hassan had visited Dawood College of Engineering and Technology (DCET) to review the steps taken for improvement of teaching activities, labs and faculty at the college.
Higher officials of Federal Education Ministry, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Higher Education Commission (HEC), Sindh Education Department and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro also accompanied her.
According to principal of DCET Saleem Chaudhry, the college administration gave a detailed presentation to the federal education minister about steps being taken by the college’s administration for making the college acceptable to PEC for accreditation.
He said it was decided at a discussion that the college would remain under the Federal Education Ministry’s control and efforts would be made to transform it into a degree-awarding institution.
“A steering committee has also been formed, headed by Zobaida Jalal to streamline DCET’s affairs,” he said, adding that representatives of PEC, HEC, Ministry of Education, Mehran Engineering University and DCET principal would be its members.
He said PEC representatives were delighted to see improvement of labs, equipment, teaching and academic activities at the college, and assured that another PEC team would soon visit the college to ascertain whether it could be accredited or not.
Sources at DCET claimed the visiting delegation also discussed putting the college under administrative control of Sindh Education Department. However, most senior education officials opposed the idea; and advocated improvement in the teaching and academic activities at DCET, and transforming it into a degree-awarding institution. Some members also expressed disappointment over the pace of improvement in labs, provision of scientific equipment, college buildings occupied by Rangers and the presence of many student groups, and directed the principal to take steps in this regard, sources added. — Sci-tech World Report
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