ISLAMABAD, July 15: The government would provide computer literacy to around 10 per cent pubic sector employees in the country under a special programme during the next five years. The programme would help improve working capabilities of employees and play a vital role in the development of IT-based skills, thus preparing them for use of e-government applications within the government offices. Besides 148,000 federal employees in BPS-5 and above, around 1.3 million provincial employees would get computer training during the period.

According to Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) 2005- 10, there are about 20,000 middle schools and 10,000 secondary, higher secondary schools and colleges in the country and it is estimated that 40 per cent schools and colleges are already equipped with appropriate laboratories.

During 2005-10, the government has also planned provision of IT teachers and IT labs in all schools in the public sector and raise standard of education by establishing a National Council for the accreditation of IT education and IT professionals on the lines of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).

Similarly, in order to increase the workability and efficiencies of the e-government model, certain key issues are planned to be addressed during 2005-10 which include putting in place means of authentication for people and government agencies for verification of electronic transactions.

The main objectives of e-governance are to increase transparency of government working, increase and diversify public information and its value, increase quality of products and services being currently offered.

Referring to e-commerce, the government has already promulgated the Electronic Transaction Act 2002 and two new bills pertaining to data crimes and data privacy are to be put up to the cabinet soon.

The government is playing its role in creating an enabling environment while the private sector is expected to come forward and make use of this new tool during the period.

In this direction, the government has also devised a strategy under which business community, chambers and association of trade and industry would be encouraged to make greater use of ICT networks for procurements, imports and exports.

All banks and utility companies will be encouraged to introduce online services, electronic billing and collection, online applications and online complaint handling.

The government will gradually adopt electronic procurement to bring transparency and efficiency as well as to set a role model for other entities.

Different measures to enhance IT exports have also been planned which is currently $170 million in hardware and $30 million in software, and is growing 30 per cent per annum for the last two years.—APP