KARACHI, Feb 6: Sindh IT Adviser Mohammad Noman Saigol emphasized the need for creating awareness on IT among the masses and put it to use for their benefit. He was chairing a meeting of the IT advisory board at his office on Monday. It was the first meeting of the board in his capacity as the IT adviser.

Mr Saigol stressed the need to speed up the efforts in the field of IT so as to reap the benefits of this technology.

He also sought the cooperation and support of the private sector in such endeavours.

About his immediate objectives in the realms of IT, he said that the basic idea was to create awareness.

The other important aspect was to introduce IT to the masses, he added so that only the selected class should not get the maximum benefits out of this technology and its fruits should also reach the common man.

The adviser informed that the Sindh IT Department had started the setting up of free IT awareness centres.

He said that 400 such centres would be established in Karachi and interior of Sindh.

Mr Saigol further added that 30 free IT centres were already operating in various parts of Karachi such as Orangi Town, Pak Colony, Landhi, Korangi, North Karachi and in the interior of Sindh such as Thatta, Kashmore and Hyderabad etc.

He said that the Sindh governor would inaugurate a free IT centre in Liaquatabad (Karachi) on Feb 15.

Mr Saigol said that 20 acres of land had been acquired in the city for the establishment of an IT internet media city.

A modern office of the IT department is also being established. A space of 9,000 square feet has been acquired on the first floor of the State Bank Building adjacent to the Sindh secretariat for the purpose, he informed.

The office in question would be ready in the next 10 months, he added.

He also shed light on the 19 projects that had been taken up by the Sindh IT department. These include the establishment of an IT centre, E-government Pilot Project for Sindh Government (Phase 1), establishment of provincial portal and website for the Sindh government.

There are also new schemes like introduction of IT in district administration in Sindh (Phase 1), establishment of IT resource and rural community internet centres in Sindh, call centre training for graduates and undergraduates, establishment of video conferencing system in Sindh, introduction of e-police system, and computerization of property tax in Sindh.

The board meeting was also attended by IT professionals from the private sectors.—APP