TAXILA: A non-profit organisation in Attock has announced plans to establish a state-of-the-art information technology (IT) park and equip educational institutions with IT laboratories.

According to a statement, the plan was unveiled by a delegation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-Pakistan (LDS) on Friday which was called upon by district officials led by Attock Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza.

The delegates of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) were led by LDS country manager Zumran James. The delegation comprised six other humanitarian specialists including Scott Willey, Cherie Willey, Gary Koeven, Cheryl Koeven, Michel Hoer and Laurie Hoer.

The representatives of the NGO informed the district officers that a plan would be executed under which a state-of-the-art IT park would be established to bring the under-served districts at par with other districts of Punjab to promote digital skills among the youth especially students.

It was also said that IT labs would be established in the various educational institutions across the district, including the District Public School Attock.

The NGO representatives also vowed to address the lack of modern facilities in the health sector of the district, the statement read.

They said artificial intelligence-based X-ray machines would be provided in various public health units.

“Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza expressed his pleasure in joining hands with the NGO,” the statement said.

He informed the delegation that under the “Learn and Earn” programme, more than 50 IT labs in government schools in the Attock district had been upgraded at a cost of around Rs250 million while more than 300 IT teachers have undergone digital training to provide IT education to students in 32 government schools.

While lauding the role of the NGO, he added that earlier in January this year, the NGO distributed customised wheelchairs among 300 differently-abled persons in the district.

Additional Deputy Commissioner General Attock Anil Saeed, Assistant Commissioner Anza Abbasi, Chief Executive District Education Authority Dr Muhammad Akhlaq, Chief Executive District Health Authority Dr Asad Ismail, Medical Superintendent District Headquarters Hospital Dr Jawad Elahi, Principal Government Graduate College Attock Dr Syed Muhammad Imran, Principal Government College for Women Attock Dr Sobia Ishrat, representatives of NGO and other relevant officers were also present on this occasion.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2025