PESHAWAR, Nov 21: The NWFP caretaker minister for Science and Technology, Information Technology and Environment, Eng Hisam-ud-Din Bangash on Wednesday underscored the need for adopting a policy that would promote science and information technology and attract huge investment in the province along with generation of job opportunities for the youth.

He said this while attending a presentation regarding the performance of Science, Technology and Information Technology departments in Peshawar on Wednesday.

Deputy Secretary Science and Technology Mohammad Saeed and Deputy Secretary IT Mukhtar Ahmed were also present on the occasion.

Director IT Saif-ur-Rahman Usmani and Director ST Mohammad Khalid briefed the minister that the IT department has so far launched 18 projects out of which computerised driving license and property tax computerisation projects had been completed while four more projects were in the pipeline.

The minister was further informed that issuance of computerised driving license had already started in Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera and Abbottabad districts and would soon be extended to the entire province.

Similarly, computerised challan of property tax of the Excise and Taxation department were being issued from Peshawar and in the next stage it would be extended to 16 more districts.

The IT director said that the department had also taken in hand the challenging task of computerisation of land revenue records, while the services of retired ACs, Tehsildars and Patwaries were hired for upgrading revenue records before its computerisation.

The minister was told that the Science and Technology department was planning a science competition among school students and establishment of a science museum for promoting Science and Technology in the province.

Likewise, the department was also working to enhance the working relationship with public sector universities and R&D organisations for developing science and technology.

Appreciating the idea of establishment of a science museum at the IT Park and Software Development Centre in the province, Eng Hisam-ud-Din assured his full support in this regard.

He directed the authorities concerned of the STIT department to prioritize their strategy and come up with a viable vision and idea to carry out the work for promotion of the STIT sector.

He also directed to move a comprehensive summary for formation of a digital library and other matters at the earliest for approval of the chief minister so as to go ahead in this regard.—APP