KARACHI, Nov 17: in order to launch an aggressive programme to improve efficiency and quality service to the citizens, information technology has been inducted at all levels of government.

The exclusive IT projects, as reflected in the annual development plan 2002-03, came under discussion in a meeting, in which it was pointed out that Sindh province had made best efforts to introduce IT facilities and provide opportunities for public and private sectors in introducing e-government, e- commerce and e-business.

Additional chief-secretary (development) Shahzado Shaikh, who presided over the meeting, referred to the establishment of the Sindh IT Board in May, 1999, and the promulgation of Sindh IT Board Ordinance 2002, as approved by the cabinet for the identified purposes.

The government, he said, had established district IT departments with creation of the post of EDO (IT) for each district.

He informed the meeting that the government had forwarded various projects/proposals on IT and telecom divisions to the ministry of science and technology for approval and funding.

He said the S&T division had approved the IT projects which included e-government pilot project for the provincial government (phase-I), IT training for Sindh government employees (phase-I), IT training for students and jobless graduates in (phase-I), setting up of IT infrastructure for the city government Karachi, and e-government agency specific and general application (website on geo-data).

The meeting was also briefed about the ongoing IT activities in the province.—APP