LAHORE, Feb 6: The Punjab government and the Google Inc. signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in information technology at Arfa Karim Software Technology Park here.

Punjab Tourism Department Secretary Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik and Google Asia's William Fitzgerald signed the MoU. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Kamran Michael, Planning and Development Board chairman, irrigation department secretary and Punjab Information Technology Board chairman were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said access to historical and tourist sites of Punjab through Google Inc. would promote awareness about the modern and ancient Lahore as well as its historical and cultural heritage.

He said the government was implementing a programme on information technology and measures were also being taken for the speedy execution of land record computerisation project. He urged the Google Inc. to also extend assistance in the expeditious completion of this project.

"There are a number of projects of the Punjab government about which Google Inc. can provide information to the people of the world," he said.

The chief minister said 110,000 laptops were being distributed among talented students free of cost and the WiFi system was being installed on campuses. He said the Google Inc. could extend cooperation in this project too.

Mr Fitzgerald said interaction between the Punjab government and Google Inc. in information technology was a good beginning. He said the Google Inc. had also been engaged in relief activities for flood-hit people.

He said access to historical and tourist sites of Punjab on the website would promote awareness in the world about cultural traditions and civilisation of the Punjab province.

He said the agreement was the beginning of mutual interaction between the Punjab government and the Google Inc. and cooperation would be enhanced further.