VEHARI: A Geographical Information System (GIS) cell to improve service delivery has been established in Vehari.

Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme with the collaboration of Urban Unit, Punjab, has established the state-of-the-art GIS cell for the Vehari district government. District Coordination Officer Jawad Akram inaugurated the cell at DCO Complex here on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, he welcomed the initiative in the district and stressed the need for use of technology in planning and decision making so that effective service delivery could be ensured to the citizens.

Jawad Akram said the GIS facility would be a key tool in better planning, implementing and monitoring services of district departments.

He expressed his gratitude to SNG for selecting Vehari as one of the two districts for the pilot project.

Usman Chaudhry, representative of SNG, said: “The objective of the project is to support provincial and district governments in rendering public services in a responsive, accountable and transparent manner. Under SNG Programme, cells are being established in Vehari and Sheikhupura currently.”

At the later stage, he said, cells would be set up in Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Bahawalnagar and Sahiwal districts.

The GIS would provide advanced software tools and applications for geo-education and geo-spatial data analysis in the education and health sectors in the district.

“Since most government data is location based, equipping government departments with the latest GIS technology provides the tools needed to improve decision making, service delivery, and citizen engagement,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2015

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