KARACHI, June 16: Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro has underlined the need for preparing a job-oriented Information Technology programme, both in the public and private sectors, with an emphasize on combined work between all the IT stakeholders and different government agencies.
He stated this while presiding over a meeting at the Governor’s House, which was held to review the progress of various projects under IT programme in the province.
Briefing on the status of IT projects, the additional- secretary planning and development, Shahzado Shaikh, said that the IT and telecom division had approved five projects at an estimated cost of Rs154.597 million, while approval had been assured for three more projects.
He said that e-government pilot project phase-I will cost Rs39.80 million; IT training for Sindh government employees phase-I Rs38 million; IT training for students and jobless graduates phase-I Rs38 million; setting up of IT infrastructure for the city district government Karachi Rs37.25 million, and e- government agency specific and general application (Geo-data centre) will cost Rs1.547 million.
Shahzado Shaikh informed that the city government had forwarded Rs20 million PC-1 for completion of the remaining civil work of Korangi Civic Centre which was approved by PDWP in its recent meeting.
The governor emphasised the need for speeding up the establishment of the Indus Technology Park in Karachi and an IT park in Larkana.
The meeting was informed that the secretariat of Sindh IT Board would be established very soon and all departments of the provincial government will be computerized.
It was stated that a committee was constituted for preparing IT projects, including SITB, Pakistan Software Board and Pakistan Software Houses Association.
The governor appreciated the programme for advanced IT training for the government employees.
It was informed that websites for all departments of the government will be launched in early 2002-2003.
Presenting the progress of IT activities, the ACS (development) highlighted the steps taken for establishing a model e-government for Sindh as well as local area networking for entire Sindh secretariat and development of special software for the government, training of government officials, specialized advance IT training for government employees, like JAVA, Esharp, Networking, visual basic, web mastering etc.
He also gave the details of the procedures for selection criteria for training and said more than 500 government employees had shown interest in training.
Managing-director of PSEB also gave a presentation on the occasion and informed about the steps taken for promotion of IT business, both at home and abroad.
He said an Info Centre would be established and more than 100 expensive magazines would be put on computers for reference, besides establishment of 20 software incubators.
He said Federal Commerce Minister Razaq Dawood had offered a building in Hyderabad for the Technology Park.
He said that 28 industries in Karachi would be automated through PSEB in the next 45 days.—APP