IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

Senior leader PTI, Jahangir Tareen, Senior Provincial Minister Sirajul Haq, Provincial Minister for Information Technology, Shahram Tarakai, Chief Secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mohammad Shahzad Arbab, Administrative heads of provincial Finance, Planning and Development, Science and Information Technology department and experts from private sector attended the meeting. The working group would be headed by the Provincial Minister for Science and Information Technology, Shahram Khan Tarakai and will submit its report within a period of ten days.

The Finance Minister, while giving approval to the proposed restructuring plan expressed the hope that the new organisation ''National IT Board'' will enhance quality and efficiency of public services, promoting accountability and transparency and optimised utilisation of technical and financial resources. He hoped that NITB will also fast track the ongoing efforts for implementing e-government business process in the federal government and across the nation.

A large number of citizens sent proposals for capacity-building of government machinery and identifying the problems.

A spokesman of PITB here on Friday said that under the competition titled "e-Government Ideas Hunt", the people had been asked to choose one department of the government, identify a problem in its existing functionality and propose a viable solution.

At a workshop on "Driving Sustainable Long Term Growth in Telecom Sector in Pakistan," organised by GSM Association here, she asked the industry to help their democratic government with their service innovation to realise all of these projections and to serve fellow citizens at their doorsteps.

Minister for Information Science and Technology Nawabzada Muhammad Taimour Talpur has hoped that establishment of Sindh IT Board would make the provincial government a model of e-governance.

Speaking at a seminar arranged by Information Science and Technology department, government of Sindh, held in the local hotel, on the topic of establishment of proposed Sindh IT Board, the minister said that they would further strengthen the formation of IT Board on suggestions from stakeholders.

Zartaj Gul says application has been made more user-friendly

Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul on Thursday asked citizens to report ban violators of plastic bags via the Islamabad Smart City application for swift administrative action.

The application has been amended with a separate domain to help citizens report violations made in secret by retailers or manufacturers of plastic bags with an easy-to-fill form and direct outreach to the relevant administrative department and the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), she mentioned in a briefing.

The Punjab government has launched a pilot project of ‘Smart City Lahore’ to improve urban life through better transport solutions and intelligent use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

The project will also improve economic growth and quality of life by enabling local area development through smart applications.

The meeting was convened to review the progress of different projects which are being carried out under the direct supervision of Ministry of IT, Federal Secretary IT Ahklaq Ahmad Tarar, Additional Secretary IT Azmat Ali Ranjha and other high officials of Ministry of IT were also present in the meeting. The Minister said that the government has assigned utmost priority to the development of ICT sector and put in place all possible measures to accelerate the development of technology in the country. The inception of 3G and 4G technology would definitely bring economic growth and prosperity which would help to provide an opportunity of millions of new jobs to the educated youth of the country. The Minister has further said that youth should not only use latest technology for only entertainment purpose but also must explore the technology for development of database purpose and software.

* Punjab CM inaugurates free WiFi facility for Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur * 200 hotspots will be set up at different locations in the cities

Residents of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur will soon be able to enjoy free wireless Internet as Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has inaugurated the free service for five cities.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) organised a Broadband Forum in collaboration with CISCO systems at a local hotel in Islamabad on Thursday.

The theme of the forum was to find out ways and means to truly capitalise on the huge potential of broadband services in Pakistan in the wake of rapidly growing wireless broadband subscriptions. PTA Chairman Dr Syed Ismail Shah was the chief guest. Member (Finance) PTA Tariq Sultan, Member (Compliance & Enforcement) PTA Abdul Samad, Member (Telecom), Ministry of IT, Mr Mudasar Hussain, were also present on the occasion. The IT & telecom industry experts, representatives of telecom companies and academia attended the seminar.

People who have had opportunities to interact with the prime minister as well as study his way of working, are convinced that PM Sharif is of the firm belief that the government is duty bound to protect and promote its citizenry in all respects.

As an important step towards transparency and good governance strategy of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, E-Tendering and E-Bidding system have been introduced in the Public Health Engineering Department whereas E-Work Order, Online Tender Tracking System and Online system for water connection have been developed by the PHED to be introduced very soon.

These initiatives will not only improve the overall efficiency of the department but will also ensure transparency in its routine business and facilitate the general masses in availing the services of the department.

Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan Saturday inaugurated the Computerized land Record Center at Tehsil Hattian Bala in Jhelum valley district.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said that computerization of land records will ease the masses according to the modern techniques. He said that incumbent government is endeavoring for the provision of E-governance to construe the slogan of Good Governance.

To ensure efficiency, accuracy, good governance, transparency, and accountability in decision making and delivery of efficient and cost-effective public services to Pakistani citizens, the federal government is working on the e-offices system in the country.

The Senate Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication have agreed to recommend all the Senate Committees to take compliance feedback of their respective ministries on e-offices.

Information technology indeed has brought a revolution in the life of the peoples worldwide making it easier and dignified. Now with their mobile applications they can perform the task for which they earlier had to face a lot of hassle and stand in long queues.

It is a matter of satisfaction that the Punjab Government is also applying modern technology to keep pace with fast developing societies and ensure better service delivery to the people at their doorsteps.

Says modern tech increasing internet penetration, improving lot of people

Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rahman said introduction of mobile broadband had contributed a lot in connecting people and increased internet penetration in the country from mere 3 percent to 18 percent in a short period.

Availability of these technologies have resulted in speedy proliferation of broadband access both in urban and rural communities with a record achievement of more than 30 million subscribers in less than 2 years.

The total bids amount was Rs. 111 billion and this is a good sign for the economy that one of the successful bidders, China Mobile has indicated to pay full amount of two licenses it won during the recent 3G and 4G auction, she said while talking to mediapersons at a reception, organized here by Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Dr. Syed Ismail Shah in honour of telecom beat reporters.

He said it was big challenge for him to under-take this challenging task of uplift of the IT Ministry. He said his first and foremost effort would be to spread the network of IT in each and every corner of Pakistan including far off areas of Gilgit–Baltistan.

E-governance is the governance of tomorrow and our future and the government would try its utmost to introduce e-governance in almost all sectors of Pakistan and CDA would be made first model.

The Balochistan government has announced that the Ziarat Valley, under the supervision of the Chief Minister, will be transformed into a modern smart city to attract tourists.

In this regard, the government of Balochistan has established a development authority with the aim of promoting tourism and creating job opportunities for the local population.