Computerisation in government sector below one percent: Microsoft

Microsoft company will launch Urdu office and windows to involve maximum people in the information technology (IT) sector, but the company expressed extreme disappointment that the computerisation in government sector was still below one percent.
Country manager Microsoft Jawwad Rehman told Business Recorder on Monday that despite continues effort by the high-ups in the federal government, the bureaucracy has proved a solid rock against the computerisation in the government sector.
"Computerisation process in the government sector is extremely slow and it is sill below one percent," said Jawwad adding that only CBR has done a good job. He also appreciated the State Bank, which not only computerised itself but also pushed the whole banking and financial sector for computerisation.
He said that out of 150 million about 100 million Pakistanis are under age of 27 years and a large majority is either in the job market or about to join it.
"This 100 million is the biggest threat and at the same time an opportunity to exploit their potential," said Jawwad, who believes that only government could tackle this situation. He said computerisation on mass level in the government sector could bring change and produce enormous opportunities for youth. He said that such a large number of jobless youth could only bring negative results for the economy.
Microsoft is holding a training programme free of cost for 1200 students in Karachi and the same would be held in Lahore on February 2.
URDU VERSION: He said that the company would launch Urdu version of Microsoft office and windows by March this year, which would be a great move to bring maximum people in the IT sector.
He believes that the language is a big hurdle for computerisation in Pakistan and with the introduction Urdu project the IT sector might witness a significant change in the country. The Arabic and Persian language in computers brought big change in the IT sector in their native countries, he said.
The company has opened 22 computer labs in the country and some in the remotest areas to educate the masses.
He said that the Punjab government was making its best efforts for the computerisation of their functions and currently vehicle registration was being computerised.
"I am also in negotiations with the Sindh government for development of various projects. Singh government was also taking keen interest for the promotion of IT sector," he said.
"We are still far behind India, which exported software worth 13 billion dollars," said Jawwad adding that Pakistan's export might be around 25 million dollars per year.
He said the Gates Foundation has provided 6.5 million dollars to National Human Resource Development Commission.