The 15th All-Pakistan Software Competition and Exhibition opened here on Saturday with the aim to encouraging local software development and increase exports. Major General Raza Hussain (Retd), chairman Suparco, was the chief guest in the opening ceremony of the three-day exhibition, organised by Dr A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories Kahuta (KRL).
The exhibition is also aimed at inculcating awareness in public and government functionaries about the Personal Computer (PC) and its applications.
Speaking on the occasion, the chairman Suparco emphasised the need for encouraging the local software industry to develop the software indigenously.
He said: "In view of ever-expanding role of computers, there is rapidly growing demand for a variety of software. It is thus important to encourage the local software industry to develop software packages for scientific, educational and commercial use."
"It is also important to encourage our software industry to export software and earn foreign exchange," he said.
Other speakers lauded the role of Ministry of Information Technology for its efforts in providing the infrastructure for computer-based communication in the country with providing internet facilities all over.
They also eulogised the role of KRL not only in the field of sophisticated defence-related technology but also in the development of science and technology in the country.
They said the KRL has taken initiative in this area as pioneers for providing a platform for activities in indigenous development of computer software, which have automatically resulted in development of computer software to meet the country's requirements as well as export of this to earn precious foreign exchange.
"All Pakistan Software Competition and Exhibition is therefore, an excellent opportunity for encouraging indigenous software development and for exchange of information between software developers," they added.
A number of students and professionals are taking part in this competition.
Software of different sorts, including seven of professional category, four of commercial category, 32 of student category and 13 of student under 16 category have been put on display.
The software will be evaluated by the panel of judges for the next three days to determine the prize-winner.
There are number of prizes amounting to Rs 250,000. The first prize in the professional category is Rs 50,000 and the first prize in student category is Rs 30,000.
The closing ceremony will be held on July 25. The Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication will be the chief guest of the ceremony.
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