'Computerisation in public departments being introduced'

Punjab Information Department is developing software which would directly help maintain record of terrorists and extremist organisations while another project of compilation of database of prisoners after getting their finger prints is under preparation for the jail department.
Punjab Minister for Information Technology Abdul Aleem Khan revealed this while briefing newsmen about the Information Technology (IT) Department, here on Friday. He said that out of 50,000 prisoners, record of 7500 prisoners have already been computerised till June 30, 2006 while phase-II of this project would be submitted to competent authority for approval in next week. All these steps would help curb crimes in the province, he added.
Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will inaugurate on September 11, the first phase of issuance of computerised numberplates of vehicles by the Excise Department Punjab.
The provincial government has given priority to make the province hub of information technology and Information Technology Department is working for provision of experts to computerise 12 departments while eight projects in this regard have already been completed, he maintained.
He said the IT Department Punjab has prepared projects for Agriculture Department, Bait-ul-Maal Committees, Punjab Public Service Commission, Arms Licensing, pilot projects of Land Revenue Management in Gujrat and Rahim Yar Khan, pilot projects of sale deeds for Sialkot and Lahore Districts, and Punjab Portal besides developing network between different departments.
Talking about land record computerisation, he said that a considerable progress has been made in this regard and IT Department has experienced issuance of Electronic "Fard" in Gujrat and Rahimyar Khan Districts while digitalisation of 229 villages in Gujrat and 811 in Rahimyar Khan would be completed by the end of current year. The department has already initiated a project to inter-link 35 districts and 144 tehsils with the IT Department, he added.
The computerisation in public dealing departments is being introduced for the benefit of general public and management information system is being prepared for the hospitals. The system is being introduced in Lahore General Hospital in first phase, which would be expanded, to other hospitals including Mayo Hospital, Service Hospital, Multan and Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology.
The work on issuance of route permits, driving license is also underway while chief minister has already inaugurated setting up of Software Park over an area of 32 kanals for promotion of information technology, he maintained.
Different projects to impart computer training to the employees of Jail Department, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Crime Investigation Department, Hospital's management system, Excise and Taxation Department, Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank, Lahore Van Project, Punjab Internet Data Warehouse, Motor Transport Management Information System, and 12 other projects of government employees in different districts are underway.