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The project of Sindh Archives Department, worth Rs 8 million aimed at launching of a website, digitisation and computerisation of 200-year old records and books, could not be completed despite passage of more than a year. The project was kicked off in June 2007.
The officials at Sindh Archives Department, requesting anonymity, told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the aim of the project was to provide easy access to public to the records and books, which the department was holding. They said that the task had been divided into two sub-projects ie digitisation of the record and its computerisation.
They said the delay had been caused due to the shortage of manpower. A total of 11 people has been appointed for the development of the website, they said, adding that the hired people had left the job as they were offered attractive salary package some where else. They termed low salary package as one of the major reason behind the delay of the development of a website.
"At first, the department hired people on not more than Rs 10,000 package, but they were offered Rs 20,000 or more than that as they started leaving for some other places, causing delay in the proper launching of the department's website," the official argued. The officials also complained that the project had been delayed due to the indifferent attitude of the government towards the project.
Another official said that the development of the website was the matter of only two months, adding that those working on the project were not capable to deal with it. He also accused the senior officials for hiring ineligible and unqualified people for the project, resultantly both time and funds were being wasted.
The Director of Sindh Archives Department, Iqbal Nafees said that the development work on the website was underway. He said the Internet facility to the department had been disconnected for non-payment issues. He informed that the pages, research access, books, records, maps, applications had been placed on the website.
He said that all the available records and books would be scanned and stored using software developed by the experts hired by the department. These records will be accessible to the people or researchers visiting the Sindh Archives, as the records were 200 years old. He said the under construction website would only serve as window to the interested individuals only to give access to the data available from the department. The visitors of the website would not be able to read or download anything from the site.
Iqbal said the major work of the website including technical work, networking, development of software, uploading of material etc had been completed. He disclosed that the department had hired a content writer yesterday who would do his job by developing years old data.
As many as 50,000 pages of the records have been scanned and fed into the software so far, he said and added that the project would be completed by June 30, 2009. It is said that the Sindh Archives has valuable books and precious records donated by the private parties, as well as, various government departments.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2008

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