Promotion of IT need of the hour: Shahbaz

Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has said that promotion of Information Technology (IT) is the need of the hour and government is implementing a comprehensive strategy in this regard. He said that an IT Park equipped with the latest facilities would be set up for the promotion of information technology in the province and maximum facilities would be offered to private sector engaged in this sector.
He expressed his displeasure over the delay in the completion of IT Centre at Ferozpur Road and said that it had resulted in additional burden of one billion rupees to the government. He ordered immediate implementation of the project, as no further delay would be tolerated. He was addressing a briefing cum-meeting during his visit to under-construction IT Centre at Ferozpur Road, here on Thursday.
The Chief Minister said that promotion of IT technology was of vital importance for the rapid development of the province and government was taking solid measures for this purpose. He said that computer labs were being set up in more than four thousand schools to equip the new generation with the latest knowledge. He said that China remained a close friend of Pakistan and extending full co-operation in the development of different sectors.
He said that the IT Centre at Ferozpur Road was also being constructed by a Chinese company and it should complete the project as soon as possible. He constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary to present a roadmap within ten days with the consultation of IT companies after considering various aspects of the project including proper use of the building, its location in a thickly-populated area, pollution due to a drain running along the building and vegetable market in the area.
Chairman Planning and Development, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Information Technology, Secretary Finance and officers concerned were present. Project Director Lieutenant Colonel Arif Majeed Butt (Retd) gave a detailed briefing regarding the pace of work on the project.