The North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Minister for Science Technology and Information Technology (ST&IT), Mohammad Ayub Khan has stressed the need of introducing promotional policies for ST&IT that could attract huge investments to the province besides creating job opportunities.
This he stated in a presentation held to evaluate the performance of the ST&IT Departments here on Friday. MPA, Syed Jaffar Shah and Deputy Secretary, Mohammad Saeed were present on the occasion.
The Director, Science Technology, Mohammad Khalid Khan and Director, IT, Sajid Hussain informed the Minister that the IT Department has so far launched 18 IT projects, out of those, computerised driving license and property tax computerisation projects have been completed while four more projects were in the pipeline.
The Minister was further informed that issuance of computerised driving license from Peshawar has already been started and replicated in Charsadda, Nowshera and Abbottabad districts and would shortly be extended to the entire province.
Similarly, computerised "Challan" of property tax of the excise and taxation department were being issued from Peshawar and in the next stage, it would be replicated in 16 more districts.
Further, the ST&IT official informed the minister that the department has also initiated the challenging task of computerisation of land revenue record and hired well honest and reputed retired ACs/Tehsildars and Patwaries for updating of the computerised revenue record.
Further, they told the Minister that the Science and Technology Department, was planning science competition among the School Students and establishment of Science Museum to promote the ST culture in the province. Similarly, the Department was also contemplating on developing working relation with the Public sector Universities and R & D organisations for developing sciences and Technology.
The Minister appreciated the idea of establishment of Science Museum, IT Park and Software Development Centre in the Province, assured his full support in this regard. He also directed the authorities concerned to work practically on these ideas to practically promote ST & IT Sector.