The government is giving special attention to the Information Technology sector in an attempt to enhance IT exports, it was revealed. The sources estimate that over rupees five billion has been allocated by the federal government in the current fiscal year.
Talking about IT-linked projects in more details, the sources revealed that a software technology park would be established in the federal capital with the assistance of South Korea to attract international companies to develop software and hardware solutions and also to help boost the Pakistan's IT exports. "The government is also taking steps to ensure provision of broad-band telecommunication services to far-flung areas of the country," the sources added.
They also talked about the Punjab government aiming to rely on the Information and Communication Technology (ICT), to modernise governance and keep the Punjab abreast of global proficiencies in public service delivery and strategic interventions and to increase digital literacy, nurture venture capitalists and mature businesses, implement smart monitoring and reduce the turnaround time.
They say rupees 13.95 billion had been earmarked for governance and the IT sector to execute projects sponsored by the Punjab Information Technology Board and other government departments. Targets and major initiatives fixed are the flagship project of the Police Department and Safe City Authority, namely the "Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication Centre", in six mega cities to ensure fool-proof security, better law and order and improvements in traffic management, the "Automation of Case and Courts Management System at the Lahore High Court and District Courts Lahore" to help improve service delivery of justice, the "Local Government Automated Financial Management and Monitoring System" to increase transparency and visibility of financial accounts of the Punjab government - the "GIS Integrated Computerisation of Urban Immovable Property Tax" and the "Ease for Tax Payers Programme" to enhance government revenue and tax payer facilitation.