Punjab will be made a “SILICON VALLEY”: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the development in the IT sector is the need of the hour and Punjab government has launched revolutionary programmes for the promotion of information technology. He said that promotion of IT education is his mission and he wants to make Punjab a “Silicon Valley”.

The Chief Minister said this while talking to Chief Technical Officer of world-renowned IT Company Teradata Corporation, Stephen Brobst, here today. Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board Dr. Umar Saif and other IT experts were also present.

The Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government is providing facilities and incentives to international IT companies for investment in the province and due to this reason, renowned international companies are making huge investment in Punjab. Citing the steps taken by the provincial government, he said that Punjab government has established IT labs in 4300 high schools at a cost of Rs. 5 billion. He said that modern education is being imparted to girl and boy students in Daanish Schools through Smart Board. The Chief Minister said that more than two lakh laptops are being distributed among girl and boy students purely on merit. He said that an IT university of international standard has been set up in Lahore from where the youth is getting facilities of modern education. Chief Technical Officer of Teradata Corporation, Stephen Brobst said that his company will increase its cooperation with the Punjab government in IT sector. He said that a centre of Teradata is successfully working in the Arfa Karim Software Technology Park.