A delegation Pakistan Software Houses Association for Information Technology call on CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that promotion of information technology is among the top priorities of the government as importance of IT is established in the modern era. He said that information technology is essential for progress and development of a country. He said that Punjab government has taken revolutionary measures for promoting IT in the province and laptops have been distributed among more than two lakh brilliant students while this scheme would continue in future as well.

He was talking to a delegation led by Chairman Pakistan Software Houses Association for Information Technology, Saleem Ghouri here today. Matters regarding promotion of IT and the holding of Asia Pacific ICT Awards 2014 were discussed on the occasion. Talking to the delegation, the Chief Minister said that promotion of IT is the need of the hour therefore the first Information Technology University of the country in the public sector has been set up in Lahore for providing IT education to students. He said that Arfa Karim Software Technology Park has been set up in Lahore. He said that prominent foreign companies associated with IT sector are working at Software Technology Park. He said that the provincial metropolis would be made a hub of information technology. He said that textbooks have been made available online under e-learning programme while the scope of this programme is being further extended. He said that work is in progress speedily on the proposed project of Knowledge Park City in Lahore and international IT universities have been invited to set up their campuses in the Knowledge Park City. He said that Punjab government has built the capacity of various departments and institutions by utilizing IT and digital monitoring system has been introduced. Shahbaz Sharif said that holding of Asia Pacific ICT Award 2014 in Pakistan augurs well and would result in promotion of IT industry in the country.

Chairman Pakistan Software Houses Association for Information Technology Saleem Ghouri termed the measures taken by Punjab government for the promotion of information technology as exemplary and said that use of IT in educational and officials matters is not only polishing the talent of students but various services have also become available to citizens online.

Provincial Minister for Finance Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Member Provincial Assembly Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board as well as members of the delegation including Sheikh Badar Khushnood, Muhammad Akhtar, Zafar Khan and Abdul Aziz were also present on the occasion.