Punjab Government has increased IT budget up to 63% : Dr. Umar Saif

Lahore: Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Dr. Umar Saif said that ‎Punjab Government has shown good governance as one of its top priorities by increasing its budget up to 63% as compared to last year.

Commenting on the new Punjab budget for the next financial year, he said that an amount of Rs 13.95 billion has been earmarked for Governance & IT Sector sponsored by PITB and other Government Departments against last year’s Rs. 8.54 billion.

Dr. Saif said “Government of the Punjab aims to leverage upon the revolution in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to modernize governance and keep Punjab abreast with global proficiency in service delivery. Major milestones achieved during last year were Completion of Land Records Management and Information Systems Project (Phase–I) that would eliminate “Patwar Culture” as promised by the CM Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. The completion of Technology Incubator Plan9 and PlanX at Arfa Software Technology Park Programme set a new history in the field of entrepreneurship in Pakistan.

Completion of Driving License Management Information System and Completion has made the process more transparent and easier. Computerized FIR System will end the decades old ‘Thana Culture” from Punjab.”  He  revealed that targets fixed for 2016-17 comprised of the flagship projects such as Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication Centre’ in order to ensure fool proof security, improve the law and order situation and make marked improvements in the traffic management system of 6 mega cities of Punjab; the ‘Automation of Case and Courts Management System at Lahore High Court & District Courts Lahore’ will help improve service delivery of law and justice to the general public; the ‘Local Government Automated Financial Management and Monitoring System’ will increase transparency and visibility of the financial accounts of the Punjab Government and the ‘Ease for Tax Payers Programme’ is meant for enhancing government revenue and tax payer facilitation.