Punjab’s rapid progress and improved governance owes to skilful use of modern technology. I suggest these innovative initiatives may reinforce our efforts to make Sindh as developed as Punjab is. It was said by the Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah during his special visit to the Punjab IT Board (PITB) on Monday. PITB Chairman Dr Umar Saif briefed him on the major initiatives taken to improve governance, transparency and monitoring in Punjab. Inspired by the work, Murad Ali Shah admired the determination of CM Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Dr. Umar Saif to introduce new dimensions of innovation and smart technology in government businesses. He thanked Punjab Government on early and generous assistance to replicate IT projects in Sindh Police. He said “I am here to extend such collaboration in other fields in order to improve public service delivery in Sindh.”
Dr. Umar Saif said that the Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had advised to provide all assistance to Sindh free of cost. He said PITB’s fingers matching system had no parallel in Pakistan as it identifies the criminals involved in large number of crimes committed at different places with different names. He said “PITB has many success stories pertaining to our work for revolutionising Health, Education, Police, Revenue, Law & order, Rescue services and other sectors of Punjab that have received applause from the President World Bank, the head of Department for International Development (DFID) UK, the US Ambassador and many more. The PITB is working on more than 236 projects aiming at improvement of governance, transparency and efficiency”.
Dr. Saif said that PITB had rendered remarkable services to eradicate ‘Thana and Patwari’ culture from Punjab with computerization of Police stations and Land Record across the province. “We are assisting even federal government as the Hajj Management Information System of PITB has been facilitating the pilgrims through online registration, balloting and helplines set in Pakistan as well as in Saudi Arabia last three years. PITB has setup state of the art one window operation in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Sargodha in the name of ‘e-Khidmat Markaz’ where almost 17 public services i.e. issuance of domicile, marriage, death and character certificate, driving licence, NIC and route permit etc. are being delivered without hurdles and bribes. PITB is also working effectively to curb crime and terrorism in Punjab by rolling out 1000 Bio-metric machines through the Punjab Police, Rangers, Anti-Terrorism Force and Special Branch. Our e-Stamping system has earned Rs. 1.3 billion from 14 districts within just three months besides saving the public and government from frauds, corruption and fake stamp papers. Punjab is the first in Pakistan with making a huge data of monitoring of 53000 public schools open” He added. Dr. Saif presented beautiful souvenir of Arfa Tower to the distinguished guest.