Technology makes lives easier and faster: Punjab Information Minister calls on Chairman PITB

Lahore, June 24, 2018 (PPI-OT): The Punjab’s Caretaker Minister for Information Ahmad Waqas Riaz called on Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board PITB) Dr. Umar Saif here today who was briefed regarding the digitalization of various functions of the Punjab Government and successful completion of different IT projects operational across the Punjab. The caretaker Provincial Information Minister Ahmad Waqas Riaz appreciated the advancements and extraordinary work done by PITB in last few years for facilitating the common man and said that Technology has made our lives easier, faster, better.

“Due to revolutionary role of Information technology in last two decades, social system is changing and people are getting facilities at their fingertips,” he added. The Information Minister visited the Facilitation Centre at Arfa Technology Park and lauded the facilities being provided to the public in a respectable and conducive atmosphere under one roof. Earlier, Dr. Umar Saif informed him that PITB has completed over 300 ICT-driven projects during the last six years and fundamentally transformed many government departments and processes.

“We executed IT interventions in multiple areas of governance including health, education and the police. Our governance improvement Program; the Citizen Feedback Monitoring Program (CFMP) proved so effective that it was replicated by the European states of Albania and Romania,” he added. He further informed that Punjab has totally computerized its land revenue system where land record of over 54 Million rural land owners has been digitized. This system has been used to issue over 8.2 Million fards and perform over 4.5 Million property transactions.

“Our e-Rozgaar Program aimed to provide training to budding freelancers, enhancing their skills and assisting them in earning sustainable income leading to upward economic and social mobility of the country”, he said. Dr. Saif informed that almost all the commonly used citizen services have been digitized including Domicile, Birth, Death Certificates, Driving License, Vehicle Registration, Vehicle Token Tax, Marriage, Divorce Certificates, Route Permit etc; which were being served since last two years by establishing one window citizen facilitation centers called e-Khidmat centers across Punjab.

These completely automated centers offer17 government services within stipulated time with tracking facility for all services. These centers are currently operational in all divisional headquarters, and have served over 1.8 Million citizens. “In view of property disputes arise from using fake and back-dated stamp papers, the entire eStamping system has been computerized and the role of government treasury office has been eliminated by amending the century old colonial law”.

Dr. Saif informed. “With this new system Citizens can buy eStamp from Bank of Punjab, where each stamp paper has a uniquely traceable verification number and the value of the stamp paper is automatically computed from DC tables. Over Rs.75 Billion e-stamps have been issued throughout the province and a pilferage of over Rs. 10 Billion annually has been controlled,” he added.

For more information, contact:
Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB)
11th Floor, Arfa Software Technology Park,
346-B, Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35880062
Fax: +92-42-99232123
Email: info@pitb.gov.pk
Website: www.pitb.gov.pk