Information Technology (IT) given third priority with Rs 4.343 bn | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Information Technology (IT) given third priority with Rs 4.343 bn

ISLAMABAD- The government accorded ‘third priority’ to information technology sector by allocating Rs 4.343 billion while an amount of Rs 2.5073 billion has been ear-marked for the science and technology development and research under PSDP for year 2001-2.

Talking about (IT) Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz said: “We are all aware of the significance of this sector in view of vast intellectual resources available in the country.”

He spoke of numerous initiatives launched to “jump start the process of developing IT sector in the country. The initiatives include an e-government project, which would generate significant opportunities for local software development and create new export capabilities in the country; revamping of Pakistan Software Exports Board, and targeted expansion of Internet to 7OOcities.

The budget allocates Rs 4.343330 billion for the information technology sector. Rs 600 million has been allocated for three new IT universities against Rs 900 million estimated cost. For e-government master plan could get Rs 400 million allocated while mega project virtual university of IT has been allocated Rs 363 million against the estimated cost of Rs 1,009 million.

The minister for science and technology will be holding talks with the World Bank for more funds for the university.

For other new IT projects Rs 300 million, for installation and commissioning of NTC multi-service data network Rs 285 million allocated, for educational Internet Rs 197 million, while establishment of Petroman University Rs 150 million has been allocated.

For the ongoing IT projects under PSDR including consultancy programme for IT scholarship for IT, Qarz-e-Hasna, e-government, COMSATS, IT faculty hiring programme, establishment of centre for Computer Engineering and Information, Taxila, strengthening the Department of Computer Sciences, Shah AbduI Latif University Khairpur, a sum of Rs 180.872 million has been allocated.

For timing in information technology, PCB, Fatima Jinnah Women University, establishment of IT centre for men at Gilgit College, upgradation of Department of Computer Sciences at Institute of IT University of Peshawar, upgradation of existing computer centre to department of computer science and IT Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) Muzaffarabad Rs 140.416 million has been earmarked for year 2001-02.

For IT infrastructure support for Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Sukkur, multimedia electronics courseware design centre at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) establishment of data network at Lahore, Karachi, Agro-Information Technology Centre, Tandojam Rs 255.053 million has been allocated under PSDP

2001-02. To expand Department of Computer Sciences and IT UET Lahore, expansion of custom document system to Port Qasim, introduction of computer in 23 federal government colleges, IT Development Centre, Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, student loan programme monitoring of lT projects Rs.731.659 million has been allocated for year 2001-02.

As for the science and technology development and research under PSDP for year 2001-02, an amount of Rs 2.507 billion has been allocated against estimated cost of Rs 13.103672 billion.

An amount of Rs 1.3563 billion has been earmarked for the 11 on-going projects of the National University for Science and Technology (NUST). Three ongoing projects of Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research would get Rs 112.852 million with Rs 91.680 million as foreign component during 2001-02.

Against 114.466 million estimated cost Rs 16.694 million have been earmarked for the five projects of technology development action plan.

For mitigation of drought disease in the Cholistan Desert by management of water research, post-doctoral fellowship, development of science and technology manpower through having 300 indigenous PhD scholars, curriculum development at graduate and post-graduate level, cluster centre for fan industry in Gujrat, establishment of virology lab, Lahore, DAN analysis for crime investigation, Lahore, bio-diversity of Pakistan database and global networking a sum of Rs 1 billion has been allocated for year 2001-02.
Source: The News
Date:6/19/2001