Television channel for science and technology planned
KARACHI- Pakistan Television (PTV) will start a new channel dedicated to science and technology and information technology from early next year, said Federal Minister for Science and Technology Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman.
He said this will be a major step forward for promoting science and technology in the country. “We are spreading Internet across the country in a historically unprecedented fashion”, he remarked. Prof. Atta pointed out that the Internet was confined to 29 cities in the country till August 17, but has now spread to over 200 cities and towns. By the end of October this year it will be spread to 275 cities, towns and villages.
He said that a virtual IT university is being set up through distance learning programmes within six months. The minister said that charter has been granted to two institutions FAST and COMSAT and they are being developed into full-fledged universities of information technology.
Petroman will also be developed into a full-fledged information technology university. Petroman has 11 campuses in various cities in the countries. An information technology university will be set up in the next few months in Abbotabad.
The minister pointed out that a venture capital fund of dollars 50 million was successfully arranged for information technology, which was formally signed in New York earlier this month in presence of Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf, who was in USA in connection with the United Nations Millennium Summit.
Referring to the success of information technology programme in Pakistan, Prof. Atta said that we have covered over 70 percent of population in the country. He said the lnternet is available through a local phone call by 131 code, which will be charged as local call even though the caller may be calling from several hundred miles away.
Prof. Aria said that we are spreading Internet using this creative approach to the remotest parts of the country. He was of the view that our three month information programme may be compared to the 10 years programme announced by the Prime Minister of India on August 15 this year. Pakistan’s three-month programme runs from August 17 to mid November, he said.
Source: The Nation
Date:9/29/2000
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