Lahore: IT Park on the cards: Shahbaz

[Naveed Yaseen]

CHIEF Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that promotion of information technology is the need of the hour and the government is implementing a comprehensive strategy in this regard.

Addressing a briefing during his visit to the under-construction IT Centre at the Ferozepur Road on Thursday, he said an IT Park, equipped with the latest facilities, would be set up for the promotion of information technology in the province and the maximum facilities would be offered to the private sector. He expressed his displeasure over the delay in the completion of the IT Centre on the Ferozepur Road, saying the delay had resulted in additional burden of one billion rupees to the government. He ordered immediate implementation of the project as no further delay would be tolerated.

The chief minister said promotion of information was vital to the rapid development of the province and government was taking measures for this purpose. He said computer labs were being set up in more than 4,000 schools to equip the new generation with the latest knowledge. He said China was extending full cooperation in the development of different sectors and the IT Centre on the Ferozepur Road was also being constructed by a Chinese company and it should complete the project as soon as possible.

The chief minister constituted a committee under the chairmanship of additional chief secretary to present a roadmap within 10 days with the consultation of the IT companies after considering various aspects of the project, including proper use of the building, its location in a thickly-populated area, pollution due to a drain running along the building and vegetable market in the area.

The Planning and Development chairman, additional chief secretary, Information Technology secretary, Finance secretary and officers concerned were present. Project Director Lt Col ® Arif Majeed Butt gave a detailed briefing regarding the pace of work on the project. Earlier, the chief minister inspected the project.

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