Saturday, April 12, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 5,1429    

Minister asks officials to adopt investment friendly policies

Peshawar—The NWFP Minister for Science Technology and Information Technology (ST&IT) Mohammad Ayub Khan has underscored the need for adoption of policy for promotion of ST&IT that could attract huge investments to the province and also provide job opportunities.

This he stated while attending a presentation regarding the performance of ST&IT Departments here on Friday. MPA Syed Jaffar Shah and Deputy Secretary Mohammad Saeed were also present on the occasion.

Director Science Technology Mohammad Khalid Khan and Director IT Sajid Hussain while briefing the Minister informed that the IT Department has so far launched 18 IT projects out of which computerized driving license and property tax computerization projects have been completed while four more projects were in the pipeline.

The Minister was further informed that issuance of computerized driving license from Peshawar has already been started and also replicated in Charsadda, Nowshera and Abbottabad districts which would shortly be extended to the entire province.

Similarly computerized “Challan” of property tax of the excise and taxation department were being issued from Peshawar and in the next stage it would be replicated in 16 more districts. He was further informed that the department has also initiated the challenging task of computerization of land revenue record for which the services of clean and well reputed retired ACs/Tehsildars and Patwaries were hired for updating the revenue record computerization.

The Minister was told that the Science and Technology Department was planning science competition among the School Students and establishment of Science Museum to promote ST culture in the province. Like-wise, the Department was also contemplating on developing working relation with Public sector Universities and R & D organizations for developing sciences and Technology. Appreciating the idea of establishment of Science Museum, IT Park and Software Development Center in the Province, Mohammad Ayub Khan assured his full support in this regard.—APP