PITB spent over Rs3bn to launch various initiatives in last two years

LAHORE: In the past two years, the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has spent over Rs 3 billion to launch various initiatives for improving public service delivery through the usage of technology, and introducing monitoring and efficiency, and department automation systems.

While talking to Business Recorder here on Tuesday, PITB Chairman Azfar Manzoor said that the past two years have seen PITB introduced innovative information and communication technology (ICT) interventions spearheading Punjab government's march in embracing technology to improve public service delivery through business process automation and digitization.

In education sector, the PITB launched a mobile app e-Transfer for facilitating around 400,000 teachers in 50,000 public schools across Punjab. Digitization of transfer procedure allows teachers to apply for transfer from one school to another via the mobile and also track their application. The app also intends to bring transparency and efficiency in the transfer process. Till this date, over 300,000 application requests processed for over 85,000 teachers leading to more than 45,000 successful transfers via electronically generated, QR-code based transfer orders, a first in Pakistan.

In collaboration with the Punjab School Education Department and Programme Monitoring and Implementation Unit, the PITB launched Taleem Ghar, an online education programme for children of public sector schools confined to their homes due to COVID-19 lockdown. Multimedia lectures were made available to children across Punjab through cable TV, mobile app (Taleem Ghar) and website (taleemghar.punjab.gov.pk). The PITB claimed that the website received more than 9.7 million hits since its launch.

To improve ease of doing business in Punjab and facilitate the people at large, the PITB introduced an online payment solution, e-Pay Punjab, for the payment of provincial taxes and government receipts. It is a payment gateway for all public-to-government (P2G) and business-to-government (B2G) payments.

The people can pay 15 different taxes/levies in six departments using four different payment channels, including mobile banking, internet banking, ATM, and over the counter banking transaction. So far, Rs 4.05 billion in revenue was collected through this channel.

Chief Minister Punjab's e-Rozgaar Training Programme, a flagship project of the Punjab Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology and Tourism (YASAT) Department, is being executed by the PITB. It aims to train unemployed youth in digital freelancing and soft skills to enable them to earn a sustainable monthly income.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020