The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication is unlikely to implement e-governance programme by June 2020, as project cost escalates from Rs1.4 billion to Rs1.8 billion due to depreciation of rupee as well as delay in procurement, it is learnt.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication had moved a summary to the ECC while seeking Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs100 million for centralized procurement of ICT to National Information Technology Board (NITB).
According to documents available, the MoITT had sought financial support from the Finance Ministry. Finance Ministry considered the matter and replied that in view of the severe financial constraints being faced by the national exchequer, the Finance Division agreed in principle to the provision of Rs100 million only through TSG for centralized procurement during the current financial year, by surrendering an equivalent amount out of the provision of contingencies (IB-0780) under demand No 041-subsidies and miscellaneous expenditure of the Finance Division. In view of above MoITT was advised to move a summary for the approval of ECC of the cabinet. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Wednesday approved technical supplementary grant of Rs100 million for centralized procurement of information communication technology infrastructure required for implementation of e-governance programme. Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presided over the ECC meeting here on Wednesday.
The federal cabinet in March 2019 approved to convert all the federal ministries and departments by June 2020 to e-governance with centralized procurement which would cost Rs1.4 billion. However, after the rupee depreciation, the cost increased to Rs1.8 billion, said a senior official of MoITT.
Official further said that it has been decided that all the ministries would surrender non-development fund to the ministry and a centralized procurement would be made. He said that so far Rs11.7 million has been surrendered by eight ministries.
Around 29 ministries have been upgraded to different levels of e-offices while 13 are still at zero level. The NITB is working on integration of data nervous system which will provide a central platform for communication within all the public departments.
Sources said that there is no legal cover to the e-governance programme, but legislation would be done once the government offices are converted to e-office.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IT Board official in a recently held meeting of the NA standing committee said that they are facing difficulties in e-office implementation as the government officials are reluctant to adopt it.
He further said that there is no legal cover for data safety and legislation is needed before implementing e-office. He further raised questions on KP e-bidding while saying that currently the contractors only apply online but the tenders are being opened in the old way.