‘Smart Village’ launched

Islamabad : Federal Ministry of IT and Telecommunications through Universal Service Fund (USF) has launched a ‘Smart Village’ project in four provinces including Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The project will be funded and technically supported by the International Telecommunication Union and Huawei Technologies Pakistan, said a news release issued here on Wednesday.

The project will set up a center in a backward village equipped with modern facilities from which not only the people of the area will be trained to use IT facilities but also they will be encouraged to incorporate it in their daily life.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque inaugurated the ceremony.

Federal Secretary for IT and Telecommunication, Muhammad Sohail Rajput, Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, CEO, Universal Service Fund (USF), Dr. Ismail Shah, Area Representative for Southeast Asia, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Mark Meng, CEO, Huawei also attended the event.

On the Occasion, Syed Amin Ul Haque said: Smart Village project is another step towards realizing Prime Minister’s vision of Digital Pakistan.

The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, he said, through USF was partnering with ITU and Huawei to digitally transform remote and rural communities by connecting and empowering them through better access to a range of digital services in the domain of health, education, commerce, and livelihood.

The project emphasized the whole-of-government approach and promotes cross-sector collaboration and multi-stakeholder engagement to further improve cost-effectiveness and sharing of resources and expertise in delivering the services to citizens.

Initially, one Smart Village will be established each at Islamabad, Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The minister said that National Information Technology Board (NITB) launched more than 30 mobile applications, government web portals, and websites related to public services.

The benefits of these applications can be availed by the general public only when they access them.

He said that the effects of the steps taken under the Digital Pakistan Vision are now beginning to show.

We have started the first e-cabinet, working on E-Parliament, E-Office and Internet Voting also.

He congratulated the teams of USF, ITU, and Huawei and ensured his support in the implementation of the project.

He also said that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication will continue to undertake more challenging and productive programs in the future for the promotion of IT and Telecommunication related services.

Sharing his thoughts at the ceremony, CEO, USF, Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary said: Smart Village project is consistent with USF’s mission to empower the unserved communities. This partnership will permit USF, ITU, and Huawei to mutually serve their mission.