ISLAMABAD ( NADEEM REPORT )
Ms. Anusha Rehman, Minister of State for IT chaired a meeting in order to review the proposals regarding establishment of Telecenters in rural areas of Pakistan, here in Islamabad today.
The meeting was attended by the federal Secretary IT, Mr Akhlaq Ahmed Tarrar, CEO –USF Mr.Faisal Sattar, senior officials from Ministry of IT and Provincial representatives were also there.
The Minister emphasized that the establishment of Telecenters is dire need of the time in order to serve the neglected and unprivileged population of rural areas in all provinces. These Telecenters would offer many services such as E-learning, E-commerce, E-agriculture etc and verification/Registration of SIM cards, ID cards through NADRA. E-health services would also be provided to the people of rural areas subsequently.
The Minister further stated that Telecenters would not only offer local community with state of art computer equipment and broadband facility but also be able to generate employment and entrepreneurship for the people of remote areas. These Telecenters would provide services at grass root level i.e. district and tehsil. The DCO’s would monitor the project in order to ensure its proper and smooth functioning, within their respective jurisdictions.
In the first phase 500 telecenters would be established in all provinces including FATA. The provinces have identified potential areas on which proposed telecenters would be established and start delivering initial three E-services, within the next one year
The UTC’s are considered to be an effective mean in extending broadband internet, distant education and ICT literacy to the population of rural areas” Minister added.