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The Government of Pakistan is taking several steps to put Pakistan on the Information
Technology super highway by introducing information technology at all levels in
Public sector. E-Government is one of the major initiatives under the present IT
Policy and Action Plan. To pursue this initiative, the Government needs to equip
its work force with the tools of I.T. The mandate of Pakistan Computer Bureau is
to work in the area of E-Government, undertake training of Government Officers and
Staff, help in the development, operations and maintenance of IT system in Government
Departments, evaluation of feasibility studies and provide consultation on IT related
issues. The PCB is performing E-Government activities since 1971 and its major thrust
has been in the said area. However, the extent to which computers are effectively
employed in different Departments depends on the proper training of officers and
staff.
Besides enhancing workforce of trained I. T. personnel, Pakistan Computer Bureau
is also aware of its responsibilities for addressing copyright and licensing problems
for the computer software being used in Pakistan. With the implementation of W.T.O.
regulations it is expected that the use of licensed software will become mandatory.
This will have a great impact on the expenditure of the users as well as a great
burden on the national exchequer.
The Government is promoting I. T. by encouraging the development and use of Open
Source Software for creating/preparing a workforce possessing the ability to earn
valuable foreign exchange through the export of software and trained workforce by
itself. The implementation and use of software in the domestic organizations (Public
and Private) promotes efficiency and productivity. Without a strict enforcement
of copyright laws, there is no incentive for the local software developers. Apart
from the enforcement of copyright laws, it is also the duty of the Government to
provide alternate solutions of I. T ware to the individuals and organizations. The
use of the Open Source Software is being promoted keeping this aspect under consideration.
The focus is on Linux Operating System, Open Office and Linux Databases e.g. MySQL
or Postgre SQL. The Government of Pakistan is not the only Government promoting
the use of Open Source Software. A large number of countries and Governments around
the world are promoting the use of Open Source Software. Among these include Germany,
France, India, South Africa, U.K. and even USA.
The promotion of Open Source Software as an alternate to the proprietary software
would bring massive revenue savings for the Government besides providing alternate
software to the common man who cannot afford expensive proprietary softwares. The
programmers and the users have easy and free access (on the internet) to the entire
base system of Open Source Software. They have access to the source code as well
as the right to modify it. Another important aspect of Open Source Software is the
ability to write Kernel extensions and drivers as needed.
In the light of the above, Pakistan Computer Bureau is conducting regular computer
trainings at its premises at Islamabad since its establishment. Different courses
ranging from Basic I.T. to advanced computer trainings are conducted for Government
employees through out the year. Further Pakistan Computer Bureau has extended its
training program all over the country by outsourcing some of its training courses.
In this regard many projects have been implemented successfully since the year 2001.
Through these projects the training programs have been outsourced to different computer
training institutes having adequate facilities at Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Provincial
headquarters and big cities of all the four Provinces and AJK. The training partner
institutes have been selected by open competition after invitation for pre-qualification
through newspapers advertisements. The programs were greatly appreciated by the
Public and Private Sector as PCB has imparted Elementary/Basic I.T., Linux End User
and System Administration trainings to Government employees as well as talented
private individuals throughout the country.
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