ISLAMABAD, Dec 26 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Saturday   called on Saturday  for promoting Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) education and adopting modern ICT techniques to improve governance and efficiency of public sector organizations.E-government, he said, would not only improve efficiency but also cut down costs and contribute  the austerity measures. He stressed the need for leveraging strategic partnerships with Chinese Government for Improvements in Public and Social Sectors through the use of advanced technology especially (ICTs). 

The Prime Minister was talking to a group of  high level executives of Chinese telecom manufacturing  company  Zhongxing Telecom corporations (ZTE), headed by Mr. Lou Ping Fan,  President Southeast Asia  for the company. The meeting was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan.

Emphasising the strategic importance which the current government attaches to the use and role of ICTs for tangible improvements in all spheres of life, he called for focused approach towards driving technology adoption.

The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of ICT education in the fast growing IT and Telecom sectors and issued instructions for fast-track initiatives, in general, and establishment of IT and Telecom University in particular.

He particularly highlighted the utility of video-conferencing systems to cut down on travel and administrative expenses of government functionaries.

The Prime Minister appreciated ZTE’s continued contributions in the ICT Sectors and assured them that the existing strategic partnership will continue to receive maximum support from the Government.

He also directed the relevant Ministries and departments to take proactive measures for timely implementation of the ICT projects so as to enable the Government to achieve the envisaged objectives of good governance, improved emergency response and high quality technical and ICT education.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan would provide full security to the Chinese working in Pakistan and asked them to invest more in various fields and take benefit of the government’s investment friendly policies.

Mr.Lou Ping Fan briefed the Prime Minister that the Company is collaborating with the Government of Pakistan (GoP)to setup integrated ICT infrastructure and applications for enhancing the capabilities of administration and management through improved service delivery, information availability and coherent accident and emergency response.

He further informed the Prime Minister that the ZTE/GoP collaboration framework particularly includes setting up of an IT and Telecom University in Islamabad to cater to the needs of quality research and market-based education in the field of IT & Telecom.

Secretaries Ministries of Information Technology and Finance were also present in the meeting.