ICT sector being given priority to expand spur economic growth: Anusha

ISLAMABAD, Dec 1 (APP): Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Mrs. Anusha Rahman on Tuesday said Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector was being given priority to expand knowledge based economy and spur growth.
At an inaugural ceremony of TDM to IP Migration Project of National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) here, she said our vision is to become a strategic enabler by making full use of ICTs for an accelerated digitization eco-system. The project is aimed to replacing NTC’s old technology exchanges with state-of-the art IP based Next Generation network to
provide better quality services to its designated subscribers. Anusha Rahman congratulated NTC on inauguration of this upgradation plan to meet challenging requirements of voice and
broadband services for government departments. The Minister said remote areas in the country are being linked through Optic Fiber Cable (OFC) to ensure telephonic and broadband
connectivity and added in this regard Universal Service Fund (USF)
has approved different projects. Anusha Rahman said that we have already granted
approval for establishment of a “tech-city to promote IT and telecom in Pakistan and we will give space to young entrepreneursfor establishing start ups. With regard to e-Governance, she said it is being adopted as a tool to achieve goals of transparency and to deliver
cost-effective public services to citizens. The Minister said e-Government Intranet has been completely established in Ministry of Information Technology with the main
purpose of the e-filing module to promote less paper and digital government.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman NTC, Viqar Rashid Khan said NTC was enduring to facilitate customers with quality ICT connectivity and keeping itself abreast with private sector operators. He said to provide better services, NTC realized the
need to upgrade its exchanges with latest IP based network and added it is also expanding its network to districts and tehsil level.Moreover, efforts are also being made to have NTC’s role in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects to strengthen
government initiative to develop Gawadar and provide ICT services for un-served and under-served areas of Balochistan province. Director General (Technical) NTC, Engr. Miraj Gul explained salient features of newly planned exchanges and their benefits over the previously installed telephone exchanges. He said in present management era, NTC for the first time of its history achieved and implemented Annual Development Plan
(ADP) upto 87% in an aggressive manner. Besides, NTC also recovered more than 55% of its budgeted loss in one year.  On the occasion, Managing Director, Huawei assured fullest
technical support to NTC for achieving its objectives.The ceremony was also attended by higher government officials and experts of telecom sector.