LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has emphasized the importance of restoring public trust in government through digital governance initiatives. Speaking at an event hosted by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), she stated that the province was leading in adopting information technology to revolutionize governance and service delivery.
According to Chief Minister of Punjab, Ms. Nawaz acknowledged the pivotal role of PITB in supporting successful projects across Punjab and praised its chairman, Faisal Yousaf, along with his team for their contributions. She attributed the foresight of Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in developing PITB’s infrastructure to the province’s current advancements in digital governance. Highlighting the transition from traditional methods, she underscored the necessity of technology in modern governance, noting that Punjab has been shifting its entire system to automation, including e-governance and e-business initiatives.
The chief minister detailed the accomplishments of digital integration, such as the elimination of traditional filing systems and the introduction of e-Faas, which reportedly saves the government Rs6 billion monthly. She mentioned the successful completion of the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry database, which has registered 26 million households, aiding in the effective distribution of resources to deserving individuals.
Ms. Nawaz also spoke on the e-Biz project, which streamlines the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and enhances trust between the government and citizens by reducing the waiting period to 15 days. She highlighted ongoing efforts to curb corruption and improve transparency through the anonymity of applicants in the digital process.
The chief minister announced future plans to further leverage technology, including a system to eliminate the need for in-person visits to government offices for various services. She emphasized the government’s commitment to delivering essential services, such as ration and clean drinking water, directly to citizens’ homes through initiatives like Maryam Ki Dastak.
Reflecting on past challenges, Ms. Nawaz mentioned previous inefficiencies and the significant improvements achieved through digital monitoring and coordination, particularly in emergency situations such as floods and urban flooding. She concluded by affirming the government’s dedication to modernizing public service systems and ensuring that officials at all levels are accountable for serving the population effectively.