RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication Anusha Rehman on Wednesday said that the government is using Information & Communication Technology (ICT) as an enabler to empower the girls from marginalized sections of society and make them computer literate.

“ICT is the lever of economic progress and the federal government is using this lever to empower the girls from the marginalized sections of society,” said the minister while addressing at the inauguration of Computer Lab at Women Development and Empowerment Centre (Burma Town, Islamabad). Minister for Capital Administration & Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary was also present on that occasion.

The MoITT and CADD have signed an agreement to establish computer labs at girls’ schools in rural areas of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The government is projecting to help approximately 33,000 female students enrolled in these institutions, by making them computer literate and bringing them at par with students elsewhere in the world. The first phase of the project which ended on August 30 provided labs and requisite facilities to 107 girls’ schools. In the second phase of the project, 119 girls’ schools will be provided with computer lab facilities until October 30, 2017.

During the ceremony, a plaque was unveiled by both the ministers for the project to provide ICT facilities to female students at Women Development & Empowerment Centre of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM). Microsoft has collaborated in this project to provide training to young girls, which will empower and accredit them to participate in socio-economic development of the country and bridge the gender digital-divide.

Anusha Rehman said that this program for girls would help reduce the gender disparity at large. The project will improve the lives of many young girls by equipping them with ICT skills, she added.

The IT minister said that this training would enable the girls to play a healthier role as mothers in future by earning livelihood for their families and bringing up their children in a better way. She further said that the government is planning to scale ICT for girls’ initiative and make it available to a wider section. The minister added that the government is committed to implementing the Digital Pakistan Agenda including e-governance and e-commerce.

Minister for CADD Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said that in a world of global communications and far-reaching technologies, girls of the country are still facing multiple challenges. He appreciated the endeavors of Minister for IT for provision of state-of-the-art computer labs in 226 girls’ schools of Islamabad. He further said that provision of ICT facilities will enable these young girls to cope with the emerging challenges of modern era. He added that CADD is also collaborating with Ministry of IT in ICTs for Girls Program to facilitate female students for making optimum use of technology.

Through the ICTs for Girls Program of Ministry of IT & Telecom, thousands of girls at Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal are being trained at the state-of-the-art computer labs under the coaching and training program of Microsoft.

This specialized program includes 4Cs training for the girls so that they can be financially independent in future and can also make a contribution towards the socio-economic growth of the country. This project will play an important role for knowledge enhancement and ultimately the progress and prosperity of the women in Pakistan.