Community centre opens in Mardan

This will anchor digital transformation in the region

PESHAWAR: To anchor digital transformation in the region, the provincial government on Thursday launched a community engagement project, ‘Durshal’ by formally inaugurating its first community innovation lab in Mardan.

The centre was inaugurated by Senior Minister for Health and Information Technology Shahram Khan Tarakai along with the Minister for Education Atif Khan, and Mardan Deputy Commissioner Imran Sheikh.

‘Durshal’ plans to set up a network of community spaces across the province with the goal to advance the successful development of emerging businesses, digital governance and civic engagement in the information communication technology sector and to contribute to the overall growth of the economy.

The aim of the project is to focus on two of the main pillars of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Information Technology Board’s (KPITB) digital newsstrategy: digital governance and digital economy.

The government hopes to set up Durshals in seven different districts across the province and eventually spreading across all other remaining districts. The plan is to leverage these centres for incubating potential startups while also providing co-working space for digital freelancers in a highly equipped facility.

Centres will take on incubatees for six months where they will undergo an intensive programme followed by comprehensive mentorship sessions.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2018.