Punjab to tap tech to curb graft

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has stressed the need to restore public trust in the government, saying that 24 hours a day were not enough to serve the people.

Addressing a ceremony at the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), she said, "This is the age of technology and nothing is possible in today's world without artificial intelligence."

CM Maryam Nawaz said continuing with traditional and outdated methods would lead to failure and stressed the need to use technology in every sphere. "Punjab is the only province taking the lead through the use of information technology," she said. She said the entire system in Punjab was being shifted to automation

"There is no traditional filing system in Punjab anymore; every file is now processed through the digital system," she said, adding that officials no longer needed to travel from Rahim Yar Khan to submit files as all work was being done through the e-Faas system that was helping save Rs6 billion every month.

The chief minister said every department, district and division had been shifted to the digital ecosystem that enabled the entire government to work as an integrated unit. Digital monitoring had also ensured better coordination during floods. She said a dashboard established at her office enabled monitoring of departments and communication with officials throughout the province.

The digital ecosystem was ensuring efficiency, merit and transparency, she added.

She said the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER) had been completed with 26 million households registered. The data of both local residents and those who had migrated from other provinces was available, she said.

"Protecting people from corruption is the responsibility of the government and the system," she said.

She said the government was providing free medicines worth Rs100 billion, but medicines and injections were still being stolen.

The chief minister announced that a system would be introduced within three months under which citizens would not need to visit government offices for their work.

"I am not saying that everything is fine, but we will soon launch a crackdown against corruption and reach those responsible," she said.

"I consider the drainage of rainwater more the responsibility of the chief minister than that of a councillor," she said.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also met members of the National Assembly belonging to the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and discussed the political situation in the country and ongoing development projects in Punjab. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Muhammad Aoun Chaudhry, Gul Asghar Khan and Manza Hassan.

The participants agreed to work together for the country's development, stability and on political matters.

Suthra Punjab salaries

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered payment of salaries to Suthra Punjab workers by the fifth of every month and immediate legal action against companies failing to make timely payments.

Chairing a meeting, she took strict notice of reports of staff remaining absent in urban and rural areas and officers found negligent.

She ordered key performance indicators (KPIs) for the managing director, financial management and tehsil municipal officers of Suthra Punjab, saying the MD would not be given another posting for three years in case of poor performance.