Punjab Government signs agreement with Microsoft Corporation

LAHORE: A strategic partnership agreement was signed between the Punjab government and a computer software company, Microsoft, at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Friday.
Under the agreement signed by additional chief secretary Javed Aslam and Microsoft head in Pakistan Kamal Ahmad, the company will extend all-out cooperation for training and development of the local IT industry in Punjab. It will also set up an innovation centre at the Software Technology Park.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the three-year agreement would prove to be a milestone in the promotion of information technology in the province.

He said the Punjab government had adopted a comprehensive strategy for promoting IT and foundation of a revolution in the education sector had been laid by setting up of IT labs in schools.

He said information technology would also be used for evolving a system of accountability for eradication of corruption which was the most serious problem being faced by the country. In addition to uplift of the education sector, Microsoft would also extend cooperation in improving the efficiency of Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) besides providing free software to 454 IT academies running under its control, he said.

Mr Sharif said under the agreement, IT training centres would also be set up in Punjab which would be managed by Microsoft for one year. Master trainers would be trained in these institutions and sent to far-flung areas. It would help produce a large number of IT experts. An IT Park would also be set up in consultation with Microsoft to promote IT activities, he said.

The chief minister said under the agreement, the Punjab government would invest Rs3 billion in three years and Microsoft Rs1.5 billion, and resultantly the government would earn a profit of Rs500 million.

Microsoft Company for Middle East and Africa President Ali Faramawy said the agreement would help improve the efficiency of education and other sectors in Punjab, and this partnership would leave a far-reaching impact.

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