ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication Anusha Rahman on Friday said the government is planning to replicate Information & Communications Technology (ICT) for girls programme in all provinces of the country to expand knowledge based economy. While addressing the Taking Stock & Moving Forward conference organised by the Ministry of IT in collaboration with Pakistan Software Export Board, Ignite National Technology Fund and Universal Service Fund (USF), the minister said, “We are endeavoured to provide our woman and girls greater access to education, economic resources, skill development and employment opportunities.” The minister said that the Ministry of IT has started projects for Balochistan worth Rs 26 billion to provide the 3G service to the people of province to connect the unconnected. In the history of IT of Pakistan this to biggest investment, that is for Balochistan, which aim to target hundreds of villages to connect with 3G service, she added. Anusha Rahman said the project would cover Awaran, Jhal Jao and Mashkai tehsils/sub-tehsils of Awaran district and Bela, Lakhra, Lyari, Uthal, Dureji, Hub, Sonmiani and Kanraj of Lasbel district, he added. She said, due to the provision of 3G services in Balochistan, other services like Careem would be started in Balochistan which is a great achievement of Ministry of Information Technology. Ministry has taken Balochistan as a priority to provide telecom services and these services will include the provision of both voice and data facilities under 3G licenses. Rahman described the DigiSkills programme as an important part of Information Technology initiative of the government. She said the programme would create online employment opportunities to enable youth to earn $200 to $300 per month. She said with the help of this program, youth from across the country will provide services across the globe. She said, the telecom sector is the most important one for speedy development particularly for rural areas. Among the telecom operators of Pakistan, Ufone was able to win the most from the 12 projects. Ufone has been awarded projects worth Rs 14.2 billion in various cities of the province which includes Sibi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Chagai, Awaran, Kharan-Washuk and Dera Bugti districts. Government is making all out efforts to introduce 5G technology in Pakistan by 2020 to bring it at par with developed economies in term of technology advancements. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Naveed Ahmed, Pakistan Telecommunication Limited President Dr Daniel Ritz, Zong Chief Executive Officer Henry Wang, Ufone CEO Rashid Khan, Ignite CEO Yousaf Hussain and ministry officials also attended the event. Published in Daily Times, April 28th 2018.