MOITT launches ‘Smart Village’ project in all provinces

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MOITTT), through the Universal Service Fund (USF), has initiated the “Smart Village” project in all of the nation’s provinces. The aim of this initiative is to provide remote areas access to a range of digital services in the domain of health, education, commerce, and livelihood.

The Ministry took to Twitter to make the announcement.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque inaugurating the Smart Village Project by pressing button in #Islamabad on June 16, 2021.#SmartVillage #DigitalPakistan #MOITT #USF pic.twitter.com/6AdrMAQueZ

— Ministry of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) June 16, 2021

In the beginning, only one Smart Village will be set up in each of Islamabad, Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The project will be funded and technically supported by the International Telecommunication Union, a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for all matters related to information and communication technologies, and Huawei Technologies Pakistan.

It will also focus on cross-sector collaboration and multi-stakeholder engagement to enhance cost-effectiveness and sharing of resources and expertise in delivering the services to citizens.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque inaugurated the ceremony with Federal Secretary for IT and Telecommunication Muhammad Sohail Rajput, CEO USF Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, Area Representative for Southeast Asia International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Dr. Ismail Shah, and CEO Huawei Mark Meng.

While addressing the inauguration ceremony, the federal minister for IT stated that the “Smart Village” project is another step towards realizing Prime Minister’s vision of Digital Pakistan.

He also revealed that the National Information Technology Board (NITB) has launched more than 30 mobile applications, government web portals, and websites related to public services.

However, the benefits of these applications can be reaped by the general public only when they have access to them. According to the minister, the effects of the steps taken under the Digital Pakistan Vision are now beginning to materialize.