NisarMalik
Banned
This project was originally conceived by Shehbaz Sharif in 1998. For this purpose, he establsihed the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and hired Dr Javaid Abdul Ghani, a PhD from UPen alongwith other professionals from highly reputed universities.
The project was to introduce the concept of eGovernment and make Lahore as the IT Hub of South Asia. This project had a vision to create over 100,000 jobs and make Pakistan a significant exporter of IT services. Even Bill Gates had committed to invest in this project.
Bill Clinton was supposed to come to Pakistan in end 1999 and he was to be accompanied by various investors including Bill Gates.
Unfortunately, the then Army Chief General Pervaiz Musharraf imposed Martial Law on 12th October 1999 and imprisoned the Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his entire family. As a consequence of this undemocratic step, Pakistan was expelled from Commonwealth and various sanctions were imposed.
Bill Clinton did come to Pakistan but on a very short visit. Bill Gates diverted the investment of Microsoft to India, where the then Chief Minister - ChandraBabu Naidu copied the project in his province (Andhra Pradesh) and made Bangalore as the IT Hub of South Asia. Bangalore has since been termed as "Mini Silicon Valley". Naidu also started using the term "Asian Tiger" which was the slogan of Mr Shehbaz Sharif.
Hundreds and thousands of jobs have been created there and within 3 to 4 years, India's IT exports were larger than Pakistan's entire export base. eGovernment project was initiated in India almost 10 years ago.
On the other hand, in Pakistan, the then Chief Minister Pervaiz Illahi was least interested in the project, perhaps due to "pressure" or "chamak" from patwaris and thekedars like Malik Riaz. Funding was available from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and only lip service was performed by floating and re-floating the tenders.
After the change of government in 2008, the entire country and most specifically Punjab has been the worst victim of loadshedding. The Minister for Water & Power (MahRaja Pervaiz Ashraf) continued giving deadlines to eliminate the energy crisis but to no avail.
Ultimately, the Punjab Government launched its own power project at Nandipur-Gujranwala, with the collaboration of a Chinese company called Dongfeng. The Minister for Law (fake Doctor) Babar Awan kept sitting on the file for want of kickback and the imported machinery got rusted at the port.
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/06/11/news/national/notice-issued-to-babar-awan-in-nandipur-power-project-case/
The matter has now been taken up by the Supreme Court.
Shehbaz Sharif is a great visionary as well as an excellent administrator and his performance is far better than all other Chief Ministers and Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Hats-Off to complete the visionary project!!!
