The launch of BizLinks initiative marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration between PITB and the private sector.
The guiding principle behind the Punjab Information Technology Board’s (PITB) newest initiative, “BizLinks,” is to collaborate with the tech leaders in the private sector to enhance Pakistan’s digital footprint and IT exports.
The initiative represents a significant advancement in the direction of strategic partnerships and collaborative engagement with tech leaders to jointly explore business opportunities on a national and international scale.
Regarding this, PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf hosted a gathering at Arfa Software Technology Park (ASTP) with prominent figures from the IT industry and representatives of the public sector. During the event, a unique website (bizlinks.pitb.gov.pk) was also unveiled, showcasing PITB’s goods and services and providing a sign-up option for potential partners.
P@SHA Chairman Zohaib Khan, PITB Board Member Jehan Ara, as well as executives from companies like Abacus, Inbox, Lumensoft, InfoTech, CureMD, Autosoft Dynamics, Nextbridge, and the CEO of the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade were among the guests (PBIT).
The audience was briefed on the “BizLinks initiative” by Chairman Faisal Yousaf, who emphasised the value of collaboration in boosting IT exports. Additionally, he emphasised important PITB initiatives in the fields of supporting business, the knowledge economy, and citizen-centric services.
Saima Shaikh, director general of business development and training for the PITB, gave a brief introduction to the “BizLinks Portal” and how it would aid in moving the initiative forward. The stakeholders praised the initiative’s spirit and pledged their support for its success.
The launch of BizLinks initiative marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration between PITB and the private sector.
It focuses on boosting and promoting the local tech industry and exploring business opportunities within and beyond the region to enhance IT exports and earn valuable foreign exchange. Chairman Faisal Yousaf praised the initiative.
P@SHA Chief Zohaib Khan congratulated PITB for their initiative to support the local tech industry. Senior officials from PITB, including DG IT-Solutions Waqar Naeem Qureshi, DG Government Digital Services Muhammad Waseem Bhatti, CTO Adil Iqbal Khan, Directors Syed Nayyer Ali, Muhammad Badar Munir, Jahanzeb Akbar and Hasnain Iqbal, as well as Joint Directors Mudassir Paracha and Hammad Bin Khalique, were also present.
This initiative now includes PITB flagship products like e-Pay Punjab, Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), e-FOAS, e-Stamping, and School Information System (SIS).
Citizens can pay 26 taxes/levies from 11 different departments from the comfort of their homes using e-Pay Punjab, a clever and dependable one-stop solution for online government tax payments. An online portal for Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) was created, and this improved Pakistan’s ranking globally for the indicator “Starting a Business.”
Due to this, the same was later extended to Balochistan and Sindh as well. To increase efficiency and ensure transparency, the e-Filing and Office Automation System (e-FOAS) aims to completely eliminate paper from the workplace.
The e-Stamping System digitises stamp paper issuance, doing away with paper and process-related fraud and revenue leaks while storing data in digital form to ensure transparency. It is successfully running throughout all of Punjab, and the Punjab IT Board is implementing it in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Real-time data provided by the School Information System (SIS) aids in streamlining school administrative procedures and facilitating quick decisions. District-level data is also available in real-time. The Punjab School Education Department and Punjab IT Board worked together to develop the system.
The gathering came to a close with the intention that all parties involved would work together to maintain their level of engagement and make “BizLinks” a success.