Smart Village project to improve life of people of remote areas: Sheza
SIALKOT: Sheza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, stated that the Smart Village Project, part of the government’s Digital Pakistan vision, aims to provide internet connectivity to rural and remote areas. This initiative seeks to enhance the quality of life for residents by enabling digital solutions for daily challenges such as healthcare and education.Minimum Wage Set at 37,000 Rupees for PTV
Highlighting the potential of Pakistan’s youth, she emphasized that although young people possess remarkable talent and skills, there is a need to showcase their abilities. The Smart Village Project will serve as a key platform to empower youth and address the everyday problems of the local population. She made these remarks as the chief guest at the inauguration of Asia’s first Smart Village Project, held in Roras, a village in Sialkot.
She explained that this pilot project was launched in partnership with the Ministry of Information Technology, the International Telecom Union, Huawei, the Bedari NGO, and Tele-Education. The project is based in Roras, located in Tehsil Sambrial, approximately 15 kilometers from Sialkot. The project will be completed in six months and will provide business and computer training courses to 100 young men and women at the Digital Village Center. These courses aim to create employment opportunities as part of the broader Smart Villages initiative in Pakistan. Shaza Fatima also highlighted that Pakistan is the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to introduce such e-village facilities. She reiterated the government’s commitment to digitally connect villages and remote areas across the nation.
In Roras, the project’s initial phase includes the provision of digital health and education facilities. A modern computer lab and virtual education programs are being introduced at the secondary school for girls in the village. Additionally, digital medical consultancy services are being offered to address healthcare challenges. She praised the contributions of the International Telecom Union, Huawei Pakistan, Tele-Education, Bedari NGO, and the Education Department in making this project a reality. She also announced plans to expand similar smart village projects to all four provinces.
Regional Director of the International Telecommunication Union, Atsuko Okuda, remarked that the Smart Village Pakistan initiative adopts a holistic approach to delivering the benefits of digital transformation in health, education, and agriculture to rural communities.
Samar Abbas, representing Huawei Technologies Pakistan, acknowledged the challenges of digitalization but highlighted the immense opportunities it presents for Pakistan. He emphasized that digital transformation is vital for competitiveness and enables a stronger role for Pakistan in the global community.
The Smart Classroom and Digital Village Center at the Government Girls High School in Roras were inaugurated by Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director of the International Telecommunication Union, along with Hammad Waseem from the Ministry of IT, Executive Director of Bedari NGO Arshad Mehmood Mirza, and Vice Chairperson Hina Noreen.
