Inauguration of ICT facilities the Computer Lab at Women Development and Empowerment Centre (Burma Town, Islamabad) was carried out by Minister for IT and Telecom, Mrs Anusha Rahman and Minister for CADD, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary on Wednesday.
During the ceremony, a plaque was unveiled by both the Ministers for the project to provide ICT facilities to female students at Women Development and Empowerment Centre of Pakistan Baitulmal (PBM). Microsoft has collaborated in this project to provide training to young girls which will empower and accredit them to participate in the socio-economic development of the country and to bridge the gender digital divide.
MD Baitulmal Brister Abid Waheed Sheikh in his welcome address thanked Mrs Anusha Rehman for her patronage in Implementation of ICT for girls initiative.
While Speaking at the occasion, Minister for IT & Telecom appreciated the cooperation of Pakistan Baitulmal, Microsoft and Universal Service Fund for fully supporting this initiative. She said that the project will improve the lives of many young girls by equipping them with ICT skills. She further said “ICT is the lever of economic progress. We are using this lever to empower the girls from the marginalized sections of society. Through this initiative, we aim to help girls’ students by making them computer literate. She emphasized the fact that this training will enable these girls to play a healthier role as mothers in future by earning a livelihood for their families and bringing up their children in a better way. She added that this programme for girls will help to reduce the gender disparity at large.”
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said that in a world of global communications and far-reaching technologies, girls of our country are still facing multiple challenges. He also appreciated the endeavours of Minister for IT for the provision of state of the art computer labs in 226 girls schools of Islamabad territory. He further said that provision of ICT facilities will enable these young girls to cope with the emerging challenges of the modern era. He added that CADD is also collaborating with Ministry of IT in ICTs for Girls Programme to facilitate female students for making optimum use of technology.
Through the ICTs for Girls program of Ministry of IT and Telecom, thousands of girls at Pakistan Baitulmal are being trained at the state of the art computer labs under the coaching and training program of Microsoft. This specialized program includes 4Cs training for the girls so that they can be financially independent in future and can also make a contribution towards the socio-economic growth of the country. This project will play an important role for knowledge enhancement and ultimately the progress and prosperity of women in Pakistan
Senior officials of Ministry of IT & Telecom, CADD, PBM and USF also attended the ceremony
