e-Khidmat Marakaz are transforming governance by offering great convenience to citizens by saving their time and fuel cost and minimizing stress.” Stated by PITB Chairman Syed Bilal Haider.
More than 4 million citizens have benefited so far from e-Khidmat Marakaz, established by Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) across the province. These service centers have been providing more than 150 government services to the citizens of Punjab. This was stated during a progress review meeting chaired by PITB Chairman Syed Bilal Haider.
The chair was apprised that as many as 12 e-Khidmat Marakaz have been established across Punjab to facilitate citizens whereas work is underway to establish another e-Khidmat Marakaz in Sialkot. The citizens have been receiving multiple services in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and other centers.
The attendants of the meeting were further briefed that 0.8 million people availed Post Office services, 0.6 million received Domicile Certificates, 0.6 million people received Driving Licenses, 0.3 million people received National Identity Cards, 0.1 million received Ehsaas Rashan while 0.13 million people availed the facility of issuance of FARD.
It was further stated that the e-Khidmat Centers have been facilitating citizens of Punjab with Character Certificate, Birth/ Death Certificate, Marriage /Divorce Certificate, Domicile, Learner Driving License, Vehicle Registration, payment of Token Tax, issuance of CNIC, NADRA e-facility, transfer of ownership of vehicles and many other government services.
In his remarks on the occasion, PITB Chairman Syed Bilal Haider said, “e-Khidmat Marakaz are transforming governance by offering great convenience to citizens by saving their time and fuel cost and minimizing stress.”
In the past, public was very much scared of visiting government’s offices to submit applications to obtain their desired documents/certificates. This was due to the involvement of various intermediaries, agents, asking to submit unrelated documents and paying bribes etc. with the applications. Government also felt that instead of visiting numerous government’s departments situated at different locations, public should visit only one place where they can apply for various government services under one roof to overcome the challenges being faced by the public.
The idea to establish one stop shop to provide different government services at one place fascinated the government and government of the Punjab has taken keen interest in the establishment of such single points to offer transparent, trackable, time bound and hassle free services to public by using latest technology and modern techniques.
Originally published at Pakistan Observer