ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said that public schools, hospitals, and police stations across Islamabad will be connected with fibre optic internet within the next six to eight months.
In an official statement issued on Monday, she said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to make Islamabad a pilot smart city. The IT Ministry has already funded fibre connectivity for all public schools, basic health units (BHUs), and healthcare sectors in the capital.
The minister said specific locations are being identified to offer free public Wi-Fi. Work is also under way, through public-private partnerships, to provide Wi-Fi on metro buses and at other public places.
Shaza Fatima said education technology (EdTech) will be used to provide learning in remote areas. She added that artificial intelligence and emerging technologies will be introduced from Grade 6 and eventually be included at the kindergarten level. “The prime minister wants every child in Islamabad to be educated,” she added.
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She further stated that this plan will also be extended to Gilgit-Baltistan and other far-flung areas. “Through technology, we aim to make education possible in remote schools,” she said.
The IT Ministry is also working with the Ministry of Health on a “One Patient, One ID” project. Through telemedicine, internet connectivity will be extended to all BHUs, and online consultation services will be made available nationwide.
Shaza Fatima added that a committee has been formed on the prime minister’s instructions to include IT education in the national curriculum. She said the government plans to train 500,000 youth in modern IT skills, including Google training for 200,000, Huawei for 300,000, and Microsoft training for another 200,000.
“Our goal is to equip boys and girls with AI skills from the primary level and prepare Pakistan’s IT workforce to meet global standards,” she concluded.
