Lahore: Punjab Finance Secretary Mujahid Sherdil officially launched the registration of ‘facilitators’ as part of the “Maryam Ki Dastak”, an initiative of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) on the direction of the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The initiative aims at providing a range of public services directly at citizens' doorsteps.

The registration of facilitators via a mobile app was launched during the ceremony held at Arfa Software Technology Park (ASTP).

PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf, Director Generals Sajid Latif, Waqar Naeem Qureshi, Saima Shaikh, Chief Technology Officer Adil Iqbal Khan and other senior officials were present on the occasion.

The Maryam Ki Dastak initiative aims at ensuring that all citizens, specially people with disabilities, women, and the elderly, can access government services from the comfort of their homes.

Services include obtaining Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Domicile, and others.

Service provision will be carried out through trained staff or 'facilitators' who will act as a bridge between the citizens and the relevant government departments.

‘Maryam Ki Dastak’ will enable the facilitators to ensure end to end delivery of the service at citizens' doorsteps. This includes filling out forms, processing payments through PSID, and ensuring the timely delivery of documents.

Anyone interested in becoming a Dastak facilitator can register via the ‘Dastak Facilitator Mobile App’. To qualify, applicants must be over 18 years of age, have at least an intermediate level of education, possess a Police Character Certificate, have no criminal record, own a bank account, hold a driving license, have access to a motorbike, and possess a mobile phone or tablet with internet data.

In his remarks, Finance Secretary Mujahid Sherdil said that the initiative will rid citizens of the multiple visits to government offices and save their time.

Chairman Faisal Yousaf remarked, “Facilitators will be selected after thorough screening. The shortlisted facilitators will be trained by PITB to process service requests at citizens’ doorsteps effectively and efficiently. Only those candidates who score at least 70% in the screening process will be considered for registration as facilitators.”

Citizens can book services at their preferred time, date, and location through the Dastak Mobile App, Web Portal, or by calling the helpline 1202. A facilitator will then be dispatched to their location.

The services will commence in Lahore within three to four weeks of the facilitators registration phase. Following the pilot phase's success, the service will expand to all districts of Punjab. Maryam Ki Dastak is poised to transform public service delivery in Punjab, making it more accessible, efficient, and convenient for all citizens.

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday sought monthly schedule of education reforms 5-year plan.

The Chief Minister granted approval to provide 32298 computer tabs to the Heads of primary schools. CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over a special meeting pertaining to schools education reforms in which public schools reorganization programme was comprehensively reviewed.

Secretary School Education apprised about progress being made on the schools nutrition project. It was agreed in the meeting to set up STEM  IT and Science Labs in 1000 elementary schools.

The Asian Development Bank will provide financial assistance worth Rs.100 million dollars for the establishment of STEM Labs. A principle approval was granted for the Google Certification Agreement for 3 lac children in the government schools. The students will be provided opportunities to avail Google Certification under the Digital Journey for TECH Valley Project. The proposals and recommendations for the establishment of Punjab Education Curriculum and Training were reviewed in the meeting. It was informed during the meeting that more than 92 percent free books have been delivered. The CM stressed the need to improve quality of education in the government schools under any circumstance.

Senator Pervez Rashid, Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat, MPA Sania Ashiq, Chief Secretary, Secretary Education, Secretary Finance, MD Punjab Curriculum & Text Book Board, MD Punjab Education Foundation, CEO Punjab Initiative Management Authority, MD Punjab Education Sector Reforms Programme and other concerned officers attended the meeting.

(Reuters): Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was injured in a shooting after a government meeting, news agency TASR reported on Wednesday.

TASR cited parliament's vice-chairman Lubos Blaha as saying Fico was shot and injured. A Reuters witness said he heard several shots and that he saw a man being detained by police.

The Reuters witness said he saw security officials pushing someone into a car and driving off. The government office could not immediately be reached for comment.