Free WIFI: Punjab to become an Internet Hub as part of Tech-Savvy Province

Last weekend, the organizers at Islamabad Civic Hackathon had planned a small activity for the participants which was to fill out this sentence, “I want ———- in my neighborhood” on a special sticker. The filled out sentences were then to be displayed on a wish wall at the event. One of the Hackathon’s participant wrote “Free Wi-Fi”, a necessity which almost every one of us wishes for. It seems that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has granted this wish as he approved free of charge public Wi-Fi facility across the province yesterday.

CM Shahbaz Sharif approved the free of charge Wi-Fi under Metro Wi-Fi Network Program at important educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations, airports, metro bus routes and bus stands etc. This initiative will begin from Multan, Rawalpindi and Lahore, after which it will be expanded to other cities of Punjab.

Additionally, CM also approved the provision of tablets to teachers of mathematics and science subjects for class 6 to 10 while students of class 5 to 8 of public sector schools obtaining prominent positions in annual examination will also receive tablets. The tablet provision goes side by side with Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) program of digitalization of science and mathematics textbooks in collaboration with Punjab Textbooks Board.

The purpose of Free Wi-Fi Network in Punjab is to promote education with the help of modern technology in Pakistan. Many countries from Taiwan to France to Australia in addition to US and UK have already deployed public internet in their cities. It is nice to see Pakistan in this list of tech-savvy countries around the world. However, we do hope that other provinces in Pakistan are also equipped with the latest technologies.

What do you think about CM Punjab’s initiative of a Tech-Savvy province? Share your opinions in the comment section below.