KARACHI: Ministry of Information Technology Sindh is to sign memorandum of understanding with Google Pakistan to acquire Google applications and to improve IT skills of the Sindh government employees’ skills and efficiency. 

In a meeting with Sindh Minister for I.T. Mian Zahid Hussain, the Country Consultant Google Pakistan, Badar Khushnood on Saturday has given a presentation of Google’s services to the minister and Secretary IT Muhammad Yousuf.

Additional Secretary, Ali Nawaz Chachar and other senior officers of the ministry were also present on the occasion.

Badar in his presentation demonstrated a number of Google facilities and advised the ministry to acquire Google’s various facilities and services for improvement of Sindh government’s efficiency and put the Sindh government to the track of high technology and automation. He said that Google’s educational services are free for everyone while nominal fee is charged for exclusive and customized services.

The Minister on this occasion asked the Google’s country chief to provide Google apps free of charge for three years to the Sindh government’s employees while the rest of the services on highly discounted rates, says a release here Monday.

Badar assured the minister to send the request to the headquarters and hopefully will get the positive response. Ministry of IT has shown interest in acquiring Google services in Google drive, Google Apps, Google Cloud (Virtual services through mobile phones) and Gmail.

Badar said that Google is doing a lot for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and has given $1 million for the flood victims and setting up a PASHA Fund.

Regarding blocking of YouTube he said that all the anti-Islam content could only be banned by the YouTube when the YouTube Pakistan would be launched, for which he said government of Pakistan would have to formulate laws. 

The Minister has shown keen interest in acquiring the Google services for the improvement of Sindh government’s functionaries and appreciated the gesture of Google Pakistan.