KATHMANDU, MAY 2
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today stressed the need to make government service paperless through optimisation of information technology.
Inaugurating a programme virtually from his official residence in Baluwatar on the occasion of the fourth National Information and Communications Technology Day, PM Oli said the use of IT in the service delivery system would be the ultimate service modality in future, adding that it would be less costly and consume less time of service-seekers.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. He said construction and expansion of the communication highway along the East–West and North-South had gained momentum.
Work related to connection of the highway from the district headquarters and all the local government was being expedited.
The government has claimed it is developing ITbased infrastructure at all the local levels from the ward level, community schools and health centres to ensure easy access to the public to the use of IT. A formal speech of PM Oli issued by the MoCIT states, "IT has been a major tool for changing life towards prosperity globally. In this context, our goal of enhancing lifestyle and ensuring sustainable development will be achieved with strategic planning implementation of the IT system."
The government has implemented Digital Nepal Framework 2019 as part of its transformative project with the objective of enhancing the nation's economy through development and expansion of digital infrastructure and technology.
The framework has also envisioned programmes to boost good governance, prosperity, and development with the use of IT. Currently, the digital framework covers eight areas, including digital foundation, agriculture, health, education, energy, tourism, finance, and urban infrastructure.
PM Oli formally launched Nagarik app, a mobile application operated by the government in today's function.
It aims to provide government services through a single online platform. Later, he opened bank accounts using the app. Inaugurating the app, Oli expressed confidence that service-seekers would get easy and hassle-free government services.
PM Oli also ensured that the app would ensure transparency, accountability and minimise corruption.
The government also claimed that the plan to increase the capacity of a data centre at Singha Durbar and construction of a data centre at Khumaltar in Lalitpur district and Kohalpur in Banke was expedited.
The data centre will be used to ensure cyber security and record government data. The government has also forwarded a plan to operate 5G service through Nepal Telecom through a pilot project.
Today's function was marked with the theme, 'Expansion of information and communications technology: A base for prosperous Nepal.'
A version of this article appears in the print on May 3, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
