The Punjab government instead of distributing more laptops should opt for distributing tablets PC, as it would not only save money but also create new jobs in the country. Punjab government by adopting this model could have saved half of money besides creating thousands of jobs in information technology sector. These views were expressed by Business Forum Punjab (BFP) senior office bearer while talking to reporters on Thursday.
The BFP has evolved a comprehensive programme, which would not only save precious money of the provincial government but at the same time it would be a great project in the region. The BFP was of the view that the provincial government instead of giving away expensive laptops should go for tablet PCs, which were more efficient and far less in price. “A laptop costs at least Rs 37,500 to the government, whereas, a tablet PC would come in the price of Rs 15,000-17,000 including internet for one year,” said the BFP representative adding the government was planning to spend Rs 6.5 billion for importing 200,000 laptops in the students. He said in the same amount, the government could have imported 400,000 tablets and reach huge number of students. “It would be wastage of money if 200,000 laptops are imported and the government should go for table PCs, which are economical and effective,” he said adding the government should import products and assemble them in Pakistan, which would ultimately create jobs. Besides, the government should opt for digitalisation of books and add all these books in the tablet PCs and give it to student. “In this way, the tablets would become part and parcel of every student’s life and he/she never would sale it in the market and Punjab government would not get embarrassed, as it is being in these days,” he said adding that recently Turkey has imported 10 million tables and adopted this model and now their educational system is benefiting from it. He said by digitalisation of books, the software houses of the country would progress by leaps and bounds and provincial government could attract the masses through it. “In this way the government not only gains politically but also it would win the hearts of students,” he added. He said Pakistan had not established any hardware industry and just used to import finished products from China, Singapore and other countries. He said Punjab could have established an assembly line for these tablets thus creating jobs for the local market. He said with help of internet service providers (ISPs) the government can provide one year’s internet to the student for free and it would not cost huge money. The BFP urged the Punjab government to at least look at this model instead of wasting huge amount on laptops.
