IT firms delaying e-governance projects to face probe

ISLAMABAD: An inquiry launched against private information technology firms associated with 14 projects aiming at introducing e-governance in the public sector departments is expected to reach its logical end with some persons allegedly involved in wrongdoings approaching the right corners to avoid any action, the sources told The News here on Sunday.
“When Federal Information Technology Minister Anusha Rehman took charge, she immediately referred cases to FIA against some information technology firms that were given 14 projects but they did not work according to the agreement and instead grabbed more funds from the national exchequer,” the sources said.
The sources said Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was probing the cases against the information technology firms and it would submit its report to the Information Technology Ministry that would take action in line with the findings of the report.
An official said that the cases against the firms were referred to FIA after thorough internal investigation through a fact-finding committee that revealed gross irregularities in IT projects and misuse of funds that were supposed to be used for introducing e-government in the public sector departments.
He said the projects initiated between 2004 and 2006 and paid for by funds from the Public Sector Development Programme were set to expire in 2007 but the firms managed to extend them for next many years. He said, “Despite number of extensions given to these projects the firms failed to produce the required results.”
The sources said the officials of the private firms who were involved in these projects maintained that the beneficiary organizations were not prepared to take ownership of the projects and even they had not the competent staff to meet requirements of e-governance.
Anusha Rehman constituted the fact-finding committee in 2013 when she smelled something fishy during presentations given by Pakistan Computer Bureau (PCB) and Electronic Government Directorate (EGD).
The official also pointed out that the government departments were also usually indifferent to the information technology equipment and never ensured proper use and maintenance of computers and servers installed there, leading to equipment being damaged or even stolen.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Information Technology Ministry told The News that FIA is continuously probing the cases against the private firms and it would submit its report to the ministry.
“We believe in transparency in the official projects and those who have done something wrong will face the music. Now we always try to ensure everything is done in line with the rules and procedures,” he said.