PITB launches online business registration system

LAHORE: A team of Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has launched replica of Business Registration Portal for the Sindh government and completed the process of necessary training for the respective officials of the stakeholder departments.

The portal has been made active for testing and training purpose. Soon after the incorporation of all the change requests indicated by the departments concerned, the system shall be made public for online registration of businesses enabling the business community to get their registration done from home without any visit to the respective departments.

PITB has provided an online platform for registering a partnership firm or their businesses with Sindh Employee Social Security Institution (SESSI) and/or Labour and Human Resource department as per their requirements, with detail/ summary reports and a comprehensive dashboard for the management, trainings to the staff concerned for managing operations via online portal, implementation of change requests and scope enhancement, ensuring infrastructure with high availability, reliability and secure quality services, online system monitoring through Network Management System (NMS); while changes can be reflected to the “Ease of Doing Business” website accordingly and to ensure that necessary changes to be made on Business Registration Portal for the same if required.

It is a follow up of marathon meetings on Ease of Doing Business at International Finance Corporation (IFC) office Karachi held last month and attended by a team of World Bank, Sindh Board of Investment, Labour and Human Resource Department of Sindh, Sindh Employee Social Security Institution (SESSI), Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department of Sindh and Sindh Revenue Board.

PITB made comprehensive presentation about the portal and presented at CS Sindh office which was lauded by the chair and Chief Secretary-Sindh directed the Secretary Planning and Development department- Sindh to process the same flow for Sindh province.

Haj operation: The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB)’s Hajj automation project for the fourth time is successfully facilitating the Ministry of Religious Affairs & Inter Faith Harmony (MoRA & IH), government of Pakistan in Hajj-2018 operations across Pakistan and KSA at Jeddah Airport, Makkah, Medina Airport, Medina and office of the Pilgrims Affairs (OPAP), Makkah & Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, initiated in 2015, said Dr Umar Saif, PITB chairman, while appreciating the efforts of the respective officials in meeting here on Monday.

In the meeting Dr Umar Saif was informed about major new initiatives under new Hajj policy of the government, which would allow 5,000 pilgrims above 80 years age to perform Hajj with one helper making a total of 10,000 without ballot while all those applicants who remained unsuccessful for three to four consecutive years would be given priority by allocating 10,000 seats to get another chance to win in the overall ballot.

The meeting was informed that 10,612 branches of 13 banks across Pakistan have started receiving Hajj applications from January 15, 2018 till January 24, 2018 involving banks workforce of 22653 personals while balloting would be conducted on January 26, 2018.

Dr Umar Saif appreciated the dedicated efforts of the PITB team for encouraging improvements in the Hajj operations and facilitating the Hujjaj by establishing online registration and balloting systems, Automation of Haji Camps, Flight & Building Booking and Room Allocation System for Makkah, Room induction for Medina and Online Differential System.

PITB has also provided assistance to the government of Nigeria for their National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) by replicating systems & services in Hajj-2017, Government Hajj Scheme Pilgrims Online Registration System, Establishment of Hajj Helpline and Call Center in KSA, Pilgrims Complaints Lodging and Redressal System (complaints, inquiry & suggestions) and Electronic Medical Record System.