Punjab Govt launches Asani Markaz App, a window action

Punjab Govt, under PITB, is embarking upon improving the m-governance in the province. In a recent development, Punjab Facilitation Center is being launched which is integrated to provide several governmental services under one roof. And to take guidance bandwagon to digital horizons, an App named Asani Markaz has also been launched on Google Play Store. Since Android Phones are ubiquitous here in Pakistan and iPhone has just recently launched in Pakistan, therefore govt first has released the app on Play Store but we expect the app to be launched in Apple Play Store very soon. The app will guide public every details about the required documents for any specific service, fee, payment procedure, timings, and the locations of those facilitation centers. The facilitation center or Asani Markaz will be meant to integrate several govt services including, issuance of birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, divorce certificate, character certificate, vehicle registration, token tax collection, vehicle transfer of ownership, FARD, learning driving licenses, traffic fine collection, domicile, issuance of CNIC, NADRA E Sahulat and route permit for the ease of the citizens under one platform. To make the process further hassle free, an SMS will be sent to the citizens on their numbers to inform them about the status of their application. All such digital methods are intended to improve the governance and being inaugurated these days thanks to smartphone technology and the mobile internet which is opening new platforms to accomplish tasks like these and making such things possible in our country. This will also lessen the corruption in the govt departments and mainly discourage the agents and clerks that swindle people by taking heavy money from them by assuring them to fulfill their different govt tasks in less time. As the next step, we expect govt to improve the e-governance in maximum govt departments and services that enhance the usage of Electronic forms. Currently the similar service is being provided at the airports for the domestic flights only where passengers can show the copy of ticket from their digital devices like smartphone or laptop, where people had to show the hard copy of the ticket previously. Govt also need to work extensively on the other aspects like the submission of utility bills, admissions in universities and police department etc. to improve the efficiency in govt departments. After 3G and 4G services, we have seen a remarkable growth in smartphone usage. Many companies are introducing handsets with diverse price ranges, making it easy for the buyers to choose. The fierce competition in the market also enabling the manufactures to reduce down the prices therefore market is flooded with budget friendly smartphones.