Punjab Government signs pact with Google to promote tourist sites

LAHORE: Pakistani authorities and Google have signed an agreement to use Google Maps to promote historical and tourist sites across the country's most populous province of Punjab.

The Punjab provincial government and Google Inc yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in information technology at the Arfa Karim Software Technology Park in Lahore.

Under the agreement, Google Inc will promote historical and tourist sites on the internet, particularly Google Maps, to promote worldwide awareness about Punjab's heritage.

Punjab Tourism Department Secretary Allah Bakhsh Malik and Google Asia's William Fitzgerald signed the MoU.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said access to the historical and tourist sites of Punjab through Google would promote awareness about modern and ancient Lahore and the province's historical and cultural heritage.

The Punjab government is implementing a programme on information technology and measures are being taken for the speedy computerisation of land records, he said.

Sharif urged Google Inc to extend assistance for this project.

"There are a number of projects of the Punjab government about which Google Inc can provide information to the people of the world," he said.

Fitzgerald said interaction between the Punjab government and Google Inc in information technology was a good beginning.

Google Inc has also been engaged in relief activities for people who were affected by the 2010 floods, he said.

He said access to the historical and tourist sites of Punjab on the internet would promote awareness across the world about the cultural traditions and civilisation of Punjab.

The agreement marked the beginning of mutual interaction between the Punjab government and Google Inc, Fitzgerald said.