e-Pay Sindh: New digital initiative unveiled for easy access to govt services
KARACHI: Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar has launched Sindh’s much-awaited digital initiative to provide citizens with easier and faster government services.
“The provincial government has initiated a single digital platform for all citizens to minimise human interaction,” the provincial chief executive said while speaking at the launching ceremony of five transformative e-services — e-Services Sindh Mobile App, e-Registration, e-Mutation, e-Pay Sindh, Industrial Estate Management System (IEMS) — on Wednesday.
“It will also ensure transparency, departmental accountability, and the disposal of all cases within seven working days as a step for transformation from manual mode to e-governance in the form of e-Services Sindh and e-Pay Sindh,” he added.
“With its digital payment feature of e-Pay Sindh, citizens will be allowed to make payments for government services securely and conveniently through their mobile devices, mobile banking apps, credit card, debit card, ATM and banks.”
The launching ceremony of e-Services Sindh was held at a local hotel where the chief minister launched it by pressing a key of the computer.
The CM said that this groundbreaking initiative will revolutionise the way citizens interact with the Sindh government.
Five transformative e-services:
1. e-Services Sindh Mobile App
Currently, two departments of the Board of Revenue have launched it but slowly all the departments will adopt it one by one.
The Sindh cabinet approved the inclusion of its legal framework into Rules of Business as e-Services Sindh and e-Pay Sindh by an amendment to Secretariat Instructions 2014 last Monday.
2. e-Registration for “Registered Sale Deeds”
A service that would allow citizens to register their sale deeds through online applications, payments and appointments for biometric verification and registration before the Sub-Registrars. This will save them the hassle of having to visit a government office and stand in long queues or problematic manual systems.
3. e-Mutation
It is for making changes in the record of rights of the land, a service that will allow citizens to easily change the record of rights for their land online and directly when registration is done through e-Registration. It will be automatically updated online and will be available online for the general public.
This will save them time and money, and will also help to ensure that land records are accurate and up-to-date.
The provincial cabinet last Monday directed the Board of Revenue to digitally rewrite the record of rights within the next six months.
This digitally rewritten record of rights will be integrated with the e-Registration and e-Mutation database. The City Survey Record of the entire province will also be digitised and integrated with this database within the next six months.
4. e-Pay Sindh
A service that will allow citizens to make all payments to the Sindh government through an online digital channel. This will make it easier and more convenient for people to pay their taxes, fees, and other dues.
5. Industrial Estate Management System (IEMS)
There is the Industrial Estate Management System for SITE Limited and Sindh Small Industrial Estates, a service that will provide a centralised platform for managing industrial estates in Sindh, an official statement read.
‘e-Services Sindh, a game-changer’
The five e-services launched by the provincial government are just the beginning of our journey towards a fully digital government, Justice Baqar said and added that his government was committed to providing citizens with easy, convenient, and transparent access to government services.
The chief minister appreciated the entire BoR team of dedicated professionals who worked tirelessly to develop these e-services.
CM Baqar said that the e-Services Sindh would be a game-changer for the people of Sindh by making government services more accessible, efficient, and transparent. He added that the e-Service Sindh would also help to promote economic growth and development.
The e-Services Sindh App and other integrated digital components will provide online access to a wide range of services, including:
- Domicile Certificates
- Mutation of Record of Rights
- e-Registration
- Heirship Certificate Issuance
- Agriculture Pass Book
- Demarcation and Survey of Land
- Issuance of NOC for Sale of Land
- Issuance of NOCs for Industrial Plots in SITE and Sindh Small Industries Corporation Estates – and Miscellaneous Applications.
Online complaints
In addition to these services, the app will also allow citizens to lodge any grievance against any revenue field office. This feature ensures transparency and accountability in the delivery of government services.
To ensure the efficient delivery of services, the BoR has implemented a strict seven-day turnaround time for all applications submitted through the e-Services Sindh App and web portal. Moreover, Pakistan Post will deliver the processed documents to citizens’ doorsteps within 24 hours of issuance.