Re: Pakistan Govt may choose Linux as platform instead of Windows

["Walther Warnaar" <warnaar@compuserve.com>]

Dear all,

What is your opinion about this? Is this mainly an attempt to get 
cheaper rates from Microsoft or is there really a chance that the 
Government of Pakistan will select Linux?  

Are there other examples? Do you know of any countries that have 
decided to go for Linux / Open Source software instead of Microsoft? 
There are more countries in a similar position as Pakistan (India?, 
China?), if all of them would choose open source software, on the 
long run it would save them a lot of money.  

We have to take an investment decision for an organisation in 
Pakistan; hence my interest.  

Best regards, 
Walther Warnaar  

----- Original Message -----
From: "Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>
To: <s-asia-it@apnic.net>
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 12:37 AM
Subject: Pakistan Govt may choose Linux as platform instead of 
Windows


>
> Pak Govt may choose Linux as platform instead of Windows
>
>
> Naveed Ahmad
>
>
> ISLAMABAD, September 06 (PNS): While the government continues to
> engage Microsoft Corporation in dialogue to seek exceptional
> discounts for making its software as platform for official operating
> systems, a recent notification suggest that the stage is being set
> to adopt Linux instead.
>
> "Linux is going to be the cornerstone of this initiative, as it is
> world over the Open Source movement," said the official
> correspondence confirming its decision to replace the pirated
> Windows- based systems already in use in the government offices.
>
> On the other hand, the government has sought huge discounts from
> Microsoft Corporation for adopting its software as platform of
> choice for the official machinery. The PC-1 for the project has not
> been approved so far, PNS has learnt on authority. Well-placed
> official sources told PNS, "The Microsoft Corporation has already
> offered over 90 per cent discount to the government but we want to
> press for more cuts in prices."
>
> The notification issued undersigned by Salman Ansari, advisor to
> Minister for Science and Technology Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, says the
> Linux Task Force will be responsible for technical review of the
> proposals and PC-1s besides coordinating on all technical and
> administrative matters related to Linux and the government.
>
> The decision may pose serious problems for the clerks community
> serving in the government offices who has now learnt Windows
> operating systems after about a decade of hard effort. As per the
> notification, the task force comprises professionals with the
> objectives of overseeing and driving the development of Linux in the
> IT community.
>
> The ministry explains, "Open Source is a global information
> technology phenomenon that brings the benefits of using and
> developing cutting edge software technology to all." Open Source
> software frees economically deprived entities from the burden of
> resorting to software piracy for their genuine software needs.
> "Since the government of Pakistan is committing itself to the
> reduction of piracy and the protection of intellectual property
> rights, a programme to make Open Source technology indigenous in the
> country is strongly needed," said the official notification
> circulated to the forum members.
>
> The process of making Linux and open source technologies indigenous
> has to follow the open source model itself. "Hence the Linux task
> Force is being established consisting of volunteers with the desire
> and capability to participate in the process."
>
> The notification explained professionals in the Task Force would
> also come out with R&D programmes for creating government-funded
> projects to create user-friendly client-server software, training
> strategies and usage in the development of applications.
>
> The government plans to form various sub-groups under the umbrella
> of the Linux Task Force, which would contribute by initiating
> various inventive projects in different critical areas with regard
> to Linux.
>
> The newly formed body will also "help in formulating policies and
> guidelines that will in turn create opportunities for Pakistani
> people in the field of Linux."
>
> The task force will hold meetings, seminars and conferences to
> "propagate and educate the user community at large." Policy makers,
> technocrats and technical experts from various software houses will
> participate in such programmes to bring awareness of Linux and
> enhance its usefulness among the layman class, said the official
> document.
>
> The ministry hopes that the professionals associated in the task
> force would take up various threads and perform various key
> activities to engage their professionalism for achieving important
> ultimate goals of Linux.
>
> Salman Ansari explained in the notification that the initiative has
> roots in several discussions on the issue of protection of
> intellectual property rights and adoption of open source as a
> national strategy. The goverment believes that this would "provide a
> basis for creating a skill set to enable our people to do original
> work, create a pool of Linux expertise and get into the real nuts
> and bolts issues like embedded software using the Linux platform."
>
> End.
>
>
> source: http://www.paknews.com/PrintPage.php?id=1&date1=2002-09-
> 06&news2=top1
>
>