Pakistan ties up with Google to promote Punjab tourism sites

Pakistani authorities and Google have signed an agreement that will allow use of Google Maps for the promotion of historical and tourist sites across the country's most populous province, Punjab.

Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro, with the Great Bath in the front

A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in information technology was signed yesterday by the Punjab provincial government with Google Inc 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 create greater awareness of Punjab's heritage globally. The MoU was signed by Punjab Tourism department secretary Allah Bakhsh Malik and Google Asia's William Fitzgerald.

Pakistan is home to the remnants of the cities of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa from he period of Indus Valley Civilisation, dating back to 2600 BC, among other significant historical landmarks of more recent origins.

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

According to Sharif, the Punjab government was implementing a programme on information technology and measures were being taken for the speedy computerisation of land records.