Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the much-needed ‘Maryam Ke Dastak’ for improving public service delivery all over the province. Starting in Lahore, it has been expanded to 22 districts of the province, that is to Kasur, Jhang, Attock, Bhakkar, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar, Sialkot, Jhelum, Mianwali, and Sheikhupura. The Punjab Information Technology Board will implement it. The extension of ‘Maryam Ke Dastak’ is more towards making services accessible and easier for those citizens living in these districts. The program will serve to reach out to larger numbers of people seeking the support and services they require without having to travel long distances.
Expansion of Services to More Districts
The ‘Maryam Ke Dastak‘ initiative was first launched on June 4, 2024, in Lahore, offering ten essential public services to the residents. Within just three months, the program has grown significantly and is offering over 60 government services in 22 districts. This rapid expansion is successfully registered to prove that there is a lot of demand for services offered. There are now many services available that can be received by people residing in the newly added districts from their homes only. So, the people do not have to make a long journey to Lahore or Rawalpindi to acquire their necessary services. The effort provides more people with opportunities to take advantage of the efforts of the government in making public services accessible and less cumbersome.
Services through Doorstep Services App at Dastak
One of the major features of the ‘Maryam Ke Dastak’ initiative is the Dastak Doorstep Services app. The app actually allows all the citizens to avail of services of various government departments by logging in online. Some of the services that one can obtain through the app are, for instance, filing a request for a Driving License, getting help from the Police Department, and others from the Excise and Taxation Department and resolving disputes from Local Government. Another matter of convenience is the services that can be availed from the Board of Revenue, LDA, Social Welfare Department, and the Livestock and Dairy Development Department. Citizens would no longer find difficulty in accessing the services which can now be availed through the 1202 helpline or the application. The trained ‘knock facilitators’ would then deliver the services directly to the doorsteps of each citizen, cutting time and making the provision of these services efficient and transparent.
Convenience and Accessibility for Citizens
Further expansion of the ‘Maryam Ke Dastak’ initiative will make access to government services more convenient and hassle-free for more citizens.Earlier, obtaining many basic services used to take a considerable amount of time for the citizens of smaller districts as traveling all the way to larger districts was a big deal sometimes. Now, through Dastak Doorstep Services app and further extension to 22 districts, accessing services has become much easier. It has ensured that the customers get access from the comfort of their homes and receive the services, sent promptly. In that way, this accessibility is highly worthwhile especially for those with mobility issues or lack the means to travel quite long distances. This initiative is geared towards making public service more user-friendly and accessible to every citizen in the state of Punjab.
Job Accessibility via Facilitator Application
Employment through Dastak Facilitator App is another important feature of the ‘Maryam Ke Dastak’ initiative. Citizens can themselves get registered as facilitators on the app and make a living by reaching services to others. Facilitators are trained so that they may manage different tasks to be accomplished for delivering services to the doorsteps of citizens. This facilitator-based model not only assists the government in efficiently delivering services but also provides a source of income for the facilitators. The initiative helps more people to become facilitators, hence supporting local employment and persons to earn money while giving back to society. This double advantage strengthens the delivery of service and economic opportunities from the people of Punjab.
Role of PITB in Improvement of Public Services
The ‘Maryam Ke Dastak’ programme relies primarily on the Punjab Information Technology Board for its success. It is the executing body that manages all the technologically connected elements of the program, for instance, development and upkeeps of the Dastak Doorstep Services app. It must ensure the usability of the app as well as its ability to process a number of requests efficiently and reliably. Besides, PITB also trains the facilitators of knocks and also implements the commission-based model for facilitators. Technology enables it to streamline public service delivery; make it more efficient and faster to access the help that the people need, that is what their efforts will pay off towards making this initiative a success throughout the expanded districts.
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Conclusion
This ‘Maryam Ke Dastak’ scheme that has been spread across 22 districts in Punjab is successfully working as a milestone achievement to enhance the delivery of public services. Undertaken by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and operationalized by the Punjab Information Technology Board, this program intends to make government services available to a much broader population in a much more accessible and convenient manner. It reaches up to service delivery and provides economic support through its more than 60 services offered through the Dastak Doorstep Services app, providing employment opportunities for the facilitators. Expansion ensures that more of the citizens will be able to benefit from the service without traveling long distances and, therefore, will improve the standard quality of their lives. Such a commitment by the government of Punjab will truly reflect its promise to transparency, convenience, and all-round welfare for all people in that region, standards that would simply be new for delivering public services within that region.