LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that promotion of information technology is the need of the hour and the Punjab government is implementing a comprehensive programme in this regard. He said IT labs had been set up in 4,200 schools for the first time in countrys history with the cooperation of international companies and students from Rahimyar Khan to Attock were getting awareness of national and international issues. He said this during a meeting with Microsofts Istanbul representative Jeffrey Avina. Chairman Punjab information technology board, director general provincial disaster management authority and officers concerned were also present. Talking to the Microsoft representative, the CM said dream of rapid progress could only be materialized by imparting modern education to the new generation. He said developed nations had achieved progress with the help information technology. He said all possible steps were being taken for the promotion of IT in the province and an agreement had also been signed with the Microsoft. He said the Punjab government would set up an IT Park and land would be provided to the interested company free of cost. The CM said the Microsoft would also arrange free training of students as well as government officers which would be beneficial to the students and in capacity-building of government departments as well. He said rehabilitation of the flood affected areas was being carried out with the help of information technology and the Microsoft was providing a software 'Eagle to the PDMA for this purpose. He also praised the services of Jeffery Avina for the promotion of IT in the province. Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board Javed Ghani informed about the progress made on Eagle technology agreement. He said experts of Eagle would arrive in Lahore in couple of days. Jeffery Avina informed about the details of the agreement between the Microsoft and the Punjab government.