A high-level steering committee convened in Islamabad to assess the progress made under Pakistan’s Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy, a national initiative designed to bridge the digital divide between men and women and promote gender equity in the digital ecosystem.
The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and brought together senior representatives from key stakeholders including the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), UN Women, and other development partners.
The Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy aims to create inclusive digital spaces, empower women through technology, and ensure equal access to digital resources. The review meeting focused on evaluating milestones, identifying gaps, and aligning future goals with national development frameworks and international commitments such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During the session, Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja reaffirmed the government’s dedication to fostering a digitally inclusive society. She emphasized the importance of implementing actionable policies, improving digital literacy among women, and enhancing infrastructure to ensure that all segments of society—regardless of gender—can benefit from digital transformation.
UN Women Pakistan and other international organizations presented key insights and recommendations based on global best practices. They stressed the need for increased investments in digital skills training, gender-sensitive policymaking, and collaboration with the private sector to expand outreach.
Participants also reviewed ongoing and upcoming programs aimed at:
- Increasing women’s participation in the ICT workforce,
- Supporting female entrepreneurs through e-commerce platforms, and
- Promoting safe and inclusive online spaces.
The committee acknowledged that cultural, economic, and infrastructural barriers remain a challenge in remote and underserved areas. However, members agreed that a unified, multi-sectoral approach is essential to accelerate progress.
A detailed report on strategy implementation progress will be released later this year to highlight impact metrics and areas requiring targeted intervention.
This initiative is part of the broader “Digital Pakistan” vision, which seeks to harness the power of technology to build a more inclusive, knowledge-based economy.
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