Pakistan, May 18 -- On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan saw the largest decrease in the global gender digital gap during 2024-25, as eight million additional women gained access to mobile internet.
The announcement was made on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, which is celebrated every year on May 17 to highlight the significance of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
The observance was established in 1969 to mark the establishment of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on this date in 1865.
Pakistan has been working towards enhancing gender equality in digital accessibility to support its larger economic objectives, notably as it aims to draw foreign investments into its information technology industry.
"Pakistan has achieved significant strides in reducing the gap between genders regarding digital access," Sharif stated in a release from his office.
In 2024-2025, an additional 8 million women obtained mobile internet access, narrowing the gender gap from 38 percent to 25 percent—the greatest global improvement, driven primarily by rural women,” he noted.
The prime minister highlighted that Pakistan's digital transformation includes surpassing 200 million telecom subscriptions, 150 million broadband users and two million fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections.
Additionally, mobile manufacturing has grown by 47.46 percent, and international connectivity has been enhanced through high-capacity submarine cables.
The prime minister noted the mobile ecosystem was now contributing $16.7 billion to Pakistan's economy.
He stated that the government is dedicated to cultivating a digital setting that encourages inclusivity and strengthens women’s empowerment via specific policies, skill-building initiatives, and gender-focused digital infrastructure.
Sharif also called on all stakeholders to champion gender-responsive digital transformation and continue building an inclusive and empowered digital Pakistan.
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