Islamabad: Pakistan has made substantial progress in closing the digital gender gap under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Nation Vision, with 8 million women gaining access to mobile internet in 2024. This development, detailed in the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025, highlights a reduction in the gender gap from 38% to 25%.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has been instrumental in the initiatives leading to this achievement. The report shows an increase in women’s mobile internet usage from 33% in 2023 to 45% in 2024. This 12 percentage point rise is the highest among surveyed countries, notably driven by rural women’s participation.

In 2024, a total of 13 million Pakistanis, including 8 million women and 5 million men, began using mobile internet, marking the success of the government’s digital empowerment efforts. Ms. Khawaja emphasized the importance of coordinated action to ensure inclusivity in digital transformation.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication credits the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, National Commission on the Status of Women, mobile operators, and development partners for their roles in achieving this milestone.

This progress aligns with Pakistan’s commitment to gender equality and socio-economic development through technological advancements, reflecting the Prime Minister’s vision for a Digital Pakistan.