ISLAMABAD: There is an urgent need to digitally empower women to address the gender divide and strengthen women’s empowerment in Pakistan.

It was highlighted by experts at a conference titled “Digital Futures’2025: Bridging the Gender Divide for Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan” on Wednesday.

The event, which coincided with National Women’s Day (February 12) and International Women’s Day (March 8), was organised by the Devcom-Pakistan and brought together influential policymakers, activists and experts to discuss the role of digital technology in advancing gender equality.

Experts called for the development of policies that promote gender-inclusive digital spaces. This includes addressing online harassment and discrimination and creating safe environments for women to express themselves and participate in the digital economy.

The conference was attended by Member of National Assembly (MNA) Syeda Amna Batool, serves as focal person for the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh.

MNA Batool discussed ongoing initiatives to empower youth, particularly young women, through digital training and skill development.

Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said: “We live in an era where technology, particularly digital platforms, has become the great equaliser. But for women in Pakistan, the gender divide in the digital space is a significant challenge that we must overcome. While digital platforms offer immense potential, women continue to face barriers such as limited access to technology, lack of digital literacy, cultural norms, and gender-based online violence. These barriers not only hinder women’s access to opportunities but also hold back our nation’s potential.”

The experts and award winners included Sadaf Asim Abbasi, Riffat Ara Baig, SDPI Gender Expert Ms. Sadia Satti, Chairman Read Pakistan Farrukh Dall, CEO of CPAIR and Centre for Climate Diplomacy Amna Munawar Malik, Dr Farzana Bari, Gender and Parliamentary development Expert Dr Ghazala Khan, UNDP Consultant Safe Digital Environment, and others.

Atiqa Masood and Najmul Hassan were conferred the National Women Empowerment Awards for women’s empowerment in the workplace and skills development, respectively.

The conference concluded with a call to action for the government, tech companies, and NGOs to intensify efforts in creating a digitally inclusive society, where women have equal opportunities to thrive in all spheres of life, from education and entrepreneurship to employment and leadership.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2025