ISLAMABAD: The ministry of IT and telecom set up a ‘Smart Village’ in Swabi on Wednesday to digitally transform rural and remote communities.

The launching ceremony was held here on Wednesday.

The ministry has already set up two ‘Smart Villages’ in Gokina area of Islamabad and Sambrial, Sialkot, under the Smart Village Pakistan initiative, which is designed to digitally transform rural and remote communities across Pakistan in collaboration with Huawei Technologies and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The ‘Smart Village’ Swabi aims to serve as a model for the digital transformation of remote rural communities, which are difficult to access through physical means.

The key beneficiary will be women and farmers through comprehensive digital skills training programmes covering a range of areas from basic digital skills to online marketing, e-commerce, digital financial inclusion, and digital agriculture etc.

Speaking at the inaugural function, Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja stressed the importance of implementing the 5G and technology parks to drive innovation and growth within the country.

She said technology was now being utilised in every sector, reflecting its growing importance in modern governance and development.

She added that the smart village initiative would extend education and healthcare services to remote and underserved areas, as a result, citizens will not be left behind in terms of development in the current digital age.

The ‘Smart Village Swabi’ will serve as a model for progress by offering education, healthcare, and technical training.

Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said that the launch of the smart village was a shining example of how digital innovation could transform lives and communities.

He added that the mission of ITU was to connect the unconnected and ensure that everyone everywhere had access to the opportunities that digital technologies provided.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2025