150 Women Empowerment Centers to be established across Pakistan

Ministry of Information Technology is going to establish 150 Women Empowerment Centers as a part of a Government’s project, “ICTs for girls”. These centers will aim to provide quality IT education under a Microsoft-led program to thousands of young girls of the disadvantaged background.

These centers, equipped with state of the art computer labs and broadband connectivity, would be established at Pakistan Bait-ul-mal (PBM). Trainings in accordance with Microsoft’s Digital Skills program would be imparted through these centers.

The Microsoft’s Digital Skills program follows 4 Cs, each C being computing, coding, communication, and coaching. These four modules are employed to increase the employability potential of women, which in turn would result into greater empowerment for them.

The information and communication technology (ICT) initiative for girls empowerment is organized by Ministry of Information Technology in collaboration with Pakistan Bait-ul-mal, Universal Services Fund, and Microsoft.

This program dubbed as “ICTs for girls” was launched in November 2015. Its first phase included up gradation of 50 IT labs of Bait-ul-Mal by Microsoft, which is in progress to date. Microsoft has also trained 100 Master Trainers as part of the project’s first phase. Now, new 150 Women Empowerment Centers would be established under the same program.

Minister of Information Technology Anusha Rahman, on this occasion, said,

“Present Government is committed towards an all inclusive society with enhanced empowerment of women through a well structured enabling environment that could guarantee their financial autonomy. We are conscious of our social responsibility. Through technological capacity building, the women and girls under this program shall prove to be great asset for the economic engine of the country.”

Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh were also present on the occasion who thanked Ministry of Information Technology, USF, and Microsoft for their support in increasing IT literacy in Pakistan, especially for girls.