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At this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC), the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP) announced a series of new commitments in partnership with Pakistan’s Universal Service Fund (USF) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). These agreements are designed to support Pakistan’s digital transformation while addressing the significant gender gap in digital connectivity.
In line with the International Women’s Day theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” the initiatives will focus on expanding access to affordable and meaningful connectivity across Pakistan, with particular attention to underserved communities and efforts to reduce the digital divide between men and women. According to GSMA data, mobile internet usage in Pakistan stands at 21% for women compared to 53% for men, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
GDIP’s Executive Director Sonia Jorge confirmed that the new partnerships would focus on implementing a sustainable Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy. “This collaboration is a step forward in our ongoing work to create an inclusive digital environment, ensuring that every Pakistani can access the digital economy,” Jorge said.
The commitments include the following key elements:
- Policy and Regulatory Guidance: GDIP will provide expertise and share best practices with PTA, aiming to support the development of policies that ensure meaningful, affordable connectivity.
- Technical Assistance: The organizations will work together to develop regulatory frameworks that promote community-centered connectivity solutions.
- Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: Planned workshops and technical advisory sessions will facilitate the sharing of research and policy work, including insights from GDIP’s “Subsea Cables Policy Good Practices” and the “Connected Resilience” research series.
- Monitoring and Research: Joint efforts will include hosting the Pakistan Digital Inclusion Forum for Gender Equality and producing situational analysis reports to assess progress in addressing the gender digital divide.
Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed, CEO of the Universal Service Fund, stated, “Our commitment is to bridge Pakistan’s digital divide, particularly for women in rural and marginalized communities. Working with GDIP will support our efforts to expand connectivity and provide opportunities for all Pakistanis.”
Maj Gen Hafeez Ur Rehman, Chairman of the PTA, added, “Enhancing digital inclusion is a priority for us. Our collaboration with GDIP reinforces our strategy to ensure that all citizens have the skills and opportunities to benefit from advancements in ICT.”
The partnership is structured to support Pakistan’s digital future by strengthening policy frameworks, expanding universal service programs, enhancing digital literacy, and facilitating targeted interventions to close the gender digital divide. The collaboration between GDIP, USF, and PTA represents a coordinated effort to support a more inclusive digital landscape in Pakistan without favoring any particular group.
This series of initiatives will be monitored through joint research and forums aimed at evaluating progress and identifying further areas for development, ensuring that policy measures are both effective and inclusive.
