Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has urged all stakeholders to champion gender-responsive digital transformation and continue building an inclusive and empowered digital Pakistan. In a message on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, he reiterated the government’s commitment to foster a digital ecosystem that promotes inclusivity, women empowerment, and leaves no one behind.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister emphasized that this year’s theme of the Day: “Why Gender Equality in Digital Transformation Matters,” serves as an urgent call to action to ensure that the benefits of technological progress reach all members of society. He extended warm felicitations to the International Telecommunication Union for its leadership in advancing inclusive and equitable digital development worldwide.

The Prime Minister highlighted that Pakistan has made notable progress in narrowing the gender digital divide. He mentioned that in 2024-25, eight million more women gained mobile internet access, reducing the gender gap from 38 to 25 percent, marking the highest improvement globally, driven by rural women.

Shehbaz Sharif pointed out that these gains are part of Pakistan’s broader digital transformation, with over 200 million telecom subscriptions, 150 million broadband users, and mobile manufacturing increasing to 47.46 percent. He stated that Pakistan’s mobile ecosystem contributes 16.7 billion dollars to the economy.

The Prime Minister noted that through targeted policies, skill development programs, and gender-sensitive digital infrastructure, efforts are being made to ensure that women and girls can actively participate in and benefit from the digital transformation of society.