Shehbaz Restates Commitment to Inclusive Digital Pakistan
— May 17, 2025
ISLAMABAD (AIA) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a digital ecosystem that fosters inclusion, empowers women, and ensures no one is left behind.
In his message on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2025, the premier said, “Through targeted policies, skills development programmes, and gender-sensitive digital infrastructure, we are working to ensure that women and girls can actively participate in and benefit from the digital transformation of our society.”
He extended warm felicitations to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), lauding its leadership in advancing inclusive and equitable digital development across the globe.
Highlighting the significance of this year’s theme, ‘Why Gender Equality in Digital Transformation Matters’, Shehbaz called it “an urgent call to action” to make sure that the benefits of technological progress are shared equally by all members of society.
He noted that Pakistan had made remarkable progress in narrowing the gender digital divide. “In 2024–2025, eight million more women gained mobile internet access, reducing the gender gap from 38% to 25%—the highest improvement globally, driven largely by rural women,” he said.
The PM added that these advancements were part of Pakistan’s broader digital transformation agenda. “We have crossed 200 million telecom subscriptions, 150 million broadband users, and 2 million FTTH connections. Our mobile manufacturing sector grew by 47.46%, and international connectivity has improved through high-capacity submarine cables,” he said.
“Today, Pakistan’s mobile ecosystem contributes $16.7 billion to the economy,” he noted.
The prime minister concluded his message by urging all stakeholders to “champion gender-responsive digital transformation and continue building an inclusive and empowered digital Pakistan.”