Women’s participation in the economy, especially in the use of technology and digital spaces, remains “alarmingly low”, a report issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Thursday.
According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development called ‘Bridging the Digital Gender Divide’, globally, approximately 327 million fewer women than men have access to smartphones and the mobile Internet.
Locally, as technology and internet usage continue to expand in Pakistan, the issue of the digital gender divide remains a critical concern. Despite a significant increase in internet users, with a rise of 22 million (35.9pc) between 2021 and 2022, overall internet penetration remains below 40pc, according to a United Nations Development Programme blog.
In their annual report issued last week, PTA said that the participation of women “especially in the use of technology and digital spaces”, remained “alarmingly low”.
It said that Pakistan ranked among the “lowest in terms of gender parity and digital inclusion”.
While citing three separate reports — Global Gender Gap Report 2024, the Mobile Connectivity Index 2023, and the Inclusive Internet Index — PTA said that the reports highlighted “significant gaps in female education, mobile ownership, and internet usage, underscoring the need to bridge the digital divide and promote equitable access to technology”.
