ISLAMABAD, National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the GSM Association (GSMA) on Tuesday announced establishment of the ‘Action Coalition on Women’s Digital Inclusion.’

Chairperson NCSW Ms Nilofar Bakhtiar signed the Letter of Intent (LOI) on behalf of NCSW. At this occasion, she underscored the importance of bridging the digital gender gap and highlighted the efforts of NCSW for this cause.

She also introduced the report titled as “Digitalization and Women in Pakistan” prepared and published by NCSW. This tri-party collaboration will be committed to bridging the digital gender gap in Pakistan and empowering women through increased access to mobile connectivity.

The NCSW collaborated with key stakeholders and conducted nationwide consultations in December 2022 to delve into the subject of digitalization, says an official statement issued here on Tuesday.

Subsequently, the commission meticulously compiled the insights and findings from these consultations, presenting them in the form of a comprehensive national report titled “Digitalization and Women in Pakistan.”

This pivotal report was globally unveiled during the 67th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

The international launch garnered significant acclaim from all participants, reflecting a widespread recognition of its depth, relevance, and impact. NCSW has its prior commitment to advancing the discourse on the intersection of digitalization and women’s experiences.

Key Objectives of the Action Coalition are to attain gender equality in digital access. This would aim to reduce the gender gap in mobile internet usage and smartphone ownership in Pakistan, fostering an environment of equal opportunities for women in the digital realm.

It also aims to run a large-scale awareness campaign that will be launched to inform women about the benefits of mobile connectivity, addressing barriers related to awareness and understanding of digital opportunities.

In addition to this, the Action Coalition will provide comprehensive digital skills training to women, empowering them with the knowledge to use mobile internet and smartphones effectively.

This LOI is dedicated to contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). The Action Coalition invites collaboration from stakeholders, NGOs, and businesses to join this initiative and contribute to the cause of women’s digital inclusion in Pakistan.