Islamabad: Federal Minister for IT & Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gender gap in technology while shaping the future of women in the digital economy. Speaking at a webinar titled “HERstory: Google IWD 2025” organized by Google Pakistan to celebrate International Women’s Day, Khawaja underscored the country’s growing commitment to empowering women in the digital space.
Khawaja emphasized the remarkable achievements of young women in Pakistan, who have consistently excelled in education and are emerging as leaders in the technology sector. According to the Minister, these women are not only excelling on merit but also setting benchmarks for the next generation, proving that gender is no barrier to success in the tech world.
The webinar, aligned with this year’s Women’s Day theme, “Accelerate Action,” focused on the empowerment of women in the digital economy. The event brought together a panel of women who had benefited from Google’s digital skilling initiatives and went on to create programs aimed at passing on their newfound skills to other women. These women have also used their platforms to amplify female voices, furthering the cause of gender inclusivity in the tech industry.
Khawaja’s remarks during the webinar reinforced Pakistan’s vision for the future. “Our commitment is clear—no woman should be left behind in the tech revolution. Together with industry leaders like Google, we are building a future where women do not just participate in technology, but also lead it,” she stated, emphasizing the government’s dedication to providing equal opportunities for women in the digital economy.
Farhan Qureshi, Google’s Country Director for Pakistan, also shared his perspective on the role of technology in transforming lives. Qureshi stressed that Google was dedicated to building a “future-forward Pakistan,” where everyone, regardless of gender, could reach their full potential in the rapidly evolving digital economy. With Pakistan being the third-largest freelance economy in the world and possessing a growing pool of digital talent, Qureshi expressed Google’s continued focus on equipping Pakistanis with the necessary skills to succeed globally.
One of the key initiatives mentioned during the webinar was Google’s Digital Safar, a program designed to provide Pakistani youth with the skills needed to succeed in the global digital marketplace. Additionally, Google Career Certificates (GCC) have offered industry-recognized training in fields such as cybersecurity, digital marketing, and data analytics. Since the program’s launch in 2022, over 100,000 scholarships have been awarded, with nearly 50% of the recipients being women. This initiative, along with other programs like the AI Essentials skilling program, is designed to ensure that Pakistani women are well-prepared to harness the power of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The impact of Google’s efforts is visible in the increasing number of women benefiting from these programs, as they gain skills that open up new opportunities in tech-related careers. Additionally, Google’s Career Kamyabi initiative has been particularly impactful in addressing the employment gap for female graduates of GCC programs, creating pathways to employment for women across Pakistan.
In parallel with these efforts, a separate initiative was launched by the Thai embassy in Islamabad in collaboration with the United Nations and Depilex, aimed at equipping women in Sialkot with entrepreneurship skills. This initiative focuses on promoting women’s entrepreneurship in the beauty industry, providing them with the skills to create sustainable, women-led businesses. The project aims to foster financial independence for women by equipping them with the tools to succeed in the beauty sector.
Rongvudhi Virabutr, Thailand’s Ambassador to Pakistan, emphasized the importance of women’s economic empowerment in advancing gender equality. He stated, “By equipping women with professional skills in the beauty sector, we aim to foster their self-confidence and independence through the ability to earn their income.” The initiative aligns with a broader global commitment to women’s rights and economic empowerment.
The event in Sialkot also received praise from UN Women Pakistan’s country representative, Jamshed Kazi, and Masarrat Misbah, the founder of Depilex Clinics & Institute Pakistan. Both expressed their support for the scheme, acknowledging the significant role that skill-building plays in promoting women’s empowerment, particularly in industries like cosmetics.
In conclusion, Pakistan is making significant strides in closing the gender gap in the digital economy, with both government initiatives and private sector collaborations playing a vital role in empowering women across the country. Through educational programs, digital skilling, and entrepreneurship initiatives, the country is setting a foundation for a more inclusive and dynamic future, where women have an equal seat at the table in shaping the digital landscape.