Pakistan has recorded the largest decrease worldwide in the gender gap in mobile internet usage, with the gap narrowing from 38% in 2023 to 25% in 2024, according to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025. The data reflects that approximately 8 million more women in Pakistan gained access to mobile internet during this period.
This achievement is being seen as a major step toward digital inclusion, especially for women in rural and underserved communities. Increased internet access allows more women to participate in education, employment, healthcare, and digital services — all key to broader social and economic progress.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, praised the progress and credited targeted government policies for closing the gap. He emphasized the role of initiatives focused on rural connectivity and digital literacy for women.
The GSMA report also showed that 45% of women in Pakistan now use mobile internet, a figure that surpasses India (39%) and Bangladesh (26%), positioning Pakistan ahead of its regional peers in female digital access.
Experts say that the progress is due to improved affordability, expanded infrastructure, and training programs aimed at increasing women’s participation in the digital economy. However, challenges persist in certain areas, where cultural norms and income levels still limit mobile internet use for women.
Officials say the government and private companies should keep working together to make sure women everywhere in Pakistan can use the internet and benefit from the opportunities it offers.