Pakistan Leads South Asia in Closing Mobile Internet Gender Gap
Pakistani women now use mobile internet more than their Indian and Bangladeshi peers, driven by rural adoption and focused digital inclusion efforts.
Pakistan is making remarkable progress in bridging the digital divide between men and women, emerging as a leader in South Asia for mobile internet usage among women. According to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025, Pakistan’s female mobile internet users now surpass their counterparts in India and Bangladesh, signaling a significant breakthrough in digital empowerment.
In 2024, the gap between male and female mobile internet users in Pakistan shrank from 38% to 25%. Currently, 45% of Pakistani women use mobile internet, compared to 39% in India and only 26% in Bangladesh. This improvement is credited to the combined efforts of telecom operators and regulators, particularly the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which introduced a digital gender inclusion strategy in 2020.
A major driver behind this surge is the increased connectivity among rural women. In 2024 alone, approximately 8 million women accessed mobile internet for the first time in Pakistan. This influx marks a critical step toward enabling women across the country to participate in the digital economy, access education, healthcare, and income-generating opportunities through their smartphones.
Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim highlighted that these numbers represent more than data—they signify millions of women stepping into a new world of possibilities. He stressed that a smartphone in a woman’s hand is not just a device but a gateway to empowerment and independence.
Despite the progress, challenges persist. Affordability remains a key barrier in many rural and low-income areas. Social norms and household decision-making dynamics often limit women’s access to smartphones and the internet. Ibrahim emphasized the need to educate not only women but also men, who play a crucial role in enabling women’s digital participation.
Awareness about mobile internet services is improving, with 89% of men and 86% of women in Pakistan now aware of these services. The GSMA report urges continued efforts in raising awareness and creating safe, accessible pathways for women to connect online effectively.
Pakistan’s progress in closing the mobile internet gender gap is a promising sign of digital transformation. Empowering women digitally can accelerate social and economic development, and Pakistan’s example shows how focused strategies and inclusive policies can make a real difference in narrowing gender disparities in technology access.
