Barcelona, Spain – March 2025
First published on TechJuice
The Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP) recently announced commitments with the Government of Pakistan’s Universal Service Fund (USF) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Both organizations are committed to ensuring meaningful connectivity for all and empowering women and girls to create a more inclusive digital future for Pakistan.
These timely commitments aligned well with this year’s International Women’s Day theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.“ GDIP will work closely with USF and PTA through these cooperations to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation by promoting the availability and urgent need for meaningful connectivity while reducing the gender digital divide.
GDIP’s Executive Director Sonia Jorge finalized these cooperations on day one of this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. She said, “We [GDIP] have played a key role in developing a sustainable Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy, signing these collaborations marks the next critical step for implementation of this vision. We now have to do the work that will enable us to foster more inclusive digital landscapes in Pakistan and beyond. Through our shared mission and expertise, I am excited to collaborate with the PTA and USF to double down on our mission to provide inclusive and meaningful connectivity for all.”
GDIP is dedicated to advancing meaningful connectivity in the global majority and ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age. By leveraging technical expertise, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, GDIP aims to support Pakistan in implementing PTA’s Digital Gender Inclusion in ICTs Strategy while fostering a more enabling regulatory environment for ICT and telecommunication services. According to data published by the GSMA, with only 21% of Pakistani women using mobile internet compared to 53% of men, these collaborations are critical in addressing systemic digital inequities and unlocking opportunities for women and girls across the country.
As part of these commitments, GDIP, USF, and the PTA have agreed to share technical expertise, support policy development, and enhance digital access for underserved communities, particularly women and marginalized groups.
The commitments focus on four key areas: Policy and Regulatory Guidance, where GDIP collaborates with PTA to develop policies for affordable connectivity; Technical Assistance, aimed at creating regulatory frameworks for community-centered solutions; Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building, featuring workshops and advisory sessions based on GDIP’s research; and Monitoring and Research, including the Pakistan Digital Inclusion Forum for Gender Equality and situational analysis reports on the gender digital divide.
Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed, CEO of the Universal Service Fund, said:
“The Universal Service Fund remains committed to bridging Pakistan’s digital divide, particularly for women in marginalized populations in rural areas. This cooperation with GDIP will help expand meaningful connectivity, ensuring that every Pakistani can benefit from the digital economy.”
Maj Gen Hafeez Ur Rehman, Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, said:
“A digitally inclusive Pakistan is a priority for PTA. Our collaboration with GDIP strengthens our efforts in implementing the Digital Gender Inclusion in ICTs Strategy, fostering an ecosystem where all citizens, regardless of gender, have the digital skills and ability to access and benefit from ICT advancements.”
Through these renewed affirmations, GDIP, USF, and PTA are working together to create a more inclusive digital future for Pakistan, empowering women and girls and ensuring meaningful connectivity for all.
For more information, please contact:
press@globaldigitalinclusion.org or visit Media Contacts page.
About GDIP
The Global Digital Inclusion Partnership is a coalition of public, private, and civil society organizations working to bring internet connectivity to the global majority and ensure everyone is meaningfully connected by 2030. GDIP advances digital opportunities to empower and support people’s lives and agency, leading to inclusive digital societies.