PTA & A4A1 Workshop Highlights the Importance of Gender Inclusion in ICTs

PTA & A4A1 Workshop Highlights the Importance of Gender Inclusion in ICTs

Islamabad (18th August, 2022): Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) organized a Digital Gender Sensitization Workshop. The event focused on gender inclusion in ICTs and facilitating digital empowerment of women in Pakistan.

Additional Secretary (Incharge) IT&T, Mr. MohsinMushtaq was the chief guest on this occasion. Chairman PTA, Maj. General Amir AzeemBajwa (R); Member C&E PTA, Dr. KhawarSidiqueKhokhar, senior officers from Frequency Allocation Board (FAB), CEOs of USF, Ignite, Jazz and representatives from mobile operators & members of international organizations, and civil society attended the event.

Speaking at the event, the chief guest appreciated PTA’s proactive and inclusive approach towards digital gender connectivity. He said that Government of Pakistan and MoIT&T are engaging with global and regional organizations for improving digital gender gap in Pakistan.

At the event, Chairman PTA said that PTA is committed to ensure access to all and improve digital gender inclusion in ICTs in Pakistan. It is striving to develop a digital strategy that brings together key stakeholders of gender mainstreaming in Pakistan.

The highlight of the event was the session on ‘Women Leading the Tech’ chaired by Chairperson Competition Commission of Pakistan, Ms. RahatKunain Hassan and eminent Pakistani female leaders as panelists. The panelists included: Founder & CEO, Katalyst Labs, Ms. JehanAra; Country Head – Code for Pakistan, Ms. SaminaRizwan; Executive Director, Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education (PAGE), Ms. FajerRabia Pasha and CEO National Forum of Women with Disabilities in Pakistan (NFWWD), Ms. AbiaAkram. The panelists stressed on creating conducive environment that give women the support to excel and consequently propel the growth of the entire technology Ecosystem.

UNESCO Consultant presented on robust strategy development for digital inclusion. During the workshop, emphasis has given on inclusive policy reforms and multisectoral collaborations towards the objective of bridging the digital gender divide.