Pakistan has achieved a historic milestone in digital inclusion by recording the fastest reduction in the mobile internet gender gap globally, according to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025. The report highlights that Pakistan’s gender gap in mobile internet usage shrank from 38% in 2023 to 25% in 2024, marking a 13 percentage point drop — the most significant year-on-year improvement among the 80 countries surveyed.
This remarkable progress translates to 8 million Pakistani women gaining access to mobile internet in 2024 alone, alongside 5 million men. This increase is a landmark moment in the country’s efforts to bridge the digital divide and empower women, particularly in rural areas, where the uptake was notably strong. While mobile internet adoption has been growing steadily over the past few years, 2024 represents a breakthrough, with accelerated inclusion and rising awareness about the benefits of digital connectivity.
The GSMA report underscores that the mobile internet gender gap measures the disparity in usage rates between men and women. In Pakistan’s case, the 13-point decline reflects deliberate and impactful interventions across public and private sectors. Key contributors include the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) implementation of the Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy and various Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) aligning with the GSMA Connected Women Commitment Initiative. These efforts, combined with the work of local implementation partners, have played a critical role in driving change.
This is the first significant reduction in Pakistan’s gender gap since 2021 and represents a major step toward inclusive digital transformation. The GSMA, now in its eighth edition of publishing the Mobile Gender Gap Report, has praised Pakistan’s efforts, emphasizing how strong collaboration and sustained initiatives can help overcome deep-rooted disparities.
As digital technologies become increasingly central to education, employment, and social participation, Pakistan’s example sets a global benchmark. The country’s 2024 success story highlights that with the right policy frameworks and stakeholder commitment, meaningful progress toward digital gender equality is achievable.
