ISLAMABAD: Pakistan saw a major boost in mobile internet usage among women in 2024, significantly reducing the gender gap in mobile internet adoption from 38% to 25%, according to the newly released GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025.
This shift means Pakistani women are now 25% less likely than men to use mobile internet — a notable improvement over previous years.
Across South Asia, however, the gender gap in mobile internet usage remains mostly unchanged at 32%, with approximately 330 million women in the region still offline.
Pakistan Outperforms India and Bangladesh in Women’s Mobile Internet Usage
The report highlights that 45% of women in Pakistan now use mobile internet, compared to 39% in India and 26% in Bangladesh. This is a sharp increase from 33% in 2023, representing a 12-percentage-point growth largely fueled by adoption in rural areas.
Mobile internet usage among Pakistani men also saw growth, rising by seven percentage points over the same period.
Pakistan Leads South Asia in Mobile Ownership Among Men
In terms of mobile ownership, 93% of men in Pakistan own a mobile phone — the highest in South Asia — compared to 71% in India and 68% in Bangladesh, according to the GSMA report.
Regulatory and Telecom Efforts Praised
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was commended for launching the Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy 2020, aimed at creating equal digital access for women.
Major telecom providers — Jazz, Telenor, and Ufone — were also acknowledged for their contributions through the GSMA Connected Women Commitment Initiative, striving to grow their female customer base for mobile internet.
Around 8 Million Women Came Online in 2024
Industry leaders welcomed the findings, noting that about 8 million Pakistani women began using mobile internet in 2024.
Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim emphasized that digital access creates opportunities and that smartphone ownership is a key equalizer for women. However, he noted that rural and low-income areas still face significant barriers such as affordability and deep-rooted social norms.
He stressed the importance of engaging not only women but also household decision-makers like fathers and brothers, to overcome resistance to women owning smartphones.
Call for Localized Solutions and Digital Literacy
Telecom operators have advocated for tailored solutions, including installment-based smartphone plans and localized digital literacy programs, to bridge the digital divide more effectively.
High Awareness Among Men and Women
The report also noted that awareness of mobile internet in Pakistan is exceptionally high, with 89% of men and 86% of women aware of it — indicating a minimal gender disparity in digital awareness.
The GSMA emphasized that increasing awareness is crucial to ensure that more women can safely and independently use mobile internet.
