In recent years, digital tools like mobile apps, social media, and online platforms have been promoted as solutions to gender inequality in Pakistan. These tools can help women learn, work, report abuse, and connect to support systems. But as Pakistan moves towards a digital future, many ask:
Are these digital tools really helping women in Pakistan especially in rural areas or are most women still left behind? The answer is complicated.
This explainer breaks down the current situation, legal protections, the history of women’s access to tech, and what still needs to change.
Gender Digital Divide
The gender digital divide means that women and girls have less access to technology than men. In Pakistan, this divide is one of the widest in the world. According to the UNDP’s 2023 report, women are 43% less likely than men to use the internet, with access rates at 26% for women and 47% for men. However, in rural areas, only 7% of women have internet access compared to 20% of men.
While Pakistan is pushing towards digital transformation, not all citizens are benefiting equally. Women still face major obstacles to digital access, especially those in rural areas, older age groups, and lower income brackets.
In a recent study researchers also found that while digital tools hold promise, structural inequalities continue to block access for many women. This has serious effects. Women are less able to find jobs online, learn digital skills, report violence or harassment, and get health or legal information.
Do Laws Protect Women Online in Pakistan?
Pakistan has made efforts to protect women in the digital world through laws addressing cyber harassment and online abuse. However, these laws often fall short in practice especially for women who fall outside the urban centers.
These laws include the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA, 2016) which addresses cyber harassment, online blackmail, and unauthorized use of personal data. It is used to file cases when there is misuse of private data.
There are also sections in the Pakistan Penal Code that address online sexual harassment and defamation. Even in 2021, the Supreme court recognized the right to privacy as a fundamental and crucial step toward protecting women from digital abuses.
While these legal frameworks exist, implementation is weak. Many women are unaware of their rights or hesitate to report violations due to fear of backlash or lack of trust in the system. Furthermore, the urban–rural digital divide makes it difficult for women in remote areas to access information about their rights or participate in online political discourse. Instead, they often depend on male relatives or political intermediaries.
However, despite these challenges, several digital platforms are making a difference:
- Aurat Foundation uses online campaigns to promote gender equality.
- Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) gives women financial aid, helps them gain confidence, and participates in politics.
- NADRA’s online portal also helps women register for Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) that are essential for voting.
Additionally technology has opened new possibilities, especially in urban areas. Here are some examples of digital tools women can use:
- Women Safety App (Punjab)
Women can report harassment to the police with just a few clicks. - Madadgaar National Helpline
Offers legal advice and emotional support for survivors of abuse. - Humqadam App
Created by Shirkat Gah, this app connects women to services like legal aid, shelters, and counseling. - Cyber Harassment Helpline by DRF
Offers free help for women facing online blackmail, stalking, or threats. - HerCareer.pk A job portal made just for women.
- Sehat Kahani: Connects female doctors with patients via telehealth, especially in underserved areas.
These platforms can be life-changing but only if women have access and know how to use them safely. Global efforts like the GSMA Connected Women Program also work in Pakistan to expand women’s access to mobile internet and smartphones, often in collaboration with local telecom companies.
But the problem is why digital tools still don’t reach most women? Even with all these platforms, why are millions of women unable to use them?
The answer is: Barriers to access.
- Smartphones and data packages are expensive.
- In many families, men decide if women can use phones or the internet.
- Even if women have phones, their activity is often monitored by husbands or in-laws.
- Many women cannot read or understand how to navigate digital apps.
A 2024 report by GSMA, shows that only 36% of Pakistani women use mobile internet, compared to 67% of men. So, there is dire need to raise awareness and educate not only women but men in the lower income areas to understand the transformative nature of the digital world.
Stories of Change and Their Limits
Take the story of Shumaila, a young woman from rural Sindh. After marriage, her tailoring business declined. She borrowed her husband’s phone to promote her work via WhatsApp. Slowly, she built a network and now earns enough to support her children.
But this is an exception. Many rural women don’t have the freedom or knowledge to use tech like she did. Without policy changes, stories like hers will remain rare.
What Needs to Happen?
Digital tools alone cannot solve the deeply rooted gender inequalities in Pakistan. For them to be effective, they must be supported by meaningful social and legal change. This includes:
Improve Access
- Subsidized smartphones for low-income women
- Expand 4G/5G coverage in rural areas
- Set up digital literacy centers for women
Enforce Laws
- Train police and courts to handle online harassment and cybercrime cases better
- Make PECA and harassment laws work for rural women too
Build Trust
- Raise awareness of rights through campaigns in local languages
- Involve men and families in digital literacy programs so they don’t see female tech use as a threat
Fund Women-Led Tech
- Support local women creating apps or solutions for other women
- Create safe online spaces for women to learn, share, and support one another
Digital tools can empower women. They can make it easier to report violence, learn new skills, and earn a living. But they are not a magic fix.
Without stronger laws, greater awareness, and inclusive infrastructure, these tools will only benefit a privileged few, while the majority of Pakistani women remain digitally excluded.
The real question isn’t just “Are digital tools helpful?”
It is: Who gets to access them? Who controls them? And ultimately, who benefits?
Noor ul Sabah
Noor ul Sabah is a feminist researcher focused on intersectional approaches to gender, technology, and governance. Her work explores how power and identity shape experiences of violence, migration, and citizenship.
