Leveling the digital playing field – How CIRCLE women association empower Pakistani women

It is a big stride towards enhancing digital connectivity: Lahore is a place to host 100 free WiFi connection spots across public places. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s initiative aims to extend its reach throughout Punjab, with plans for a total of 460 such spots across the province. This is a wonderful step.

I have been into programmes related to digital literacy for women since 2018 and I can attest to the transformative power of digital connectivity. A smartphone with internet connection serves as a gateway to empowerment, particularly for our womenfolk who have historically faced marginalization. Through access to digital networks, they not only gain a voice but also the means to participate more actively in economic activities.

While the provision of free WiFi is undoubtedly a commendable step, its true potential can only be tapped when coupled with digital literacy initiatives. Without adequate knowledge and skills to use internet, this connectivity risks being reduced to a mere tool for YouTube streaming-led entertainment or long phone calls on WhatsApp rather than a source for meaningful change.

I would suggest that alongside the expansion of WiFi infrastructure, the government must invest in programmess that promote digital literacy among the public, especially women. My own experience of working with women from Rajanpur to Islamabad, tells me that digital literacy opens doors to skills, networks, and economic opportunities. In our part of the world, a significant digital gender divide persists, with many women lacking access to, and understanding of, digital tools and the internet. This gap not only limits their personal growth but also hinders the nation’s economic development.

While the COVID-19 brought the whole world to a halt, the lockdown challenges brought out the potential of digital tools which facilitated workers to perform jobs from home. It also highlighted the glaring digital divide.

It was during this time that initiatives like Digital Acceleration Programme were launched by CIRCLE Women Association, recognizing the urgent need to bridge this gap and empower Pakistani women through technology, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy.

This programme changed many lives across Pakistan. Even if women have access to the internet, they often lack the knowledge and skills to utilize it effectively. The majority resort to using digital tools for entertainment or basic needs, unaware of the broader opportunities that digital literacy can unlock.

This programme was launched in collaboration with UN Women for 60 women in areas of Multan, Bahawalpur and so on. The programme aimed to equip these women, particularly home-based workers, with essential digital skills, including effective use of social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, and WhatsApp for business.

The impact is still under study but what is visible is that as women gained proficiency in digital tools, their businesses experienced a surge in reach and visibility. No longer confined to local markets, they began receiving orders from across the country, expanding their customer base and boosting their economic prospects. The programme not only provided practical skills but also instilled confidence and a sense of belonging among participants.

Where digital world unlocks opportunities, it also brings trolling and harassment to women’s life. No doubt, we have several cyber control laws but the need for cybersecurity education cannot be ignored. As women entre online spaces, they are vulnerable to various forms of harassment and scams, both on the ground and in the digital realm.

Laws alone cannot create safe spaces for women online; also education is not enough. As a whole society, we need to stand up against online crimes, such as trolling, harassment and data theft. While digital literacy empowers women, cybersecurity education as well as collective response can ensure their safety and security in the online world.

Every effort to empower public, especially women, through digital literacy and cybersecurity education goes beyond a person’s empowerment. It extends to families, communities, and the nation at large, as empowered women become agents of change, driving economic prosperity and social development.

In the journey towards a digitally inclusive society, the role of fathers and male family members cannot be understated. Unless they support their daughters and sisters, women’s digital success will remain a dream.

So, it is a task which should be undertaken by government, public, families and male members to champion digital literacy and cybersecurity education.