Pakistan Reports Record Growth in Women’s Mobile Internet Use

Pakistan has made significant progress in reducing the digital gender divide, as highlighted in the newly released GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025. The report reveals that Pakistan achieved the largest year-on-year reduction globally in the mobile internet gender gap, decreasing from 38% in 2023 to 25% in 2024 across 80 surveyed countries.

Record Growth in Women’s Mobile Internet Use

The report notes that 2024 was a breakthrough year for digital gender inclusion in Pakistan. The shift was primarily driven by increased mobile internet adoption among rural women, while male adoption also rose by 7%. According to the data, 8 million women and 5 million men in Pakistan began using mobile internet services in 2024 alone.

The progress is credited to joint efforts by public and private sector stakeholders, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy and strong commitments from Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) under the GSMA Connected Women Commitment Initiative. Implementation partners also played a crucial role in achieving this milestone.

A Global Model for Inclusive Connectivity

Now in its eighth edition, the GSMA report highlights that gender disparities in internet use remain a challenge. However, Pakistan’s performance in 2024 marks a significant leap forward and serves as a powerful indicator of inclusive digital progress. The report positions Pakistan as a model for other developing nations working toward gender-equitable digital empowerment.