Azad Kashmir to Host Pakistan’s First Women-Centric Software Technology Park

ISLAMABAD: In February next year, Pakistan is set to launch its first women-focused software technology park in Azad Kashmir. This initiative aims to bridge the gender gap in access to electronic resources in the region.

Government Commitment to Digital Inclusion

Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Information Technology, presided over a meeting of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), where the board discussed and approved the IT sector’s overall performance report.

The government announced a plan in May to build 10 new software technology parks across the country by next year, with one in the federal capital. This move is part of that plan.

With the help of these parks’ incubation centers and other amenities, Pakistan’s digital landscape will grow, the country’s exports of information technology will rise, and the tech industry will be more accessible to women and girls.

Impact on Pakistan’s Digital Landscape

“The initiative [to set up the software technology park in Azad Kashmir] underscores our dedication to creating equal opportunities for women and ensuring their meaningful participation in Pakistan’s digital economy,” the minister was quoted as saying in an official statement circulated after the meeting.

The statement revealed that among the workforce in software technology parks financed by PSEB, 20% are female IT professionals.

More than 18,000 export professionals are working in 43 different Pakistani IT parks right now. More than 10,000 people have found employment due to PSEB programs that have been in place since 2020 and include internships, targeted training, and certifications.

By building 250 e-Employment Centres by 2027, the organization aspires to empower 25,000 freelancers and increase the country’s IT sector’s international impact.