Karachi, Pakistan – Google Pakistan marked International Women’s Day 2025 with “HERstory: Google IWD 2025,” a webinar highlighting the growing role of women in Pakistan’s digital economy. The event, attended by over 550 people, featured Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and focused on empowering women through digital skills, mentorship, and access to technology.
The webinar, aligned with the IWD 2025 theme “Accelerate Action,” showcased the achievements of women who have benefited from Google’s digital skilling initiatives and are now driving progress for other women in the tech sector.
“Pakistan is not just bridging the gender gap in technology—we are redefining the future of women in the digital economy,” stated Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, highlighting the government’s efforts to equip women with digital tools. “Through initiatives like the laptop scheme, we have empowered thousands of female students. From AI to cybersecurity, women are pioneers.”
Farhan Qureshi, Google’s Country Director for Pakistan, emphasized Google’s commitment to building a “Future Forward Pakistan.” He pointed to the country’s growing freelance economy and digital talent pool, noting the significant participation of women in Google’s programs. “Through initiatives like Digital Safar, Google Career Certificates, and our Google Developer Groups, we will continue to equip all Pakistanis with the skills, opportunities, and networks to succeed,” he said.
Google’s initiatives to empower Pakistan’s digital economy include:
- Google Career Certificates (GCC): Providing industry-recognized training in fields like cybersecurity and digital marketing, with nearly 50% of the 100,000 scholarships awarded going to women.
- Google Developer Groups (GDGs): Fostering community-led learning and mentorship, with over 1,300 women participating in the #AISeekho program.
- YouTube Creator Support: Supporting the growth of Pakistani creators, including women like Iqra Kanwal and Kanwal Ahmed, with a 25% year-over-year increase in channels earning over 10 million PKR annually.
According to Google’s “Agay Barho: Empowering Pakistan’s Digital Economy” report, closing the digital skills gap could add PKR 2.8 trillion to Pakistan’s GDP by 2030. Google plans to continue supporting women in tech through mentorship, training, and networking events.
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