ISLAMABAD, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Tuesday that creating a safe digital environment for all women and girls is the country's priority.
"Technology can only support progress when women are confident that the digital world is safe and accessible to them," the minister said in a message on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed on Nov. 25.
The country is taking measures to ensure that every woman and girl in Pakistan can use technology without fear and participate fully in the digital landscape, she said.
Highlighting that violence against women is a serious social and human injustice that requires strong and continued attention, Khawaja said that the safety and dignity of women remained central to Pakistan's development goals.
She said that real empowerment can only be achieved when women have access to education, digital skills and economic opportunities, adding that these factors help women participate in national growth and ensure that they are better equipped to protect themselves, both online and offline.
Emphasizing the government's efforts to protect women's rights and eliminate gender-based violence, the minister said that opening pathways for women in technology is an essential pillar for Pakistan's digital future, as broader participation leads to stronger and more inclusive development. ■
