ISLAMABAD: Experts are calling for urgent improvements in infrastructure, digital access, and financial literacy to break barriers and empower women, particularly in the rural areas.

Digital banking and e-commerce present significant opportunities for women’s financial independence and entrepreneurship, but persistent cultural and structural barriers limit access, hindering progress.

They made these remarks during a high-level policy dialogue hosted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), titled ‘Bridging the Gender Gap: Empowering Women in Digital Banking and E-Commerce in Pakistan’.

Dr Van Nguyen of UNDP Pakistan stressed the need for collective action. "We need to empower ourselves, as waiting for others to do so is not enough," she said.

She highlighted the global nature of these challenges, stating, "after over 20 years of working with the United Nations, the issues faced in Pakistan are no different from those worldwide. We have not made the progress we hoped for; that is the reality."

Connectivity, Dr Nguyen emphasised, was essential for progress, saying that, "we cannot move forward unless the government invests in it”. She said connectivity, affordability and digital literacy were critical to enabling people to effectively use technology, and called for actively involving all sectors to empower women.

"If we don’t claim our space, no one will give it to us," Dr Nguyen said.

Member of the Prime Minister’s Council on IT Pervaiz Iftikhar highlighted the connectivity barriers that affected everyone in Pakistan, especially women.

"Things cannot progress if there is no connectivity as banking relies on it," Mr Iftikhar pointed out.

He criticised lack of progress in internet quality, particularly outside major cities, noting that Pakistan lagged behind its neighbours.

"Even when the internet works, there are frequent shutdowns and slowdowns," he said.

Pervaiz Iftikhar also drew attention to the low mobile ownership among women in rural areas, with only 7 per cent of them owning mobile phones compared to 20 per cent men. He attributed cultural barriers to the limited access, saying, "the cultural behaviour keeps phones away, especially for women."

Bank Alfalah's Nageen Akhter stressed the importance of financial literacy for empowering women.

"We are offering digital solutions to address these problems, along with e-commerce solutions that allow women to start businesses," she said, adding that "our strategy focuses on financial education to enable them to earn money".

Mr Akhter also acknowledged that men must play an active role in supporting these efforts.

Ms. Qurat from Mobilink said financial inclusion could not be achieved without both technological and financial literacy.

"Without knowledge, financial inclusion is a hollow concept," she said, adding that Mobilink was providing financial literacy training in rural areas, along with micro-finance options and women-centric products to help empower women.

She also stressed the need to involve men in these initiatives to shift mindsets and encourage support for women’s economic activities at home.

"We engage with them on the ground to understand their needs and tailor our offerings accordingly," she added.

The experts concluded that empowering women in Pakistan required collective effort, with both men and women playing an active role, alongside critical investments in digital access and financial education.