The government has announced plans to establish the country’s first women’s software technology park in Azad Kashmir, with a launch date planned for February. The initiative aims to bridge the gender-based digital divide in the region and promote women’s participation in the technology industry.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), chaired by Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja. The meeting reviewed the overall performance of the IT sector of Pakistan.

The move is part of a broader government plan, revealed in May, to create 10 new software technology parks across the country by next year, including one in the capital, Islamabad. These parks will include incubation centers, facilities to support start-ups and aim to expand Pakistan’s digital landscape, increase IT exports and promote gender inclusion in the technology sector.

“The initiative (in Azad Kashmir) underlines our commitment to creating equal opportunities for women and ensuring their meaningful participation in Pakistan’s digital economy,” Minister Khawaja said in an official statement after the meeting.

Currently, women make up 20% of the workforce in PSEB-supported technology parks, which collectively employ over 18,000 export professionals across 43 IT parks in Pakistan.

PSEB has also been proactive in creating employment opportunities through training, certification and internship programs.

Since 2020, the organization has facilitated more than 10,000 placements. Looking ahead, PSEB aims to empower 25,000 self-employed workers by 2027 by establishing 250 online job centers and expanding the country’s IT sector internationally.