A workshop focused on empowering women digitally and promoting safe internet usage was organized by the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and Google’s initiatives ‘Internet Dost’ and ‘Internet Zabardast’ in Lahore.
Dr. Rashid Bajwa, Head of NRSP, highlighted that more than 60,000 children, women, and teachers are benefiting from the ‘Internet Dost’ initiative. He emphasized the program’s goal to bridge the digital divide and address gender and geographical disparities. Kyle Gardner, Google’s Policy Lead for South Asia, mentioned that this digital literacy initiative aligns strongly with Pakistan’s international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals and Vision 2025.
Amjad Saqib of Akhuwat Foundation pointed out that women in society still lag behind men and aspire to achieve much more. He commended NRSP’s efforts, noting that many women are benefiting from this initiative. Director General of the Labor Department, Kulsoom Hayat, also praised the ongoing project focusing on women’s empowerment.
NRSP Program Officer, Sohail Manzoor, stated that the project places significant emphasis on underdeveloped districts. Musherraf Farooqi from StoryKit noted that they are teaching safe internet usage to women and children in a simplified manner. Other speakers highlighted that Pakistan still lags in the use of the digital world, and this collaborative effort by NRSP and Google is a commendable step forward. The ‘Internet Dost’ and ‘Internet Zabardast’ programs are making a significant impact not only in urban areas but also in rural regions.
The workshop shared that under this project, efforts are being made to train and economically uplift rural women in districts such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Chiniot, Jhelum, Attock, and Kasur in Punjab.
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