Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Pakistan has committed to making the internet safer for women and girls, with Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja linking online protection to national digital progress. Addressing widespread cyber-harassment and the digital gender gap, she emphasized digital skills, access, and safety as essential for women’s empowerment and Pakistan’s broader economic transformation.
Egypt’s Maaki initiative empowers one million women in Upper Egypt with digital skills through a partnership between MSMEDA, Vodafone Egypt, Samsung, and CARE Egypt, advancing digital inclusion and women’s entrepreneurship.
Uber launched a “Women Drivers” option in Saudi Arabia, enabling female passengers to request female drivers, enhancing safety and supporting women’s economic participation amid ongoing social reforms.
Afghan women use Bitcoin and crypto to bypass Taliban restrictions and gain financial freedom amid strict bans and limited education. The Digital Citizen Fund provides underground literacy programs, with crypto serving as a vital tool for survival and human rights advocacy.
Jordan’s Senate President inaugurates a conference focusing on digital transformation’s role in economic empowerment, with emphasis on advancing women’s participation and fostering entrepreneurship in a rapidly changing world.
The Bangladesh government is expanding digital access to bridge inequality, focusing on women and rural populations. Efforts include enabling mobile access to government services and aligning with SDG Goal 10. Taiyeb calls for media collaboration to raise awareness and empower marginalized groups through digital inclusion.
Telenor Pakistan has launched two initiatives—‘Nayi Raah,’ a flexible part-time work model, and an Executive MBA scholarship program in partnership with LUMS. These initiatives are designed to empower female employees, supporting their work-life balance and professional growth, and align with the International Women’s Day 2025 theme, ‘Accelerate Action.’
PTCL Group, in partnership with Pink Collar, hosted the Pink Collar Women Career Fair in Lahore, aiming to bridge gaps between talent and opportunities for Pakistani women. The event showcased PTCL’s women empowerment initiative, ‘Dil Se Ba-Ikhtiar,’ and launched Pakistan’s first online job portal dedicated to women.
Ooredoo has appointed Asma Al Thani as its Brand Ambassador, aligning with the company’s vision of pushing boundaries and connecting communities. Asma, aiming to be the first Arab to conquer the Explorers Grand Slam and all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks, will collaborate with Ooredoo on digital initiatives.
Bileeta has partnered with CENWOR to provide ERP solutions for SMEs in rural Sri Lanka, focusing on women entrepreneurs in the dry-fish and Palmyra industries. This initiative, supported by UNDP, aims to empower women and contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic growth through technology-driven solutions and mentoring.