Google & Govt Join Forces to Empower Women in Tech at GDG Live Pakistan’s IWD 2025 Webinar

GDG Live Pakistan hosted HERstory: Google IWD 2025, an online webinar that brought together industry leaders and government officials to discuss the digital empowerment of women in Pakistan. The event highlighted ongoing efforts to bridge the gender gap in technology and promote inclusive growth in the digital economy.

Google’s Vision for Women in Tech

In his keynote speech, Farhan Qureshi, Google Pakistan’s Country Director, reaffirmed Google’s commitment to enabling Pakistanis—especially women—on a global scale. “Google is working on initiatives to enable Pakistanis, especially women, on a global scale,” he stated. He outlined Google’s investments in digital literacy programs and collaborations with local partners to equip women with essential tech skills, ensuring they can thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Government’s Roadmap for Digital Inclusion

Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, underscored the government’s dedication to digital inclusion. She emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) is not a threat to jobs but a tool to create an AI-enabled workforce across industries. “AI will not replace jobs; it will create AI-enabled people in all sectors,” she asserted.

Minister Khawaja detailed several key initiatives aimed at empowering women in tech, including:

• Digital Pakistan & ICT for Girls – Providing digital skills training for women.
• Smart Islamabad Project – Integrating smart technology for better accessibility.
• Digiskills Program – Offering free online courses to enhance digital literacy.
• Women-led Incubation Center – Supporting female entrepreneurs in tech and e-commerce.

She also highlighted that nearly 50% of Pakistani women now own a mobile device, showcasing a significant rise in digital adoption.

Industry Leaders Share Success Stories

The webinar featured inspiring contributions from successful women in tech, including:

• Tahreem Rasul – Senior Machine Learning Engineer.
• Kanwal Ahmed – YouTube creator and entrepreneur.
• Khadijah Shahzad – Creative freelancer.

Each speaker shared insights into their journey, emphasizing the importance of digital skills and mentorship in breaking barriers for women in the industry.

The Path Forward

The event concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to sustain and expand digital empowerment initiatives. The insights shared by Google and the government outlined a promising future where women play a central role in Pakistan’s digital economy, driving innovation and economic growth.

With continued investment in technology, education, and inclusive policies, Pakistan is making significant strides toward a more diverse and digitally empowered workforce.