The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication Pakistan and the Federal Minister Shaza Khawaja were humbled to attend Universal Service Fund - Pakistan connectivity project celebration in Jhuggiwala - a village near Muzaffargarh where 209 women were given completely free of cost training in digital skills, digital literacy and online tools. The event celebrated the narrowing digital divide and the internet gender gap which is at a record low of 25%. Through a collaborative multi-stakeholder ecosystem, a renovated facility at the Government Girls High School was transformed into an ultramodern Digital Community Centre for Women. Armed with 10 high-spec computers, high-speed Fibere broadband, and localized training, the model has slashed market connectivity costs by 30% by using existing USF nodes.
The ongoing internet blackout and shutter-down across Kashmir are costing the local economy an estimated PKR 2.5–4.5 billion every day. Small businesses, transport operators, freelancers, students, and daily wage earners are suffering the most. A prolonged shutdown means lost livelihoods, lost opportunities, and growing hardship for ordinary Kashmiri families. #Kashmir #InternetBlackout #EconomicLoss #HumanRights #DigitalRights