As part of government’s ICT project, ministry of information technology has decided to establish 150 Women Empowerment Centers in Pakistan. Thousands of young disadvantaged girls will be provided quality IT education under this Microsoft-led programme.
Established at Bait-ul-Mal, these centers will be equipped with state of the art computer labs and broadband connectivity. Trainings under Microsoft’s Digital Skills program will be provided under through these centers.
The Microsoft’s Digital Skills program follows 4 Cs, each C being computing, coding, communication, and coaching. These four modules are employed to increase the employability potential of women, which in turn would result into greater empowerment for them.
The information and communication technology (ICT) initiative for girl’s empowerment is organized by Ministry of Information Technology in collaboration with Pakistan Bait-ul-mal, Universal Services Fund, and Microsoft.
This program dubbed as was launched in November 2015. Its first phase included up gradation of 50 IT labs of Bait-ul-Mal by Microsoft, which is in progress to date. Microsoft has also trained 100 Master Trainers as part of the project’s first phase. Now, new 150 Women Empowerment Centers would be established under the same program.
Minister of Information Technology Anusha Rahman said that government wants a society with enhanced empowerment of women that could give financial support. And governments do realize their part in this and through technological capacity building the woman and girls will prove to be a great asset for economy of Pakistan.
Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh thanked Ministry of Information Technology, USF, and Microsoft for their support in increasing IT literacy in Pakistan, especially for girls.
