When it comes to digital progress, Pakistan has dealt with persistent challenges including macroeconomic headwinds, regulatory issues, digital inclusion, and high illiteracy rates. According to the inclusive internet index 2022, Pakistan ranked last out of the twenty-two countries in South and Central Asian region. Infrastructure availability, affordability and digital literacy contribute significantly to Pakistan’s poor socio-economic performance, with digital inclusion for women emerging as an even greater challenge. In this episode, Anam Malkani and Monis Rehman discuss the challenges and opportunities of the digital space in Pakistan highlighting policy options which may help reduce the gender differential in the digital practice.
Anum Malkani has been working in the tech policy, strategy, and consulting space for over a decade. She is currently serving as a financial service policy lead for Amazon Web Services (AWS). Her focus is specifically on how Pakistan can develop a policy and regulatory landscape that supports digital and financial inclusion for businesses along with citizens.
Monis Rehman is a seasoned entrepreneur, leader, and mentor in Pakistan’s tech industry who found Pakistan’s largest recruiting platform Rozee.pk to help professionals find jobs. He is currently the CEO at Dukan and has been using technology to develop new products and services to combat some difficult development issues in Pakistan.