​Pakistan Social Association, E-village Project

Islamabad, Pakistan, 2014, April 24​​​​

E-village, a project of Pakistan Social Association celebrated 'ICTs for Girls Day' on 24th April-2014 in Islamabad. More than 400 girls from almost all parts of Pakistan including remote areas of Baluchistan, KPK, and AJK participated in the event. ICTs professionals and NGO Leaders highlighted the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in development sectors, specially in health, education, agriculture and good governance.

"Girls should be empowered by ICTs" was the main idea behind the Women Empowerment Program initiated by E-village project in 2009.  The aim to celebrate this day is to exchange ideas and experiences and to find out ways and means to educate  girls and young women that information and communication technologies are tools of empowerment, and that a career in ICTs not only offers new ways of education, but it opens many venues towards an economically strong females which would enable a much stronger Nation. ICTs are opening new horizons and opportunities for girls. Although women and men have the same choices of careers, in developing countries, there is still a mindset that distinguishes between typically male and female occupations.  Traditionally girls are deprived of technical education specially in rural areas. ICTs provide equal opportunities for males and females and girls can prove that they have equal understanding and motivation to get latest technologies. ICTs for Girls Day create much required awareness in this regard.

Features of the 2014 event:

Mr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir, DG NCRD, was the Chief Guest of the conference. Speakers from almost all walks of life were present. Prominent ladies like Chairperson CWE, Mrs. Zarreen Ammar, Ms. Salma Khalid, Programe Manager NRSP, Ms. Asma Qadeer Khan (Vice President Balochistan Women Affairs), Ms Maliha Elaahi, Marketing Manager, from Teradata graced the occasion. Vice Chancellor Sarhad University Mr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Vice President PISA Dr. Nazir Vaid, and President PIE, Mr. Tahir Chaudhry highlighted and stressed the role of girls in implementing the use of ICTs specially in villages. They informed that if a girl is trained in ICT skills she would train her brothers, sisters and after that her own kids.

President PSA Mr. Ammar Jaffri informed the participants that currently 3000 girls are being trained in ICT skills in 120 E-villages in remote rural parts of Pakistan. He further informed that today ICTs have become the vehicle of progress in education, health, agriculture and good governance.

DG NCRD, Mr.Zafar Iqbal Qadir, appreciated the efforts of E-village in taking the ICTs to rural areas of Pakistan. He said that E-village team is doing excellent job of bridging the digital divide and delivery of ICT skills in remotest parts of Pakistan specially in KPK and Baluchistan. Mr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir further announced that NCRD would work hand in hand with E-village team, in delivery of trainings to the NGOs and Government leaders in the areas of ICTs for development in Pakistan.

Sponsors: Techaccesspak , Lunisys (Pvt) Ltd.

More information: www.evillage.net.pk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Evillage.PSA?ref=hl

Additional document: event_report Pakistan 2014.docx