More than half of Pakistan’s population lacks internet access, and districts leading in digital transformation are also among the better-performing areas in terms of human development, according to the country’s first Digital Development Index (DDI) report, released on April 23.
The report categorizes Pakistan’s digital development as ‘moderate’. Alarmingly, it reveals that 83.5% of women with digital access have their phone ownership dictated by their spouses or parents. Furthermore, digital development in the wealthiest 20% of the population outstrips the poorest quintile by 15 times, underscoring digital access as a privileged marker.
Islamabad tops the ‘very high’ digital development list, followed by Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Haripur, and Abbottabad in the ‘high’ category. These rankings correlate strongly with higher human development outcomes.
Given Pakistan’s already low ranking of 164 out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index and a Gender Inequality Index position of 135 out of 166, the digital divide exacerbates poor development outcomes.
Key Findings of Digital Development Index
- Over half of Pakistan lacks internet access, while digitally advanced districts exhibit better human development.
- Pakistan’s digital progress is rated ‘moderate’, exposing gender disparities in access.
- Islamabad leads in ‘very high’ digital development, linked to superior human development.
- The digital divide exacerbates Pakistan’s low human development and gender inequality.
- Inadequate infrastructure and affordability limit internet access for most Pakistanis.
“The Government of Pakistan is committed to harnessing the benefits of technological innovation to improve livelihood prospects, accelerate financial inclusion, improve employment, and deliver efficient public services,” stated Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal in his keynote address at the launch ceremony.
The report highlights that inadequate digital infrastructure and affordability issues deprive over half of Pakistan of internet access. Without equitable digital access, the report warns, Pakistan’s human development outcomes will remain low and underserved as the disparity extends beyond digital access, with districts leading in digital transformation also ranking higher in human development.
UNDP’s Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja, noted Pakistan’s substantial contribution to global middle-class growth between 2022 and 2030.
“Pakistan is the sixth largest contributor to the global middle-class growth between 2022 to 2030, contributing 25 million,” she said.
“Targeted digital transformation efforts for this growing middle class could greatly improve the country’s productivity,” she added.
UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative Dr Samuel Rizk said: “Our ambition is to contribute to a future-oriented Pakistan where digital transformation becomes a hallmark of its inclusion, and a cornerstone for its prosperity”.
The report concluded that sound digital development policies could significantly improve Pakistan’s standings in human development and gender equality indices.
