The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication’s Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) plans to build Women University Bagh Azad Kashmir, Pakistan’s first Woman Software Technology Park (WSTP).
The park, which is about 5,000 square feet in size, is specifically designed to serve women who work in the technology sector by giving them a modern, safe workspace.
Women University Bagh Azad Kashmir and PSEB have worked together to finalise plans for the development of the WSTP, and both sides have come to an agreement. 31 million rupees have been set out by PSEB for the creation of Women University Bagh Azad Kashmir’s (WSTP).
This programme, led by PSEB, is in line with larger goals that support entrepreneurship and innovation, empower women through technology, advance gender equality, create jobs, and boost regional economic development. The initiative intends to provide equitable chances for women to participate in the technology sector by developing Pakistan’s first women-only technology park.
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According to PSEB, the creation of WSTP will address gender imbalances, encourage innovation-driven economic growth, and assist sustainable development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. This park will close the gender gap in the technology industry and fulfil the pressing need for qualified experts.
Due to its distant position, the territory of Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir faces a number of difficulties, including restricted access to opportunities and resources, including cutting edge technology. People living there frequently encounter challenges getting access to opportunities and contemporary conveniences found in more urbanised areas because of the area’s geographic isolation.
Aware of these difficulties, the Women’s University of Bagh established the Women Software Technology Park with the goal of resolving a number of pressing problems.
The WSTP, which is located in a remote area where women predominate, will offer a localised solution, eliminating the need for women to commute to urban centres in order to take advantage of opportunities in the technology sector.
In addition to solving practical issues, the park has the potential to boost socioeconomic growth by generating jobs and improving the abilities of the community.
In order to demonstrate its dedication to promoting technical innovation and economic prosperity across the country, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has previously constructed 43 software technology parks in secondary and tertiary cities around Pakistan.
Educational institutions are revising curricula to be more gender-responsive, ensuring that women feel represented and engaged in tech-related subjects.
Women can learn tech skills at their own pace with the help of online platforms that make learning accessible.
Together with addressing gender inequality, this progressive project promotes economic expansion and sustainable development. It is a praiseworthy move in the direction of equalising opportunities for women in the IT business and closing the gender gap within it.