In a major step toward bridging Pakistan’s digital divide, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has launched a ‘Smart Village’ in Swabi, and the main aim behind is to digitally transform remote communities and bring modern services to rural doorsteps.
The initiative is part of the Smart Village Pakistan program, which was launched in collaboration with Huawei Technologies and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Similar villages have already been set up in Gokina, near Islamabad, and Sambrial, Sialkot. These pilot projects are paving the way for wider implementation across the country.
A Model for Remote Communities
Swabi’s Smart Village is rightly created to act as a model of innovation, especially in areas that are extremely complicated to reach via conventional infrastructure. The project is constructed in a way to empower communities, particularly women and farmers, by providing accessibility to vital digital skills and services.
Through the Smart Village, residents will get advantages from training programs in basic digital literacy, online marketing, e-commerce, digital agriculture, and financial inclusion. These skills are anticipated to open doors to employment, entrepreneurship, and access to essential services.
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Leadership Voices Support for the Initiative
At the launch ceremony, Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja discussed about the importance of bringing technology to every corner of Pakistan. Shaza kept on claiming that initiatives like Smart Villages will ensure that no one is left behind in this digital era.
“The integration of digital technologies into education, healthcare, and agriculture will spark a new wave of development in rural Pakistan,” she said, adding that the project is also a major step toward preparing the country for 5G rollout and tech parks.
A Global Perspective
Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, called the project a “shining example” of how digital innovation can improve lives. He reiterated ITU’s commitment to connecting the unconnected, claiming every individual deserves access to the benefits that technology can bring.
The Smart Village in Swabi is not just a digital hub—it’s a symbol of inclusive growth and an example of how thoughtful technology deployment can change the lives of thousands living in remote areas.