Author: Quratulain Chaudhary, Head of Women Financial Services & Sustainability, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Pakistan
In Pakistan, the gender gap in digital access remains substantial. Women are 38% less likely than men to own a mobile phone, and only 26% of women own a smartphone compared to 52% of men. Additionally, just 15% of women use mobile internet, with rural women facing even greater challenges due to barriers like affordability, literacy, and socio-cultural norms. This gap limits their access to information, financial services, and economic opportunities. However, these figures underscore the potential for transformative growth through targeted digital literacy and inclusion efforts aimed at empowering women.
Driven by the vision to bridge this digital divide, I embarked on a journey across Pakistan, aiming to empower women through digital financial literacy. My travels took me from the bustling streets of Multan to the quieter locales of Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan, where I had the privilege of meeting incredible women eager to learn and grow.
My journey began in Multan, under the sweltering heat, where I found myself filled with excitement and anticipation. Despite the challenges posed by the weather, I was inspired by the women I met. These women, progressive and enterprising, were eager to embrace new opportunities. They possessed an entrepreneurial spirit that needed only guidance and support to flourish. Through our digital financial literacy sessions, I introduced them to our innovative DOST app, demonstrating how they could manage their finances and expand their businesses using simple, accessible technology.
As I moved to Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan, the resilience and determination of the women I met continued to amaze me. Despite facing social norms that often restricted their mobility and access to financial resources, these women were happy and content in their daily lives. They found joy in their ability to create opportunities for themselves and their families. It was evident that the barrier was not a lack of skill but rather the need to tap into the right mindset and provide the necessary resources.
A Success Story: Fatima’s Transformation
Among the many inspiring stories, Fatima’s journey stood out. A mother of three from Bahawalpur, Fatima was struggling to make ends meet by selling homemade snacks in her local community. She had the skills to cook delicious food, but her reach was limited to her immediate neighborhood. Through our digital literacy program, Fatima learned to use the DOST app and social media platforms to expand her business.
Equipped with these new skills and leveraging AI innovations integrated into our tools, Fatima took her business online, marketing her snacks beyond her local community. She efficiently managed her finances using digital tools, keeping track of her sales and expenses. Within months, her business grew, and she doubled her income. Today, Fatima not only supports her family but also employs two other women from her community. Her success story exemplifies how digital financial literacy can empower women, transform lives, and contribute to economic growth.
Our Commitment to Digital Financial Inclusion
At Mobilink Microfinance Bank, empowering women through digital financial literacy is a fundamental part of our mission. Our DOST app, now equipped with AI capabilities, plays a key role in this effort by enabling women to conduct financial transactions, save, and access microloans to support their businesses. Currently, we have a total of 13,939,733 female accounts, with 30% of them being female borrowers. Additionally, our gold loan product, which women can easily manage via the app, allows them to do so from the comfort of their homes. By providing customized digital solutions and harnessing AI tools, we aim to boost women’s economic participation and drive meaningful societal progress.
The Mobilink Dost app features a women-centric interface, ensuring that when a female user logs in, the platform tailors her experience by showcasing relevant female-focused products for a smooth and convenient user journey.
We proudly partnered with the largest and most renowned agriculture university as their financial partners, joining forces to empower female entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector. Through this collaboration, we conducted digital financial literacy sessions across various cities, like chawal and jhang equipping women with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital economy. Our efforts focused on onboarding these female entrepreneurs onto our Mobilink Dost app, providing them access to tailored financial services that support their agricultural ventures. This partnership reflects our commitment to fostering financial inclusion and helping women in agriculture thrive in the digital age.
Steps Towards Greater Digital Empowerment
To further empower women and bridge the digital divide, collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society is essential. Some key steps that can be taken include:
Subsidizing Mobile Devices and Data Plans: The government can make digital technology more accessible by subsidizing the cost of mobile devices and data plans for women in low-income households. This would help reduce the digital divide and encourage more women to participate in the digital economy.
Implementing Digital Literacy Programs: Creating government-led digital literacy programs specifically tailored for women can provide them with the skills to confidently navigate digital platforms. Partnerships with organizations like ours would allow these programs to reach a wider audience and have a more significant impact.
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs: Providing grants, microloans, and business training programs can help women turn their ideas into viable businesses. By ensuring access to digital financial services and integrating AI-powered solutions, these entrepreneurs can manage their businesses more efficiently and access new markets. Ensuring a Safe Digital Environment: A supportive digital environment is crucial for encouraging women’s participation. The government should enforce regulations to protect women from online harassment and fraud, making the digital space more welcoming and secure.
Showcasing Our Impact at Digital Nation Awards
Representing our work at the Digital Nation Awards would be a profound honor, as it would showcase the immense potential that exists within Pakistan’s women. It would highlight how, through dedicated efforts and collaboration, we are working towards a more digitalized, inclusive, and prosperous Pakistan. I am eager to use this platform to share the impactful work we are doing, demonstrating how digital financial literacy, coupled with AI innovations, can unlock opportunities and empower women to transform their lives. The world needs to see the strides we are making towards a better future, harnessing the power of technology to build a more equitable and thriving society for all.