University of Wah organized a hybrid workshop titled "Empowering Women Through IT: From Digital Skills to Economic Opportunities in Pakistan" under the auspices of the Women Development Department (WDD), Government of Punjab, on 06 November 2026. The event was held in collaboration with the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), YPDC-Bano Shaheen Initiative, Youth Ki Uraan Initiative, Department of Economics, and the Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program (WEMP).
The workshop aimed to highlight the role of digital skills in advancing women's economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, freelancing, and financial independence. Approximately 200 participants from academic institutions and professional backgrounds across the country attended.
The session was hosted by Dr. Asma Arif, Focal Person of the program. She was joined by Sadia Mehmood Awan, Female Ambassador (Batch I) and President of YPDC - Bano Shaheen Initiative, and Dr. Sania Shaheen, Chairperson, Department of Economics.
Prof. Dr. Sheeraz Arif, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Computer Science at Salim Habib University, Karachi, was the guest speaker. He stressed the importance of digital literacy, technical competencies, and emerging technology-based opportunities in strengthening women's professional and economic participation.
The interactive session encouraged participants to explore digital career pathways and build market-relevant skills. It also underscored how women's financial independence and economic empowerment can strengthen household decision-making and support sustainable population management, in line with the objectives of the Bano Shaheen Initiative and Uraan Pakistan.
