PASHA CEC Member and Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair Dr. Sonia Saleem attended the launch of Tech Her Forward at the Zaha Hadid Skills Center in Capital Smart City, Islamabad on June 23, 2026, representing PASHA at an initiative designed to equip young women from underserved communities with in-demand digital and information technology skills. The event was organised by Stewart Pakistan Private Limited in collaboration with Alight Pakistan, with Her Excellency Ms. Natalie A. Baker, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the US Embassy Islamabad, attending as Chief Guest.
During the event, Dr. Sonia Saleem highlighted the importance of digital skills development, women’s inclusion in the technology sector, and the value of cross-sector collaboration between industry, civil society, and international partners in building a more equitable digital economy. Her participation as PASHA’s representative underscored the association’s commitment to supporting initiatives that address the structural barriers preventing women from underserved communities from accessing the digital economy, including limited exposure to technology education, restricted mobility, and the absence of role models within their immediate social environments.
Tech Her Forward is structured to create pathways into Pakistan’s growing digital economy for young women who have historically been excluded from it, providing training in skills that carry direct employment and freelancing value in both domestic and international markets. For PASHA, supporting such initiatives at the community level is part of a broader strategy of building the inclusive talent pipeline that Pakistan’s technology export ambitions ultimately depend upon, recognising that the country cannot realistically target $15 billion in IT exports by 2030 while leaving a large portion of its most educationally underserved population without access to the skills that sector demands.
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