NRSP and Google.org Celebrate Success of Digital Inclusion Initiative Reaching Over 132,000 Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD — The National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), in collaboration with Google.org, celebrated the successful completion of its two-year digital literacy initiative, Internet Dost & Internet Zabardast, at an event held in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The initiative aimed to bridge Pakistan’s digital divide by equipping rural communities with essential digital skills, especially focusing on women, children, teachers, and parents in underserved areas. Through innovative community-based training, the program reached 132,951 beneficiaries across 52 districts, including 78,785 women, 50,099 children, 2,285 teachers, and 1,782 parents in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad.

The event brought together over 130 stakeholders from government bodies, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, and the private sector to reflect on the program’s widespread impact. Using storytelling techniques and community-led training, Internet Dost trained local women as digital ambassadors, while Internet Zabardast focused on educating children and parents about safe internet use.

NRSP CEO Dr. Rashid Bajwa lauded the initiative’s achievements, noting that it has opened doors to education, entrepreneurship, and financial independence in rural areas. “Women are now running digital businesses, children are learning online, and teachers are integrating digital tools into their classrooms,” he said. Dr. Bajwa urged the Ministry of Human Rights (MOHR) to formally recognise digital literacy as a basic human right and called for national policies to sustain and scale the progress.

Looking ahead, Dr. Bajwa announced NRSP’s plan to digitally empower one million rural women, with support from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and other partners.

Senator Fozia Irshad, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Education, praised the initiative as a “transformative model” and called for its expansion. SECP Commissioner Zeeshan Rehman Khattak reaffirmed support for NRSP, citing a successful financial literacy partnership that trained 1,600 rural women, and proposed integrating investor education into future programs.

Rana Tariq, Director at the Ministry of Human Rights, pledged full backing to scale the initiative, calling it a vital tool for empowerment. Amna Bajwa of the FAO emphasized the potential of combining digital and agricultural knowledge to improve rural livelihoods, while Riaz Bangush, CEO of NRSP Microfinance Bank, called digital literacy a foundation for financial independence.

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Real-life success stories were shared at the event. Gulnaz Bibi from Sindh now sells her crafts online, Ms. Sibgha from D.G. Khan uses digital banking to save time, and Shagufta Noor from KP teaches children in her village about online safety.

The initiative’s custom Android app enabled real-time monitoring in offline areas, ensuring transparency. Collaborations with Storykit, CGPA, and GBTI helped tailor the content to local contexts.

As the event concluded, NRSP and its partners reaffirmed their vision of a digitally inclusive Pakistan, with stakeholders applauding Google.org’s visionary role in empowering marginalized communities through technology.