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LAHORE, May 12, 2026: Experts at a Gender & Economy Conference cautioned that emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), could either create major economic opportunities for women or widen existing social and economic inequalities, depending on access to education, digital literacy, and technological skills.
The discussion took place during a panel titled “Health & Gender,” moderated by Warda Riaz, and featured experts including Fyeza Jehan, Usman Ali, Adnan Khan, and M. Farhan Majid.
Panelists noted that women’s economic empowerment is strongly connected to their skills, capabilities, and decision-making power. They stressed that affordable education and digital training programmes could help women overcome structural barriers and improve participation in the economy.
During the discussion, speakers highlighted the growing role of digital technologies in transforming small businesses worldwide. Referring to survey findings conducted in partnership with the Asher Blair Foundation, panelists said women entrepreneurs from nearly 80 countries expressed significant interest in adopting generative AI tools for business operations, including accounting, payroll processing, and other administrative functions.
Experts said AI could substantially improve the efficiency of women-led enterprises by automating routine tasks and reducing manual workloads, allowing entrepreneurs to focus more on growth and innovation.
The panel also discussed the potential size of Pakistan’s women-focused digital economy, estimating that it could become a market worth nearly $500 million, considering the country’s female population of around 73 million. Speakers described the figure as evidence of a major untapped economic opportunity.
However, experts warned that Pakistan may struggle to fully benefit from AI-driven growth due to low literacy levels, limited educational access, and weak human capital development. Without focused investment in digital education and skills training, technological progress could deepen inequality instead of narrowing it.
Panelists observed that communities lacking digital skills risk being excluded from the benefits of emerging technologies. They added that countries failing to invest in technological capacity-building may face lower productivity and weaker global competitiveness in the future.
The discussion further highlighted that unequal access to technology could have wider economic consequences, including slower productivity growth and greater dependence on imports, while digitally advanced economies continue expanding their efficiency and innovation capabilities.
Concluding the session, speakers called for urgent investment in women’s digital education and AI-related skills, emphasizing that inclusive access to technology is critical for achieving sustainable and equitable economic growth.
