Experts at a gender and economy conference in Lahore warned that artificial intelligence could either unlock major economic opportunities for women or deepen existing inequalities if Pakistan fails to expand digital education and skills training.

The discussion took place during a panel on “Health & Gender” moderated by Warda Riaz at LUMS.

Panelists included Fyeza Jehan, Usman Ali, Adnan Khan and M. Farhan Majid.

Speakers stressed that women’s economic empowerment depends heavily on education, access to information and bargaining power within society.

One panelist said affordable learning opportunities and digital skills programmes could help women overcome structural barriers that continue to limit workforce participation and entrepreneurship.

“There is a risk that communities with lower skills will be unable to benefit from new technologies,” the panel noted during the discussion.

The experts warned that countries failing to invest in digital capacity-building may fall further behind in productivity and global competitiveness.

AI Could Transform Women-Led Businesses

The panel highlighted how digital tools and AI systems are rapidly reshaping business operations around the world.

Referring to survey findings conducted with the Asher Blair Foundation, speakers said women entrepreneurs from nearly 80 countries showed strong interest in adopting generative AI tools.

According to the findings, many women business owners wanted to use AI for accounting, payroll management and routine administrative work.

Experts said AI could help women-led enterprises reduce time-consuming manual tasks while improving efficiency and productivity.

The panel also referenced estimates suggesting Pakistan’s women-focused digital economy could represent a market worth nearly $500 million.

That estimate is linked to Pakistan’s female population of around 73 million, highlighting the scale of untapped economic potential.

Pakistan has one of the lowest female labor force participation rates in South Asia. The World Bank estimates female participation remains below 25 percent, despite rising smartphone and internet usage.

Digital access for women also remains uneven, particularly in rural areas where internet access, digital literacy and educational opportunities remain limited.

Digital Divide Could Hurt Long-Term Growth

Experts warned that Pakistan’s weak education indicators and low literacy rates could limit the country’s ability to benefit from AI-driven economic transformation.

They argued that unequal access to technology may create broader macroeconomic problems in the future.

According to the discussion, economies with lower digital adoption could face slower productivity growth and greater dependence on imports.

Meanwhile, digitally advanced economies may continue scaling faster through automation and AI integration.

The panelists urged policymakers, educational institutions and private companies to invest urgently in women’s digital education and technology-focused training.

They said inclusive access to AI skills would play a critical role in ensuring equitable economic growth across Pakistan.

Analysts worldwide have increasingly warned that AI may widen social and economic inequality if governments fail to invest in education and workforce adaptation.

For Pakistan, experts said the challenge now lies in ensuring women are not excluded from the next phase of technological and economic change.