Pakistan has launched its first comprehensive framework to tackle technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) with the National Strategy for Addressing TFGBV 2026-2030. The strategy responds to the urgent need to protect women, girls, and marginalized communities in the country’s rapidly expanding digital space, where 8 million women came online in 2024 alone. TFGBV is recognized not merely as a technological issue but as an extension of patriarchal structures, creating a continuum of violence that spans digital and physical spaces, resulting in socio-economic exclusion and silencing women’s voices in public and political life.
Developed through extensive stakeholder consultations, survivor testimonies, and institutional analysis, the strategy establishes a multi-sectoral framework addressing legal, enforcement, platform accountability, and social norms. Key institutional mechanisms include a National TFGBV Coordination Cell, specialized female-officer-led units within the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and integrated survivor support services. Regulatory frameworks will hold digital platforms accountable, while nationwide awareness campaigns aim to challenge toxic masculinity and promote inclusive digital citizenship.
The strategy emphasizes strengthening Pakistan’s legislative and judicial responses by enacting TFGBV-specific laws, establishing investigation and prosecution protocols, and mandating 24-hour content removal and platform accountability through the Social Media Platform Regulatory Authority (SMPRA). It also prioritizes a whole-of-government approach, including district-level specialized NCCIA units, emergency helplines, digital reporting tools, and safe handling of digital evidence to prevent re-victimization.
Social transformation is a central objective of the strategy, integrating TFGBV prevention into educational curricula, community programs, and engagement with religious and community leaders. The framework further emphasizes international cooperation, including data-sharing protocols and advocating Global South perspectives in platform governance.
The strategy concludes with a clear call to action, highlighting that addressing TFGBV requires collective commitment from all stakeholders. By implementing this roadmap, Pakistan aims to ensure the constitutional rights to dignity, equality, and participation extend fully into digital spaces, enabling safe and equitable engagement in the country’s digital future.
