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By Rania Imran
Islamabad, May 25 (app): Pakistan has experienced a growing number of students who are immersed in academic areas that were once considered male territory, artificial intelligence, computer science, data analysis, economy and others. This shift reflects a broader change in social attitudes, since more young women defy stereotypes and pursue careers in technology and innovation. Data from institutions such as the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) underline this encouraging trend, whereby between 2018 and 2023 an increase in the enrollment of women in computer science programs is increased by 40%.
The national incubation centers (Nics) have also played a role in promoting inclusiveness and reports that 30% of the startups they incubate are now being led by women. These centers demand that at least 25% of their founders are female, promote a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and help to bridge the gender -specific gap in the Tech startup room.
In order to explore this transformation more precisely, students from universities in Pakistan shared their motivations for entry into areas such as AI, cybersecurity and data science. Bakhtawar Malik, graduate of the software engineering from the Mircur University of Science and Technology, has known with the app that her decision to pursue tech was driven by a mixture of passion and despite. “People didn't take me seriously and I wanted to prove the opposite for them,” she said with a strong letter of trust.
Another student Samra Batool, a student of data analysis at Comsats University, repeated the same feelings and explained that the desire to question traditional thinking and expectations was a main reason for the selection of their subject area.
Alishba Haider, a student of artificial intelligence at the same university, referred to social changes that support this shift. “In the past, girls were promoted to more conventional courses. Now many tech fields choose because the labor market has improved and families are becoming increasingly supported,” she said. Alishba added that the emergence of role models, new protective laws and better opportunities had contributed to the fact that young women build trust.
Male students also recognize how important it is to increase female representation. Uzzam Arif, a student of cyber security at Fast University, emphasized the need for early exposure and supporting networks. “We have to highlight successful female role models and introduce technical concepts at school level. Mentoring programs and network groups geared towards women can also make a big difference,” he noted.
Educators believe that institutions play a crucial role in promoting this shift. Mr. Kamran Qureshi, professor at the Askaria College Rawalpindi, advises the students to explore tech through internships, workshops or online courses. “AI and related fields are huge. Whether they are interested in creativity, problem solutions or analysis, there is something for everyone. Don't let stereotypes or self -doubt stop,” he advised while encouraging the students.
Miss Asma Ahmed, a faculty member of the Islamic Asian College of Commerce, emphasized the practical steps that universities can take. “Offering interdisciplinary programs, practical research opportunities and the development of strong industry partnerships are the key to gaining more women for AI and technology,” she said.
Worldwide, countries that have actively worked on the Stem fields have transformative results. For example, according to the National Science Foundation (2023), women in the United States now make up almost 45% of the workforce in scientific and technical professions at the Bachelor level. The Scandinavian countries, in particular Sweden and Norway, have introduced strong political framework to support gender equality in technology and engineering, whereby female enrollment in MINT-related university programs of more than 35%is enrolled. In countries such as India, 28% has increased 28% in the past five years due to targeted scholarships and mentoring initiatives in countries such as India. These global patterns show that systemic encouragement can lead to considerable gender diversification in areas that traditionally be dominated by men and offer a template that can adapt and refine Pakistan.
In summary, the increasing enrollment of students in AI and other technical disciplines is not only a promising trend, but also a strong declaration of progress. With continued institutional support, inspiring mentors and changing social attitudes, women are ready to guide the next wave of innovation in the digital future of Pakistan. \ 778