By Muhammad Zeeshan TWA

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), in collaboration with Huawei Technologies and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has launched Pakistan’s third Smart Village in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to enhance digital access and services in rural communities, following successful pilots in Gokina and Sambrial.

The Smart Village program is designed to bridge the rural-urban digital divide by introducing digital education, telehealth, and skills training to underserved populations. The Swabi center will place particular emphasis on empowering women and farmers through training in digital literacy, e-commerce, online marketing, and financial technologies.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, speaking at the launch event, underscored the importance of equitable access to digital services. She reaffirmed the government’s broader digital inclusion strategy, which includes plans to expand education and healthcare to remote regions via online platforms. The minister also mentioned the rollout of 5G technology and the development of technology parks as part of a national innovation drive.

“The Swabi Smart Village will stand as a blueprint for how digital solutions can transform rural livelihoods and unlock economic potential,” she stated, highlighting the government’s commitment to ensuring every citizen has access to digital identity and essential services.

ITU’s Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava praised the initiative as a real-world example of how digital innovation can foster inclusive growth. Echoing this sentiment, Huawei Pakistan’s Deputy CEO Ahmed Bilal Masood called the project a “significant milestone in narrowing the digital gap between urban and rural areas.”

Operational support is being provided by a coalition of implementation partners, including TeleTaleem (digital learning), Sehat Kahani (telemedicine), and Baidarie (community engagement), each contributing to the development and sustainability of the Smart Village model.

The initiative is expected to serve as a scalable model for future digital development projects across rural Pakistan.