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Internet gaining

popularity among

women in Asia

KARACHI: The internet is gaining pupularity is Asia especially among the women.

This was stated at a panel discussion on "women on the web," organised by the British Council Karachi at its premises on Wednesday in connection with the International Women's Day.

Jehan Ara, director, Enabling Technologies, in her remarks informed that two thirds of the internet accounts being opened in Asia are by women.

However, she was of the view that the internet is not being fully used by either women or the men in Pakistan.

Anila Weldon, chief executive officer of the Weldon BBS internet marketing, opined that the internet is a great equaliser and that it is up to us as to what we can make of it.

Rabia Garib, editor-in-chief Net Express, said women can effectively use internet, perform their various responsibilities, and at the same time spend more time at home.

Sindh Minister for Education, Prof Anita Ghulam Ali remarked that women have the ability to communicate in a better way and that they are more descriptive as compared to men.

She said too many women are now using the web and new terms are being developed and citing an example said that like bookworm now there are webworms.

Anita said that now there is no question of leaving the children behind if the women want to do some work.

However, it is unfortunate that a lot of people cannot afford to have computers, she added.

Earlier, in his address of welcome the director of British Council Karachi, Richard Hardwick said that the "women on the web" is intended to provide an upbeat view of the opportunities the intended to provide to Pakistan and women in the country in particular.

He said that the global knowledge revolution will allow leap-frogging to take place. We have already seen this happen in the developing world, with mobile telephony, for example. It will equally be true of access to the internet.

Richard hoped that the women will gain particular strength from what he termed the amassing democracy of the internet.

Samina Khan, deputy director of British Council Karachi, presented the vote of thanks.

A number of students from various schools in the metropolis also attended the programme and asked questions pertaining to the internet and its impact with particular reference to women.ÑAPP