A Widening Digital Divide and Its Impacts on Existing Social Inequalities and Democracy in Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan’s digital inequalities are increasing in terms of public access and usage of the internet. This widening digital divide can potentially reinforce Pakistan’s existing social inequalities. Despite digital divide continuing to grow in the country, the relationship between digital inequalities and other forms of disparities has not yet been fully explored by the local academics. Thus, drawing on the theory of digital divide, this study identifies factors that are widening the digital divide in Pakistan. This study also analyzes how digital divide is reinforcing the existing social inequalities and impacting the country’s democratic process. To achieve the above, the study uses qualitative methods of document review and in-depth interviews. The study uses thematic analysis to analyze the collected data.