NoraBillings at 18:24, 24 March 2026

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{{Short description|Pakistani politician (born 1968)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Peacock|date=February 2024}}
{{COI|date=March 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2024}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=March 2024}}
}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Pakistani name|Anusha|Rahman}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific_prefix =
|name = Anusha Rahman
|image =Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan (cropped).jpg
|office = [[Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (Pakistan)|Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication]]
|term_start = 27 April 2018
|term_end = 31 May 2018
|prime_minister = [[Shahid Khaqan Abbasi]]
|president = [[Mamnoon Hussain]]
|office1 = [[Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (Pakistan)|Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication]]
| term_start1 = 4 August 2017
|term_end1 = 27 April 2018
|prime_minister1 = [[Shahid Khaqan Abbasi]]
|president1 = [[Mamnoon Hussain]]
|term_start2 = 7 June 2013
| term_end2 = 28 July 2017
|president2 = [[Mamnoon Hussain]]
|prime_minister2 = [[Nawaz Sharif]]
|predecessor2 =
|successor2 =
| office3 = Member of the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]]
| term_start3 = 17 March 2008
|term_end3 = 31 May 2018
|constituency3 = Reserved seat for women
| office4 = Member of the [[Senate of Pakistan]]
| term_start4 = 2024
| term_end4 =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age| 1968|6 |1 |df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]
|party = [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PMLN]] (2008-present)
|alma_mater = [[University College London]]
}}

'''Anusha Rahman''' ({{Langx|ur|انوشہ رحمان}}) is a Pakistani lawyer and politician affiliated with the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ghumman |first=Khawar |date=2014-04-25 |title=‘IT girl’ in a boy’s world |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1102218 |access-date=2025-11-27 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Rahman was born on June 1, 1968<ref>{{cite news |title=If elections are held on time… |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/404658 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720184359/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/404658 |archive-date=20 July 2019 |accessdate=19 March 2026 |work=The News International |language=en}}</ref> in Lahore, Pakistan. In 1992, she graduated and completed a [[Master of Laws|Master of Laws]] from [[University College London]], specialising in the [[law]] and [[economics]] of regulated industries, networks, and markets.<ref name="pildat/1">{{cite web|title=Profiles: International Conference on Civil-Military Relations|url=http://www.pildat.org/Pak-IndiaDialogueII/Pak_Profiles.asp|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218225720/http://www.pildat.org/Pak-IndiaDialogueII/Pak_Profiles.asp|archivedate=18 February 2014|access-date=12 February 2016|publisher=Pildat|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.na.gov.pk/en/profile.php?uid=224 |title=National Assembly of Pakistan |website=www.na.gov.pk |access-date=2017-01-08 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109184525/http://www.na.gov.pk/en/profile.php?uid=224 |archivedate=9 January 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Political career==
Rahman began her political career in 2006, when she became [[senior vice president]] of the lawyers’ wing of the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PML-N]] (Pakistani Muslim League). She took part in the [[Lawyers' Movement|Lawyers’ Movement]] for the restoration of the judiciary following [[Pakistani state of emergency, 2007|the Pakistani state of emergency in 2007]]. She was elected to the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] for the first time in the [[2008 Pakistani general election]] on a reserved seat for women.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 June 2012 |title=Only 300 votes polled in house of 342 |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/728671/only-300-votes-polled-in-house-of-342 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109021156/http://www.dawn.com/news/728671/only-300-votes-polled-in-house-of-342 |archivedate=9 January 2017 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |work=DAWN.COM |df=dmy-all}}</ref> She served on the [[National Assembly of Pakistan|National Assembly]] Standing Committee on Law and Justice, and in 2009 was a member of the PML‑N steering committee for legal matters.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Assembly of Pakistan |url=https://na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/ofday220211_29S.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250508155527/https://na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/ofday220211_29S.pdf |archive-date=2025-05-08 |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=na.gov.pk}}</ref>

Rahman was re‑elected to the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] in the [[2013 Pakistani general election]] on a reserved seat for women.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 May 2013 |title=PML-N secures most reserved seats for women in NA - The Express Tribune |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/555511/pml-n-secures-most-reserved-seats-for-women-in-na/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304195047/https://tribune.com.pk/story/555511/pml-n-secures-most-reserved-seats-for-women-in-na/ |archivedate=4 March 2017 |accessdate=7 March 2017 |work=The Express Tribune |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=29 May 2013 |title=Women, minority seats allotted |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1014677 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307205110/https://www.dawn.com/news/1014677 |archivedate=7 March 2017 |accessdate=7 March 2017 |work=DAWN.COM |language=en |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=30 May 2013 |title=Women's reserved seats: Top politicians' spouses, kin strike it lucky - The Express Tribune |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/556356/womens-reserved-seats-top-politicians-spouses-kin-strike-it-lucky/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109021444/http://tribune.com.pk/story/556356/womens-reserved-seats-top-politicians-spouses-kin-strike-it-lucky/ |archivedate=9 January 2017 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |work=The Express Tribune |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=10 April 2013 |title=Candidates cleared for reserved seats |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/801559/candidates-cleared-for-reserved-seats |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109113105/http://www.dawn.com/news/801559/candidates-cleared-for-reserved-seats |archivedate=9 January 2017 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |work=DAWN.COM |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2013, she was appointed Minister of State for Information Technology and [[Telecommunications|Telecommunication]].<ref name="tribune/8june20132">{{cite news |date=8 June 2013 |title=Federal cabinet unveiled: Enter the ministers - The Express Tribune |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/560553/federal-cabinet-unveiled-enter-the-ministers/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029083547/http://tribune.com.pk/story/560553/federal-cabinet-unveiled-enter-the-ministers/ |archivedate=29 October 2016 |accessdate=8 January 2017 |work=The Express Tribune |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Anusha invited by British PM to WEF panel discussion |url=http://nation.com.pk/national/18-Jan-2017/anusha-invited-by-british-pm-to-wef-panel-discussion |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118210753/http://nation.com.pk/national/18-Jan-2017/anusha-invited-by-british-pm-to-wef-panel-discussion |archivedate=18 January 2017 |access-date=2017-01-18 |newspaper=The Nation |language=en-US |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=7 June 2013 |title=Sworn in as Minister of State |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/07-Jun-2013/25-member-federal-cabinet-sworn-in |url-status=live |accessdate=3 June 2014 |publisher=The Nation |archive-date=10 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210145811/http://www.nation.com.pk/national/07-Jun-2013/25-member-federal-cabinet-sworn-in }}</ref>

In July 2017, she left the ministerial office when the federal cabinet was disbanded following the resignation of Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] after the [[Panama Papers case (Pakistan)|Panama Papers case]] decision.<ref>{{cite news |title=PM Nawaz Sharif steps down; federal cabinet stands dissolved |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/pm-nawaz-gives-up-his-post-federal-cabinet-stands-dissolved/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728114411/https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/pm-nawaz-gives-up-his-post-federal-cabinet-stands-dissolved/ |archivedate=28 July 2017 |accessdate=28 July 2017 |work=Daily Pakistan Global |df=dmy-all}}</ref> After [[Shahid Khaqan Abbasi]] became prime minister in August 2017, she was inducted into the [[Abbasi ministry]] and again appointed Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication.<ref name="app/4aug20172">{{cite news |date=4 August 2017 |title=A 43-member new cabinet sworn in |url=https://www.app.com.pk/a-43-member-new-cabinet-sworn-in/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804174456/https://www.app.com.pk/a-43-member-new-cabinet-sworn-in/ |archivedate=4 August 2017 |accessdate=4 August 2017 |work=Associated Press Of Pakistan |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="pakistantoday/4aug20172">{{cite news |date=4 August 2017 |title=PM Khaqan Abbasi's 43-member cabinet takes oath today |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/08/04/new-federal-cabinet-ministers-take-oath-today/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911193705/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/08/04/43-member-cabinet-sworn-in-six-more-to-take-oath/ |archive-date=September 11, 2017 |accessdate=4 August 2017 |publisher=Pakistan Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 August 2017 |title=Portfolios of Federal Ministers, Ministers of State announced |url=http://www.radio.gov.pk/05-Aug-2017/portfolios-of-federal-ministers-ministers-of-state-announced |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805181242/http://www.radio.gov.pk/05-Aug-2017/portfolios-of-federal-ministers-ministers-of-state-announced |archivedate=5 August 2017 |accessdate=5 August 2017 |work=Radio Pakistan |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In April 2018, she was appointed Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication in the cabinet of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Upon the dissolution of the National Assembly at the end of its term on 31 May 2018, she left office.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 April 2018 |title=Govt expands cabinet months before elections |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1696773/1-govt-expands-cabinet-months-elections/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331105633/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1696773/1-govt-expands-cabinet-months-elections/ |archive-date=31 March 2019 |accessdate=19 March 2026 |url-status=live |work=The Express Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Notification April 2018 |url=http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/federal-Minister-27-04-2018.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430171817/http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/federal-Minister-27-04-2018.pdf |archive-date=30 April 2018 |accessdate=30 April 2018 |publisher=Cabinet division}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Notification |url=http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/fm-mos-noti-01-06-2018.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601180526/http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/fm-mos-noti-01-06-2018.pdf |archivedate=1 June 2018 |accessdate=1 June 2018 |publisher=Cabinet division}}</ref>

In the 2024 [[Senate of Pakistan|Pakistani Senate]] elections, Rahman, supported by the [[Pakistan Muslim League]] (N), won a women’s seat with 125 votes.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last1=Hayat |first1=Arif |last2=Ahmed |first2=Shoaib |last3=Siddiqui |first3=Tahir |last4=Guramani |first4=Nadir |last5=Hakeem |first5=Abdul |date=2024-04-02 |title=Coalition sweeps polls on 19 Senate seats |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1825232 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409060717/https://www.dawn.com/news/1825232 |archive-date=9 April 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=19 March 2026 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref>

==Key contributions and achievements==
As Minister of State and later Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Rahman was associated with the development of the Telecom Sector Policy 2015, which introduced regulatory changes in Pakistan’s telecommunications sector.<ref>{{Cite web |last=APP |date=2016-01-19 |title=Telecom policy launched |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1233848 |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> The policy received the ''Government Leadership Award'' in 2017 from the [[GSMA]] for its role in shaping Pakistan’s telecommunication framework.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-01 |title=Pakistan wins 'Government Leadership Award' at GLOMO 2017 |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1342655/pakistan-wins-government-leadership-award-glomo-2017 |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Rahman was also involved with the government’s e-Governance program, which sought to digitize administrative functions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=E-governance System Introduced In 25 Ministries, Divisions: Anusha |url=https://pakistanpoint.com/s/19734 |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=Pakistan Point}}</ref> According to official figures, exports of information technology and IT-enabled services increased during this period, although independent assessments of these figures vary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haq |first=Riaz |title=State Bank: Pakistan IT Exports Surge to Pass Billion Dollars in 2018 |url=http://www.riazhaq.com/2018/08/state-bank-pakistan-it-exports-surge-to.html |access-date=2020-08-17 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2015, Rahman received the GEM-TECH Global Achievers Award from [[UN Women]] and the [[International Telecommunication Union]], for work related to [[gender equality]] in technology.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 December 2015 |title=UN honours IT Minister Anusha Rahman with 'Global Achievers 2015' award - The Express Tribune |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1010274/it-minister-anusha-rahman-recognised-as-global-achiever-by-un/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215205241/http://tribune.com.pk/story/1010274/it-minister-anusha-rahman-recognised-as-global-achiever-by-un/ |archivedate=15 February 2016 |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en-US |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Mobile Broadband ===
In 2014, while Rahman was Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Pakistan auctioned the licenses for 3G and 4G services in the 850 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Suliman |date=2015-03-06 |title=New Avenues for Pakistan at MWC Barcelona |url=http://www.highway.pk/2015/03/new-avenues-pakistan-mwc-barcelona/ |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=Highway.pk |language=en-US}}</ref> Following this, mobile broadband penetration in Pakistan increased from less than 3% in 2013 to over 40% by 2018, according to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority data. In recognition of these efforts, Pakistan received the Spectrum for Mobile Broadband Award at the [[GSMA|GSMA Mobile World Congress]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-03 |title=Pakistan clinches Spectrum for Mobile Broadband Award 2015 |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/847230/pakistan-clinches-spectrum-for-mobile-broadband-award-2015 |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

=== ICTs for Girls Program ===
In December 2015, Rahman announced the “ICTs for Girls” initiative, designed to improve digital literacy among women and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-01 |title=Pakistan Launches 'ICTs for Girls' Project in Collaboration with Microsoft |url=https://www.phoneworld.com.pk/pakistan-launches-icts-for-girls-project-in-collaboration-with-microsoft/ |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=PhoneWorld |language=en-US}}</ref> The program included providing access to ICT facilities and training on basic digital skills. According to the [[Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication]], the initiative was developed in partnership with Microsoft to offer training modules in computing and coding to women and girls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ITU |date=2018-03-07 |title=How Pakistan is empowering women and Girls in ICT |url=https://news.itu.int/how-pakistan-is-promoting-women-and-girls-in-ict/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327023605/https://news.itu.int/how-pakistan-is-promoting-women-and-girls-in-ict/ |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=ITU News |language=english}}</ref> According to the [[Universal Service Fund]], 144 women empowerment centres and 226 schools in Islamabad have since been provided with [[Computer lab|ICT labs]] under the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICTs for Girls |url=https://www.usf.org.pk/programs/projects/icts-for-girls |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Universal Service Fund}}</ref>

=== National Incubation Center and DigiSkills ===
Rahman was involved in launching Pakistan's first National Incubation Center (NIC) in 2016 as a public–private partnership between the Ministry of Information Technology, Ignite (National ICT R&D Fund), and service delivery partner Team Up.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-20 |title=Jazz inaugurates National Incubation Center in Islamabad |url=https://www.techjuice.pk/jazz-inaugurates-national-incubation-center/ |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=TechJuice |language=en-US}}</ref> The NIC provided workspace, training, and mentorship to technology start-ups and was later expanded to other cities.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=APP |first=Parvez Jabri {{!}} |date=2017-12-23 |title=Anusha inaugurates National Incubation Centre at LUMS |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/388910 |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2018, Rahman launched the [[DigiSkills.pk|DigiSkills]] program, an online initiative for training individuals in freelancing and digital work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Sophia |date=February 2018 |title=PM inaugurates DigiSkills program to prepare one million freelancers in Pakistan |url=https://propakistani.pk/2018/02/01/pm-inaugurates-digiskills-program-prepare-one-million-freelances-pakistan/ |access-date=2020-08-17 |language=en-US}}</ref> The program's stated goal was to train one million individuals.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.vu.edu.pk/NewsDetails?NewsId=2836 |title= VU partners with IGNITE to train 1 Million people - PM inaugurates DigiSkills |author= |date= 1 February 2018 |website= Virtual University of Pakistan |publisher= |access-date= December 16, 2025 |quote=}}</ref> A ''DigiSkills 2.0'' program was also created.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.vu.edu.pk/NewsDetails?NewsId=9025 |title= Enrollments for Batch-08 of DigiSkills 2.0 are now open! |author= |date= June 2024 |website= Virtual University of Pakistan |publisher= |access-date= December 16, 2025 |quote=}}</ref> ''DigiSkills 3.0'' was launched in July 2025 with a stated aim to train three million people by the end of 2028.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://lcci.pk/digiskills-3-0-launches-3-million-free-online-trainings-announced/ |title= DigiSkills 3.0 |author= |date= 20 July 2025|website= Lahore Commercial Companies Index |publisher= |access-date= December 16, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>

On 15 February 2019, the [[Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation]] (CTO) appointed Rahman as regional advisor to the secretary‑general for the East and [[South Asia]] region.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Former Pakistani Minister Anusha Rahman Khan appointed regional advisor to the CTO for the East and South Asia Region - CTO: Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation |url=https://www.cto.int/news/former-pakistani-minister-anusha-rahman-khan-appointed-regional-advisor-to-the-cto-for-the-east-and-south-asia-region/ |date=2019-02-15 |access-date=2020-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805112034/https://www.cto.int/news/former-pakistani-minister-anusha-rahman-khan-appointed-regional-advisor-to-the-cto-for-the-east-and-south-asia-region/ |archive-date=2020-08-05 |website=cto.int |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Sharif III Cabinet}}
{{Abbasi Cabinet}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anusha, Rahman}}
[[Category:Lawyers from Lahore]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pakistan Muslim League (N) politicians]]
[[Category:Nawaz Sharif administration]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani lawyers]]
[[Category:Pakistani women lawyers]]
[[Category:Pakistani MNAs 2008–2013]]
[[Category:Pakistani MNAs 2013–2018]]
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Women members of the National Assembly of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Federal ministers of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Women federal ministers of Pakistan]]
[[Category:21st-century Pakistani lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century Pakistani women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century women lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century women lawyers]]
[[Category:Pakistani MNAs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Alumni of the UCL Faculty of Laws]]
[[Category:Members of the Senate of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Politicians from Lahore]]
[[Category:Pakistani women in politics]]
[[Category:Pakistani senators (14th Parliament)]]
[[Category:Women members of the Senate of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Women government ministers of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistani lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:People from Lahore]]

Anusha Rahman - Revision history

NoraBillings at 18:24, 24 March 2026