Anusha Rahman

Rahman was born on 1 June 1968{{cite news|title=If elections are held on time…|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/404658|accessdate=4 December 2017|work=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}} into a family involved in politics. In 1992, she graduated with an LL.B. and received an LL.M. from University College London, specializing in law and economics of regulated industries, networks, and markets. {{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}}{{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}}

In the early 1990s, Rahman began her career in law, specializing in corporate legal practice. She has stated that she has been involved with the telecommunications sector since that time.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Anusha began her political career in 2006 or 2007, when she became senior vice president of the lawyers' wing of PML-N. She took part in the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of the judiciary following the Pakistani state of emergency in 2007. She was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the first time in the 2008 Pakistani general election on a reserved seat for women.{{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}} She was a member of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice during her tenure in the National Assembly. In 2009, Rahman was a member of Pakistani party PML-N's steering committee, which was responsible for dealing with legal matters.

She was re-elected as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the second time in the 2013 Pakistani general election on a reserved seat for women.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}}{{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}} In 2013, Rahman was appointed as the Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication.{{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}}{{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}}{{cite web |date=7 June 2013 |title=Sworn in as Minister of State |url=http://www.nation.com.pk/national/07-Jun-2013/25-member-federal-cabinet-sworn-in |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210145811/http://www.nation.com.pk/national/07-Jun-2013/25-member-federal-cabinet-sworn-in |archivedate=10 February 2014 |accessdate=3 June 2014 |publisher=Nation pk}}

She ceased to hold ministerial office in July 2017, when the federal cabinet was disbanded following the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after the Panama Papers case decision.{{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}} Following the election of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as Prime Minister of Pakistan in August 2017, she was then inducted into the federal cabinet of Mr. Abbasi.{{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}}{{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/ |accessdate=4 August 2017 |publisher=Pakistan Today}} She was appointed as the Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication.{{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}}{{cite news |title=Portfolios of federal, state ministers |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/221526-Portfolios-of-federal-state-ministers |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805133715/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/221526-Portfolios-of-federal-state-ministers |archivedate=5 August 2017 |accessdate=5 August 2017 |work=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en |df=dmy-all}}

In April 2018, she was promoted to be the federal minister{{cite news |date=27 April 2018 |title=Govt expands cabinet months before elections - The Express Tribune |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1696773/1-govt-expands-cabinet-months-elections/ |accessdate=27 April 2018 |work=The Express Tribune}} and was appointed as Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication in the cabinet of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.{{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}} Upon the dissolution of the National Assembly on the expiration of its term on May 31, 2018, Rehman ceased to hold the office as Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication.{{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}}

In the 2024 Senate elections in Pakistan, Anusha, backed by PMLN, secured victory in the seats designated for women, accumulating 125 votes.{{Cite web |last=Hakeem |first=Dawn com {{!}} Arif Hayat {{!}} Shoaib Ahmed {{!}} Tahir Siddiqui {{!}} Nadir Guramani {{!}} Abdul |date=2024-04-02 |title=Coalition sweeps polls on 19 Senate seats |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1825232 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}

During her tenure, she undertook several policy and legislative initiatives to achieve the vision of a knowledge-based economy. She led the formulation of Telecom Sector Policy 2015{{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}} to address emerging trends in the sector. In 2017, Anusha Rahman received the "Government Leadership Award"{{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}} for the flagship policy project "Telecom Policy 2015." She was involved in the e-Governance{{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}} initiative in Pakistan with the objective of increasing overall public administration efficiency, enhancing transparency, improving citizens' access to services, and enhancing their participation in democratic governance processes. During her tenure Pakistan became one of the top five nations in terms of freelancing in IT products globally. The export of IT and ITES increased{{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}} by over 380% during five years of her tenure.

In 2015, Rehman was awarded the "GEM-TECH Global Achievers 2015" award by UN Women and the International Telecommunication Union in recognition of her work to empower women through technology.{{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}}

Pakistan was awarded the Spectrum for Mobile Broadband Award 2015 at the prestigious Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona under the leadership of Anusha Rahman.{{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}} Pakistan was awarded this for auctioning spectrum for 3G/4G services in the 850 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands in 2014, and thereafter the rapid uptake of 3G/4G services in the country, where broadband, which was less than 3% in 2013, went up to over 40% today. Rahman added that "the award of the GSMA Spectrum for Mobile Broadband Award for 2015 to Pakistan is an indication of the global community reposing its trust in the telecommunication sector policy practices of the Government of Pakistan."{{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}}

On 15 December 2015, Anusha Rahman, being the first woman ICT Minister of Pakistan, introduced the program for girls referred to as “ICTs for Girls”{{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}} for promoting inclusiveness and empowerment of girls and young women to enable them to contribute to and benefit from the value chain of ICTs.{{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/ |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=ITU News |language=english}} This program was designed to provide access to ICT infrastructure and tools, customized ICT education for specific skill development, and the job market. As part of this program, tens of thousands of girls and women from disadvantaged segments of society have been provided digital infrastructure and digital skills with state-of-the-art machines in fully broadband-supported environments. Microsoft has partnered to design, develop, and train teachers on the "4 Cs" for skills education, including coding, computing, coaching, and communication.

In July 2016, Pakistan's first largest National Incubation Center{{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}} was envisioned and launched under the leadership of Anusha through a public-private partnership of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ignite (formerly the National ICT R&D Fund), and Teamup. The NIC was structured to provide startups with a free of charge workspace, incubation, acceleration (Jazz XLR8 program), seed funds, and access to 50 million+ mobile 2016 customers.{{Cite web |date=2018-12-17 |title=MoIT, Jazz & Ignite launch National Incubation Cente |url=https://fundooding.com/ignite_latest/moit-jazz-ignite-formerly-national-ict-rd-fund-launch-national-incubation-cente/ |access-date=2020-08-17 |website=Ignite |language=en-US}} On 20 July 2016, at the launch, Anusha Rahman, Minister of State for IT & Telecom—Pakistan, said, “The launch of the National Incubation Center is an important milestone in the Government of Pakistan's digital agenda. I would like to appreciate the efforts of all our partners who have made this possible. I wish all the startups joining the National Innovation Center the very best in achieving their dreams; they are our future.” She has contributed to this ecosystem of entrepreneurship and expanded National Incubation Centers across Pakistan: Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta.

In order to prepare the youth and the future workforce, which is equipped with the fourth industrial revolution, Anusha Rahman launched a "DigiSkills" program in February 2018 to prepare one million freelancers in Pakistan. The program was aimed at equipping the youth, freelancers, students, professionals, and others with the knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques necessary to seize opportunities available internationally on online job marketplaces and also locally. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi inaugurated the Digi Skills program aimed at training one million of the youth through online modules, The program reported reaching its target audience.{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Sophia |title=PM Inaugurates DigiSkills Program to Prepare One Million Freelancers in Pakistan |date=February 2018 |url=https://propakistani.pk/2018/02/01/pm-inaugurates-digiskills-program-prepare-one-million-freelances-pakistan/ |access-date=2020-08-17 |language=en-US}}

Later, on 15 February 2019, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) appointed Anusha Rahman Khan as the regional advisor to the secretary-general and the CTO for the East and South Asia region.{{Cite web |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/ |access-date=2020-08-17 |language=en-US}}

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{{Sharif III Cabinet}}

{{Abbasi Cabinet}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Pakistan Muslim League (N) politicians

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Category:1968 births

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