ISLAMABAD, Aug 07 (APP):Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jazz, Aamir Ibrahim, emphasized on Wednesday the need for a comprehensive digital approach rooted in a robust infrastructure to nurture Pakistan’s unique characteristics and drive growth in the emerging global digital economy.
Addressing first ever Digital Nation Summit organized by GSMA and Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication he said, “e-Society, digitizing G2C and G2P payments; e-Economy, creating a cashless and connected economy; and e-Governance, automating processes and improving decision-making efficiency are critical for Digital Pakistan.”
The Digital Nation Summit was aimed at fostering essential industry discussions, enhancing regional collaboration, and promoting the role of mobile technology in developing sustainable and inclusive digital nations.
During the discussion, Aamir also highlighted five essential factors for advancing the Digital Pakistan vision including infrastructure, talent development, IT products and startups, digital transformation, and IT services and BPO.
“Realizing the Digital Pakistan vision requires a robust infrastructure, a skilled workforce, a dynamic startup ecosystem, modernization of traditional sectors through advanced technology, and high-quality solutions and outsourcing capabilities,” he explained.
Emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to achieve the ambitious Digital Pakistan vision, Aamir highlighted the necessity of aligning objectives and working closely with both government bodies and private sector partners to drive the country’s digital transformation.
“Despite significant challenges, Pakistan’s telecom sector is playing a crucial role in unlocking the nation’s digital potential and realizing its digital vision. It continues to act as a driving force behind the country’s economic development and digital transition,” Aamir stated.
President Consumer Division at Jazz, Kazim Mujtaba during the panel discussion themed ‘Building Resilient and Sustainable Network Infrastructures’, detailed the company’s evolution from a telecom provider to a ServiceCo conglomerate, reflecting its adaptation to the changing digital landscape. Despite facing market and regulatory challenges, Mujtaba emphasized Jazz’s dedication to leveraging technology to improve lives and livelihoods.
He recognized the supportive roles of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), and the government, commending the Right of Way (RoW) framework for its significant impact on expediting network deployment and expansion. Mujtaba also outlined Jazz’s sustainability initiatives, which include solarizing network sites, reducing plastic usage, and conducting energy audits. He revealed the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In a panel discussion on ‘Navigating Policy Reforms for a Digital Pakistan,’ Sir Brandon Lewis, a Member of the Board of Directors at VEON, reiterated VEON’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s digital ecosystem in key areas including fintech, cloud & cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, software development, and ed-tech, with an overall investment crossing $10.6 billion.
Lewis underscored Pakistan’s dynamic youth population and growing tech talent as key drivers for investing in transformative digital solutions within the country. He pointed to successful policy initiatives in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, demonstrating the advantages of proactive government support.
Lewis elaborated on VEON’s vision for deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in Pakistan, advocating a human-centred approach that respects data sovereignty and enhances local capabilities. He also emphasized the critical need to expand network coverage and connectivity to underserved areas, ensuring that digital infrastructure remains affordable and accessible for all.
