Islamabad, Nov 8: VEON and Jazz Discuss Financial Services, Data Centers, and Cloud Initiatives for Pakistan’s Digital Transformation in Meeting with PM. Senior executives from VEON Group, along with Jazz’s leadership team, recently had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss significant investments aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s digital transformation. VEON and Jazz highlighted their dedication to Pakistan as a growing market, outlining plans for strategic developments in digital banking, financial services, data centers, software, and cloud infrastructure to promote economic growth and digital inclusion.
The delegation featured VEON Group Founder Augie K. Fabela, Group CEO Kaan Terzioğlu, and Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim, who updated the Prime Minister on Jazz’s efforts to provide secure and accessible financial solutions for Pakistan’s unbanked and underserved populations. The discussions highlighted Jazz’s transition from a telecommunications provider to a technology-driven ServiceCo, in line with VEON’s goal of promoting digital inclusivity and innovation.
Moreover, VEON Group and Jazz entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and the National Information Technology Board (NITB) to create Pakistan’s first domestic Large Language Model (LLM). This LLM will focus on supporting under-resourced regional languages, including Urdu, Pashto, and Punjabi, addressing AI disparities for non-English speakers. By advancing AI tools in local languages, this initiative seeks to enhance access to digital resources across key sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture.
Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz, mentioned that advancements in AI would empower Pakistani communities by providing native-language tools to educators, medical professionals, and farmers. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Minister of IT & Telecommunication, emphasized the importance of this partnership in preserving Pakistan’s linguistic heritage while positioning the nation as a frontrunner in emerging technologies.
This collaboration, which will last for five years, is part of VEON’s larger commitment to supporting AI in low-resource languages, complementing similar efforts in Kazakhstan. Through ongoing investments, VEON and Jazz aim to reshape Pakistan’s digital landscape, bolstering infrastructure and enhancing economic empowerment.
