ISLAMABAD: “Telecom remains the backbone of digital infrastructure,” said Zaheer Mehdi, Group Chief Corporate & Regulatory Affairs at Jazz, while addressing the 28th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad on Thursday.
He added that mobile broadband has become a gateway for millions of Pakistanis to access education, commerce, financial inclusion, and civic participation.
Held under the theme “Sustainable Development in the Emerging World Dis Order,” the conference brought together national and international policymakers, thought leaders, researchers, and representatives from the public and private sectors.
During the event, Mehdi delivered the opening remarks at a policy dialogue on “Telecom and the Digital Future of Pakistan: Artificial Intelligence, Connectivity, and the Frontiers of Development.”
In his address, Mehdi said, “Connectivity is not just infrastructure, it is an opportunity — one that is ever-evolving and shaping the world as we know it.” He explained that Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a new leap in digital transformation, one centred not just on access but on intelligence that can tailor services to individual needs. “At Jazz, we recognize the significance of home-grown services and are co-developing Pakistan’s first local-language large language model (LLM) with academic partners, alongside digital skills programs for youth,” he shared.
He underscored the transformative role of AI in e-governance, smarter business operations, and the expansion of education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. However, Mehdi stressed that responsible and ethical AI adoption will define Pakistan’s digital future, emphasizing that robust data protection frameworks are essential to foster inclusion and trust.
Reflecting on the broader digital landscape, Mehdi noted that while Pakistan has made remarkable strides in expanding access, not everyone is participating equally. He pointed to the usage gap driven by affordability, literacy, relevance, and trust, compounded by high taxation, spectrum pricing pegged to the dollar, and regulatory uncertainty, all of which hinder long-term investment. These challenges, he said, “directly affect our ability to sustain progress and ensure that connectivity remains a tool for inclusion, not exclusion.”
“Operations have moved away from traditional brick-and-mortar models,” Mehdi remarked. “At Jazz, we are focused on ensuring affordable access, building trust through responsible data governance, and developing local capabilities so Pakistan becomes a contributor to the digital world, not just a consumer.”
He concluded by urging focus on three key priorities: reducing the usage gap to ensure meaningful access, establishing ethical and secure AI governance tailored to Pakistan’s context, and strengthening institutional and human capabilities to stay competitive in the global digital economy.
“The digital future will not arrive fully formed,” Mehdi concluded. “It is something we build together through clarity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to inclusion.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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