Austria Business Forum: JazzWorld chief highlights Pakistan’s digital growth story

LAHORE: Pakistan’s evolving investment narrative and digital transformation agenda were brought into focus during a high-level discussion led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Austria Business Forum, where Pakistani and Austrian leadership engaged international investors on emerging opportunities under the newly launched “Invest in Pakistan NOW!” initiative.

According to a press release issued by JazzWorld here on Friday, speaking at the forum, Aamir Ibrahim, Member of the Group Executive Committee at VEON and Chief Executive Officer of JazzWorld, emphasized that Pakistan’s growth trajectory is increasingly defined by scale, resilience, and the rise of national digital platforms. “When scale meets innovation, technology stops being just an enabler and becomes a true driver of national growth,” he said.

Addressing policymakers, global partners, and industry leaders, Ibrahim described Pakistan’s transformation as one already underway rather than a future projection. He noted that leaders from multiple sectors were contributing to a broader shift toward a digitally enabled economy, where connectivity serves as the foundation for wider value creation.

At the centre of this shift, he highlighted, is Pakistan’s youth. With nearly two-thirds of the population under the age of 30, the country possesses one of the largest young workforces in the region. This digitally skilled and entrepreneurial demographic is emerging as a catalyst for innovation, productivity, and technology-led growth across industries.

Representing JazzWorld, which serves over 100 million users through its digital platforms, Ibrahim outlined how Pakistan’s digital ecosystem is expanding beyond traditional telecommunications. What began as connectivity infrastructure has evolved into digital banking and fintech services, and is now extending into data centers, software exports, and artificial intelligence-driven solutions.

He underscored that connectivity is no longer the end goal, but a foundational layer enabling financial inclusion, digital payments, export-oriented services, and innovation at scale. The convergence of scale and technological capability, he noted, is reshaping how Pakistan participates in the global economy.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026