Latest news with #WALI
Time Business News
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
From Balochistan to Global Boardrooms: Urdu AI's New Model Is Redefining Inclusive AI Careers
July 15, 2025 | World Youth Skills Day In a bold step toward inclusive digital transformation, Urdu AI—a social impact tech initiative born in Pakistan—is launching a new model that redefines the future of remote work and AI literacy: the Impactlancer. Spearheaded by co-founders Qaisar Roonjha and Khalid Hussain Mir both hailing from rural Balochistan, the Urdu AI project addresses one of the most under-discussed inequalities in the digital economy: the language barrier. 'AI is transforming the world. But if your first language isn't English, the doors to this transformation often remain closed,' says Khalid Mir, a digital strategist who has consulted across the UAE, UK, and Pakistan. 'Urdu AI was created to change that—starting with our own communities.' Launched under the umbrella of Universal Reach for Digital Uplift with AI (Urdu AI), the platform is a multi-tiered ecosystem that supports underserved youth—particularly women and rural learners—to access AI education and earn digital income in their native language. The initiative is already gaining traction. Over 700,000 learners have registered on with more than 1,200 certified graduates from Google-backed AI courses. Its infrastructure includes: – Foundational AI education delivered entirely in Urdu – Foundational AI education delivered entirely in Urdu – Portfolio development, digital identity verification, and remote work readiness – Portfolio development, digital identity verification, and remote work readiness – A client-facing global service delivery hub incorporated across the UAE, UK, US, and Canada At its heart lies WALI, Pakistan's first solar-powered innovation lab built in a remote village. From this lab to international markets, Urdu AI is proving that geography and language should no longer define opportunity. With today's announcement on World Youth Skills Day, Urdu AI introduces a new professional identity: the Impactlancer. Unlike traditional freelancers, an Impactlancer is trained in AI, grounded in local context, and plugged into a global service delivery system. They provide services such as SEO content creation, e-commerce management, AI prompting, and social media support—while contributing to the development of their own communities. The revenue-sharing model is designed for social return: 60% paid directly to the Impactlancer paid directly to the Impactlancer 30% reinvested into upskilling and infrastructure reinvested into upskilling and infrastructure 10% directed to platform sustainability 'It's not just work—it's impact,' says Roonjha. 'Every project supports not only a professional but the system that helped them succeed. This is how we scale equity in the AI age.' Urdu AI is now inviting governments, donor agencies, global brands, and outsourcing firms to partner with its growing network of certified Impactlancers. 'If you're looking for skilled digital services and measurable social return, this model delivers both,' says Mir. With legal entities and service structures already active in the UAE, UK, US, and Canada, Urdu AI is ready to become a cross-border outsourcing partner—offering talent with purpose. What makes Urdu AI truly compelling is its origin story. Both co-founders grew up in underserved regions of Pakistan—connected not by location, but by the internet. 'We didn't come from opportunity—we built it,' reflects Roonjha. 'Now, we want to make sure others don't have to beat the same odds.' From rural labs to global invoices, Urdu AI's vision is clear: Make the digital economy accessible in every language. And with the Impactlancer model, that vision just became scalable. 📍 | 📧 partnerships@ TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Arab News
26-06-2025
- Arab News
Balochistan youth swap trees for tech as Internet lab bridges digital divide
LASBELA, Pakistan: When Abrar Roonjha returned to his hometown near Bela in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province during the COVID-19 lockdown, he was faced with a major dilemma: how would he attend online classes without reliable Internet connectivity. Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area, accounts for nearly 44% of the country's landmass but only around 6% of its population. Despite its mineral wealth and geostrategic location, the militancy-plagued region remains the country's most underserved in infrastructure and connectivity. Combine that with the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a devastating impact on education across Pakistan, with prolonged school closures affecting more than 40 million students nationwide. According to a 2021 UNICEF report, around 23 million school-going children were unable to access remote learning during the pandemic due to limited or no Internet connectivity and a lack of digital devices. The situation was especially dire in rural and underserved areas like Balochistan, where infrastructure gaps meant many students were entirely cut off from their lessons. 'I used to hang my mobile phone on a tree and try to connect to its hotspot to continue my studies but it was very difficult,' Roonjha, now 21, told Arab News. That changed in 2021 with the launch of the Wang Lab of Innovation (WALI), a free Internet and digital skills center in Roonjha's village, supported by the Internet Society and run by the Welfare Association for New Generation (WANG), a grassroots organization in Lasbela district. Since then, nearly 650 youth in the region, many from low-income families, have gained access to high-speed Internet and basic tech education. For young people like Roonjha, the lab has become a portal to the wider world. 'When the Wang Lab of Innovation was established here, I was able to access high-speed Internet. This brought a major positive change in my life,' said Roonjha, who now leads creative programs at the lab. The connectivity also enabled him to attend international forums, including the World Youth Festival in Russia in 2024 and a UN regional conference on sustainable development in Bangkok earlier this year. DIGITAL DIVIDE IN PAKISTAN'S LARGEST PROVINCE Despite its vast size, Balochistan remains Pakistan's least connected province when it comes to Internet access. According to Freedom House, around 60 percent of the region lacks any Internet coverage, and in areas with service, mobile speeds are often well below the national average of 6.2 Mbps. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority reports broadband penetration in the province sits at just 15 percent, compared with the national average of 45.7 percent. Infrastructure challenges, like mountainous terrain, sparse population, and frequent security-related shutdowns, have consistently deterred investment in fiber and mobile networks . While government-backed initiatives like the Universal Service Fund have begun extending 4G and broadband over limited areas of Balochistan, the majority of rural communities still struggle to connect, reinforcing the importance of local projects like the WALI lab. 'WALI has created a vital space, especially for girls, to access knowledge and skills they would otherwise have no means to acquire,' said Aftab Ahmed, 26, a co-founder of the lab. The initiative is also one of the few local digital literacy efforts led by young people from the region. While national programs like Pakistan's 'Digital Pakistan' campaign have focused on major urban centers, grassroots projects in remote provinces are rare and often underfunded. The lab is housed in a modest building in the village and is now a daily destination for schoolchildren, university students, and aspiring content creators. Its impact is visible in the confidence and creativity of its youngest users. Fawaz Qadir, 16, began coming to the lab a year ago. 'I would come here and learn about different AI tools,' he said, describing how he creates music and short films using Suno AI and Meta's animation tools. 'I talk about climate change and how humans have damaged our environment.' Abdul Hadi, 14, walks two kilometers each day to reach the lab. In just a year, he's learned to design YouTube banners and navigate the Internet. 'Things are no longer the way they used to be,' he said. For Rifat Wasim, 13, a student at the local girls' school, the lab is her only access to a computer. 'There's no laptop or such devices at my home, so I come to the lab, and I enjoy it,' she said. 'I've learned to browse the Internet, use a computer, and create videos.' RETHINKING THE FUTURE Roonjha, the sociology student who once studied under a tree, now teaches children to use artificial intelligence tools. 'I see that children as young as ten or twelve are creating music using AI, they are making films,' he said. 'They've started to understand the possibilities the Internet offers, and how, through AI, they can showcase their work to the world and make their presence felt.' The WANG initiative remains one of few rural digital labs in the province. Other recent government-supported efforts include the USF, which has launched projects to expand 4G coverage in parts of Balochistan. But for many villages in districts like Lasbela, such access remains a distant promise. Ahmed, the WALI co-founder, hopes the model can be replicated. 'Digital inclusion is not just about connectivity, it's about opportunity,' he said. 'When children in remote areas have access to the same tools as anyone else, it transforms how they see their future.'
