4 min read
Telenor Pakistan hosted its much-anticipated AI Day at its Islamabad headquarters on September 10, 2025, bringing together industry leaders, technology experts, and employees to explore the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping Pakistan’s digital future.
The event combined interactive sessions, panel discussions, awards, and an AI Expo, all designed to showcase how AI can redefine skills, industries, and society at large. TechJuice brings you exclusive insights from the event in the story below.
AI Day Highlights
The daylong program featured multiple activities aimed at raising awareness and building capacity around AI adoption. A panel discussion on AI set the tone by addressing both the opportunities and regulatory challenges facing Pakistan.
Adding a global flavor, there was a live stream from Telenor’s headquarters in Fornebu, Norway, where Benedicte Schilbred Fasmer, President and CEO of Telenor Group, delivered a virtual keynote on how AI is improving lives across industries. The live session also featured the AI Awards, with 115 nominations from across Telenor’s global business units.
In Pakistan, the AI Expo showcased 10 ongoing projects developed by in-house teams, reflecting how AI is already being put to practical use. Telenor Pakistan’s project “Thunder,” which applies AI in energy management, stood out globally and secured the AI for Innovation award.
Meanwhile, the AI Hackathon attracted strong local participation, with 105 teams submitting ideas, the second-highest figure within Telenor Group.
Words from Industry Leaders
During AI Day, industry leaders sat down to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming Pakistan’s digital future.
Fridjtof Rusten, the CEO of Telenor Pakistan, expressed a hopeful vision for the role of AI, asserting that “AI will empower people, not replace them.”
Tehreem Rasul, the Tech Lead for AI at RedBuffer and a Google Development Expert, shared practical advice:
“Pick a pain point in your life and make it better with AI; automate it.”
Naveed Iftikhar, co-founder of Atomcamp, brought attention to the pressing issue of the digital divide, emphasizing that
“Talent alone isn’t enough without access. Without AI, we will get graduates but not skilled people. AI education should start from school so students will be globally competitive.”
Finally, Awais Vohra, CTO of Telenor Pakistan, identified three significant barriers to AI adoption in the country:
“limited infrastructure, lack of AI literacy, and insufficient policies.”
Building a Responsible AI Culture
Telenor Pakistan also introduced AI Verse, a new learning path tailored to equip employees with future-ready skills, along with AI for Everyone, an introductory session on prompt engineering and practical AI tools. These initiatives aim to simplify AI adoption and build confidence among employees in applying the technology responsibly.
Speaking about the broader vision, CEO Fridtjof Rusten said AI represents more than just innovation.
“AI is no longer a distant concept; it is here, reshaping industries, redefining skills, and transforming the way we live and work. For Pakistan, this is a tremendous opportunity to leapfrog into a digital-first future and unlock new pathways for progress.”
Echoing this vision, CTO Awais Vohra emphasized ethical use of AI, while talking to TechJuice.
“We believe in ethical use of AI, transparent and aligned with human values. It must be inherently secure, protecting privacy. AI Day is a step forward in fostering a culture where our people can learn, experiment, and apply AI responsibly for a sustainable future.”
Looking Ahead
By organizing AI Day, Telenor Pakistan has positioned itself as a front-runner in advancing digital transformation in the country. Beyond celebrating innovation, the event underlined the importance of collaboration between industry and talent while highlighting the urgent need for stronger infrastructure, literacy, and policy support.
As Pakistan seeks to close the digital gap, initiatives like AI Day are laying the groundwork for a future where AI doesn’t just drive business growth but also empowers people, strengthens communities, and accelerates inclusive economic development.
