The global artificial intelligence (AI) race has countries vying for dominance over one another, but what is Pakistan’s position in this race? Stacked against the technology giants at the top of this race, Pakistan is making decent progress in the race for AI supremacy. ProPakistani recently recorded a podcast episode with Mr. Yasser Amin, Director of Professional Services at Wateen, to explore how Pakistan can rise as a global AI powerhouse.
From the evolution of cloud technology to the challenges of data privacy and sector-wide adoption, Mr. Yasser Amin discussed how Pakistan’s youth and its technology industry can lead the AI revolution. The conversation also examined Wateen’s role in driving digital transformation and its vision for a smarter, connected Pakistan.
Opportunities in Evolving Technologies in Pakistan
Mr. Yasser was asked about Pakistan’s unique technological position and the challenges it faces, such as substandard infrastructure, which can hinder technological progress. He responded that significant opportunities exist, particularly in the global work environment, for Pakistanis who have acquired foundational skills in coding, data science, and English language communication.
He added that the remote work boom, driven by globalization and technological advancements, has enabled professionals to participate in global value chains without geographical constraints. Due to this vast global exposure, Pakistani professionals are well-positioned to expand their expertise in databases, back-end programming languages, front-end development, and machine learning algorithms.
Participation in real-world projects and publishing code repositories on platforms such as GitHub can further enhance their professional profiles.
Candidates proficient in both coding and data science are especially appealing to companies engaged in artificial intelligence (AI) development, as such skillsets are crucial in building, training, and deploying AI-driven solutions.
Cloud Evolution and AI Growth in Businesses
When asked about Pakistan’s state of digital evolution in the past decade, Mr. Yasser shared some fascinating insights. He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a paradigm shift in consumer behaviour, accelerating the adoption of digital services. E-commerce, online food delivery, and digital grocery platforms became mainstream in Pakistan. The pandemic also played a significant role in the widespread adoption of the work-from-home (WFH) culture. The education sector witnessed the rise of smart learning solutions, educational portals, and learning management systems. In the banking sector, payment gateways and digital wallets also gained widespread acceptance.
Mr. Yasser emphasized that there is a growing emphasis on process optimization, operational efficiency, and workplace automation across industries. AI offers small and medium enterprises (SMEs) tools to reduce workforce requirements and operating costs. These include AI-driven chatbots, cloud-based infrastructure and storage, automation of repetitive tasks, and AI-assisted decision-making systems.
Wateen Telecom is playing a pivotal role in this transformation by offering enterprise-grade cloud solutions, nationwide connectivity, and technology-driven systems designed to promote efficiency and digital transformation.
Technology Adoption Across Industries
ProPakistani posited that Pakistan has three different industries that take center stage for early technology adoption, namely: Oil & Gas, Healthcare, and Telecommunication. Mr. Yasser, based on his decades of experience working across different sectors, is of the view that these industries have distinct requirements for AI and digital solutions.
Recalling his time in Canada and working with different oil and gas companies, he shared that these companies have strict regulatory requirements and pressure from alternative electric-based solutions. Until these companies automate their exploration projects and reduce their carbon footprint with AI, they cannot survive.
Speaking about healthcare, he shared the same opinion that this industry is regulated, yet it is also progressing rapidly, with AI and new technologies being applied in early diagnosis, treatment optimization, and patient management.
About the telecom industry, he noted that telecom is enabling all these changes. The telecom industry is the backbone for IoT devices and autonomous vehicles.
Data Privacy and Decision-Making Challenges
Mr. Yasser emphasized that despite the benefits of AI adoption, concerns persist regarding the storage, use, and protection of user data. Questions of data privacy, the extent of AI decision-making authority, and the risk of algorithmic bias remain central to the debate.
Ethical frameworks in jurisdictions such as the European Union and the United States provide regulatory guidelines for AI development, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and human oversight. These frameworks encourage the use of unbiased datasets to prevent discriminatory outcomes. While violations of these standards do occur, adherence to them distinguishes ethically responsible companies from their less accountable counterparts.
Wateen’s AI and Technology Solutions
While discussing AI use cases and proof of concepts, Mr. Yasser stated that Wateen provides both off-the-shelf products for broad market applications and tailor-made solutions designed to meet specific customer needs. In addition to product delivery, the company offers consultancy services to help organizations identify the most effective technological solutions for their operational challenges.
Examples include AI-powered surveillance systems adaptable for various sectors. These systems monitor retail footfall, manage queues in healthcare facilities, and prevent theft in the banking sector. Wateen’s AI offerings also include facial recognition-based attendance systems, fleet management solutions to track fuel consumption, energy management systems, and AI tools capable of diagnosing the root causes of system failures and predicting potential points of failure in advance.
The Future of Technology in Pakistan and Wateen’s Role
Mr. Yasser believes that the entry of multinational corporations into Pakistan’s market brings not only employment opportunities but also the transference of global best practices, technological competencies, and corporate values. This knowledge transfer can foster a skilled domestic workforce capable of initiating new ventures and building a technology-driven ecosystem.
Foreign investment plays a critical role in accelerating this transformation. Currently, Pakistan lags in developing large-scale AI infrastructure. China has emerged as a global leader in AI and data center development, and Pakistan’s cooperation with China in this domain has netted positive results thus far, like the AI-powered agricultural app.
Through its longstanding partnerships with global technology giants, Wateen is contributing to AI infrastructure development in Pakistan, positioning itself as a strategic player in enabling the country’s transition toward a smart, technology-driven economy.