Digital Inclusion, Affordable Connectivity, and the War on Cash Dominate Jazz Leadership’s GSMA Summit

Digital Inclusion, Affordability, and the Battle Against Cash Dominate Jazz Leadership’s GSMA Summit Address

At the recent GSMA Digital Nation Summit in Islamabad, Jazz leadership unveiled a powerful vision for Pakistan’s digital future, emphasizing the urgent need for affordable smartphones, widespread internet access, and a decisive shift towards a cashless, inclusive economy.

CEO Jazz and Chairman Mobilink Bank, Aamir Ibrahim, alongside President Consumer Division at Jazz, Kazim Mujtaba, were central to high-level discussions. Their insights highlighted critical areas such as regulatory reforms, fostering digital trust, strategic infrastructure investments, and targeted initiatives to close the digital divide, especially between rural and urban areas and across genders.

Empowering Pakistan’s Digital Horizon: Inclusive Connectivity and Reform

During the “Building a Future-Ready Digital Pakistan” session, Aamir Ibrahim underscored the non-negotiable requirement for universal and affordable internet connectivity to realize the nation’s digital aspirations. Participating in a panel moderated by Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at GSMA, alongside industry peers like Khurram Ashfaque, CEO Telenor Pakistan, and Sajjad Syed, Chairman PASHA, Aamir articulated telecom’s pivotal role as a cross-sectoral enabler.

He advocated strongly for a supportive business environment for telecom operators, stating, “We need a supportive regulatory environment to move at the speed the future demands.” He reiterated that affordable smartphones and ubiquitous internet access are foundational to Pakistan’s digitalization journey. “Access to the internet must be universal, regardless of location or gender,” he added, also calling for necessary reforms in spectrum allocation to facilitate robust network expansion.

The Collective Fight Against Cash: Building a Trusted Digital Economy

In the session titled “Trust by Design – Building Confidence in the Digital Economy,” Aamir Ibrahim passionately argued that Pakistan’s primary obstacle to a thriving digital economy isn’t competition among fintechs, but rather the nation’s entrenched reliance on cash. “The real competition is not between fintechs—it’s a collective battle against cash,” he asserted.

To accelerate the transition, he proposed making digital payment options mandatory at retail outlets. Crucially, he emphasized that this digital shift must be inclusive. “Inclusion is everything. The digital economy must be accessible to every Pakistani, regardless of geography, income, or gender.” While acknowledging JazzCash’s immense scale, processing millions of transactions daily, Aamir conceded that building trust remains a challenge due to ongoing fraud risks. He stressed, “At JazzCash, trust is earned, not assumed,” highlighting the importance of direct customer feedback in continuously enhancing their products.

Bridging the Gaps: Affordability, Literacy, and Women’s Inclusion

Kazim Mujtaba, speaking at the “Connecting the Unconnected – What Works in Closing the Usage Gap” session, pinpointed that addressing Pakistan’s significant usage gap requires a dual approach: focusing on both affordability and digital literacy. He powerfully articulated, “A smartphone is more than a device—it’s the passport to the digital economy, especially for women and underserved communities. Without it, entire segments of society remain invisible to opportunity.”

Highlighting the stark rural-urban divide in mobile internet usage, particularly affecting women, he shared how Jazz has deployed female staff to educate women in remote areas. “Connectivity is no longer a privilege; it’s a lifeline. When women are digitally literate, they uplift not just themselves but their families and communities.”

Kazim also introduced Jazz’s upcoming AI-powered health platform, ApnaClinic, which will offer teleconsultations, lab tests, surgeries, and diagnostic services through a vast network of 30,000 doctors across 150 cities. He also spoke about FikrFree, an innovative insurtech product designed to make healthcare and accident insurance both affordable and accessible for women and low-income users.

“Pakistan’s insurance penetration among women is one of the lowest in the world. Through digital solutions like FikrFree, we’re making protection and peace of mind accessible to those who need it most,” he stated. Concluding with a call for united effort, he declared, “The future will be shaped by those who are connected, skilled, and informed. We must invest in educating women and youth today to build a truly inclusive digital Pakistan.”