As artificial intelligence reshapes industries globally, Telenor Pakistan is ensuring its transition to an AI-First future starts with its own people. The company recently celebrated AI Day, part of a Telenor Group-wide event, highlighting how it is embedding AI into skills, culture, and daily work. At the heart of this strategy is AI Verse, a new learning pathway designed to equip all employees with practical skills for the future. For Areej Khan, Chief People Officer at Telenor Pakistan, this investment shows a fundamental mindset shift, placing employees at the core of digital change.
New Title: A Culture of Curiosity: From Fear to AI Adoption
For Telenor Pakistan, becoming AI-First is about more than just technology. According to Khan, while technology provides the tools to improve customer experience and operations, it is people who unlock its value. This approach redefines AI as a human-driven journey. Every employee, regardless of their role, is encouraged to apply AI responsibly, making it a natural extension of how they work and think.
The launch of AI Verse was a key highlight of AI Day. Unlike past training programs that were often role-specific, AI Verse is designed for everyone, from HR to marketing. It introduces skills like prompt engineering and data-driven decision-making, making AI accessible to all employees, no matter their technical background. Khan notes that this gives employees the confidence to experiment with AI and future-proof their careers. What makes AI Verse unique is its direct connection to real projects within Telenor Pakistan, such as AI Service Monitoring and Smart Energy Management, ensuring that the learning is practical and immediately valuable.
Telenor Pakistan has seen significant enthusiasm for AI. Its teams had one of the highest participation rates in the Telenor Group’s AI Hackathon. However, the company also acknowledges that new technology can bring apprehension. Khan emphasizes the importance of transparent communication to address concerns about job displacement. The cultural shift from fear to curiosity is crucial; by showing employees how AI augments their work, they become advocates for it.
New Title: AI in Action and Future Growth
The company’s AI Expo demonstrated how innovation is already being applied in Pakistan. Projects showcased included AI-based service monitoring, smart energy management, and an AI virtual agent in the design phase. These initiatives prove that AI is not a distant promise but a present reality that enhances reliability and customer engagement.
For Khan, the ultimate goal of AI Verse and related initiatives is employee growth. She explains that “AI is not replacing people; it is augmenting their expertise.” The emphasis on continuous learning is a pragmatic strategy that reassures employees their skills remain relevant in a rapidly evolving world. Telenor Pakistan’s journey is part of a wider transformation within the Telenor Group, but the local relevance is clear. The AI Expo highlighted solutions developed by Pakistani teams, demonstrating that the country’s talent can produce world-class innovation. By linking global expertise with local creativity, Telenor Pakistan is positioning its workforce to not only adopt AI but to lead in shaping its future.
