By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Meta on Monday launched its artificial intelligence assistant in Urdu for users in Pakistan, as part of efforts to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and make technology more inclusive.
The announcement came during an event jointly hosted by Meta and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) titled “Future in Focus: AI and Innovation.” The gathering brought together government officials, industry leaders and academics to discuss ways to expand the use of AI across Pakistan.
The new tool, branded ALIF, enables users to interact with Meta AI in both Urdu and English. The upgrade is designed to help more people access information, express themselves, and connect digitally in their own language.
Meta also introduced Instagram Map in Pakistan. At the event’s inauguration, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan is accelerating toward a future where technology empowers every citizen.
She added that Pakistan’s National AI Policy and its partnership with Meta underlined the country’s dedication to improving AI literacy, digital transformation and innovation in government and academia. “The introduction of ALIF – Urdu for Meta AI is a milestone in making technology more inclusive and accessible for our people, ensuring that no one is left behind in our digital transformation,” the minister said.
Meta’s Public Policy Director for South and Central Asia Sarim Aziz said the company was committed to supporting Pakistan’s AI ambitions. “With the launch of Meta AI in Urdu and our ongoing collaboration with government and academia, we aim to drive responsible AI adoption and help deliver better digital services for people across Pakistan,” he said.
Meta also introduced new features for local users, including Instagram Map, and showcased its smart glasses with built-in displays as part of its push toward “superintelligence.”
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