What is the name of your organization?
Welfare Association for New Generation (WANG) Balochistan
What is the name of your solution?
Urdu AI
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Empowering underserved youth in Pakistan with Urdu-language AI literacy and human-centric skills for the future of work.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Lasbela Balochistan
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Pakistan
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Across Pakistan, young people are entering a rapidly changing world of work shaped by artificial intelligence and automation, yet most lack opportunities to learn the digital and human skills needed to thrive. According to the Pakistan Labour Force Survey 2024–25, the national unemployment rate has risen to 7.1 percent, with youth aged 15–24 facing the highest unemployment at 12.9 percent. Female youth are particularly affected, with unemployment peaking at 14.9 percent among women aged 25–34.
In many regions, AI and digital education are available only in English and in major cities, creating barriers for youth who primarily speak Urdu or regional languages. Provinces such as Balochistan and Sindh face additional obstacles, including limited access to computers, unstable internet connectivity, and few opportunities for technology training.
These combined language, location, and resource barriers prevent thousands of young people from accessing skills essential to the future of work. Without inclusive, community-based pathways to build AI literacy and related soft skills, economic inequality will deepen and youth unemployment will continue to rise.
Urdu AI directly responds to this challenge by delivering practical, Urdu-language AI education that empowers young people from underserved communities to participate confidently in the digital economy.
What is your solution?
Urdu AI is an inclusive education initiative by the Welfare Association for New Generation (WANG) that equips young people in Pakistan with AI literacy through Urdu-language learning. It blends large-scale digital reach with structured in-person training, ensuring that both connected and underserved communities can access future-ready skills.
The Urdu AI platform delivers short, mobile-friendly courses on artificial intelligence, data ethics, and creative problem-solving. Content is available in Urdu, optimized for low-bandwidth use, and accessed through smartphones. For areas with limited connectivity, WALI Labs serve as solar-powered learning hubs equipped with laptops, offline materials, and trained facilitators who guide learners through practical AI projects.
Through partnerships with Google, the Asian Development Bank, and the AVPN AI Opportunity Fund, Urdu AI conducts certified, in-person trainings across schools, universities, and community centers. To date, 2 000 learners have completed these trainings, and 36 000 more will be trained by 2027.
Alongside a monthly digital reach of 35–40 million people and over 1 million followers, Urdu AI has become Pakistan’s leading Urdu-language platform for AI learning, empowering youth to use AI ethically for education, entrepreneurship, and employment.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Urdu AI serves young people aged 18 to 24 from underserved and rural communities across Pakistan, particularly those with limited access to technology education and English-language learning. The program focuses on youth from Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a special emphasis on young women, who face higher unemployment and mobility barriers.
These youth are eager to participate in the digital economy but often lack the language, connectivity, and training opportunities needed to acquire AI and future-ready skills. Many are first-generation learners or early-career individuals seeking better employment pathways.
Urdu AI addresses these challenges by providing AI education in Urdu, delivered both online and through in-person training at WALI Labs and partner institutions. Learners gain practical skills in artificial intelligence, ethical reasoning, and entrepreneurship through a supportive, culturally relevant environment.
To date, 2 000 learners have completed in-person training, with 36 000 more to be trained by 2027 through partnerships with Google, the Asian Development Bank, and AVPN. Beyond the classroom, Urdu AI’s online platforms reach over 35 million people monthly, inspiring youth nationwide to learn, innovate, and build confidence in an AI-powered world.
