Aamir Ibrahim, the CEO of Jazz, Pakistan’s leading telecom operator, has revealed the company’s ambitious expansion plans into healthcare as part of its broader growth strategy. In an interview with Developing Telecoms at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Ibrahim discussed how Jazz is transitioning from a traditional telecom provider to a dynamic digital services company.
“We were much more intentional in 2023 about redefining our purpose—from being a traditional telecom company to becoming a comprehensive digital services provider,” said Ibrahim. This shift reflects a broader trend among telecom operators worldwide, who are positioning themselves not just as mobile network operators but as multifaceted service providers.
While connectivity remains the cornerstone of Jazz’s operations, Ibrahim emphasized that it serves as the gateway to the broader digital ecosystem. He noted that the telecom industry’s transformation is part of Veon Group’s overarching strategy to drive growth through digital services. The aim is to engage consumers for “1,440 minutes per day” across its markets.
Two years ago, Jazz made three major strategic investments to broaden its offerings. These included expanding mobile financial services through its JazzCash platform, growing digital content offerings like streaming and insurance services, and investing in cloud and analytics technology to strengthen its digital capabilities. According to Ibrahim, these ventures have been successful, and Jazz is now focusing on expanding into healthcare and education for 2025.
In order to support this expansion, Jazz restructured its business model eight months ago, breaking away from a “monolithic single company” into specialized units. This includes its financial services arm, which oversees Mobilink Microfinance Bank. Additionally, in December, Jazz sold its tower business to Engro Corporation for US$563 million to fund its strategic transition.
Jazz has already made significant strides in insurance with its FikrFree platform, which has sold approximately 3 million insurance policies, generating US$2 million in recurring monthly revenue. Now, the company is setting its sights on Pakistan’s healthcare sector, which faces multiple challenges in providing accessible treatment to the population.
Ibrahim sees this as an opportunity to leverage technology to bridge the gaps in the healthcare system. Jazz is developing an AI-powered healthcare app that will allow patients to describe their symptoms via voice or text, generating an automated transcript to speed up the diagnosis process. Drawing inspiration from e-commerce platforms like Shopify, the app will also facilitate physical consultations and allow patients to book appointments, while partnering with pharmacies to streamline the purchase of medicines.
“This is still in development, but this is the direction we’re heading in,” Ibrahim explained. “We will learn as we go, and may refine our approach based on customer needs.”
Despite Jazz’s evolution into a more technology-driven company, Ibrahim is cautious about adopting the “techco” label, a term that has gained popularity in the industry. He emphasized that the company aims to remain humble in its approach, acknowledging the potential risks of alienating customers through concerns about data privacy and surveillance.
“We want to be a service company—one that serves its customers with humility, passion, and dedication,” he concluded.
