Two young girls selected to represent Pakistan at the Youth Forum in Norway

Telenor Pakistan has selected Maieda Janjua, 22 from Islamabad and Asma Ladak, 20 from Karachi to participate in the sixth annual Telenor Youth Forum (TYF). In collaboration with the Nobel Peace Center, TYF brings together a group of 16 young delegates from Asia and Europe and challenges these individuals to find ways to use digital technology to reduce inequalities and empower societies.

Meet Maieda Janjua and Asma Akbar Ladak

Maieda Janjua, who graduated from Dartmouth last year with a degree in Computer Science, is currently interning in Telenor’s “Data as a Service” team. While exploring the tech scene in Pakistan, she became interested in using technology for social good. The idea pitched by her is to create an artificially intelligent chatbot to help address maternal mortality. She hails from Islamabad.

Asma Akbar Ladak who is a doctor in making at the Aga Khan University in Karachi realizes the importance of clean water. Her idea for TYF finale is to develop a solar-powered water bottle that does two things: purifies dirty water (both microscopically and macroscopically) and condenses atmospheric water vapor to drinkable water.

In the last five seasons of TYF, there have been some outstanding individuals to represent Pakistan that include Haroon Yasin, founder of Orenda & receiver of Queen’s Young Leaders award and Sajawal Waseem, winner of TYF 2016/2017, all of whom have make Pakistan proud not only as part of the program but also through their recent achievements and contributions.

“In the six years since the Telenor Youth Forum program began, TYF delegates have made big impact across our country and the world. Our TYF delegates represent the best of the best among youth in Pakistan and have made us proud on multiple international platforms through their contributions. They are leaders, they are socially active, digitally savvy and they believe that technology can be used as an instrument for peace and reducing inequalities.”
said Irfan Wahab Khan, CEO Telenor Pakistan, while addressing the audience at Telenor Youth Forum finale at Telenor Campus – 345.

“We have great expectations from Maieda and Asma and are excited to see them do great things in Oslo and beyond. I am confident that they will continue the tradition of making Pakistan Proud.”

What happens at TYF?

While in Oslo, the TYF delegates will participate in a service design program to create a digital service, product or campaign that tackles a global social challenge. They will also explore the connection between digital technology and peace by participating in the Nobel Peace Prize festivities while in Oslo.

The TYF delegates will continue with the TYF program through the first half of 2019, developing their digital ideas and building an exhibition on their social cause, in collaboration with the Nobel Peace Center.