Pakistan today marked a historic milestone in humanitarian innovation with the launch of “Noor”, Pakistan’s first-ever voice-first Offline Generative AI (GenAI) Voice Companion for disaster preparedness and response.
Developed by Viamo, a global leader in mobile engagement and digital inclusion, the service was made possible through grant funding from the GSMA Innovation Fund for Humanitarian Challenges, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Noor delivers life-saving, localized disaster information directly to basic mobile phones without the need for internet connectivity. Through a simple phone call, users can ask open-ended questions about disaster preparedness and receive spoken, personalized responses in Urdu using colloquial language – all in seconds and without the need for a smartphone or the internet!
The service has been launched on the Ufone network and will soon expand to Zong subscribers. Ufone subscribers can simply dial 3321 to access the service.
Developed in consultation with Pakistan’s leading disaster management authorities, including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster Management Authority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (PDMA KP), and supported by strategic partners such as the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MOCC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), CARE International, and the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, Noor aligns closely with national efforts to enhance community resilience in the face of increasing climate-related disasters.
”Noor is a breakthrough innovation, delivering vital disaster information through the power of voice — ensuring that anyone, anywhere, can access personalized advice simply by asking a question in Urdu
Aisha Humera MorianiSecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination
The launch event featured a live demonstration of Noor’s capabilities, along with a panel discussion titled on leveraging technology for humanitarian response bringing together experts from the GSMA, NDMA, and the broader humanitarian and technology sectors. Discussions focused on how inclusive technologies can bridge information gaps and build disaster resilience for the most vulnerable, including women, children, and marginalized groups.
The launch event featured a live demonstration of Noor’s capabilities, along with a panel discussion titled on leveraging technology for humanitarian response bringing together experts from the GSMA, NDMA, and the broader humanitarian and technology sectors. Discussions focused on how inclusive technologies can bridge information gaps and build disaster resilience for the most vulnerable, including women, children, and marginalized groups.
”Inclusive innovation is essential for meaningful impact. Through the GSMA Innovation Fund, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, we are proud to enable the deployment of groundbreaking Generative AI technology that delivers life-saving information to communities most at risk. By harnessing mobile voice services in Pakistan, this project shows how mobile, and AI can strengthen disaster preparedness - reaching even the most remote and vulnerable populations without the need for smartphones or internet connectivity. It demonstrates the transformative power of mobile technology in humanitarian action, helping to ensure no one is left behind.
Kimberly BrownHead of Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation, GSMA
Through Noor, Viamo and its partners aim to revolutionize disaster communication by ensuring critical preparedness and response information is accessible even when internet connectivity is unavailable. With over 191 million mobile subscriptions in Pakistan, the potential for impact is immense.
