Veon, the global digital operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with GSMA’s Mobile for Development Foundation to jointly back technology startups in Pakistan, with JazzWorld — the country’s leading integrated digital services company — serving as the primary vehicle through which the partnership will operate. The agreement was formalised on the sidelines of Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, with signatures from John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer of GSMA and President of the GSMA Foundation, and Aamir Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of JazzWorld.
Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding, JazzWorld will co-fund Pakistani startups selected as grantees through the GSMA Innovation Fund’s 2026 funding rounds. The selection process follows a publicly announced, competitive evaluation framework managed by the GSMA Foundation, focused specifically on ventures whose business models generate measurable social, economic, or climate impact through mobile technology. Beyond direct financing, JazzWorld may also provide in-kind contributions, including ecosystem visibility and capacity-building support to help chosen ventures grow. Speaking about the collaboration, Aamir Ibrahim said JazzWorld has a strong track record of working with Pakistan’s entrepreneurs to accelerate digital innovation, and expressed the company’s intent to support the next generation of founders building locally relevant digital solutions across various service verticals.
The significance of the arrangement for Pakistan’s startup landscape lies in what JazzWorld brings beyond capital. As the country’s dominant digital operator, it carries access to a massive subscriber base, established distribution infrastructure, and deep relationships with regulators — all of which represent substantial non-financial value for early-stage companies attempting to reach scale within Pakistan’s market. The memorandum of understanding also extends to Banglalink, Veon’s digital operator in Bangladesh, which will participate in co-funding startups selected in that country under the same framework. John Giusti noted that Jazz and Banglalink, both part of the Veon Group, play a leading role in shaping the digital landscape in their respective countries, and that collaborating with them would further enhance the GSMA Innovation Fund’s support for entrepreneurs driving positive social impact.
The deal places JazzWorld directly inside a structured, internationally governed funding pipeline at a moment when Pakistan’s technology sector is actively seeking credible institutional backing. Telecoms operators across emerging markets have increasingly moved beyond infrastructure provision, repositioning themselves as stakeholders in broader digital economy development. For Pakistan, where mobile penetration remains the primary gateway to internet access for tens of millions of people, a partnership anchored in a major carrier carries considerable reach.
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