Pakistan’s Launches First Home-Grown GPT Platform Zahanat AI
- Abeera Marium Siddiqui
- March 27, 2025
- 12:42 pm
- 43
- Technology
Zahanat AI is Pakistan’s first locally developed GPT platform. This marks a major step in Pakistan artificial intelligence landscape. Developed by Data Vault, this AI chatbot in Pakistan is designed to provide secure, culturally relevant, and locally trained solutions. Unlike foreign AI systems, it ensures data privacy and delivers responses tailored to Pakistan’s needs.
Why Zahanat AI Stands Out
Unlike global AI models, this system is built, trained, and hosted entirely in Pakistan. It operates from a dedicated data center in Karachi, ensuring that all data stays within the country. This approach enhances security and reliability for users.
Data Vault’s Chief Technology Officer, Syed Muhammad Yahya, highlighted its significance. “The solutions it provides are tailored for Pakistan. This is what sets it apart from other AI models,” he said at the launch event in Islamabad.
How Was It Developed?
The development of Pakistan’s first GPT model took six to eight months. The team used 12-15 GPUs and relied on private funding from friends and family. The model is based on Meta’s Large Language Model Architecture (LLaMA) and follows an open-source approach similar to DeepSeek.
Mehwish Salman Ali, co-founder and CEO of Data Vault, played a key role in its creation. She revealed that the model was trained on 2 billion parameters, making it one of the most advanced AI systems in Pakistan.
To reduce costs, the team used repurposed gaming GPUs. Unlike global AI models like DeepSeek, which required millions of dollars, Pakistan’s homegrown AI model was developed with limited resources.
What Can Zahanat AI Do?
The AI model supports English, Urdu, and regional languages. Future updates will expand its linguistic capabilities. It assists users in healthcare, mathematics, coding, and history. The system is also trained to filter sensitive topics and avoid controversial discussions.
Currently, it is in its beta phase. Only selected users can access it by providing their profession, work email, and social media details. This controlled rollout helps developers gather feedback and refine the platform before its full public launch.
Pakistan’s Growing AI Ecosystem
The launch of Zahanat AI aligns with Pakistan’s push to integrate AI into its economy. The government is finalizing its National AI Policy. Their aim is to drive innovation through public-private partnerships.
According to Dr. Aneel Salman, who is leading the policy efforts, foreign AI models pose cybersecurity risks. He stressed the importance of locally trained AI to safeguard national data.
Professor Dr. Yasar Ayaz, chairman of the National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI), emphasized public adoption as a key factor. He believes that AI startups and research institutions must collaborate to ensure long-term growth.
With its first model, Z1, now in beta testing, Zahanat AI is set to expand. Future updates will include multilingual support and voice input features, making AI more accessible for users across the country.
