ISLAMABAD: A major telecom operator in Pakistan, Telenor, announced on Thursday it had launched the country’s first AI-powered conversational agriculture voice bot, saying it would provide farmers with real-time digital advisory services and encourage smart farming practices.
Known as “Kissan Dost Bashir,” the voice bot will be available in the Urdu language 24/7 by dialing 7272 or via the 7272.pk portal, Telenor Pakistan said in a statement. The bot will offer real-time rates, weather-based crop advisory services and livestock guidance to farmers who face literacy and connectivity challenges.
Pakistan’s agriculture sector contributes nearly 23 percent to the national GDP and remains a vital source of livelihood for millions in rural communities.
“With Kissan Dost Bashir, we are introducing Pakistan’s first AI-powered conversational agriculture assistant designed specifically for rural communities,” Telenor quoted Chief Marketing Officer Ahsan Maykan as saying.
“By combining voice, AI, and real-time insights, we aim to make agricultural advisory more accessible, inclusive, and impactful, empowering farmers to make smarter decisions and strengthen their economic growth.”
The AI-powered bot will help farmers across Pakistan adopt smarter, more sustainable farming practices to boost productivity, it added.
Pakistan has been working toward adopting AI in agriculture to boost productivity, improve water efficiency and support smarter farming decisions.
Tools like predictive models, smart irrigation and drone monitoring are being explored by provincial governments in the country, with the aim to modernize farming and strengthen food security in Pakistan amid climate change challenges.
