LAHORE: Pakistan has taken a major leap into the future of artificial intelligence with the official launch of Qalb, the country’s first fully Urdu-based AI language model.
The development marks a landmark moment in Pakistan’s digital evolution, bringing advanced AI technology closer to millions of Urdu speakers worldwide.
Created under the leadership of Pakistani technologist Taimoor Hassan, who is currently studying in the United States, Qalb is being recognised as the world’s largest Large Language Model designed exclusively for the Urdu language.
Trained on an expansive dataset of 1.97 billion tokens and evaluated through more than seven international benchmarking frameworks, the model has surpassed existing Urdu-focused AI systems in real-world performance.
Hassan is a young serial entrepreneur with an impressive track record, having successfully launched and exited 13 startups.
A former Microsoft Cup winner, he has represented Pakistan on global platforms and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from FAST University.
He is presently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University, while actively contributing to cutting-edge technology and AI research projects.
With over 230 million people speaking Urdu globally, Qalb addresses a long-standing gap in localized technology by enabling sophisticated AI solutions in the national language. The model is expected to support local startups, businesses, educational platforms, digital services, and voice-based AI applications.
“I had the chance to contribute, even in a small way, to a much larger national mission,” Hassan said. “Together with my undergraduate teammates Jawad Ahmed and Muhammad Awais, we are committed to continuously refining localized AI models for specialized industries, which we believe can become a game-changer for Pakistan.”
The team emphasized that meaningful innovation is no longer restricted to major corporations. “Technology is no longer limited by big budgets or massive teams. With the right vision, even small groups can build solutions that educate, automate, and serve millions,” Hassan added.
By reshaping how artificial intelligence is developed and implemented locally, Qalb aims to position Pakistan as a rising force in regional AI development and open doors to a new era of Urdu-first digital experiences.
