In Lasbela, Balochistan, a small digital lab is reshaping how young people in one of Pakistan’s most underserved regions access the internet and engage with technology. The Wang Lab of Innovation (WALI), established in 2021, has brought high-speed internet and digital literacy to nearly 650 youth in the area. The initiative, supported by the Internet Society and managed by the Welfare Association for New Generation (WANG), offers free digital access and training in a province where broadband penetration remains just 15 percent, compared to the national average of 45.7 percent.
For Abrar Roonjha, a local student who once struggled to attend online classes by connecting his mobile phone to a tree for better signal, the lab has opened entirely new possibilities. With reliable internet, he was able to resume his education, attend international events like the World Youth Festival in Russia and a UN regional conference in Bangkok, and now leads creative programs at the lab. His experience reflects the transformative impact such infrastructure can have on young lives in rural communities.
Balochistan accounts for nearly 44 percent of Pakistan’s landmass but remains the least connected province. Infrastructure limitations, mountainous terrain, sparse population, and frequent network disruptions have long deterred investment in digital access. Although national programs such as the Universal Service Fund are gradually expanding 4G in select areas, many communities remain excluded. In this context, WALI offers a rare grassroots alternative driven by local youth.
The lab has become a daily destination for schoolchildren and university students seeking access to digital tools, internet learning, and creative platforms. Among them is Fawaz Qadir, 16, who uses the lab to experiment with AI tools such as Suno AI and Meta’s animation platforms, producing short films and music focused on environmental themes. Abdul Hadi, 14, walks two kilometers to reach the facility, where he’s learned to design YouTube banners and navigate the web. For 13-year-old Rifat Wasim, the lab offers the only access to a computer. Without a device at home, she now uses the lab to browse, learn, and create videos.
The facility’s reach goes beyond just internet access. It has become a safe and inclusive space for girls, providing opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have in a region with limited educational and digital infrastructure. Aftab Ahmed, co-founder of WALI, emphasized the importance of such spaces in creating digital opportunities where national programs often fall short. While campaigns like Digital Pakistan have focused on urban hubs, grassroots efforts like WALI highlight the potential of local innovation in remote districts.
The initiative is also encouraging early exploration of artificial intelligence. Roonjha, now a sociology student, mentors children who are already creating digital content with AI tools. He sees the lab as a place where even ten-year-olds are exploring creativity through technology and learning how to present their ideas to a global audience.
Though WALI remains one of the few digital labs in rural Balochistan, its model offers a replicable framework for digital inclusion. For its founders and users alike, the lab represents not just connectivity, but a renewed sense of possibility.
