TPL Maps to introduce Pakistan's first voice-enabled navigation in Urdu

TPL Maps, Pakistan’s first digital mapping solution, has entered into an agreement with the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (SEECS) at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) to introduce the country’s first speech-based navigation system.

The software is designed to enable users to create routes and navigate to their destination on the mapping system using voice commands. However, what’s more interesting is that the new technology is equipped to handle voice commands in various dialects of English as well as Urdu suited for Pakistani language speaking styles.



Speaking about this latest addition to TPL Map application, Head of TPL Maps Adeel Hashmi said, “Consistent innovation is integral to our philosophy of providing customers the best possible mapping solutions. Such additions to our existing products allow us to establish ourselves as a high-end technology company looking to offer convenience and ease of use to the end users.”

Adeel Hashmi, head of TPL Maps and Dr Ali Tahir. professor NUST, are seen at the signing ceremony. PHOTO: TPL

The human speech-based navigation system will be installed as a value added service to the existing TPL Maps application that can prove to be a game-changer for usage of map applications in the country.



The software will enable users to add their specified destination via on-screen keyboard, which the system will then uses to calculate route and transit times, giving consumers the convenience to locate various locations.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the SEECS principal said, “This collaboration with TPL has given our students and faculty the opportunity to experiment and explore a domain that has never been touched upon in Pakistan. Machine learning and AI are the future of technology and we believe this is the first partnership between the two organisations which will result in fantastic tech development in the country.”