As global demand surges for safer workplaces, extended reality (XR) technologies are rapidly transforming occupational safety and health (OSH) training.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) now enable fully immersive, risk-free simulations of high-hazard environments, delivering measurable improvements in skill retention and emergency preparedness.
Industry observers say that Pakistan’s burgeoning software sector stands on the brink of a major export opportunity by developing XR-based EHS (environmental, health, and safety) solutions tailored to international clients. “VR and AR allow trainees to confront complex scenarios, chemical spills, confined-space rescues, machinery operations, without exposing them to real harm,” Faisal Majeed, founder and CEO of WorkSafePlace AI and former Head of Employee Health, Safety Compliance at Reckitt US, explained.
“We’ve seen retention rates climb by up to 40%, and emergency response times cut in half, simply through repeated, interactive practice in a virtual environment,” he said. With more than two decades overseeing EHS compliance and excellence across the world, serving in key EHS leadership positions and deploying AI-based solutions, Faisal Majeed now channels his expertise into guiding Pakistani developers towards world-class XR offerings.
Beyond training, virtual simulations are proving invaluable for proactive hazard identification. AR-equipped inspectors can overlay digital overlays onto live footage, highlighting missing guards, hazardous zones or ergonomic risks. Ergonomic assessments conducted in VR enable designers to simulate human-machine interactions at every stage, reducing musculoskeletal injuries and repetitive-motion ailments. “Imagine a safety officer donning goggles on day one of a facility audit and spotting potential pinch points and slip-trip hazards. That level of actionable insight cuts down on-site incidents before they happen,” Faisal Majeed noted.
According to the expert, Pakistan’s tech workforce in doing some amazing work in AI, IoT and mobile applications and is well-positioned to pivot towards XR. The combination of competitive development costs and a growing network of incubators and accelerators creates an ideal ecosystem for XR startups. Already, a handful of Karachi-based firms are prototyping VR modules for crane-operator training and AR-assisted maintenance checklists for oil and gas plants.
The economic incentives are compelling. Industry analysts estimated that the global extended reality market size was estimated at 142.39 billion US dollars in 2023 and is projected to reach 1,069.27 billion US dollars by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 32.9% from 2024 to 2030. Although the EHS market is still a small percentage of this vast potential but growing at rapid phase and many new ventures are entering in market with the XR solutions. These solutions are still in early adoption phase and new entrants can learn, develop and provide better solutions thus increasing their chance of success.
Pakistani developers could generate substantial foreign exchange earnings, fueling ancillary sectors such as hardware assembly, 3D-content production, and data-analytics services. For entrepreneurs like Faisal Majeed, the challenge now is scaling these prototypes into robust, client-ready platforms. “We need to emphasize interoperability, ensuring our solutions integrate seamlessly with existing EHS management systems,” he advised. At WorkSafePlace AI, his team is building an end-to-end platform that connects VR training, AR inspections and real-time environmental monitoring, all underpinned by machine-learning analytics to flag emerging risks.
Buyers, particularly in North America and Europe, are already scouting vendors offering local support, cost efficiencies and domain expertise. “Pakistan can differentiate itself not just on price, but on deep EHS know-how,” Faisal Majeed asserted. “Our track record in ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 compliance solutions, combined with cutting-edge XR tools, makes us uniquely competitive.” As XR technologies mature, the opportunity for Pakistan’s software industry to capture significant export revenue has never been greater. With visionary leadership, targeted investment and a focus on global best practices, the country can emerge as a hub for immersive, data-driven EHS solutions, driving innovation and economic resilience in tandem.
