'AI policy to bring Pakistan among developed nations'
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has said that the AI policy approved by the federal cabinet is a revolutionary step aimed at placing Pakistan among the developed nations of the world.
Sharing the broad contours of the policy in a televised message on Monday, she emphasised that AI is bringing major transformation not only in IT and technology, but across all walks of life, including health, education, trade, and economy.
She expressed the commitment to ensuring that every person in Pakistan reaps the benefits of AI.
Under the policy, she said a fund will be established to support and promote the innovative ideas of youth and their startups.
She added that the policy will empower and prepare the youth for market-oriented jobs. The comprehensive policy envisages several projects to ensure that AI education reaches every individual.
Shaza Fatima said the policy also focuses on the security of citizens' data and that AI will be used to further improve cybersecurity.
The Minister for Information Technology said investments will also be made in AI-related infrastructure. She said Pakistan will seek partnerships with key countries to take forward its AI agenda.
Earlier in the month, she met with Google's Regional AI Developer Ecosystem and Communities team to explore strategic collaboration in advancing Pakistan's artificial intelligence landscape.
Read: Shaza, Google team focus on AI
The Google team provided an overview of their developer ecosystem in the region, highlighting the contributions of Google Developer Groups (GDGs), community-based AI initiatives and impactful platforms like Taleemabad.
The discussion focused on expanding community-driven innovation and AI adoption across Pakistan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Reddit reaping the rewards of AI strategy
Reddit's shares jumped 15 per cent before the bell on Friday after it reported quarterly results that exceeded Street expectations, boosting investor confidence in the platform's AI-based advertising tools and strong user engagement, reported Reuters. The company's rosy outlook comes on the heels of similarly upbeat results from ad industry leaders such as Meta and Alphabet, underscoring a broader sector shift as advertisers gravitate towards platforms that provide artificial-intelligence tools to create more personalised campaigns. The company expects third-quarter revenue of between $535 million and $545 million, well above analysts' average estimate of $473 million, according to data compiled by LSEG. Reddit's focus on understanding user intent through authentic community conversations positions it to unlock new monetisation opportunities, said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell. "Being able to home in on exactly the kind of consumer who might be open to splurge on what a seller is offering has made sites like Reddit hugely popular with advertisers," Hewson said. Reddit's results, along with those of Google and Meta, signal the ad industry's resilience in the face of growing economic uncertainty brought on by shifting US trade policy. The company's diverse ad offerings, including ads inserting brands directly within conversations on its subreddit discussions, remain attractive to marketers. Reddit's daily active unique visitors increased 21 per cent, with analysts saying stabilising daily active user trends are bolstering investor confidence in the platform's "long-term growth narrative". Despite variable Google-driven traffic posing a headwind in the second quarter, Reddit's US daily active users held steady, expressing confidence that the company's unique content was valuable to both Google and searchers, analysts at Piper Sandler said. The company has been investing in new products, search capabilities and international expansion to offset inconsistent user traffic. If premarket gains hold, Reddit is set to add about $4 billion to its market cap.
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Express Tribune
How AI Policy 2025 can shape a digital future for all
The writer is Chair, National AI Policy Committee based in Islamabad. He can be reached at aneelsalman@ and @SalmanAneel Listen to article In July 2025, Pakistan crossed a digital milestone with the approval of its first-ever National Artificial Intelligence Policy — a bold, ethical and transformative step toward our future. As Chair of the National AI Policy Committee, I had the distinct privilege of guiding this process not merely as a technical exercise, but as a national conversation. This policy did not emerge from behind closed doors. It was built through an inclusive, iterative process that brought together a multi-stakeholder committee of experts from across Pakistan: government institutions, private technology firms, academia, civil society and the armed forces. Voices from every corner of the country contributed to its vision and detail. The Ministry of IT and Telecom anchored this effort with clarity and consistency. The team engaged deeply across all phases of drafting and consultation. Minister of State Shaza Fatima Khawaja offered timely guidance and ensured that the policy remained a national priority. Her role was pivotal in securing cabinet approval. Wider feedback was also invited and incorporated. Stakeholders such as HEC, FBR, PEMRA, PTA, provincial IT boards, and universities all engaged actively. Industry partners including JAZZ, OICCI and GSMA, as well as global players like Google and UNESCO, reviewed and helped refine the document. Their insights enhanced the policy's relevance and broadened its ambition. As Chair, I witnessed first-hand how divergent voices can converge on a shared goal when the stakes are national. There were moments of debate — on how far to push AI regulation, how to ensure equity or how to align with international norms. But the spirit was always constructive. Our committee became a microcosm of what policy-making should be: evidence-informed, participatory and public-spirited. I still remember one committee member from Balochistan saying, "This policy will matter when our girls can code in Khuzdar." That spirit of inclusion with aspiration stayed with me throughout. Pakistan now joins a select group of South Asian countries with AI policies like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. What distinguishes Pakistan's policy is not chronology, but character. It is the policy's scope, structure and soul that truly set it apart. Rather than offering piecemeal ideas or generic aspirations, the National AI Policy 2025 presents a full-spectrum blueprint for how Pakistan can responsibly harness AI across sectors and generations. At its core, the policy is structured around six interlinked pillars. These include: 1) Building an innovation ecosystem to nurture AI research, start-ups and venture capital. 2) Expanding national awareness and readiness through large-scale skilling and public sector training. 3) Securing AI through ethical frameworks, data sovereignty and transparent governance. 4) Going for AI-led transformation. Here, sectoral roadmaps will be developed to integrate AI into agriculture, education, health, climate resilience, energy and governance. The policy envisions a public sector where predictive analytics improve service delivery, where farmers access climate-smart tools, and where health diagnostics reach rural clinics via AI-backed platforms. 5) Laying the digital foundation. Pakistan will invest in high-performance computing clusters, local large language models, national AI data repositories and cloud infrastructure. It will establish AI hubs in major cities to bridge regional disparities and build connectivity between universities, industry and government. 6) Forging international partnerships and collaboration. Pakistan will join global AI forums, forge bilateral and multilateral cooperation and promote AI diplomacy. The goal is to remain interoperable with global standards, attract ethical AI investment and participate in joint research and development. Institutions including UNESCO and the Asian Development Bank have engaged with the policy, endorsing its principles and recognising Pakistan's readiness to lead responsibly. Crucially, this policy is not developed in isolation. It is tightly integrated with existing digital and cybersecurity frameworks, including the National Cyber Security Policy, Cloud First Policy, Personal Data Protection Bill, Digital Pakistan Policy, and the Digital Nation Pakistan Act. This alignment ensures coherence, avoids duplication and reflects a whole-of-government approach to digital transformation. Inclusivity is a defining feature. From AI scholarships for women and persons with disabilities to training for underserved communities, the policy aims to bridge divides. The gender digital divide and algorithmic bias are not afterthoughts. They are front and centre. AI must not replicate structural inequalities. It must help dismantle them. AI is not just another layer in our tech stack. It is a force multiplier for development — whether we speak of boosting agricultural yields, identifying learning gaps in public schools, supporting financial inclusion or enabling transparent governance. AI has the potential to do in years what conventional reforms could not in decades. Yet technology alone is not a solution. It must be matched with public values, institutional readiness and civic trust. That is why the policy emphasises ethics, transparency and human oversight. It proposes an open-source AI governance framework, regulatory sandboxes and a national registry for public sector AI tools. These are not cosmetic additions. They are foundational guardrails. By 2030, AI adoption could increase Pakistan's GDP by up to 12% and generate over 3.5 million new jobs. The policy positions Pakistan not as a passive user of imported technology, but as a sovereign innovator — producing local AI models, building indigenous talent and exporting smart solutions. For me, this journey was never just about drafting a document. It was about shaping the digital destiny of a country I believe in. The conversations we had as a committee about national capacity, public trust, inclusion and innovation reminded me that policymaking is at its best when it is aspirational, yet grounded in the lives of people. Pakistan must not merely adapt to the future. We must help define it. In doing so, we choose clarity over confusion, inclusion over inertia, and innovation over indifference. This is not the conclusion of a policy process. It is the beginning of a national transformation. The words may be written, but their impact will depend on action, ownership and follow-through. Let us step forward — not as bystanders to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but as active architects of a future where Pakistani talent, values and innovation shape the global AI horizon.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
AI policy can revolutionize Pakistan's economy, say experts
IT sector experts and stakeholders hailed the government's comprehensive National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, terming it a milestone towards revolutionizing economic development in the country within next few years through collaboration and implementation in true letter and spirit. They said the policy will open a new era of opportunities for Pakistan, as it can not only attract local and foreign investments, but could also increase exports of high-tech services and products. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the National AI Policy 2025 in a cabinet meeting recently which aims to create a complete AI ecosystem in Pakistan and democratize access to AI, enhance public services, as well as open up new employment and innovation avenues. AI education According to Mehwish Salman Ali, Member AI committee at Pakistan IT industry association, P@SHA, Pakistan needs to collaborate with local and foreign universities and training institutions to prepare human resources for AI, including 10,000 trainers and 1 million IT graduates in the next two years, which requires joint efforts and a uniform structure. In this regard, top IT companies along with universities should not only launch relevant degree programs but also establish innovation centers in major cities to provide platforms to professionals for working on new ideas along with upskilling and capacity-building, she added. She also suggested that the government should build state-level relationship with advanced countries and emerging economies such as Gulf countries for collaborations on various AI projects for mutual benefits and trade ties. The National AI policy outlines training 1 million AI professionals by 2030, establishing an AI Innovation Fund and AI Venture Fund to boost private sector involvement, creation of 50,000 AI-driven civic projects and 1,000 local AI products in the next five years, distribution of 3,000 annual AI scholarships and facilitation of 1,000 research projects, inclusion of women and differently-abled individuals through accessible education and financing, strengthening cybersecurity and national data security protocols, promoting global partnerships and compliance with international AI regulations. Further, an AI Council and a comprehensive master plan and action matrix will oversee the policy's implementation under the policy. $10 billion IT exports Senior Vice Chairman P@SHA Muhammad Umair Nizam said the policy will prove as a roadmap for achieving major milestones on business, technology and economic fronts in Pakistan. This policy may play a pivotal role in achieving the target of $10 billion IT exports by FY29 , and open windows of opportunities for investments in IT and allied companies, he said. However, the government should provide basic infrastructure for reaping the benefits of this policy, including fast internet, affordable devices, electricity, and workstations in different cities, he added. The government should also launch awareness campaigns nationwide because the country not only need professionals and developers of AI but also ethical and productive users of this technologies, he further said. P@SHA said it will extend its full support in the ambitious goal of the government through its members. Meanwhile Dr Noman Said, an IT exporter and CEO SI Global Solution said 'Pakistan's draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy is an encouraging and much-needed step toward creating a future-ready digital economy, but it is not short of vision as Pakistan's history with tech policies is riddled with delays and diluted impact.' 'To make this count, we must act decisively, cut red tape, and deliver early wins that demonstrate credibility. The real challenge isn't crafting a policy, it's turning it into progress.' The policy sets goals stretching to 2028, while AI globally is evolving every 6–12 months, hence, the country must move at the speed of innovation, not bureaucracy, he suggested. While the creation of different institutions is proposed, success will depend on whether these institutions are led by technocrats and industry experts or bogged down by administrative hurdles, Dr Noman said. The private sector, particularly startups and SMEs, must be incentivized with regulatory sandboxes, tax breaks, and access to public datasets to drive adoption and innovation from the ground up. He pointed out that the policy mentions international collaboration but must act fast to align with global AI alliances. ' If we don't integrate now, we risk becoming data consumers, not contributors.'
