Key Points
- Federal Cabinet unanimously approves inclusive AI blueprint to democratise access
- Plan to train 1 million AI professionals by 2030
- AI Innovation and Venture Funds to support youth-led start-ups, with targets of 50,000 civic projects and 1,000 local AI products
- Cybersecurity and ethical AI use prioritised to protect citizen data
ISLAMABAD: In a historic leap towards digital transformation, Pakistan has unveiled its first-ever National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, marking a watershed moment in the country’s technological evolution.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced the policy’s approval, hailing it as a blueprint for inclusive innovation and a bold step towards building a digitally empowered Pakistan.
“This policy is not just about algorithms or automation; it’s about people, progress, and Pakistan’s place in the global digital order,” she told the media. “We are ready to enter an intelligent era where opportunity reaches every corner of the country.”
Digital Pakistan roadmap
The AI Policy 2025 aligns with the broader goal of Digital Pakistan—a comprehensive plan to overhaul governance, stimulate economic growth, and modernise public services using cutting-edge digital tools.
Unanimously approved by the Federal Cabinet, the policy is designed not only to embrace artificial intelligence but to democratise it, making its benefits accessible to every citizen, from bustling urban centres to the most remote villages.
Empowerment through inclusion
Among the policy’s most ambitious goals is the training of one million AI professionals by 2030, backed by 3,000 annual scholarships, 1,000 AI research projects, and the establishment of AI-focused education in schools, universities, and workplaces.
The policy pledges equal access for women, differently-abled individuals, and marginalised communities, championing inclusive digital education and tailored financing to remove traditional barriers to technology.
To catalyse entrepreneurship and creative problem-solving, the government is launching both an AI Innovation Fund and an AI Venture Fund, which will invest in promising start-ups and civic tech initiatives.
AI target by 2030
Within five years, the policy aims to launch 50,000 AI-powered civic projects and develop 1,000 homegrown AI products, alongside the creation of specialised AI centres across the country.
“Youth-led innovation is at the heart of this transformation,” Shaza Fatima declared. “We want every young Pakistani with a big idea to know: government is ready to back you.”
Protecting digital citizens
As AI systems grow more powerful, so do the threats. Pakistan’s AI Policy includes robust cybersecurity and national data protection protocols, aimed at safeguarding citizens’ information and ensuring responsible AI deployment.
“AI must be safe, ethical, and aligned with our values,” said the minister, emphasising the need to shield vulnerable groups, including children and underrepresented communities, from digital harm.
Building indigenous AI tools
Recognising the risks of over-reliance on foreign AI systems, the policy prioritises the development of local tools, including a national Large Language Model (LLM) tailored to Pakistan’s cultural, linguistic, and religious landscape.
“Tools like ChatGPT have opened doors: but we must build our own,” Shaza Fatima stressed. “If our values, languages, and narratives are not represented, we risk becoming digitally invisible.”
The policy was shaped through collaboration with national stakeholders—including the Pakistan Armed Forces and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)—and with the technical guidance of international experts.
To support this digital leap, the policy prioritises infrastructure development, including cloud services, advanced computing, and AI-ready data centres. The Pak-China data transit system, already underway, could position Pakistan as a regional internet hub, connecting Central Asia and China through Karachi.
A Nation’s AI Moment
In her closing remarks, Shaza Fatima issued a rallying cry to Pakistan’s youth, professionals, and educators. “Now is the time to code our destiny. The world is building intelligent systems—we must make sure they understand who we are.”
Pakistan’s National AI Policy 2025 marks more than a strategic shift—it heralds a technological renaissance. The future, as they say, is intelligent—and Pakistan is ready.
