ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Shanghai, China, on Thursday for a two-day official visit to sign an agreement to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) as a founding member.
Deputy PM Dar will also attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference on 17 July and hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts, the Foreign Office said.
Upon his arrival at Shanghai International, Ishaq Dar was received by Wu Wei, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and Vice Mayor of Shanghai, along with Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires to China, Aizaz Khan, and Pakistan’s Consul General in Shanghai, Shahzad Ahmad Khan.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, along with the delegation, has arrived in Shanghai, China, for an official visit from 16-17 July 2026.
During his visit, he will attend the signing ceremony for the Agreement on the Establishment of… pic.twitter.com/sTxjlOTDYX
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 16, 2026
China proposed the establishment of WAICO last year as a global platform to strengthen cooperation and governance in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
An earlier statement by the Foreign Office said Dar is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and meet with other foreign counterparts to discuss matters of mutual interest.
On 16 July, the Deputy PM will attend the signing ceremony for the establishment of the WAICO and will sign the Agreement on behalf of Pakistan as a Founding Member.
Also Read: Pakistan to Join World AI Cooperation Organisation as Founding Member
Deputy PM Dar will also participate in the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance on 17 July 2026, the Foreign Office said.
He will underscore the importance of bridging the global AI divide, promoting equitable access to AI technologies, enhancing capacity-building, and ensuring that the benefits of AI contribute to sustainable development and shared prosperity for all.
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Curtain Raiser: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister to Attend Signing Ceremony for the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in Shanghai, China
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 15, 2026
Pakistan’s decision to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) comes amid a national push to transition into a knowledge-based digital economy.
Following the formal approval of the National Artificial Intelligence Policy and the Islamabad AI Declaration, the country has committed to a massive $1 billion investment by 2030 to build a robust digital infrastructure.
