PM Shehbaz said the initiative aimed to build a strong AI ecosystem nationwide, positioning Pakistan as a competitive force in the global digital economy
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan unveiled an ambitious plan to invest $1 billion in artificial intelligence by 2030, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced at the opening ceremony of Indus AI Week in Islamabad.
The initiative, PM Shehbaz said, was designed to create a robust AI ecosystem across the country, positioning Pakistan as a competitive player in the global digital economy. Speaking to a gathering of technologists, policymakers, and industry leaders, Sharif outlined a multi-pronged strategy aimed at both education and innovation.
Prime Minister announced that an AI curriculum would be introduced in federally controlled schools, as well as in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and large parts of Balochistan. The move, he explained, was intended to equip young people with the skills needed to assume leadership roles in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
In addition to educational reforms, Sharif pledged 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in AI by 2030, accompanied by the creation of a world-class research center to drive innovation. He also highlighted a nationwide training program that would reach one million non-IT professionals, giving them practical AI skills to enhance productivity and improve livelihoods.
“We are ready to engage with the world in AI,” he said, expressing confidence that Indus AI Week could serve as a turning point for the country’s technological development. Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan was positioning itself to take the lead in emerging technologies.
Ahsan Iqbal outlined plans to establish national centers in quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, and nanotechnology. A flagship Quantum Valley project, he said, would integrate four specialized science parks focusing on emerging technologies, mines and minerals, agri-tech, and biosciences, forming a holistic innovation ecosystem.
Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima added that Pakistan aimed to develop AI in a way that reflected national priorities, values, and aspirations. She noted that this year would see the implementation of the AI policy launched in September 2025, marking a step towards translating policy into practical action.
The government’s announcements were welcomed by experts who described them as an ambitious but necessary effort to modernize Pakistan’s technological landscape. Analysts noted that while implementation would require sustained investment and coordination, the focus on education, research, and workforce development could fundamentally reshape the country’s digital future.
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