A total of 6,000 students from 100 universities have graduated under Pakistan’s largest artificial intelligence training initiative, after being selected from more than 82,000 applicants through a nationwide proctored examination. Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja attended the graduation ceremony during a visit to the Higher Education Commission headquarters, where officials highlighted the program’s role in building AI skills among university students.
Implemented by AI SkillBridge under the Higher Education Commission, the initiative used the HEC Smart Classroom Network to deliver AI training simultaneously across the country, marking the first nationwide use of the platform for a program of this kind. Officials said the initiative aligns with the National AI Policy 2025 and represents the first practical step toward the prime minister’s goal of training one million students in artificial intelligence by 2030.
During the ceremony, students showcased AI powered applications, websites, and AI agents developed during the training. The federal minister praised the projects and encouraged participants to continue developing practical AI solutions relevant to Pakistan’s digital economy, pointing to the program’s emphasis on hands on, applied learning rather than purely theoretical coursework.
The ACT AI program was organized by AI SkillBridge in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission, the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission. Graduates received jointly endorsed certificates from all four organizations, while the 600 top performing students will receive scholarships for advanced AI training. The program adds to a growing list of large scale AI skills initiatives launched across Pakistan’s higher education sector over the past year, following similar efforts including HEC’s National Skill Competency Test and its expanded Coursera licensing program for students and faculty nationwide.
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