Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a $1 billion national investment in artificial intelligence by 2030, outlining a comprehensive plan to strengthen Pakistan’s AI ecosystem and prepare the workforce for emerging opportunities in the digital economy. The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of Indus AI Week, where government leaders, industry representatives, and technology experts gathered to discuss the country’s future direction in advanced technologies. The prime minister said the funding commitment would support long term capacity building, research, and education to ensure Pakistan remains competitive in the global AI landscape.
Addressing participants at the event, PM Shehbaz described artificial intelligence as a key pillar of economic development and said the investment would focus on both infrastructure and human capital. A major component of the strategy involves introducing an AI curriculum across all federally controlled schools, as well as in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and most parts of Balochistan. The move is intended to expose students to AI concepts at an early stage and build foundational knowledge that can be expanded through higher education and vocational training. He also announced the launch of 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in artificial intelligence by 2030 to develop advanced research capabilities and produce specialists who can contribute to local innovation. In parallel, the government plans to roll out a nationwide training programme aimed at equipping one million non IT professionals with practical AI skills to improve productivity and create new livelihood opportunities across multiple sectors. Details of the announcement were also shared publicly through the government’s official social media channel.
The prime minister noted that Pakistan is ready to align itself with global progress in artificial intelligence and will introduce programmes to help young people move beyond entry level IT roles toward more specialized AI expertise. He expressed confidence that the initiatives tied to Indus AI Week would help strengthen the country’s technology landscape and open pathways for innovation driven growth. His remarks were complemented by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, who said Pakistan intends not only to adopt but also to shape emerging technologies. He shared that several national centres are being established this year in areas including quantum computing, new manufacturing, and nanotechnology. He also highlighted the Quantum Valley project, described as an innovation ecosystem inspired by Silicon Valley, which will feature four specialized science parks focused on emerging technologies, mines and minerals, agri tech, and biosciences.
Minister for IT & Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja added that Pakistan’s approach to artificial intelligence is being guided by national priorities and values, with a focus on responsible adoption and inclusive growth. She noted that this year marks one year since the implementation of the country’s AI policy, which was launched in September 2025, and said the new investment and education initiatives build directly on that framework. Together, the announcements reflect a coordinated effort by multiple ministries to integrate AI into planning, education, research, and industry, with the goal of creating a sustainable ecosystem that supports innovation and broad based economic participation across Pakistan.
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