The federal government has announced the formation of 12 sector-specific working groups to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) across key domains in Pakistan’s development efforts. This move was formalized during a session of the National Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal. The Planning Ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication to craft an inclusive national strategy focused on AI integration. Emphasizing AI as a strategic driver for national advancement, the planning minister highlighted the importance of embedding AI across areas such as education, health, agriculture, climate change, governance, and business.
Each working group will consist of experts from government institutions, academia, and the private sector. Their primary mandate will be to design detailed roadmaps that outline sector-specific objectives, actionable timelines, and required resource allocations. These plans are expected to facilitate structured implementation and sustainable development through AI technologies. A key aspect of the initiative is the establishment of a National AI Fund, which was approved during the meeting. This fund is intended to finance promising AI-based pilot projects and innovation-led ventures across the country, addressing financial challenges that often hinder the growth of emerging technologies.
The fund also aims to build domestic capacity in AI by reducing reliance on imported technologies. To this end, the taskforce directed a national mapping of AI talent and resources, covering universities, R&D institutions, and private enterprises. This exercise will help develop a centralized inventory of AI expertise and infrastructure, enabling better alignment between existing capabilities and evolving technological needs.
Participants of the meeting included IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Dr. Yasar Ayaz, Project Director of the National Center for Artificial Intelligence, and senior officials from the Ministry of IT, NADRA, PASHA, and the Higher Education Commission. Leaders from private technology companies also contributed insights on capacity building and ecosystem development.
The taskforce also announced a National AI Workshop, to be organized in partnership with PASHA and leading industry stakeholders. The workshop will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and coordination between the government and the tech industry. The initiative complements existing government-led programs in emerging technologies, including the launch of nine Centers of Excellence and the ongoing development of Quantum Valley Pakistan.
By initiating these AI-focused working groups and related efforts, the federal government is laying the groundwork for a technology-driven framework that prioritizes local innovation, policy alignment, and cross-sectoral integration. The project reflects the growing emphasis on transforming Pakistan’s digital infrastructure with long-term planning and stakeholder collaboration.
