Pakistan aims to equip one million young people with artificial intelligence skills and produce at least 10,000 AI doctorate holders over the next five years as the government accelerates its efforts to develop the country’s digital workforce and prepare for opportunities in the expanding global technology market. Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja shared these targets while speaking at the Margalla Dialogue 2026, highlighting the importance of artificial intelligence in shaping future employment, productivity and economic activity. The initiative comes as the global AI economy is projected to reach approximately $4.8 trillion by 2033, creating opportunities across industries including healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, education, finance and information technology. The minister said AI is expected to transform the nature of work rather than simply eliminate jobs, making technical education and digital skills increasingly important for young professionals. She also highlighted the productivity potential of the technology, stating that individuals using AI could be up to 100 times more productive than people with comparable skills who do not use these tools. The government’s training target is intended to build a larger pool of professionals capable of applying AI technologies in different sectors and participating in international digital markets.
Alongside workforce development, Pakistan is investing in infrastructure and connectivity required to support the wider adoption of artificial intelligence. The minister said the government had announced a $1 billion investment in AI development, covering infrastructure, skills, innovation and connectivity. A seven-layer AI infrastructure framework has also been developed to provide computing resources to government institutions, businesses and innovators. Rather than depending on a single large facility, the government is encouraging multiple investments in data centres and related infrastructure to expand computing capacity. The minister also referred to the proposed Sky 47 data centre, which has been discussed as part of the country’s emerging AI infrastructure ecosystem. These investments are intended to improve access to the computing resources required for AI research, model development and commercial applications. In addition, the government is working to expand the startup ecosystem through improved access to capital, cloud credits and a proposed fund of funds, with support from the World Bank and other development partners. Such initiatives are expected to provide opportunities for technology companies and emerging businesses to develop AI-based products and services while supporting local innovation and entrepreneurship.
Shaza Fatima also highlighted improvements in Pakistan’s telecommunications infrastructure, describing connectivity as an important foundation for the country’s digital development plans. She said internet speeds had increased by 60 percent over the previous two and a half years, while the country’s live internet capacity had reached approximately seven terabits per second after an increase of two terabits. Pakistan has added three international submarine cables, while fibre-optic coverage has expanded from fewer than three million to more than six million household connections. The minister also noted that a 480-megahertz spectrum auction had increased the country’s spectrum capacity from 274MHz to more than 750MHz, while nearly 1.8 million people had subscribed to 5G services. These developments are expected to support growing demand for high-speed connectivity, cloud computing and data-intensive digital services. The government is also pursuing institutional reforms under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, through which the Pakistan Digital Authority has been established and is preparing a National Digital Master Plan. The plan will include sector-specific strategies for areas such as agriculture, real estate and healthcare. A data governance policy is also under development, alongside a pilot national data exchange layer intended to improve the structured sharing and management of information across institutions.
The minister further emphasised the importance of international cooperation in ensuring that developing countries can participate in the global AI economy. She called for wider access to computing infrastructure, open-source AI models and greater representation of developing nations in discussions concerning international technology governance. Pakistan is participating in international initiatives, including the United Nations AI Digital Compact and the Digital Cooperation Organization, while also pursuing engagement with the International Telecommunication Union. The government has stated that its National AI Policy and proposed data governance framework will retain human accountability in decisions involving data and technology. Cybersecurity was another area highlighted during the address, with the minister referring to a whole-of-government approach to managing emerging digital threats and Pakistan’s position among the top 40 countries in the 2024 ITU Global Cybersecurity Index. The combination of AI training, infrastructure investment, connectivity expansion and data governance is intended to support the country’s wider digital economy ambitions. As Pakistan works towards its target of training one million young people, the availability of specialised education, practical industry experience, research opportunities and access to computing resources will be important in developing a workforce capable of contributing to both domestic technology adoption and international AI markets.
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