A seminar organized by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) this week placed the spotlight on the country’s newly launched National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, with experts projecting major economic benefits if it is fully implemented. According to the speakers, the policy could contribute between 7–12% to Pakistan’s GDP and help generate as many as one million jobs by 2030, reflecting the scale of AI’s potential to transform the economy and workforce. The event, titled “Bridging Gaps in Pakistan’s AI Roadmap: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Way Forward,” convened policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to discuss how the policy can shape national development.
Dr. Anil Salman, Chair of the AI Policy Committee, outlined the vision behind the framework, noting that it was designed to be bold, ethical, and inclusive. He emphasized that the policy was built through input from both national and international stakeholders, including UNESCO, the Asian Development Bank, and the Commonwealth. Dr. Salman added that AI adoption has the potential not only to enhance productivity but also to create significant employment opportunities, making it an important driver of long-term growth. Supporting this, Dr. Najibullah, Member Science and Technology at the Planning Commission, highlighted the launch of a Rs 2 billion Public Venture Capital Fund aimed at scaling AI-focused startups and businesses. He underlined the importance of venture capital and accelerators in driving the innovation ecosystem while also identifying agriculture, education, and health as priority sectors for AI integration.
Industry voices echoed the need for a balanced approach. Suniya Shahid, CEO of Techvention Ltd., underscored AI’s growing role in healthcare and recommended ethical auditing frameworks to ensure responsible use. She called for greater support for women-led startups through dedicated AI funds and emphasized the importance of retraining programs to help workers transition in an evolving job market. Dr. Naveed Iftikhar, CEO of Atomcamp, joined virtually to speak on the challenges of translating policy into practice. He pointed out the gap between formulation and adoption, advocating for large-scale up-skilling across universities, government institutions, and industries. He also stressed the need for international collaborations to close infrastructure gaps that could hinder the pace of AI adoption.
Closing the seminar, Dr. Nasir Iqbal, Associate Professor at PIDE, framed the policy in the wider macroeconomic context. He highlighted that the true measure of its success will lie in improving productivity, market competitiveness, and inclusivity. At the same time, he warned that without careful implementation, the benefits of AI could be unevenly distributed, potentially widening inequality. Despite these cautions, there was a broad consensus among participants that the National AI Policy establishes a foundation for progress. They noted that challenges remain, particularly in infrastructure and financing, but with consistent collaboration between government, academia, industry, and international partners, the policy can help Pakistan capture the opportunities of the digital economy.
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