Punjab has officially introduced an artificial intelligence curriculum in its schools, with the Punjab Education Curriculum Training and Assessment Authority completing and presenting the first draft within the 60-day timeline set by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The curriculum was formally presented to the provincial minister for school education and the parliamentary secretary by PECTAA Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Musa Ali Bokhari, marking a significant step in the province’s effort to embed emerging technologies into formal education from an early age.
The framework is designed to equip students with critical digital competencies from the ground up, spanning foundational computing concepts through to advanced domains including data science, machine learning, robotics, and ethical artificial intelligence. The curriculum has been structured around a progressive, age-appropriate progression model, ensuring that students move through increasingly complex subject matter in a manner suited to their developmental stage rather than encountering advanced concepts before they have the foundational understanding to absorb them. Officials noted that particular emphasis has been placed on ethics, governance, problem-solving, creativity, and responsible digital citizenship, with the aim of preparing students not merely to consume technology but to engage with it critically and constructively. Education department sources indicated that implementation is expected to proceed in phases, beginning with selected schools before gradual expansion across the province, with training modules for teachers and resource materials also being prepared.
The rollout fits within a broader provincial strategy that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has been advancing since early 2026. An artificial intelligence curriculum has already been introduced in 100 schools across Punjab, while an additional 155 schools are set to begin teaching the subject from April. Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Google and Tech Valley to facilitate Google Career Certifications for 100,000 students, teachers, and supporting staff from 64 public and private universities across the province, with 14 modern courses introduced in collaboration with Tech Valley to strengthen students’ capacity to compete in the global market. The province’s broader artificial intelligence roadmap, approved by the chief minister, targets making Punjab the leading artificial intelligence-driven region in South Asia by 2029, with projections suggesting the initiative could generate over 100,000 jobs and contribute meaningfully to the province’s gross domestic product over the next three years.
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