Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the National Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, which included senior government officials, industry leaders and experts.
The meeting discussed the AI implementation roadmap that has been meticulously crafted through the collaborative efforts of the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) and the task force, a press release said.
This strategic initiative is designed to enhance productivity, drive innovation and ensure the country’s competitiveness on the global stage.
The Minister acknowledged the pivotal role played by NCAI in leveraging its expertise, existing positions and the collective capabilities of industry partners to advance the development of artificial intelligence in Pakistan.
He stressed that the implementation of artificial intelligence is expected to accelerate economic growth, enhance innovation, create new job opportunities and improve efficiency in sectors such as judiciary, healthcare, manufacturing, education, energy, climate change and defence.
He also highlighted the Oran Pakistan initiative launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which aims to leverage AI for export growth, sustainable development and advance the five Ps – boosting exports, accelerating digital transformation, implementing sustainable practices, developing efficient energy solutions and promoting social. justice.
In addition, AI liaison offices will be established in key regions to facilitate local implementation, and address the specific needs of each region.
The task force has identified a clear and actionable roadmap, with immediate milestones.
As part of the first phase, the Ministry of Planning will facilitate the development of a detailed three-month action plan, including organizing 12 sector-specific workshops.
The workshops will focus on sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, law, energy and climate change.
Emphasizing the need for immediate action, Ahsan Iqbal stressed the need for workshops and action plans to be completed within the next three months to ensure rapid integration of artificial intelligence across the country.
The Ministry of Information Technology, along with the provincial governments, will provide critical infrastructure and technical support to enable these initiatives.
Minister Ihsan stressed the importance of cooperation between government agencies and the private sector.
He called for a comprehensive approach to AI integration that not only advances technological development, but also takes into account the social, ethical and environmental impacts of AI.
In the coming months, the task force will engage in global partnerships to facilitate knowledge sharing and align Pakistani AI policies with international best practices. Establishing artificial intelligence technology parks will support startups and innovations, and enhance the commercialization of artificial intelligence solutions.
Ehsan Iqbal stressed that moving from planning to implementation was critical to success, calling for regular updates and progress reviews to ensure the country stays on track to achieve its AI goals.
The immediate focus will be on developing a robust AI infrastructure, cultivating a skilled workforce, and deploying AI-based solutions across key sectors to create measurable impact.
