PAKISTAN
The Indus AI Summit 2026 concluded at the Jinnah Convention Center, marking a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s journey from AI policy discussions to practical implementation. Organized by the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication as the centerpiece of Indus AI Week (9–15 February), the summit brought together global experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to define Pakistan’s strategic AI direction.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attended as Chief Guest alongside Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja. In his address, the Prime Minister described artificial intelligence as central to national progress and announced a $1 billion government commitment to AI by 2030. The investment will fund sovereign compute infrastructure, research, and ecosystem development. He also announced 1,000 fully funded AI PhD scholarships, the introduction of AI curriculum in federal schools, and a plan to train one million non-IT professionals in AI skills.
Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal linked AI adoption to the “Uraan Pakistan” vision, stressing academia–industry integration for export growth and jobs. Minister Shaza Fatima highlighted ongoing digital reforms, including e-office adoption and high-performance computing foundations, and emphasized international partnerships.
A key outcome was the Islamabad Declaration, outlining eight pillars for sovereign, ethical, and accountable AI governance, focused on data trust, public value, explainability, and a private-sector-led ecosystem.
The summit featured international voices including Dr Aisha Bin Bishr, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister Muhammet Kasım Gönüllü, and experts from Canada, China, the UAE, and global tech firms. Dialogues covered AI governance, financing, data policy, and AI-native government design.
With the summit concluded, activities now move to public engagement events at the Islamabad Sports Complex, as Indus AI Week continues nationwide through February 15, signaling Pakistan’s intent to become a regional AI leader. – ER News Desk/PID
READ MORE
QUEST Tops Sindh’s Engineering Universities in THE Global Sustainability Rankings for Quality Education
Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology (QUEST), Nawabshah has emerged as Sindh’s top engineering…
Always Robots Debuts in Malaysia to Drive AI-Powered Robotics Adoption
Always Robots has officially launched in Malaysia, marking its entry into the country’s growing robotics…
China’s Drug Trials Hit Record High as Biotech Growth Draws US Scrutiny
China registered a record 5,215 clinical drug trials in 2025, underscoring the country’s rapid rise…
China, Central Asia Partner on Satellite Network for Disaster Monitoring
China and several Central Asian countries have signed a technology cooperation agreement to develop a…
Rivers set free: Why countries are tearing down hundreds of dams
As the dams on the Hiitolanjoki in Finland came down, it began to change —…
Saudi Aramco Resumes Oil Loadings at Ras Tanura After Four-Month Suspension
Saudi Aramco resumed crude oil loadings at its Ras Tanura export terminal on Friday, ending…