Pakistan is gearing up for a digital revolution as it prepares to roll out its first national Artificial Intelligence policy, a move expected to reshape how the country embraces emerging technologies in every sector from education to industry. With the final draft of the policy completed after a year of consultations with local experts and international partners, the country is now shifting focus from planning to execution.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja recently confirmed that the AI policy is likely to be approved soon, calling it a turning point in Pakistan’s tech journey. Speaking at a seminar hosted by Quaid-i-Azam University, she emphasized that now is the time to act, and urged every segment of society to take ownership in shaping the AI ecosystem.

To ensure an inclusive rollout, the government is seeking public feedback on six core pillars of the policy: innovation, awareness, infrastructure, ethics and safety, sectoral transformation, and global cooperation. Officials have opened digital channels for suggestions, calling on professionals, students, and tech enthusiasts to help mold the country’s AI future.

The minister also stressed that national progress depends on collective effort, not isolated initiatives. She pointed to the need for unity, diversity, and gender inclusion as driving forces behind any sustainable transformation. With a strong presence of women in the room, she underscored that real development cannot happen unless every voice is represented.

Shaza Fatima highlighted that over 350,000 youth have already been trained through partnerships with global tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Huawei, alongside local organizations such as PSEB, NAVTTC, Ignite, and HEC. The aim, she said, is simple: to ensure every IT graduate either lands a job or builds something of their own.

To make this vision a reality, the government has allocated significant funding for employment creation and digital upskilling through the Public Sector Development Program. In a major boost to startups, the Pakistan Startup Fund has also been launched, with a clear focus on supporting AI-driven innovation, product development, and research. According to the minister, it will become one of the most powerful public platforms for tech entrepreneurship in the region.

Pakistan’s growing digital influence isn’t going unnoticed abroad. The country recently hosted its first-ever Digital FDI Forum, attracting tech leaders and ICT ministers from 45 countries. Supported by Saudi Arabia’s Digital Cooperation Organization, the event led to MoUs worth $700 million, marking the highest digital investment Pakistan has seen to date.

As the AI policy nears official approval, Pakistan is making it clear that it doesn’t just want to adopt future technology, it wants to lead with it.