The adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Pakistan public sector will require time, institutional reform, and sustained capacity building, experts said during a workshop titled AI Shaping Pakistan Digital Future held in Islamabad. The session, organised for media professionals and digital activists, took place at the head office of Huawei Pakistan, which also serves as a global back office for the company. Participants noted that while AI presents meaningful opportunities to enhance governance and improve service delivery, integration within civil bureaucracy will not be immediate.
Speakers highlighted the global digital landscape to underscore the urgency of reform. It was shared that digital contributions account for more than 50 percent of GDP in China, whereas Pakistan share remains comparatively low. This gap, according to experts, reflects the need for broader adoption of digital technologies across sectors, including government administration. They argued that AI driven tools can help streamline public services, enable evidence based decision making, and reduce administrative delays that often affect service delivery. However, they cautioned that without digitised and structured data, AI systems cannot operate effectively, making comprehensive data transformation a priority for public institutions.
Kashif Iqbal, a technical expert at Huawei, said Pakistan possesses a strong IT workforce and pointed out that Pakistanis form the second largest group of employees at Huawei after Chinese nationals. He added that more than 20,000 students participate annually in global competitions organised by Huawei, with Pakistani students consistently securing positions among the top three worldwide. Despite the presence of basic infrastructure, including within the public sector, experts stressed that digitisation of records and processes remains essential for unlocking the full potential of AI solutions.
Ahmed Bilal Masood, CEO of AI and Cloud Business at Huawei Pakistan, stated that AI represents the right direction for transforming the public sector but acknowledged that senior executives and government officials will need time to fully understand and apply these technologies effectively. He noted that Huawei is a key supplier of AI equipment used in establishing cloud services and ICT solutions in Pakistan. Emphasising the strategic dimension of technology, he said data sovereignty and AI sovereignty are increasingly being treated as matters of national security worldwide, making a strong local cloud presence critical. He added that although AI can modernise outdated systems and improve public services in areas such as traffic management, healthcare, and education, successful implementation will depend on the enactment and enforcement of cyber laws, including data protection legislation.
Faisal Ameer Malik, Huawei Chief Technology Officer for Middle East and Central Asia, traced the evolution of AI, stating that the concept was introduced in 1956 and saw a major breakthrough in 2011 through advancements by Google. He observed that AI gained widespread prominence during and after the Covid period. Between 2012 and 2022, AI applications were largely built around small data models, but extensive digitalisation has since shifted development toward large data models. He noted that around 170 countries have released national digital strategies, with 60 elevating AI to national strategy status. Pakistan approved its National AI Policy in 2025, reflecting a growing policy level commitment to digital transformation even as practical adoption within public institutions continues to evolve gradually.
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