Pakistan has taken a significant step toward implementing its National Artificial Intelligence Policy 2025 with the formation of the country’s first-ever AI Council under Ministry of IT and Telecom. Officials confirmed that the council will serve as the apex body for overseeing execution of AI-related initiatives, guiding resource allocation, and ensuring ethical and human-centric AI development. Nominations have already been received from academia, industry, civil society, citizen advocacy groups, and critical sectors including healthcare and agriculture, with remaining appointments expected to be finalized shortly before the council is formally notified.
The AI Council will be chaired by the federal IT and telecom minister and will include senior federal and provincial officials. Members are set to include secretaries from IT, science, and planning ministries, heads of regulatory and academic bodies, provincial chief secretaries, and representatives from industry, academia, and citizen groups. Officials highlighted that the council’s responsibilities will include providing strategic direction, reviewing progress, and coordinating efforts between federal and provincial governments to ensure effective implementation of AI initiatives. It will also oversee the use of resources under the National AI Fund and ensure that projects adhere to ethical, human-centric principles.
National AI Policy 2025, approved by the federal cabinet in July 2025, is a key component of Pakistan’s Digital Pakistan vision. The policy aims to transition the country toward a knowledge-based economy by fostering a secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven AI ecosystem. It is structured around six strategic pillars: market enablement, sectoral transformation, AI infrastructure development, international collaboration, public awareness and readiness, and creation of a secure and ethical AI environment. Officials said that AI adoption in priority sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance will be central to the policy, alongside initiatives for indigenous large language models and a national compute grid.
To support innovation and capacity building, the policy includes the establishment of the National AI Fund and dedicated venture funds for startups. It also sets ambitious targets, including training one million AI professionals by 2030, offering 3,000 postgraduate scholarships annually, introducing regulatory sandboxes, and enforcing ethical and transparency standards. The AI Council will be supported by a dedicated Policy Implementation Cell and a master action matrix to monitor targets, ensure ethical compliance, and guide strategic resource allocation. Officials emphasized that the council is expected to accelerate AI-driven innovation and support Pakistan’s long-term transformation toward a technology-led, knowledge-driven economy.
This initiative reflects Pakistan’s growing focus on integrating AI into its development strategy, fostering collaboration between government, academia, and industry, and ensuring that AI adoption aligns with ethical standards and national priorities. By providing governance, oversight, and strategic guidance, the AI Council aims to strengthen the country’s capacity for innovation and position Pakistan as a regional leader in responsible and inclusive AI development.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
