By Shabbir Hussain
ISLAMABAD, June 12 (Alliance News): Pakistan must embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to unlock its youth’s economic potential and align with global technological trends, experts stressed during a webinar organized by the Alliance Good Governance Foundation on the theme: “AI: Equipping Youth, Transforming Economy.”
As the world rapidly integrates AI across governance, industry, and education, Pakistan stands at a pivotal juncture—requiring urgent adaptation to stay globally competitive. Experts unanimously declared that AI is no longer a choice but a necessity for economic transformation, improved transparency, and modernization of public services such as traffic systems and cybersecurity.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, underlined the critical role of AI in modernizing education and preparing the youth for an evolving job market. She cited Safe City projects as examples where AI enhances governance and public safety.
Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, highlighted the ethical responsibility associated with vast data accessibility in the digital age. Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood, Vice-Chancellor of AIOU, stressed increased investment in AI and ICT to meet the pace of global transformation.
Experts praised the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication’s recently drafted National AI Policy, calling it a landmark initiative that promotes responsible and inclusive AI adoption while aligning with global benchmarks like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and ITU’s “AI for Good” initiative.
The policy works in tandem with the Personal Data Protection Act and Digital Pakistan Policy to ensure individual rights are safeguarded.
Brig. Muhammad Yasin, Advisor at SDPI, urged AI-driven modernization of agriculture, manufacturing, and cyber infrastructure. Dr. Mukarram Khan of PTA emphasized the use of big data for early detection of cyber threats.
From the telecom sector, Mudassir Hussain, Vice President of Jazz, advocated for balanced cyber regulations that promote innovation while ensuring national security. Muhammad Aslam Hayat from LIRNE Asia echoed the importance of regulatory frameworks that allow for scalability and resilience.
Dr. Yasir Ayaz, Chairperson of the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) at NUST, noted the risk of job displacement but underscored the potential for job creation through upskilling. Dr. Hajra Ahmed, Dean at AIOU, called for overhauling the curriculum to include AI and digital literacy.
Dr. Mehreen Afzal of N-CERT urged policymakers to regulate AI carefully without stifling innovation, while Dr. Faisal Nawaz from the Ministry of Defence emphasized the importance of long-term planning and cross-sectoral collaboration.
Zakir Syed, Director of Internet Governance at the IT Ministry, concluded that establishing robust government-industry-academia linkages is key to nurturing a sustainable AI talent pipeline and integrating Pakistan into the trillion-dollar global AI economy.
