https://twitter.com/home https://www.facebook.com/Shabbir.Hussain191By Shabbir Hussain
ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (Alliance News): Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping economies, governance systems and societies worldwide, presenting Pakistan with both significant opportunities and complex challenges that require strategic planning, institutional preparedness and investment in human capital.
Addressing Forum C of the Margalla Dialogue, titled “Technology and the Transformation of State and Society,” Siddique Humayun, Director Advocacy and Communications at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), emphasised the need for Pakistan to develop its technological capabilities and play a meaningful role in shaping the global digital landscape.
Raising fundamental questions about technological independence and digital sovereignty, Humayun said countries must decide whether they want to shape the rules and platforms on which their societies increasingly depend or simply adopt technologies developed elsewhere and operate under others’ terms.
“Technology puts a choice in front of us. Do we help shape the rules and platforms we depend on? Or do we adopt what others have built, and live with their terms?” he remarked.
He observed that governments worldwide were increasingly debating what technological infrastructure they could develop domestically, what they would need to acquire from international markets and, perhaps belatedly, how emerging technologies could be effectively regulated.
The discussion highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence as a transformative force comparable to previous agricultural and industrial revolutions, with far-reaching implications for employment, economic productivity, public administration and international relations.
Referring to the rapid expansion of generative AI, Humayun cited Stanford University’s AI Index 2026, which reported that generative AI adoption had reached 53 per cent within just three years.
He noted that the pace of adoption was faster than that of personal computers and the internet, demonstrating how quickly artificial intelligence was becoming integrated into everyday life, businesses and institutional operations.
However, he cautioned that technological progress was advancing considerably faster than institutional and regulatory responses, as legislation, policymaking and administrative reforms often required extensive time and deliberation.
Highlighting the economic implications of artificial intelligence for developing countries, particularly Pakistan, he raised concerns about the future of outsourced service-sector employment, which provides livelihood opportunities to a significant number of young Pakistanis.
He stressed the need to assess how automation and AI-driven systems could reshape existing employment structures and whether the country was adequately preparing its workforce for emerging economic realities.
Humayun also drew attention to Pakistan’s demographic potential, noting that nearly two-thirds of the country’s population was below the age of 30.
“Will our young people be an advantage for us? That depends on whether they have the skills, and whether there are jobs for them,” he said.
He emphasised that the country’s youthful population could become a significant economic asset if supported by relevant digital skills, quality education, vocational training and sustainable employment opportunities.
Without appropriate investment in human capital and technology-oriented education, however, the demographic advantage could become a challenge rather than a driver of economic growth.
The discussion also examined the relationship between artificial intelligence, digital governance and state capacity, particularly the challenges faced by countries still transitioning towards comprehensive digital administrative systems.
Humayun questioned how governments could effectively regulate and oversee intelligent systems that continuously learn and evolve when their own institutional records and administrative processes were still undergoing digitisation.
He underscored the importance of developing robust digital infrastructure, effective regulatory mechanisms and institutional expertise to ensure that technological transformation remained aligned with public interests and national priorities.
The international dimension of AI governance also emerged as a key theme of the discussion. Humayun observed that major global powers, particularly the United States, the European Union and China, were developing their respective regulatory approaches and technological frameworks.
He highlighted the need for countries in the Global South to secure a meaningful voice in shaping international technology standards, governance principles and regulatory arrangements rather than remaining passive recipients of decisions made by technologically advanced economies.
The growing concentration of technological capabilities and influence among a limited number of global actors, he suggested, raised important questions about equitable access, digital inclusion and the distribution of benefits arising from artificial intelligence.
For Pakistan, this evolving landscape presents an opportunity to strengthen domestic research and innovation, promote technology entrepreneurship, develop local AI capabilities and actively participate in international discussions on digital governance.
The session underscored that the future of artificial intelligence would not be determined by technological advancement alone but also by the ability of governments and societies to make informed policy choices, prepare their populations and establish responsible governance frameworks.
As AI continues to transform the global economic and political order, Pakistan’s ability to translate its demographic potential into skilled human capital, strengthen institutional capacity and contribute to international technology policymaking will be crucial in determining whether it emerges as an active participant or remains dependent on technologies and rules developed elsewhere.
