Govt unveils $1bn national AI investment plan

KARACHI: The government has announced a $1 billion investment plan to develop artificial intelligence by 2030, aiming to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation and position it in the global technology landscape.

The initiative, highlighted during Indus AI Week in Islamabad, received formal backing from the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), which pledged industry-wide support to translate policy into export-driven growth and innovation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the investment a strategic move to build a sovereign AI ecosystem, alongside plans to fund 1,000 PhD scholarships in artificial intelligence (AI) and train one million non-IT professionals in advanced digital skills.Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja praised the IT sector’s performance, noting export revenues reached $2.2 billion in the first half of FY26, reflecting 20 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth.

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to ensure coordinated execution between the government and private stakeholders.

Events held at the Jinnah Convention Centre and other venues attracted thousands of students, developers and investors, reflecting growing national interest in emerging technologies.

P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Syed said the IT sector must now lead Pakistan’s economic future by integrating AI across industries, while IT Secretary Zarrar Khan outlined steps for immediate adoption and skills development.

Industry leaders said the nationwide outreach of the initiative, centred in Islamabad but extending to universities and tech hubs across provinces, signals a shift from policy discussion to practical implementation aimed at boosting productivity, innovation and exports.