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Government has taken a major step toward strengthening its technology sector by establishing its first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council. The new body, led by the Ministry of IT and Telecom, will supervise the country’s National AI Policy 2025, guide funding, and coordinate AI projects across federal and provincial levels. The council will include experts from government, academia, industry, and civil society.
AI Council will serve as the top decision-making body for AI development in Pakistan. Chaired by the federal IT and telecom minister, it will include senior officials from key ministries, provincial chief secretaries, and representatives from universities, research bodies, and the private sector. Its main job will be to oversee that AI projects are carried out efficiently, ethically, and in a way that benefits citizens.
The council is also expected to direct the allocation of resources under the proposed National AI Fund, which aims to support startups and innovation in AI. Officials say the council will track progress, review AI initiatives, and coordinate between federal and provincial governments to ensure smooth execution.
The National AI Policy 2025, approved by the federal cabinet in July 2025, is a keystone of Pakistan’s “Digital Pakistan” vision. Its goal is to shift the country towards a knowledge-based economy by creating a secure and diverse AI ecosystem.
The policy focuses on six main areas:
- Building AI infrastructure
- Transforming key sectors
- Enabling markets
- Promoting international collaboration
- Increasing public awareness
- Ensuring ethical AI practices
Under the policy, government plans to train one million AI professionals by 2030 and provide 3,000 postgraduate scholarships every year. Special focus will be given to priority sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance. Plans also include developing indigenous large language models and establishing a national compute grid.
To support the council, a dedicated Policy Implementation Cell will oversee targets, track ethical alignment, and monitor the strategic use of resources. Government officials believe that this council could play a pivotal role in making Pakistan a hub for technology-driven innovation in the years to come.
