Govt. to train one million non-IT professionals in AI: Shaza

ISLAMABAD, Feb 10 (APP): Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Tuesday said a nationwide programme to train one million non-IT professionals in AI skills will be launched to boost productivity and improve livelihoods.
Speaking to students from various universities during Indus AI Week 2026 in Islamabad, the minister said the past two years had witnessed a revolutionary shift in emerging technologies, with artificial intelligence reshaping economies, education systems and employment structures worldwide.
She said Pakistan had responded to these changes through a “whole-of-government approach” under the leadership of the Prime Minister, aimed at ensuring coordinated planning and effective implementation.
Shaza Fatima said Parliament passed the Digital Nation Pakistan Act last year, providing a comprehensive roadmap for the country’s digital transformation. A major milestone under this framework was the approval of Pakistan’s first-ever National Artificial Intelligence Policy, endorsed by the federal cabinet in September 2025.
“The AI policy covers every critical dimension — including infrastructure, data centres, computing power, human resource development, education reforms, international collaboration, and the ethical and inclusive use of AI,” she said, adding that the government’s priority was not just policy formulation but tangible results on the ground.
The minister said the Prime Minister, while inaugurating Indus AI Week, announced a $1 billion investment to strengthen Pakistan’s AI ecosystem. Key initiatives under the plan include AI training for one million young people, particularly those from non-technical backgrounds, PhD scholarships in artificial intelligence, and the mandatory inclusion of AI education in schools and colleges nationwide.
She said the strategy followed a two-pronged approach: ensuring a strong implementation mechanism while simultaneously preparing Pakistan’s workforce for the future digital economy.
Explaining the broader objectives of Indus AI Week, Shaza Fatima said the initiative was built on three pillars. The first aimed to project Pakistan’s technological readiness to the world by highlighting its youth bulge of more than 150 million people, entrepreneurial potential and growing digital maturity.
The second pillar focused on global leadership dialogue, with more than 50 international technology leaders, ministers, chief information officers, chief technology officers and CEOs participating in policy discussions.
These deliberations culminated in the Islamabad Declaration, reflecting Pakistan’s stance on artificial intelligence governance and international cooperation.
The third and most important pillar, she said, was direct engagement with Pakistani youth. Activities included technology expos, women-focused initiatives such as AI for Her, interactions with differently-abled children, defence technology showcases, startup pitching sessions, and cloud credit and acceleration programmes.
The minister also highlighted the expanding role of e-sports and game development, describing it as a trillion-dollar global industry. She said regional e-sports qualifiers attracted more than 3,000 participants, with cash prizes worth Rs4.5 million awarded through Ignite and the Ministry of IT.
She added that Centres of Excellence for Gaming and Animation had been established in Karachi and Lahore, providing shared high-end software, co-working spaces and free training to thousands of students.
Responding to questions on financial inclusion and investment markets, Shaza Fatima said Pakistan was rolling out verified digital identities backed by blockchain and public key infrastructure (PKI) systems. These initiatives would enable centralised e-KYC, enhance trust, unlock private-sector lending and support key sectors such as agriculture and finance.
She said the government was also supporting data aggregators and analytical tools, ensuring intellectual property protection, and funding innovative projects through the Pakistan Startup Fund and national digitisation initiatives.
Addressing concerns about artificial intelligence replacing jobs, the minister stressed that technology would not replace humans, but humans who understood AI would replace those who did not.
“Our biggest challenge is how quickly and at what scale we can reskill and upskill our people,” she said, noting that around 300,000 young Pakistanis were already being trained in AI fundamentals under existing digital skills programmes.
She said Pakistan’s large youth population, if equipped with AI skills, could significantly increase productivity and economic output, transforming the country into one of the world’s largest AI-enabled workforces.
Explaining the significance of the name Indus AI Week, the minister said it symbolised Pakistan’s historical legacy as one of the world’s oldest and most innovative civilisations, known for planned cities and advanced irrigation systems.
“Our history is rooted in innovation, and that is the legacy we want to carry forward — shaping how the future world functions, particularly in artificial intelligence,” she said.
She invited young people to actively engage with the government, industry and academia, saying Pakistan’s AI ecosystem was now functional and the next step was to scale, brand and showcase Pakistani innovation at the global level.