ISLAMABAD, Aug 01 (APP):Pakistan has launched the UN Women Gender-Responsive AI School Pakistan, a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting the ethical, inclusive and gender-responsive use of artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) in collaboration with UN Women Pakistan, with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). It is designed to build AI capacity among policymakers, government officials, parliamentarians, UN …
Pakistan Launches UN Women Gender-Responsive AI School to Advance Inclusive AI
ISLAMABAD, Aug 01 (APP):Pakistan has launched the UN Women Gender-Responsive AI School Pakistan, a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting the ethical, inclusive and gender-responsive use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) in collaboration with UN Women Pakistan, with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). It is designed to build AI capacity among policymakers, government officials, parliamentarians, UN agencies, academia, civil society organizations, businesses and community leaders.
The AI School combines theoretical knowledge with practical training, offering courses on AI fundamentals, ethical and gender-responsive AI, AI governance, prompt engineering, AI agents, public administration and the application of AI for inclusive development.
Training activities began ahead of the official launch, with tailored sessions for government officials, parliamentarians, UN personnel, academics and civil society representatives to strengthen responsible AI expertise across sectors.
Pakistan has also become the first country in South Asia to host the complete national Training of Trainers (ToT) track under the UN Women AI School.
Since 2024, the regional initiative has trained more than 5,000 policymakers, UN officials, civil society members and young innovators across Asia and the Pacific.
UN Women Pakistan Country Representative Jamshed M. Kazi said Pakistan is the first country in the region to introduce national AI training pathways spanning the executive, legislative and judicial branches, while also engaging civil society and the private sector.
The initiative seeks to address the limited integration of gender considerations in AI policymaking. According to UN Women, only a small fraction of national AI policies worldwide explicitly address gender issues. The AI School aims to promote gender equality, inclusion and greater participation of women and girls in Pakistan’s digital transformation.
Pakistan’s National AI Policy also emphasizes incorporating a gender perspective into AI development and expanding digital skills programs for marginalized women and persons with disabilities.
During the launch ceremony, MoITT and UN Women Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalize the AI School and ensure its long-term implementation under national ownership.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said AI is reshaping every sector, and Pakistan is committed to ensuring women and girls have equal opportunities to participate and lead in the country’s digital economy.
KOICA Pakistan Deputy Country Director Sodam Baek said the initiative will strengthen digital skills, encourage the responsible use of AI and expand opportunities for women and girls across Pakistan.
