A seminar held on Wednesday focused on Pakistan’s newly launched National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, with speakers forecasting significant economic benefits. According to experts, the full implementation of the policy could boost the country’s GDP by 7–12% and create up to one million jobs by 2030.
The event, titled “Bridging Gaps in Pakistan’s AI Roadmap: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Way Forward,” was organized by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) and brought together policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to discuss AI’s transformative potential.
Among the distinguished speakers were Dr. Anil Salman, Chair of the Government of Pakistan’s AI Policy Committee; Dr. Najibullah, Member of Science and Technology at the Planning Commission; Suniya Shahid, CEO of Techvention Ltd.; and Dr. Naveed Iftikhar, CEO of Atomcamp, who joined virtually. The session was moderated by Wajid Islam, Research Economist at PIDE.
Dr. Salman outlined the policy’s vision, emphasizing its bold, ethical, and inclusive approach. He noted that the policy was developed through consultations with national and international stakeholders, including UNESCO, the ADB, and the Commonwealth. He projected that AI could significantly enhance Pakistan’s GDP and create a substantial number of jobs.
Dr. Najibullah highlighted the importance of venture capital and accelerators in supporting start-ups, announcing a Public Venture Capital Fund of Rs 2 billion to help scale AI-driven businesses. He also addressed sector-specific opportunities, particularly in agriculture, health, and education, while pointing out challenges in data infrastructure, payment systems, and cybersecurity.
From an industry perspective, Suniya Shahid stressed the importance of AI adoption in healthcare and advocated for ethical auditing mechanisms to ensure responsible AI usage. She also called for the creation of AI funds for women-led startups and retraining programs for displaced workers.
Dr. Naveed Iftikhar, speaking virtually, discussed the gap between AI policy formulation and its actual adoption. He stressed the need for up-skilling across government, universities, and industries and called for international partnerships to address infrastructure gaps.
In closing, Dr. Nasir Iqbal, Associate Professor at PIDE, reflected on the broader macroeconomic implications of the AI policy. He emphasized the need for the policy’s success to be measured by productivity, inclusivity, and market competitiveness, warning that without careful implementation, AI could exacerbate inequality.
The seminar concluded with a consensus that while significant challenges remain, particularly in infrastructure and financing, the National AI Policy has set a strong foundation. Successful implementation will require continued collaboration between government, the private sector, academia, and international partners.
