Pakistan to invest $1 billion in artificial intelligence by 2030, government says

Pakistan will invest $1 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030 as part of a government strategy to develop a national AI ecosystem, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced at the opening of Indus AI Week 2026 on February 9, 2026.

"The Government of Pakistan is committed to investing $1 billion in AI by 2030, which will go a long way in building an AI ecosystem in our country," said Sharif.

Addressing the event, the premier said the investment will support measures to introduce an AI curriculum in schools across the country, including in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and remote areas of Balochistan, with the goal of preparing students for roles in the digital economy.

As part of the plan, the government will award 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in AI to students nationwide by 2030, aimed at building research capabilities and establishing well-equipped national research centres.

Shehbaz Sharif also said a nationwide programme to train one million non-IT professionals in AI skills will be launched to enhance productivity and improve livelihoods in various sectors.

The premier highlighted that the focus areas for AI deployment will include agriculture, mines and minerals, industry and trade, and emphasised the importance of equipping Pakistan’s young population with modern technological skills.

Indus AI Week 2026, scheduled from February 9–15, serves as Pakistan’s official national AI platform intended to bring together policymakers, innovators and investors and shape the country’s AI policy and talent development strategy.