Pakistan leverages AI to boost revenue, public services and economic planning, Aurangzeb says

Artificial intelligence is becoming a key tool in Pakistan’s efforts to improve public service delivery, strengthen revenue systems, and enable evidence-based policymaking, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Tuesday.

Aurangzeb was speaking at the panel discussion “AI for Public Service Transformation and SDG Acceleration” during the National Artificial Intelligence Workshop in Islamabad. He said Pakistan must focus on applied AI solutions that deliver measurable gains in efficiency, transparency, and productivity, rather than adopting technology for its own sake.

The finance minister highlighted the government’s ongoing tax transformation, which leverages AI-enabled systems for customer relationship management, production monitoring, risk-based compliance, and faceless processes. These measures aim to reduce leakages, limit discretionary human intervention, enhance transparency, and improve revenue outcomes. Aurangzeb said AI-led interventions had already delivered fiscal gains not achievable through manual processes.

He also pointed to the creation of the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to regulate digital assets, manage risks, and integrate emerging technologies into the formal economy, supporting financial stability and future economic growth.

Aurangzeb emphasised investment in human capital, saying AI and digital skills training would allow Pakistan’s youth to participate in higher-value segments of the global technology ecosystem. He noted that technologies such as blockchain and data analytics could drive productivity-led growth and expand income opportunities.

Concluding his remarks, he said AI offered significant opportunities in revenue mobilisation, public service delivery, and climate and population management, but achieving these benefits would require clear policy direction, institutional readiness, and a coordinated, whole-of-government digital strategy.

The session was attended by Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, IT and Telecommunication Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal.