Pakistan Targets 1 Million AI Developers and 1,000 Local AI Products by 2030

Experts believe that Pakistan needs to develop its indigenous AI products, solutions, apps, and tools to keep user data secure within the country’s digital borders and strengthen data protection at the national level. This aligns with Pakistan’s ambitious national AI target of training over one million AI developers and developing more than 1,000 local AI products by 2030, as revealed by Mehwish Salman, Member of the AI Committee, PASHA. Chairing a session on PASHA’s Policy Roundtable at the 26th ITCN Asia 2025, Adnan Zaidi, Co-Chair AI Committee, PASHA, and Member AI Task Force, MoITT, highlighted the growing demand for AI developers in Pakistan to create local AI tools, solutions, and apps across socio-economic sectors. Speaking at the session, Salman said that to achieve these goals, the country must invest in computational infrastructure, establish Centres of Excellence in AI, and ensure access to data and cloud services to strengthen the AI ecosystem. Salman also pointed out that Pakistan ranks as the fourth most frequent user of the ChatGPT chatbot worldwide. However, she warned that users risk their future data security by transferring confidential personal and business information outside the country. She added that developing local AI apps and solutions would not only safeguard organizational and individual data but also better serve users through cultural and language-specific features. Adnan noted that while multiple IT companies in Pakistan are already developing AI tools and apps, firms should focus on specialization and target specific industries—such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, finance, and logistics—to achieve greater performance. Zaidi stressed that IT companies and academia must work aggressively to train human resources in AI to build indigenous systems. He urged closer collaboration between academia and the private sector to educate new IT graduates, offering them internships and job opportunities in relevant areas. He also emphasized that the National AI Policy, rolled out by the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, should address existing gaps with expert input and regularly revise its key objectives. Experts at the roundtable also discussed ethical aspects of AI and its misuse in businesses, including the banking sector. They suggested that the government and stakeholders should identify areas where AI should be applied or restricted in order to reinforce data protection, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and standards. They further called on the government to establish dedicated funds—such as an AI Innovation Fund and an AI Venture Fund—to support startups, R&D, and local AI product development. Additionally, they proposed a nationwide awareness campaign on AI, the integration of AI into academic curricula, and upskilling programs for the workforce through scholarships, online courses, and bootcamps.