Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Announces $1 Billion Investment in AI by 2030 at Indus AI Week 2026 Inauguration

Islamabad, Bureau Report
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif today inaugurated Indus AI Week 2026 and declared Pakistan’s firm commitment to becoming a significant player in the global artificial intelligence landscape. In his keynote address, the Prime Minister announced that the government will invest $1 billion in artificial intelligence by 2030 to build a robust national AI ecosystem.
Highlighting Pakistan’s demographic advantage, PM Shehbaz noted that 60 percent of the country’s 240 million population consists of youth. “By equipping our young people with AI skills, we can bring about a revolutionary transformation in agriculture, industry, trade, and every sector of the economy,” he said.
Key initiatives announced include:
Training one million non-IT professionals in artificial intelligence
Providing 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in AI fields by 2030
Introducing AI curriculum in federal schools as well as in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and remote areas of Balochistan
Launching a national program to enhance AI and IT capacity building across the country
The Prime Minister recalled his earlier achievements as Chief Minister of Punjab, including distributing laptops to 500,000 meritorious students, establishing the country’s first IT University, launching e-libraries, implementing the Safe City project in Lahore, digitizing land records to eliminate corruption, and introducing e-stamp papers to boost revenue.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized that Pakistan’s first National AI Policy was launched in September 2025, with implementation now underway. She highlighted the formation of the National Digital Commission, development of a countrywide digital master plan, and efforts to digitize public services, taxation systems, and cybersecurity frameworks.
Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal credited previous PML-N governments for laying the foundation of digital progress through 3G/4G licenses, establishment of IT and AI centers, and the creation of a National Cybersecurity Center.
Indus AI Week 2026 (February 9–15) serves as Pakistan’s flagship national platform for AI, bringing together universities, startups, global tech companies, policymakers, and international partners to foster innovation, talent development, and investment in artificial intelligence.
The event is expected to position Pakistan as a credible and forward-looking partner in the global AI revolution.