Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecommunications is revving up its efforts to drive innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the launch of a dedicated National AI Fund. This new fund, branching off from the existing Ignite Technology Fund, aims to provide targeted support for AI research and development (R&D) initiatives, entrepreneurship, and talent development across the country.

The Ignite Technology Fund, while valuable, offered broader support for ICTs in general. Recognizing the unique needs of AI, the Ministry is creating a specialized fund to fuel its advancement.

Complementing the National AI Fund, the government plans to establish Centers of Excellence in AI (CoEAI) in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. These centers will house state-of-the-art infrastructure, labs, and testbeds, acting as hubs for nurturing AI talent, supporting AI-focused startups, and leading the charge on civic and social initiatives leveraging AI.

This initiative builds upon existing National Centers for AI focused on academic research. However, the government aims to establish additional regional and central hubs specifically catering to AI and allied technologies. These hubs will offer comprehensive resources for skill development, R&D, computational power, testing environments, and regulatory sandboxes – essentially nurturing an entire AI ecosystem.

Public awareness is another key pillar of this strategy. The government plans a nationwide campaign aimed at reaching 90% of the internet-connected population. CoEAI will spearhead this effort, including revisions to educational curriculums at all levels, training programs for the existing workforce, and specialized initiatives focused on empowering marginalized groups like women and people with disabilities.

This combined approach, with dedicated funding, infrastructure, and talent development programs alongside widespread public awareness, aims to propel Pakistan’s journey towards becoming a leader in the exciting field of Artificial Intelligence.