Pakistan has officially launched a $1 billion national AI investment plan and adopted the Islamabad Declaration on Sovereign AI at the Indus AI Summit 2026 in Islamabad. The summit, held as part of Indus AI Week was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, senior officials, and global tech leaders.
Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that AI is a strategic pillar for national development, aiming to position Pakistan as a regional AI hub through ethical adoption, sovereign control, and youth-led innovation. Key initiatives under this investment plan include:
- $1 billion investment by 2030 for sovereign AI infrastructure and national research capacity
- AI curricula in schools and universities across AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, and remote areas of Balochistan
- 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in AI
- Training 1 million non-IT professionals in AI applications to boost workforce productivity
The Islamabad Declaration establishes eight strategic pillars for sovereign AI, covering data privacy, explainable AI, government governance, and private-sector-led innovation.
This historic investment marks a turning point in Pakistan’s AI landscape, preparing the country to harness artificial intelligence as a driver of economic growth, youth empowerment, and technological sovereignty.
