The federal government has decided to establish 12 sector-specific working groups for the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Pakistan’s development landscape. The decision was taken during a meeting of the National Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal. The Planning Ministry will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication to design a comprehensive and inclusive national strategy for AI integration. The planning minister emphasized that AI is no longer just a technological advancement but a strategic imperative for national progress. The working groups will focus on key priority areas including education, health, agriculture, climate change, business, and governance. Each group will comprise experts from government, academia, and the private sector, and will be tasked with preparing a clear roadmap containing sector-specific objectives, timelines, and resource frameworks. To support innovation and overcome financial constraints, the meeting approved the creation of a National AI Fund. This fund will provide financial backing to promising AI-driven pilot projects and innovative initiatives across the country. The initiative also aims to strengthen local capacities and reduce dependency on imported AI technologies. He also directed a comprehensive mapping of AI talent and resources in Pakistan, encompassing universities, R&D centers, and private enterprises. This inventory will help in effectively aligning national expertise with emerging technological demands and development challenges. The meeting was attended by IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Dr. Yasar Ayaz, Project Director of the National Center for Artificial Intelligence, senior officials from the Ministry of IT, NADRA, PASHA, representatives of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and various private sector technology leaders. A National AI Workshop was also announced during the meeting, to be organized in collaboration with PASHA and industry stakeholders. The government has already launched nine Centers of Excellence in emerging technologies and initiated the Quantum Valley Pakistan project as part of its broader vision for AI-driven national development.