Pakistan’s First AI Policy Will Be Ready by End of February

The National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom was informed on Tuesday that the country’s pilot Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy will be prepared by the end of this month. Committee chairman Syed Aminul Haq criticized the unjustified delay in the finalizing of the Data Protection Bill. The IT Ministry officials assured the committee that consultations with stakeholders are ongoing and that the bill will be completed soon. Discussions also covered the IT Ministry’s Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) funds for 2024-25. the committee was informed that Rs. 24 billion was allocated for ongoing and new development projects. The Special Communications Organization (SCO) is working on a Rs. 780 million mobile service expansion project to improve coverage in 28 new locations. Officials briefed that over Rs. 23 billion had been allocated for development projects in the current fiscal year of which Rs. 2 billion has been spent. The IT Ministry will require over Rs. 43 billion in the next fiscal year to support 18 projects including six under SCO, seven under the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and hybrid power solutions. A Rs. 870 million hybrid power project for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan will require Rs. 500 million in FY26. The committee also discussed Pakistan’s potential in the semiconductor industry. Officials emphasized the revenue potential of semiconductors and confirmed government-to-government agreements for sector growth. Concerns were raised over the non-utilization of Rs. 6 billion allocated for Karachi IT Park, which has so far remained in the design phase. IT Ministry Officials revealed that they have asked to transfer these funds to Islamabad IT Park instead. The issue of Quetta IT Park was also discussed. Officials said that it remains only a proposal at this point and the federal government has suggested allocating land, but progress has stalled despite three years of discussion. The IT Ministry plans to seek budget allocation for Quetta IT Park in the next fiscal year.