Organised by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Indus AI Summit 2026 successfully concluded today at the Jinnah Convention Center. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attended as the Chief Guest, joined by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, to set the national strategic direction for artificial intelligence in front of an exclusive assembly of global experts and industry leaders.
The summit, serving as the strategic anchor of Indus AI Week (9–15 February), transitioned Pakistan’s AI ambitions from policy to practice. Throughout the day, delegates engaged in high-level dialogue focused on evidence-based frameworks, international collaboration, and the strengthening of the national AI ecosystem.
In his address to the summit, the Prime Minister described Artificial Intelligence as a fundamental cornerstone of national progress rather than a distant prospect. He emphasized the government's resolve to move Pakistan beyond being a mere observer of the global AI revolution, positioning the country as a regional leader. The Prime Minister underscored that by cultivating a robust ecosystem for innovation and prioritizing ethical adoption, the state is securing a tech-driven and prosperous future for the nation’s youth and its broader economy.
In a major move to catalyze the ecosystem, the Prime Minister announced a series of special AI initiatives aimed at building a future-ready digital economy. The Government of Pakistan has committed to investing $1 billion in AI by 2030 to scale sovereign compute infrastructure and fuel research. To prepare the next generation, an AI curriculum will be introduced in federal schools and educational institutions across AJK, Gilgit Baltistan, and remote parts of Balochistan. Furthermore, the government will provide 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in AI by 2030 and launch a nationwide program to train 1 million non IT professionals in AI skills to enhance productivity across the workforce.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and Inter-Provincial Coordination, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, delivered a pivotal keynote address. He emphasized that AI integration is central to the "Uraan Pakistan" vision for economic transformation. Minister Iqbal underscored the government's commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that technological innovation translates directly into high-value exports and sustainable job creation across all provinces.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, spoke on the transformative power of emerging technologies as a matter of national sovereignty and economic resilience. She highlighted that several key initiatives are already underway, including the full e-office adoption across federal divisions and the establishment of high-performance computing foundations. Highlighting the Ministry’s proactive role, she outlined how the government is moving from policy formulation to tangible implementation by building the necessary digital infrastructure and fostering international partnerships to position Pakistan as a credible global technology player.
The Minister specifically welcomed international collaboration as a vital mechanism to help Pakistan scale its technical capacities. She emphasized that fostering global partnerships is essential to position Pakistan as a credible player in the international technology landscape, inviting global experts and tech leaders to join the national journey of digital evolution.
A defining moment of the summit was the official announcement of the Islamabad Declaration. This landmark document serves as a concise statement of national intent, setting out Pakistan's core principles and execution priorities for Sovereign AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). The Declaration is built upon eight strategic pillars:
1. Sovereign purpose and measurable public value
2. Human accountability under constitutional authority
3. Use-case first pragmatic delivery
4. Sovereign data privacy and trust
5. Explainable, auditable and safe AI
6. Whole of government approach to AI governance
7. Inclusive and responsible innovation
8. Private-sector led sovereign and open AI ecosystem
Rather than serving as a purely aspirational policy, the Islamabad Declaration is designed to guide practical implementation across all tiers of government and the broader economy, ensuring that Pakistan's AI development remains ethical, secure, and aligned with sovereign interests.
The event featured a series of high-profile keynote addresses from international and local leaders, including H.E. Dr Aisha Bin Bishr (The Global Diwan, former DG Smart Dubai), and H.E. Muhammet Kas?m Gönüllü (Deputy Minister for Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye). Other notable speakers included Dr Randolph George Goebel (University of Alberta), Hatem Bamatraf (e& and PTCL/Ufone), Hassan Abbas (Sky47), Aamir Ibrahim (Jazz), Dr Michael Sung (Chinese Academy of Sciences), and Dominic Williams (Dfinity).
Key strategic dialogues and fireside conversations provided deep insights into the future of the technology. A session on "Governing Intelligence at Scale," moderated by Dr Sohail Munir (Pakistan Digital Authority), featured Dr Ali Naqvi (American Institute of Artificial Intelligence), Luis Salazar (EY), and Dr Shoab Khan (Care). Mohammad Sear (Pakistan Digital Authority) led a discussion on "Designing AI-Native Government" with Dr Ali Al-Azzawi (Ministry of Investment KSA), Dr Sanjiva Weerawarana (WSO2), Siim Sikkut (Digital Nation), and Ahsan Mashkoor.
Further sessions focused on practical governance and finance. Dr Zeeshan Usmani (Skilled Score) moderated a panel on "National AI and Data Governance" with Mark Bünger (Futurity Systems), Dr Esther Baldwin (Intel), and Soumaya Ben Dhaou (UNU-Egov). A dialogue on "Financing Sovereign AI," moderated by Omar Rana (Openmind Research Institute), included Ali Nadir Syed (Apolonia Capital), Ahsan Jamil (sAi Venture Capital), Mouteih Chaghlil (e&), and Pierre Samaties (Dfinity).
The afternoon also saw a fireside conversation on "Building Competitive AI Ecosystems" moderated by Saqr Ereiqat (Dubai Digital Asset Association) with Abdulla Al Dhaheri (The Blockchain Center), José María Lucía Moreno (EY), Aamer Ejaz (Jazz), and Xin Yan (Sign). The final technical dialogue on "AI, Trust, and the Human Interface" was moderated by Habibullah Khan (Penumbra) and featured Dr Farrah Arif (Queens Mary University), Ussal ?ahbaz (Ussal Consultancy), Nadeem Nathoo (TKS & Zero AI), and Raeez Lorgat (Mass and Momentum).
The Indus AI Summit 2026 concluded with a final panel on "Next Steps: Impact of the Week," moderated by Zarrar Khan and featuring Dr Sohail Munir and Sajjad Syed (Chairman P@SHA).
The conclusion of the summit marks the official commencement of the wider Indus AI Week. The focus now shifts to the Innovation, Learning, and Engagement Arena at the Islamabad Sports Complex, where the public, students, and startups will engage with hands-on AI demonstrations.
Indus AI Week 2026 continues across the country through February 15, signaling Pakistan’s readiness to embrace artificial intelligence as a primary driver of national progress and international collaboration.
