Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif put AI and digitisation at the centre of a PMO review in Islamabad on Wednesday, saying both can lift trade, exports and wider development if the state’s partnership with global firm Alibaba is carried through properly.
The Prime Minister’s Office said he chaired a meeting on how artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation are being used in the economy and in government, and on cooperation with Alibaba. The PMO quoted him as saying: “The secret to Pakistan’s development lies in artificial intelligence and digitalisation.” He argued that careful use of digital tools, AI and modern technology could improve trade, exports, farm output, ease of doing business and the quality of public services.
What the Islamabad meeting decided
Shehbaz Sharif’s AI and digitisation guidance from the PMO also pressed for faster delivery. He welcomed Alibaba’s help in sending Pakistani farm goods to Chinese markets and in farm automation, calling agriculture modernisation essential for national development. He directed that an AI-assisted cancer early-detection system be rolled out as soon as possible with Alibaba, and that a 15-day AI training programme for IT graduates start soon under the IT ministry’s Ignite programme, again with Alibaba.
He recalled a memorandum of understanding signed at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou during his May visit to China. Government priorities, he said, include using that strategic partnership so small and medium enterprises can reach global markets and so technology-led growth can create new openings. All relevant authorities were told to turn cooperation into concrete results through clear targets, timelines and monitoring. Ministries were instructed to finish necessary steps by November and submit a progress report.
Projects under way with Alibaba
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), which oversees petroleum pricing and supply regulation, was directed to introduce an analytics system for the petroleum products supply chain with Alibaba; the PMO said AI tools are being provided for that work. The Export Promotion Board was told to work with Alibaba to raise exports.
Briefings said work continues on AI-based models for agriculture, track-and-trace technology for tobacco, and digital platforms to ease citrus and olive exports. A dedicated Pakistan pavilion on Alibaba’s platform is meant to promote Pakistani goods abroad. Digital verification of trade documents through Pakistan Single Window is already operating. A two-year programme between the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) and Alibaba is being launched to give SMEs market access, training and e-commerce chances.
The meeting also reviewed an advanced data platform and central data hub for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL), and a proposed pilot for AI-assisted cancer diagnosis. Digital and AI initiatives in higher education, railways, postal services and urban administration were described as nearing completion. Several federal ministers and senior officials attended, including Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Jam Kamal Khan, Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Abdul Aleem Khan and Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Earlier this year: PM Shehbaz announced a plan to invest $1 billion in AI by 2030.
- May: During a four-day China visit, an MoU was signed with Alibaba in Hangzhou; Pakistan also backed China’s proposal for a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO).
- July: Pakistan became a founding member of WAICO after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the founding agreement in Shanghai.
- Wednesday: At the Islamabad PMO meeting, Shehbaz Sharif stressed AI and digitisation and ordered Alibaba-linked delivery with a November progress report.
- November: Ministries are to complete required measures on Alibaba cooperation and file a progress report.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Wazir-e-Azam Shehbaz Sharif ne kaha hai ke AI aur digital tools Pakistan ki taraqqi ke liye bohot zaroori hain. Hukumat Alibaba ke saath farm exports, training, health aur petrol supply monitoring jaise projects tez karna chahti hai. IT graduates ke liye 15 din ka AI course aur cancer ki jaldi pehchan ka system jaldi shuru karne ko kaha gaya hai. Aam logon ke liye yeh matlab hai ke asaan business, behtar services aur naye skills ke mauqe ban sakte hain, agar yeh projects waqt par poore huein.
