Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, convened a high-level policy dialogue on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform public services, strengthen governance, and accelerate inclusive development.
The session, titled “Shaping Pakistan’s Future with AI: Inclusive Development and Governance,” was organized during Pakistan’s Indus AI Week as part of the broader “TECHdestiNATION Pakistan – Celebrating Innovation Across Pakistan Week.” The event was held in partnership with the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, and the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA).
Addressing the opening session, Dr. Samuel Rizk, UNDP Resident Representative in Pakistan, emphasized the importance of placing people, inclusion, and strong governance at the center of Pakistan’s AI transformation. He noted that while AI has the potential to significantly improve development outcomes, progress is neither automatic nor guaranteed to be equitable. He stressed the need for inclusive design, ethical standards, robust institutions, and sound data governance to ensure responsible AI adoption.
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, highlighted the critical link between digital transformation and human development. He said that human intelligence drives artificial intelligence, and closing the skills gap is essential for economic growth and social inclusion. He underscored the importance of investing in education and capacity building to prepare Pakistan’s workforce for an AI-enabled economy.
The dialogue also examined Pakistan’s broader AI readiness, focusing on building strong digital foundations for an AI-enabled state. Participants discussed the need to move beyond isolated pilot projects toward integrated systems, strengthen institutional capacity and inter-ministerial coordination, and establish clear governance frameworks.
Mr. Amos Peters from UNDP Asia-Pacific warned that uneven AI adoption could widen development inequalities. Drawing on insights from UNDP’s report, “The Next Great Divergence,” he called for proactive policies to ensure that AI benefits are distributed equitably across society.
An inter-ministerial session formed the core of the dialogue under the theme “AI for Public Service Transformation and SDG Acceleration.” The session featured Minister for Planning Professor Ahsan Iqbal; Minister for IT and Telecommunication Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja; Minister for Finance Mr. Muhammad Aurangzeb; and Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik.
The discussion explored how AI can enhance service delivery, fiscal governance, climate planning, and data-driven policymaking. Speakers highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to improve fiscal efficiency, strengthen compliance-based revenue systems, promote responsible financial innovation, and adopt evidence-based planning through better use of existing digital platforms and diverse data sources.
At the conclusion of the dialogue, UNDP reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan in harnessing digital innovation to improve governance, reduce inequalities, and ensure that AI contributes to inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.
