An important turning point in Pakistan’s technological development has been reached with the recent approval of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy 2025 by the federal cabinet.With the goal of democratizing access to AI, improving public services, and opening up new opportunities for innovation and employment, this effort aims to establish a comprehensive AI ecosystem following decades of reactive engagement with developing technology. If executed with vision and determination, this policy offers a potential to advance a nation that has long trailed behind in digital development.
By 2030, it hopes to train one million AI experts, establish an AI Innovation Fund and an AI Venture Fund to encourage private sector participation, and create 1,000 local AI products and 50,000 AI-powered civic initiatives during the following five years. It also suggests facilitating 1,000 research projects, offering 3,000 AI scholarships annually, and implementing special inclusion policies for women and people with disabilities through affordable and easily available education.
Most importantly, the strategy promotes international collaboration and adherence to international AI standards while highlighting cybersecurity and national data security. In order to guarantee that AI advances from idea to real advancement in the fields of healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, and governance, a comprehensive master plan with an action matrix and an AI Council will supervise its implementation.
By emphasizing the democratization of AI, the policy acknowledges that technology shouldn’t be limited to corporate boardrooms or urban tech clusters. Students, governmental institutions, and small enterprises can all benefit from AI. Imagine predictive algorithms controlling traffic in cities and responding to disasters, or AI-assisted diagnostics in rural clinics that allow early disease identification. These revolutionary apps may ultimately solve the inefficiencies that have long hampered Pakistan’s public service delivery system.
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However, there is a warning attached to this optimism. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s border regions, AI-powered surveillance technologies already in use through drone operations have a concerning history of killing civilians. According to Amnesty International, between March and June 2025, at least 17 civilians, including five children, were killed by surveillance drones in the merged districts.
A March strike in Katlang killed nine civilians, including two children, a June 20 strike in Dashka killed one kid and injured five others, and a May 19 strike in Hurmuz village demolished a home, killing four children and injuring five others. Another event that exposed a troubling trend of drones misidentifying targets and disproportionately hurting innocent families was a drone attack on a volleyball match in South Waziristan in May that injured 22 civilians, including seven youngsters.
Although the policy is audacious, significant challenges must be overcome for it to be successful. Progress is threatened by inadequate digital infrastructure, erratic electricity, and a lack of high-speed internet. More urgent are the ethical and legal issues: the deployment of AI runs the risk of escalating social and regional inequality in the absence of clear regulations on data protection, bias prevention, and algorithmic responsibility.
With the right implementation, the National AI Policy 2025 has the potential to make Pakistan a knowledge-based economy, promote inclusive growth, and establish the nation as a major force in the global digital economy. Institutional dedication, open governance, and moral protections are necessary to guarantee AI benefits rather than damages communities.
It is yet unclear if Pakistan will take advantage of this momentous occasion or will it become yet another missed milestone in our technological journey?
The Writer is CCIP Scholar and seasoned investigative journalist Abdul Hai Aryan has been finding significant news for more than ten years. His work, which ranges from local narratives to global challenges, has been featured in prestigious media outlets worldwide. He possesses an M.Phil. and Master’s in Media Studies in addition to a Master’s in Computer Science.
