Key Takeaways
- The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication plans to expand the National AI Skills Program.
- The initiative aims to train one million IT graduates in artificial intelligence and related technologies over five years.
- Proposed measures include regional training hubs and online learning platforms.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has announced an expansion of the National AI Skills Program to rural, remote, and underserved areas of Pakistan. This initiative seeks to enhance employment opportunities and promote digital inclusion in these regions.
According to a ministry document, the government is already running training programs in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science, and software development. These programs are part of the broader AI Policy 2025, which aims to train one million new and existing IT graduates in IT and related technologies over five years.
The ministry has identified several barriers to participation in underserved areas, including limited training facilities, poor connectivity, a shortage of qualified instructors, and low awareness. To address these challenges, the government proposes regional training hubs, online and hybrid learning, partnerships with universities and industry, and scholarships and targeted support for women and disadvantaged groups.
Other initiatives include the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative, Google certification training for government employees, the National AI Upskilling Program with Meta, DigiSkills, Code4AI, and the National AI Innovation Hub. More than 900,000 training sessions were delivered through various DigiSkills courses during fiscal year 2025 to 2026.
Code4AI is planned to train 7,500 people in AI-driven full stack development and related technologies. The ministry has also identified specialized courses in AI, blockchain, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, alongside online learning platforms, mobile training facilities, and regional technology centers.
The ministry plans to conduct a nationwide needs assessment to identify underserved regions and priority skills before preparing a phased expansion plan. The proposed measures aim to equip 10,000 trainers with emerging technology skills by 2027.
