Key Takeaways
- Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar departs for Shanghai, China.
- He will sign an agreement with the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).
- The visit aims to promote inclusive and equitable AI governance.
Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has embarked on a two-day visit to Shanghai, China, where he is set to attend the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference. The conference, which runs from July 17 to 19, will see Pakistan join as a founding member of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).
During his stay in Shanghai, Dar will participate in high-level meetings and engage with leaders to advance international cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on inclusive and equitable governance. He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other foreign counterparts.
The visit underscores Pakistan’s commitment to leveraging AI for national development and youth empowerment. In a separate event, the Permanent Missions of Pakistan and Tajikistan at the United Nations, along with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, organized a high-level discussion on AI at UN Headquarters.
At the event, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, highlighted the government's initiatives to harness AI as a catalyst for youth empowerment and national development. He noted that Rs40.58 billion has been allocated to the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme for the current financial year.
Khan emphasized Pakistan’s long-term vision for AI, aiming to train one million AI professionals and 10,000 AI trainers by 2030. The government is committed to expanding AI education, research, and innovation nationwide, aligning with its National Artificial Intelligence Policy.
Abdurahmon Abdurahmonzoda, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, underscored the transformative potential of AI in advancing sustainable development. He stressed the importance of equitable access, capacity-building, and international cooperation to bridge the digital divide.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, called for strong international partnerships that ensure the benefits of artificial intelligence are shared equitably, contributing to greater inclusion, resilience, and sustainable development for all.
