By Nisar Hussain

Column: Diwan-e-Aam

The world is passing through a new industrial and technological wave that can rightly be described as the digital era. Mobile phones, the internet, cloud infrastructure, robotics, artificial intelligence and advanced IT services have transformed not only communication and commerce but the very foundations of education, healthcare, governance and economic development. Any nation that delays adopting these technologies risks falling behind in the global race for competitiveness.

This reality compels Pakistan to treat these domains not as slogan-driven initiatives but as true national priorities. The essential question, however, is whether the steps taken by the Government of Pakistan are sufficient to meet the demands of this new age.

One of the most significant developments in recent years is the approval of the National AI Policy 2025, which has opened the path toward building a comprehensive artificial intelligence ecosystem in the country. The policy sets ambitious targets.

These include developing a large skilled workforce, establishing national AI funds, launching thousands of AI-enabled public projects, supporting the creation of over a thousand indigenous AI products, and opening new avenues for research and education. Alongside this, the federal government has also announced the formation of an AI Council and a Master Plan to ensure that the policy moves beyond paperwork and enters the realm of practical implementation.

In the national budget, the government has allocated substantial funds for digitalisation, artificial intelligence and IT parks. Consequently, more than twenty software technology parks have been established or are under development across the country. The major IT parks in Karachi and Islamabad are emerging as significant centres for new tech start-ups as well as companies exporting software and IT-enabled services.

The surge in Pakistan’s IT exports further validates this digital transition. In the previous financial year, exports of IT and IT-enabled services grew by nearly twenty four percent, contributing to a positive foreign exchange surplus. Likewise, capacity-building programmes such as the Cloud Applied Generative AI initiative have equipped thousands of young Pakistanis with cutting-edge skills that can consolidate Pakistan’s presence in the global technology marketplace in the years ahead.

Yet despite this progress, several critical gaps remain, and they cannot be ignored. Announcing a policy is always the easiest step. The real challenge is implementation. Even if research and training centres are established, they will remain confined to files and reports unless they generate genuine opportunities for learning, innovation and industry collaboration.

Another reality is that Pakistan’s digital infrastructure is not uniformly developed. Major cities enjoy robust mobile connectivity and digital services but many smaller towns and rural areas still face limited access. If this disparity persists, the digital divide will widen and could evolve into a new form of socioeconomic inequality.

Another challenge is that training a few thousand or even a few hundred thousand individuals will not be sufficient. Pakistan is a young nation, and millions of its youth are waiting for modern technological education and employment opportunities.

Training only creates meaningful impact when it is accompanied by job creation, investment and tangible connections with industry. Pakistan must also reduce its reliance on foreign AI tools, platforms and cloud services. Excessive dependence will weaken technological sovereignty and delay the development of AI technologies that understand local languages, social realities and cultural contexts.

Concerns related to data privacy and cyber security are even more sensitive. As digital systems expand, the laws and regulatory frameworks that govern them must be strengthened proportionately.

Pakistan’s future can only be secured if the government moves beyond announcements and places performance at the centre of its approach. An autonomous authority should be established to oversee the effective implementation of the National AI Policy. This body must remain independent of political pressure and publish annual progress reports.

The country must prioritise the development of indigenous cloud and data centre infrastructure to ensure data protection and support local industry. Training initiatives must not remain confined to major cities. They must reach rural areas, women and underprivileged communities so that every segment of society can participate in this digital age.

Educational institutions should integrate high-quality courses in artificial intelligence, data science and cloud computing while research must be funded so that Pakistan evolves from being a technology consumer to becoming a technology creator.

If these measures are pursued with consistency, transparency and seriousness, Pakistan can meaningfully alter the trajectory of its development. New employment opportunities will emerge for the youth. Exports will continue to grow.

Governance will become more efficient and transparent. The country will be able to carve out its place in the global digital economy. However, if we continue to rely solely on policy announcements without translating them into concrete action, this historic opportunity may slip away. Pakistan stands at a crossroads.

This moment can either become the beginning of a new direction or the world will continue to advance while we remain stationary. The choice ultimately depends on our collective resolve and our willingness to act.