Comment by Riaz Haq on January 30, 2026 at 8:42pm

AI Overview

AI education in Pakistan is rapidly evolving, with a strong focus on integrating technology into the curriculum to bridge educational gaps, particularly in the Punjab province where AI is becoming mandatory in schools. Key initiatives include the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) and AI-powered tools (Khanmigo, MagicSchool) to enhance teacher capacity. Despite high potential and policy interest, challenges include limited infrastructure, funding gaps, and the need for teacher training.
Key Developments and Initiatives
Government Action: The Punjab government is leading in making AI education mandatory in schools, aiming to modernize the curriculum. The National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) at NUST has been established to promote research, training, and innovation.
Educational Integration: AI-driven platforms like Khanmigo and MagicSchool are being used to support teachers with lesson planning and personalized learning.
Focus on Skills: There is a push towards creating AI literacy to prepare the youth for a 21st-century job market, driven by initiatives like the Digital Pakistan Vision.
Certifications: The Artificial Intelligence Education Foundation (AIEF) offers specialized, tiered certifications, including Certified AI Developer (CAD) and Certified AI Practitioner (CAP).
Opportunities and Impact
Bridging Rural Gaps: AI offers a solution to the lack of qualified teachers in remote areas (e.g., Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan) through smart learning apps, virtual tutors, and video-based lessons.
Personalized Learning: AI can adapt to diverse student needs and learning paces, addressing disparities between urban and rural education.
Future-Ready Workforce: With 65% of the population under 30, investing in AI education allows Pakistan to leverage its youthful demographic for a tech-driven economy.
Challenges and Barriers
Infrastructure Gaps: Many schools lack basic IT infrastructure, internet access, and electricity, hindering the adoption of AI tools.
Teacher Readiness: Educators need significant training to effectively integrate AI and understand its ethical implications.
Resource Constraints: Limited financial resources make it challenging to implement widespread AI adoption across all schools.
Future Outlook
The focus is shifting toward creating a comprehensive AI policy framework that includes ethical guidelines, data privacy, and extensive teacher training. Partnerships with international organizations like UNESCO are helping to build these capabilities.

Comment by Riaz Haq on February 18, 2026 at 12:04pm

AI Overview
The Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) in Pakistan is a flagship educational program launched to equip local youth with advanced AI, IoT, and Big Data skills to foster technological growth. It acts as a CSR initiative aimed at enhancing employability in the tech sector.
samsung.com
samsung.com
+2
Here are the key details about the Samsung Innovation Campus in Pakistan:
Core Focus and Features
Programs: The campus offers intensive, free, in-person training focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).
Curriculum: The training involves over 240 hours of instruction, ranging from theoretical foundations to practical, hands-on project work.
Target Audience: The program is designed for Pakistani nationals, typically aged 22–28, with a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering.
Goal: To bridge the gap between education and industry requirements, improving employment prospects for young graduates.
Samsung
Samsung
+5
Locations and Implementation
Coverage: The program operates in major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad.
Partnerships: Samsung partners with local organizations like Knowledge Streams to deliver these trainings.
Recent Activity: As of February 2026, the program has launched new cohorts and continues to offer training in AI.
Instagram
Instagram
+4
Key Information for Applicants (2025/2026)
Application: Applicants can apply through the official Samsung Pakistan Innovation Campus portal.
Duration: The training period typically lasts around 12 weeks, featuring on-premise classes.
Eligibility Restrictions: In some cohorts, graduates from specific institutions like LUMS, NUST, GIKI, and Habib University were not eligible, as the program targeted a broader demographic.
samsung.com
samsung.com
+2
Note: The Samsung Innovation Campus is different from the Samsung Service Centers, which are dedicated to technical repair and customer support (e.g., in Johar Town, Lahore).

Comment by Riaz Haq on February 24, 2026 at 9:57am

Pakistan Digital Authority: Building a Citizen-Centric Digital Future

https://www.fairobserver.com/business/technology/pakistan-digital-a...

Artificial intelligence: Promise and risk
AI is rapidly emerging as one of the most influential technologies of the 21st century, offering significant potential to improve efficiency, governance, education and economic opportunity. In Pakistan, this promise is already being explored in some institutional arenas. For example, courts and several provincial governments are beginning to experiment with AI tools to improve administrative efficiency, such as case management and document review, helping reduce bureaucratic delays and improve service delivery.

Alongside government adoption, regulators are actively considering how to govern AI in complex sectors like finance. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and related bodies are engaged in drafting frameworks and guidelines that could govern how AI and algorithmic systems are used in the banking sector, with an emphasis on issues such as data security, fairness and transparency, aligning with broader digital policy priorities found in Pakistan’s national AI strategy discussions.

In the education sector, AI-driven technologies are reshaping traditional practices. Smart learning platforms, virtual tutors and automated assessment tools have begun to offer more personalized learning pathways for students and reduce routine administrative burdens for teachers. Studies show educators experiencing efficiency gains and improved engagement when using AI for lesson planning and content generation, though these benefits are highly uneven across contexts.

However, these technological advances are not evenly distributed. Persistent challenges such as inadequate digital infrastructure, limited internet access, uneven device availability and low levels of digital literacy continue to hinder equitable AI adoption across Pakistan’s education system and beyond. Research on digital inclusion highlights how rural and marginalized communities, in particular, remain disproportionately excluded from the advantages of AI, compounding existing inequalities rather than closing them.

Moreover, without robust governance, AI systems can pose real risks, from reinforcing biases or misinterpretations to exposing sensitive data if privacy safeguards are absent. Ethical considerations around algorithmic fairness and transparency are increasingly part of policy debates, especially as stakeholders call for frameworks that protect both citizens and institutions as AI becomes more widespread.



The Pakistan Digital Authority: A central role
The PDA is positioned as the principal institutional mechanism for translating the country’s digital vision into coordinated national action. Tasked with implementing the National Digital Master Plan, built upon the pillars of digital economy, digital society and digital governance, the Authority is responsible for aligning federal and provincial initiatives, formulating a National Data Strategy and establishing standards for cloud infrastructure and data interoperability. Through these functions, the PDA seeks to transform fragmented digital efforts into a unified and strategically directed national framework.

When effectively implemented, the PDA can integrate Pakistan’s diverse digital initiatives into a cohesive, future-ready system capable of delivering measurable social and economic benefits. Coordinated governance structures, interoperable data systems and standardized infrastructure can significantly enhance administrative efficiency, enable evidence-based policymaking and expand access to public services across regions.

Comment by Riaz Haq on May 7, 2026 at 10:02am

26 year old Karachi born Sualeh Asif joins list of Forbes Billionaires

https://www.forbes.com/profile/sualeh-asif/

Sualeh Asif cofounded Cursor, the maker of a popular AI code editing tool, with three friends from MIT.
Cursor reached a $29.3 billion valuation in November 2025, after raising $2.3 billion in a funding round co-led by VC heavyweights Accel and Coatue.
Cursor claims to have more than $1 billion in annualized revenue, making it one of the fastest growing AI startups.
Today, millions of software developers at 50,000 enterprises like Nvidia, Adobe, Uber and Shopify use Cursor to generate and edit chunks of code.
Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, Asif represented the country in the International Math Olympiad from 2016 to 2018.
In college, he started an AI-powered search engine company.

Comment by Riaz Haq on May 7, 2026 at 10:03am

Pakistani Woman Techie Explains How She Got Hired At Anthropic, Urges Young Engineers To Embrace AIShe advised professionals to overcome the fear of automation by embracing adaptability and learning to work with AI tools.

https://www.ndtv.com/feature/pakistani-techie-explains-how-she-got-...

Aiza Usman, an Applied AI Engineer at Anthropic, has gone viral for sharing her journey from Pakistan's Lahore to the United States, how she broke into the AI industry, and why adaptability is now one of the most critical skills in today's job market. In a conversation with content creator Hamzaa Chishti, she shared that she came to the US for her undergraduate studies.

Explaining how she landed a job at Anthropic, she said her background in Computer Science engineering played a key role in building a strong technical foundation. She added that her graduate studies further strengthened her expertise, especially through courses focused on generative AI, large language models (LLMs) and transformer architectures. She also gained hands-on industry experience by working with a fintech startup, where she built AI agents and worked on applied AI solutions.

Speaking about the similarities and differences between Anthropic and OpenAI, she said both companies place strong emphasis on AI safety and responsible development. She explained that one of the core priorities at Anthropic is ensuring that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence remain aligned with human safety and well-being. According to her, the company is focused not only on accelerating AI capabilities but also on making sure the technology is developed responsibly and safely for people.

She further advocated for embracing AI as a tool, urging professionals to shift from fearing automation to learning how to work alongside it. "Everyone needs to stop being scared of AI," she stated, adding that AI isn't just for technical teams anymore. It's showing up in nearly every profession. Instead of avoiding these tools, she argued that people should invest time in learning to use them well.



Notably, AI has become one of the biggest talking points in the technology world, dominating headlines, investor calls, and policy debates. Meanwhile, workers across industries are trying to make sense of what these rapid changes could mean for their careers.

Roles in writing, design, coding, law, and even medicine are being reshaped as AI tools handle tasks once done exclusively by humans, leaving many people both excited about new productivity gains and anxious about job security. Among the firms driving this shift is Anthropic, one of the world's leading AI companies.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX9LZH6O6vS/?utm_source=ig_embed&...

Comment by Riaz Haq 6 hours ago

Smartphones and AI are transforming Pakistan by . However, this rapid shift faces hurdles like the digital gender divide and infrastructure gaps. [1, 2, 3]

Smartphone Adoption

Smartphones are the primary gateway to the internet in Pakistan, accounting for over 80% of device-wise internet usage. [1]

• Financial Inclusion: Mobile wallets and apps are bringing millions of unbanked citizens into the formal economy. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Income Growth: In rural areas, mobile and internet technology access has been shown to increase agricultural income efficiency significantly. [1]
• Nomophobia: Increased device reliance has introduced challenges, including sleep disruptions and rising "nomophobia" (anxiety about being without one's phone). [1]
• Gender Gap: Women in Pakistan are notably less likely to own a mobile phone, which limits their participation in the digital economy. [1]

Artificial Intelligence Integration

AI is rapidly weaving into Pakistan's economic and educational sectors. [1, 2]

• Education: Pioneering programs like the Rehan School use AI and podcasts to replace traditional textbooks and personalize learning.
• Economy & Agriculture: AI is being leveraged for precision farming, fraud detection in banks, and boosting IT/software export earnings.
• National Policy: The launch of the National AI Policy is targeting gaps in administrative data and providing a framework to support the growing network of startups and digital skills programs like DigiSkills.
• Challenges: Successful adoption is often slowed by low digital literacy, infrastructural deficits, and data privacy concerns. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

If you'd like to explore this further, I can provide details on:

• Digital skills training programs available for youth in Pakistan
• The impact of AI on a specific industry (like agriculture or banking)
• How the National AI Policy regulates tech adoption

Comment by Riaz Haq 6 hours ago

Pakistan’s AI future

By Vugar Usi


https://www.thenews.pk/magazine/money-matters/1421801-pakistans-ai-...

Pakistan has placed artificial intelligence (AI) near the centre of its economic agenda. At the Indus AI Summit in February, the government announced a $1 billion AI investment commitment by 2030.

The plan covers sovereign compute infrastructure and research, an AI curriculum for schools, 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships and training for one million non-IT professionals.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently pointed to a national backbone of more than 234,000 kilometres of fibre-optic network, six submarine cables, around 58,000 cellular towers, and over 20 modern data centres.

These are substantial commitments. Pakistan is going to create the conditions that allow AI to improve the way businesses operate, workers build skills and public institutions serve people.

GPUs attract attention because they are visible, expensive and closely associated with the global AI race. They are also only one part of the system.

The World Bank, in its Digital Progress and Trends Report 2025, offers a useful framework that identifies four foundations for AI adoption: connectivity, compute, context and competency. The four cover infrastructure, processing power, locally relevant data and the skills to use it. A powerful model creates little value when an SME cannot count on stable internet access. The same applies when a public agency works with disconnected databases or when a teacher receives a new tool without the training needed to use it well.

Running a digital platform makes this easy to see. People experience technology through reliability, speed, cost, and trust -- the same standards by which AI will be judged.

The same applies to our work at MEXC. In the first quarter of 2026, MEXC AI-related features reached around 140,000 daily active users, with more than 1.04 million users over the quarter. No surprise that people are more likely to use AI when it is useful, easy to access, and built into tools they understand.

Pakistan already has important digital foundations in place. Its national identity system and instant-payment infrastructure have created opportunities for more efficient public services. Yet the country still lags behind comparable economies in digital infrastructure, digital governance and the broader environment needed for a strong digital economy.

There is also uneven connectivity across districts and the relatively high cost of fixed broadband. These problems can feel abstract until a business tries to move more of its operations online. AI adoption makes dependable access even more important.

Power is one of the clearest pressure points. World Bank President Ajay Banga described electricity-sector reform as Pakistan’s most urgent near-term priority. Distribution losses and inefficiencies continue to limit growth, even after improvements in generation capacity.

AI will not solve Pakistan’s employment challenge by itself. It can still help companies become more productive, support new businesses and give workers useful tools. The real impact will depend on how widely those tools are available
The underlying problem is that Pakistan has continued to experience outages and load shedding despite maintaining surplus generation capacity. A large part of that capacity remains underused because the transmission network has not kept pace.

AI adds a further dimension of urgency. Data centres and cloud platforms require reliable power. If they need to work around power cuts, backup power charges, or patchy internet speeds, it will be difficult for companies to integrate AI tools into their daily workflows.

The local data-centre investment can place additional pressure on power grids. New computing capacity has to be matched with affordable energy and resilient digital networks.

So before Pakistan can aim to lead in AI, it needs a more dependable digital economy. Grid modernisation, broadband access, fibre networks and data-centre investment belong in the same conversation.

Comment by Riaz Haq 6 hours ago

Pakistan’s AI future

By Vugar Usi


https://www.thenews.pk/magazine/money-matters/1421801-pakistans-ai-...

Hardware and connectivity will only take the country so far. The people using AI will ultimately determine its economic value. Pakistan has started to recognise this. The national plan announced at the Indus AI Summit includes training for one million non-IT professionals. A separate initiative is already training 10,000 government officials to strengthen digital capacity across public institutions and improve service delivery.

This is a promising start. People also need the skills to use these tools with confidence. Roads help people get to markets and telecom networks help businesses get to customers. Practical AI skills can help workers find their place in a shifting economy, too.

AI capability must be built as infrastructure, underpinned by learning anchored in real tasks and measured in practical competencies. One-off workshops can raise awareness, but lasting value is in skills that people can use in their day-to-day work.

For a civil servant, this could mean using AI to speed up and improve the quality of public services; for an SME, it may mean reducing repetitive administrative work or serving customers more efficiently. Teachers could use carefully designed tools to support learning and healthcare professionals could work with patient information to save time.

AI’s real value tends to be in practical tools that help people do their jobs better. These use cases may receive less attention, but they are often where economic gains begin. The approach we take at MEXC is that useful AI should make a familiar task easier to complete without adding another layer of complexity.

Pakistan’s AI ambitions also need to be understood in the context of the country’s employment challenges. It needs to generate between 25 million and 30 million jobs over the next decade as millions of young people enter the workforce.

AI will not solve Pakistan’s employment challenge by itself. It can still help companies become more productive, support new businesses and give workers useful tools. The real impact will depend on how widely those tools are available. The race Pakistan needs to win is not for the largest model. It is for the moment a shopkeeper in Multan, a teacher in Quetta and a clerk in Karachi all reach for the same tool without thinking twice.

The countries building the biggest models may not benefit most from AI. And those making these tools reliable, affordable and useful in everyday life will.

Pakistan has already made its ambition clear. Build the grid, the broadband, and the skills and the models will take care of themselves. That is the work Pakistan has left to do.

The writer is the CEO of MEXC.

Comment

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page