The swift pace of technological advancement, particularly the emergence and widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) globally within such a short timeframe, has taken many developing countries by surprise. Already grappling with the most fundamental aspects of digital transformation, these nations now face the challenge of navigating a new and uncharted territory: the disruption caused by AI. This rapidly evolving technological landscape prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene the inaugural Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in February of this year, where he cautioned that the world “may not even be ready for the present, let alone the future.”
Pakistan has a considerable journey ahead in ensuring equitable digital access for its population of nearly 250 million, half of whom are women. Despite the nation’s economic and social development hurdles, its people are making notable strides in technology.
The country stands as the fourth-largest market for freelancers worldwide. The National Center of Artificial Intelligence Labs at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, has pioneered innovative AI-driven healthcare solutions, achieving an impressive 98% accuracy in detecting tuberculosis cases and 91% in identifying brain tumors.
Mahrose Zufran, a 16-year-old student from the Rehan Allahwala AI School in Karachi, recently gained attention for her use of AI to develop a Sindhi calculator within three days, specifically designed for Sindhi-speaking business individuals lacking formal education. These instances offer a glimpse into the potential that can be unlocked through technological investments aimed at empowering individuals.
This month marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan’s National Human Development Report (NHDR) ‘Doing Digital for Development’ in 2024. To commemorate this milestone, the first issue of this year’s Development Advocate Pakistan (DAP), UNDP Pakistan’s flagship quarterly journal, delves into the AI landscape within Pakistan.
The NHDR 2024 highlighted that Pakistan’s deeply entrenched wealth disparities have exacerbated the digital divide, with half of the country’s districts exhibiting low digital development rankings. Furthermore, half of Pakistan still lacks access to smartphones, basic internet services, and computers. The report concluded that without digital development, human development levels in Pakistan will remain low. This is also reflected in Pakistan’s latest Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ranking, where only 19% of the country’s targets are currently on track. A notable positive finding in the NHDR was the effective adoption of digital wallets by women in Pakistan, with 61% of women using mobile wallets as their primary bank account.
In this edition of DAP, there is a broad consensus among our contributors that as the world grapples with the complexities and opportunities presented by AI, the digital landscape in Pakistan is far from being a true equalizer. To achieve this, Pakistan must bridge the digital divide, ensuring that digital policies actively reduce inequality, and foster greater collaboration.
At the UN Summit of the Future in September 2024, member states, including Pakistan, endorsed a Global Digital Compact. This compact provides a crucial framework and roadmap for the governance of digital technologies and AI, focusing on three key goals for inclusive digital futures: closing digital divides and establishing an inclusive digital economy; building an inclusive, open, safe, and secure digital space; and strengthening international data governance and governing AI for the benefit of humanity.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications has drafted a National AI Policy 2024, which aims to integrate AI into national curricula and offer fiscal incentives to startups and small/medium enterprises. However, policy implementation must be coupled with a commitment to universal internet access if Pakistan is to fully realize the benefits of AI. This necessitates providing affordable technology solutions and mobilizing investments in reliable digital infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
Pakistan must also address its persistent challenges in education and employment to meet the demands of AI automation. While AI will generate new jobs, these will largely require a highly specialized workforce. AI will also lead to job displacement in routine-based roles such as clerks, secretaries, and machine operators – jobs currently held by 42% of Pakistanis – which could become obsolete due to automation. Therefore, Pakistan urgently needs to invest in reskilling initiatives focused on AI, provide basic digital literacy for its poorer populations, and reform its education system to further prioritize Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
How can all of this be effectively implemented? When AI becomes a governance priority. Building upon the 4As framework outlined in the 2024 NHDR—Access, Adopt, Anticipate, Accelerate—UNDP’s pilot programming will enhance SDG-aligned governance by integrating AI-augmented data systems into annual planning and budgeting processes, real-time monitoring, and data-informed decision-making.
With only five years remaining for Agenda 2030, Pakistan must accelerate its efforts towards the AI finish line, driven by unparalleled ambition and potential; 2025 can be the pivotal year to realize both.
