Pakistan’s national AI roadmap is rapidly positioning Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a cornerstone of its economic future, with the government declaring AI a national priority sector and committing to a $1 billion investment by 2030. At the foundation of this transformation is a nationwide effort to build a robust AI education pipeline.
At school level, the government has directed the introduction of an AI curriculum across federal institutions, with a roadmap to include remote regions, ensuring early AI literacy for all students.
Plans are underway to support 1,000 fully funded AI scholarships by 2030, alongside scaling advanced research pathways to develop AI engineers, researchers, and specialists.
Complementing this is a mass upskilling initiative targeting 1 million non-IT professionals, positioning AI as a core skill across sectors such as business, finance, and the public sector.
These efforts were recently demonstrated by the Ministry of IT & Telecom’s led National AI Trainings Programme during Indus AI Week, where participation expanded from an initial 600 to over 2,000 learners due to overwhelming demand.
Inclusion was central to the initiative, with the AI for HER initiative training over 500 women and girls and showcasing 10 women-led AI startups across multiple cities.
Accelerating the strong start to the national direction, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) in collaboration with Google for Developers and Telenor, and Innovista, is launching AI Seekho 2026 – a nationwide AI upskilling movement designed to introduce Pakistanis to vibe coding through hands-on learning with Google AI Studio and Antigravity.
The programme focuses on building AI-powered apps, games, and practical solutions, supported by hackathons and a Rs. 2.5 million prize pool.
Crucially, AI Seekho is integrated into a broader national system designed to convert learning into economic opportunity. Participants are connected to pathways including National Incubation Centers, which support over 1,900 startups, the Pakistan Startup Fund, and global freelancing platforms.
During the kick-off live session of AI Seekho, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) Shaza Khawaja said, “Pakistani youth is simmering with talent and the government is committed to ensuring that anyone who wants to learn should have access to trainings in Artificial Intelligence.” At a national scale, AI Seekho complements larger infrastructure efforts such as the National AI Advancement Initiative, which aims to deliver 20,000 trainings and the development of AI hubs across the country.
With #VibeKaregaPakistan, AI Seekho 2026 represents a critical step in turning Pakistan’s AI ambition into action; empowering a new generation to not only learn AI but to build, innovate, and participate in the global digital economy.
Under the broader vision of Digital Nation Pakistan, the Prime Minister has issued directives for the country to transition from a services-led economy to an AI-powered growth model, embedding AI across education, workforce development, and innovation ecosystems.
Speaking about the initiative, CEO, Telenor Pakistan, Awais Vohra, said, “Artificial Intelligence is rapidly shaping the future of economies and societies worldwide. Through AI Seekho, we aim to democratize access to AI learning and empower Pakistan’s youth to become creators of innovation rather than just consumers of technology. This initiative reflects Telenor Pakistan’s continued commitment to building a digitally inclusive and innovation-driven ecosystem in the country.”
Farhan Qureshi, Cluster Director (Pakistan and Frontier Markets), Google, said: “Google believes very strongly in the future of Pakistan. Through initiatives like AI Seekho, we are helping build the necessary capacity and speed for the local ecosystem. If we want to secure Pakistan’s digital future, we must commit to scaling AI skills, ensuring that our talent can continue to lead in the global freelance and gaming industries.”
Amit Vadi, Head of Community, Google Deepmind DevX, shared Google’s vision behind building cutting-edge top-tier AI tools: “At Google, being AI-first means being responsibility-first. Our mission is to ensure that whatever we build serves the global community safely. Building AI that benefits humanity is at the core of our DNA, ensuring that cutting-edge technology always meets the highest standards of safety and responsibility.”
Hisham Sarwar, CEO Innovista: “Pakistan is at a pivotal turning point. Having already established our excellence and a global reputation within the freelance economy, it is now time to evolve. Our goal is to translate that success into high-value innovation, ensuring Pakistan is recognized globally as an AI powerhouse. This is precisely why programs like AI Seekho are so critical; they provide the bridge from being a workforce to becoming world-class creators.”
