Pakistan lags behind in AI race

Despite large population and sufficient resources, nation slow to adopt AI tech

KARACHI:

President Arif Alvi has said that artificial intelligence (AI) has become the second most important part in every sector of economy as it ensures growth by leaps and bounds.

Speaking at the “4th Pakistan Artificial Intelligence Summit 2023” in Islamabad on Thursday, Alvi said almost no business and profession could grow without adopting AI, cloud computing and information technology (IT).

“This (AI) provides a faster growth path to Pakistan’s economy than the world’s fastest bullet train. If we get on it (AI train), the world will be opened for us.”

Cyber security and data analytics offer huge opportunities to businesses and individuals, he highlighted, adding that advancement towards 4G and 5G was a huge development for rapid economic growth in Pakistan.

“Cyber security requires 80 million professionals around the world over the next five to six years. There is a significant amount of data available, but there is a lack of skilled people to analyse and make the best use of it,” remarked the president.

Despite repeated statements from high-ups, information and communication technology (ICT) experts have mixed feelings about the government’s efforts to improve AI as some show confidence while others remain sceptical.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, startup investment specialist Kapeel Kumar said that AI growth in Pakistan was gaining some ground as the policy had been drafted in such a way where private-sector enterprises had got considerable influence.

However, “the government’s readiness remains a challenge with zero focus on AI education, which puts a big question mark over growth in this area. Without educating youth in the field of IT, we can’t achieve our goals and make things sustainable in the long run,” he added.

The Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the urgent need for adopting digital technologies, green transition and AI-based models to address public health management challenges that could emerge in the wake of a pandemic.

“Unfortunately, Pakistanis are slow in the race for AI supremacy,” Kumar said, adding that despite its large population and abundance of natural resources, the country had lagged behind other nations in the development and adoption of AI technology.

Calling it a major concern, he pointed out that Pakistan risked being left behind in global economy if it did not make concerted efforts to remain competitive in the rapidly changing world.

“Artificial intelligence systems may be effectively utilised to monitor incidents and set management standards and processes,” commented JS Global ICT analyst Waqas Ghani Kukaswadia while talking to The Express Tribune. “They may also be used to ensure cyber security in order to avoid online fraud.”

Governments may employ AI technologies to handle big data to undertake research to uncover common resident needs, minimise management cost and optimise the provision of services, emphasised the JS analyst.

Speaking at the conference, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal declared that Pakistan was safe from any default-like situation.

“We are almost inching out of crisis. Slowly and gradually, every passing day, we are getting closer to the point of stability where vulnerabilities will be overcome,” he said.

“In the next two to three years, we will take steps to stabilise Pakistan’s economy permanently.”

The minister was of the view that Pakistan could become the third biggest country in terms of IT freelancers, adding “AI professionals will address the country’s (chronic) issues.”

AI and the private sector would help to achieve the desired export levels, said the minister. “We (the government) will make all the investment needed to make infrastructure competitive.”

Ministry of IT and Telecom Member International Coordination Ajmal Anwar Awan said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had given the ministry the target to enhance Pakistan’s exports to $15 billion a year in the next few years.

He stressed that digital technology had become critical for economic growth because technology could fast forward the nation and help multiply growth in every field of economy including textile and other manufacturing sectors.

“We are working with China to develop a digital corridor under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” he remarked.

Sharing his views, P@SHA Vice Chairman Khuram Rahat said that the adoption of IT sparked a debate that it would make people jobless, but contrary to that technology had created more employment opportunities.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2023.

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