PM announces $1 billion investment in AI by 2030

Investment will go a long way in building the country's AI ecosystem, he says at opening ceremony of Indus AI week

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a $1 billion investment in artificial intelligence by 2030, unveiling a slate of initiatives he said would help build an AI ecosystem in Pakistan.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Indus AI Week, he said the investment would be aimed at strengthening the country’s AI landscape and preparing youth for leadership roles in the digital economy.

براہِ راست: وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی انڈس اے آئی ویک کی افتتاحی تقریب میں شرکت و خطاب https://t.co/BXXzen8Gz3

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 9, 2026

The PM said an AI curriculum would be introduced in all federally controlled schools, as well as in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and most parts of Balochistan.

Read: Cabinet approves national AI policy, targets 1m professionals by 2030

He also announced 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in AI by 2030, saying the goal is to develop world-class research capacity. In addition, he said the government would launch a nationwide programme to train one million non-IT professionals in AI skills to improve productivity and livelihoods.

PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was ready to join the world in AI and would roll out programmes to help move young people from IT technicians to AI experts. He expressed confidence that the event would be a “game changer” for the country’s technology landscape.

In separate remarks, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan intended to shape and lead in emerging technologies. He said new national centres, including for quantum computing, new manufacturing and nanotechnology, were being set up this year, and highlighted the Quantum Valley project (a project modelled after Silicon Valley) as an innovation ecosystem with four specialised science parks focused on emerging technologies, mines and minerals, agri-tech and biosciences.

Read more: Progress on 'Quantum Valley' reviewed

IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan aims to shape AI in line with national priorities and values. She said this year will mark one year since the implementation of the AI policy launched in September 2025.