AI Seekho launched with Rs2.5m prize pool

Google, Telenor partner with govt as schools introduce AI curriculum, 1,000 scholarships planned by 2030

ISLAMABAD:

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, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

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 AI curriculum across federal institutions, with a roadmap to include remote regions. Plans are under way to support 1,000 fully funded AI scholarships by 2030, alongside scaling advanced research pathways to develop AI engineers and specialists. Complementing this is a mass upskilling initiative targeting one million non-IT professionals.

These efforts were recently demonstrated by the Ministry of IT and Telecom's 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.

Accelerating this national direction, the Ministry of IT and Telecom, in collaboration with Google for Developers, Telenor and Innovista, is launching AI Seekho 2026, a nationwide AI upskilling movement designed to introduce Pakistanis to 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 Rs2.5 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 Centres, which support over 1,900 startups, the Pakistan Startup Fund and global freelancing platforms.

During the kick-off session, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that Pakistani youth is simmering with talent, and the government is committed to ensuring that anyone who wants to learn should have access to AI trainings.

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. Telenor Pakistan CEO Awais Vohra said that through AI Seekho, the company aims to democratise access to AI learning. Google's Farhan Qureshi said the initiative is helping build necessary capacity for the local ecosystem. Innovista CEO Hisham Sarwar said Pakistan is at a pivotal turning point, and programmes like AI Seekho provide the bridge from being a workforce to becoming world-class creators.