1m AI professionals targeted by 2030

Iqbal tells Pakistan-Russia forum aim sits within push for trillion-dollar economy by 2035

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan aims to develop one million artificial intelligence (AI) professionals by 2030, with seven new AI centres to connect research, skills development, startups and industry, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal told a Pakistan-Russia IT collaboration forum.

He said the country produces more than 75,000 graduates annually and that its National AI Policy targets the one million figure, as part of a strategy to build the digital economy and expand technology cooperation with Russia. Iqbal said e-Pakistan was one of five core pillars of the National Economic Transformation Plan, with the government aiming to turn the country into a trillion-dollar economy by 2035.

Recent business-to-business meetings organised by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) with P@SHA had shown the potential for closer engagement, he said, with five Russian companies holding 16 meetings with 11 Pakistani firms. The latest initiative should build on those interactions by giving companies a clearer pathway from discussion to contract.

Cooperation with Russia could focus on automation and enterprise software for industry, digital supply chains for agriculture, secure digital systems for trade, AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity, he said. He said Pakistan needed to move beyond exporting IT services towards developing products and digital platforms for international markets.

The minister cited the National Database and Registration Authority's digital identity system and the RAAST instant payment system, which processed 646 million transactions in a single quarter.

He said Russia's expertise in enterprise software, cloud computing and cybersecurity complemented Pakistan's engineering talent and delivery experience, and that the two countries could jointly develop and deliver solutions in their own and third markets.

Cooperation should remain company-led, commercially driven and transparent, in accordance with the laws and international obligations of both countries, he said, acknowledging that payment and settlement mechanisms remained a practical challenge.

He identified the language barrier as another obstacle, saying limited Russian-language expertise among Pakistani academics had prevented some from benefiting from scholarships. Russian-language education is being promoted through a centre at Allama Iqbal Open University and with the Higher Education Commission. He said success should be measured not by announcements but by the trade, investment and employment generated. "Energy has powered our partnership for years. Now, let's let technology power our future," he said.