ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that the government was working on a priority basis to leverage new technologies for the national and economic development.
He expressed these views during a meeting with a high-level delegation of leading experts in artificial intelligence that called on him during his recent private visit to London, United Kingdom last week, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release on Tuesday.
Govt. prioritizing efforts to utilize new technologies for national development: PM
The delegation included senior leaders from global institutions and organizations such as BlackRock, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Deloitte, and some of the world’s leading AI and technology companies. Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), Bilal bin Saqib, was also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, the prime minister underlined the importance of global expertise; particularly the involvement of overseas Pakistanis, to accelerate Pakistan’s digital and economic transformation.
He stressed that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence should be aligned with national priorities, institutional capacities, and inclusive development goals.
The prime minister further said the government was actively working on partnerships with the private sector to improve the delivery of public services.
Members of the delegation discussed the practical application of artificial intelligence to address Pakistan’s key challenges.
During the meeting, Minister of State Bilal bin Saqib said that artificial intelligence was no longer a future concept for Pakistan, but a golden opportunity of the present and the government was taking concrete steps in this regard.
The meeting between the prime minister and the delegation reflected Pakistan’s broader strategy to promote digital transformation, foster innovation, and pursue a long-term vision for technology-driven public policy by engaging institutional partners with an international outlook, the press release added.