Pakistan Seeks Rs1.28bn Boost to Accelerate National AI Infrastructure Through Digital Authority
Pakistan is moving to significantly accelerate its artificial intelligence roadmap, as the Ministry of IT & Telecom has requested a Rs1.28 billion supplementary grant for the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA). The proposal—set to be reviewed by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on December 9—is being framed as a fast-track investment to power the Prime Minister’s national AI programme during the ongoing fiscal year.
Officials say the funding has become urgent as regional economies rapidly scale up their AI capabilities, intensifying global competition.
Government Pushes Rs1.28bn Grant to Build Pakistan’s Core AI Systems
The ECC meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, will assess the high-priority request aimed at laying the foundation for Pakistan’s national AI ecosystem.
According to officials familiar with the proposal, the Pakistan Digital Authority plans to use the funds to:
Launch priority AI programmes
Strengthen federal data platforms
Roll out pilot AI projects already cleared at the national level
Develop early-stage automation and digital governance systems
Build technology frameworks essential for long-term public-sector transformation
The IT Division cautions that without immediate financing, several AI deployments could face serious delays—including national authentication systems, predictive analytics tools, and integrated data layers for key ministries. These systems form the backbone of the government’s vision to integrate AI into service delivery, efficiency, transparency, and governance.
Urgency Grows as Pakistan Risks Falling Behind Regional AI Competition
Officials warn that any slowdown in funding could widen Pakistan’s technological gap at a time when AI capacity is advancing globally at record speed. Countries across the region are already pushing large-scale AI investments, making Pakistan’s timely response critical to stay competitive.
Multiple ministries—including energy, health, interior, and revenue—have been pressing for AI-enabled solutions to streamline operations, plug inefficiencies, and support real-time decision-making.
ECC Decision Will Shape Pace of Pakistan’s AI Expansion
Although the proposal comes during a period of tight fiscal constraints, policymakers signal that the government views AI as a cornerstone of:
National competitiveness
Public-sector modernization
Economic resilience
Future digital governance
If approved, the Rs1.28bn grant will give the Pakistan Digital Authority the financial backbone needed to begin implementing national AI infrastructure and kick off early projects before the fiscal year concludes.
The ECC’s decision will ultimately signal how Pakistan intends to balance fiscal discipline with strategic investment in emerging technologies. As countries around the world race to adopt AI-driven governance and digital systems, Pakistan’s next move will reveal how quickly it plans to scale and transform in order to stay relevant in the global AI landscape.
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