Experts at the Indus AI Summit 2026 on Monday emphasised that Pakistan must first put a robust data governance framework in place before moving towards artificial intelligence (AI) governance.
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Speaking at multiple sessions during the summit in Islamabad, participants stressed that AI should not be confused with information technology (IT), as the two serve different purposes and require distinct policy approaches. They underlined that without structured, reliable and well-regulated data, effective AI governance would remain unattainable.
The summit, organised by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication as part of Indus AI Week, focused on how Pakistan can responsibly integrate AI into governance and public service delivery.
Speakers noted that the core idea behind a “digital government” is to ensure that citizens can access public services beyond traditional office hours, much like modern digital financial services.
Addressing one of the sessions, Muhammet Kasim Gönüllü, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister for Industry and Technology, said AI adoption was no longer optional. He highlighted that Türkiye now has over 300,000 R&D experts, adding that a strong AI ecosystem had helped the country develop startups and a thriving techno-park industry, particularly in the defence sector.
“AI should be a tool for peace and prosperity through its ethical use,” he said.
A panel discussion titled “Designing AI-native government” highlighted how AI had already enabled fintech companies to offer services beyond banking hours, arguing that government services should follow the same model and remain accessible after 5pm.
Panelists included Mohammad Sear of the Pakistan Digital Authority, Dr Ali Al-Azzawi from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment, Dr Sanjiva Weerawarana of Sri Lanka, Siim Sikkut from Digital Nation Estonia, PTCL and Ufone CEO Hatem Bamatraf, and Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim.
They pointed out that gaps in AI policymaking often arise because decisions are made at the top level, while end-users are ordinary citizens — many of whom may be uneducated or digitally underserved.
Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government was keen to set a clear national strategic direction for AI. She outlined major initiatives, including full adoption of the e-office system across federal divisions and the creation of high-performance computing infrastructure.
She added that Pakistan was moving beyond policy formulation towards concrete implementation by strengthening digital infrastructure and building international partnerships to position itself as a credible global technology player.
Dr Michael Sung of the Chinese Academy of Sciences shared insights into China’s experience with digitisation and AI adoption, particularly in government services and trade facilitation.
The summit concluded with a panel titled “Next Steps: Impact of the Week”, moderated by IT Secretary Zarrar Khan, featuring Dr Sohail Munir and Sajjad Syed, chairman of P@SHA, Pakistan’s association of software houses.
