Pakistan launches nationwide AI training drive for public sector workforce

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom has begun training 10,000 government officials in artificial intelligence to strengthen digital capacity across public sector institutions.

Official documents available with Wealth Pakistan show that the initiative forms a central part of the capacity-building strategy under the National AI Policy. The program is designed to equip government employees with modern technological skills needed to meet evolving administrative and service demands.

In partnership with leading industry stakeholders, the ministry is conducting specialized AI workshops for various departments, focusing on practical knowledge and future-oriented competencies.

As part of the broader reform agenda, the ministry is also revising the academic curriculum in collaboration with the Federal Directorate of Education to ensure that students are prepared for the demands of the AI-driven era.

The plan includes training more than 350 educators, while an additional 650 teachers will receive instruction through a “training of trainers” model to expand outreach and ensure long-term sustainability.

A digital skills expansion initiative will introduce 25 new courses on prompt engineering and AI tools. The policy also includes training 7,500 individuals under the Cod4AI program, which will focus on full-stack AI development and deep learning. Additionally, 2,000 professionals are set to be upskilled by 2028.

The ministry will collaborate with global partners, including the Asian Development Bank, Meta, the United Nations, as well as Huawei and ZTE, to support the training programs.

Additionally, scholarships at 25 leading universities in China will be offered through the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

The initiative seeks to enhance decision-making, public service delivery, and data governance through the effective application of emerging technologies. By embedding AI expertise within government institutions, the ministry aims to drive innovation, efficiency, and transparency in public administration.

Officials trained in AI will be better positioned to automate routine processes, analyze complex datasets, and design citizen-focused digital services. The program is also expected to strengthen coordination between academia, industry, and government, laying the groundwork for long-term institutional readiness and supporting Pakistan’s transition toward a knowledge-based digital economy.