New york: Pakistan's Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, announced that the country's National Artificial Intelligence Policy outlines a roadmap to transform Pakistan into a knowledge-based economy. He made these remarks during a high-level discussion on "AI and the Future of Sustainable Development: Innovation, Inclusion and Resilience" held on the sidelines of the High-level Political Forum 2026. The event was convened by the Permanent Missions of Pakistan and Tajikistan along with the Prime Minister's Youth Programme.
According to Radio Pakistan, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan emphasized that Pakistan aims to train one million AI professionals by 2030. The initiative plans to develop ten thousand trainers and educators, integrate AI education from school to university levels, establish AI Centres of Excellence, create a National AI Fund, and strengthen collaboration between universities and industries.
He highlighted that the AI for Youth Programme, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and Intel Corporation, is providing young Pakistanis with essential knowledge in AI fundamentals, ethics, project development, and responsible innovation. Additionally, the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, alongside Stanford University's AI Enterprise Product Programme, is working to advance AI capabilities among Pakistani MPhil and PhD scholars in science and technology.
In his keynote remarks, Tajikistan's Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Abdurahmon Abdurahmonzoda, shared that Tajikistan has launched Central Asia's first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy up to 2040. The country has declared 2025-2030 as the Years of Development of the Digital Economy and Innovation. Tajikistan has also led the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution on AI and sustainable development in Central Asia and has established the Regional Artificial Intelligence Centre (IT HUB DUSHANBE) to foster regional collaboration, research, innovation, and digital skills development.
The event gathered UN officials, diplomats, AI experts, academics, youth leaders, and representatives of Member States to discuss responsible AI use in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.