Experts call for inclusive digital ecosystem, responsible AI adoption

ISLAMABAD: Experts from government institutions, academia, the media, the technology sector, civil society and development organisations on Thursday called for coordinated national efforts to build a trusted, inclusive and democratic digital ecosystem that promotes responsible innovation, safeguards fundamental rights and strengthens information integrity, said a press release.

They made the call at the “Pakistan Digital Democracy Dialogue 2026”, organised by “Freedom Gate Prosperity (FGP)” in collaboration with “Accountability Lab” and “DDI South Asia” under the theme “Digital Pakistan for All: Trust, Rights and Responsible Innovation.”

The dialogue brought together policymakers, academics, technology experts, journalists and civil society representatives to discuss information integrity, digital civic space, artificial intelligence (AI), digital governance and inclusive digital transformation in Pakistan.

Murtaza Solangi, spokesperson to the President of Pakistan, said digital platforms had transformed access to information but had also accelerated the spread of misinformation and deepened societal polarisation.

Solangi said strengthening democratic resilience required credible institutions, responsible journalism, informed citizens and sustained dialogue among stakeholders.

Director General of the Cyber Vigilance Division at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Brig Dr Muhammad Mukarram Khan said digital trust and cybersecurity had become central to national resilience.

He stressed the need to strengthen institutional capacity to counter cyber threats, online fraud, identity theft and other emerging digital risks while ensuring technological advancement remained secure, rights-based and citizen-centric.

Chairman of the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) Dr Yasar Ayaz said that AI offered significant opportunities to improve governance, healthcare, education and economic productivity.

He called for greater investment in indigenous AI research, ethical governance frameworks and human capital to ensure technological progress remained inclusive, transparent and beneficial to society.

Chief executive officer of Freedom Gate Prosperity Muhammad Anwar said that Pakistan’s digital future depended on protecting citizens’ rights while fostering responsible digital citizenship, ethical innovation and shared accountability.

Chief Digital Officer at Karandaaz Pakistan Sharjeel Murtaza highlighted the role of digital public infrastructure in improving service delivery and expanding financial inclusion, particularly for underserved communities.

BBC Eye Investigations correspondent Farhat Javed Rabani underscored the importance of ethical journalism, investigative reporting and media literacy in countering misinformation and maintaining public trust.

FGP board member Urooj Raza Sayyami said digital transformation should ultimately strengthen democratic participation, public trust and citizen empowerment.

Founder of InspireMill and President of OPEN Islamabad Sidra Jalil said that Pakistan’s digital future depended on empowering entrepreneurs, innovators and women leaders through stronger support for startups, digital skills development and innovation ecosystems.

The second session, titled “Inclusive Digital Transformation, AI and GovTech,” focused on accelerating responsible digital innovation while ensuring equitable access to technology and public services.

Chairing the session, Additional Secretary at the Revenue Division of the Ministry of Finance Dr Saad S Khan said that successful digital transformation required institutional coordination, regulatory coherence and citizen-centred governance.

He said collaboration among government, academia, industry and civil society was essential to harness emerging technologies for transparent, efficient and inclusive public service delivery.

Chairman of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Ali Asghar highlighted digital literacy as a key pillar of inclusive development, saying technology could only drive progress if citizens possessed the skills to use it safely and responsibly.

Chief executive officer of Peace and Justice Network Raza Ali Shah stressed that digital inclusion should promote social cohesion, civic engagement and responsible online behaviour.

Representing Accountability Lab, Ali Imran reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing democratic values, accountable governance and citizen participation through technology, saying sustainable digital transformation must be underpinned by transparency, inclusion and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

The session also featured contributions from experts in digital innovation, entrepreneurship and public policy, who emphasised the importance of ethical AI, citizen-centric digital services, stronger institutional coordination and continued investment in digital skills.

Concluding the dialogue, Shafqat Aziz, strategic policy adviser at FGP, presented recommendations emerging from the discussions, including the development of a multi-stakeholder framework on information integrity, accelerated digital transformation, responsible AI governance, stronger digital rights protections, enhanced cyber safety, greater digital literacy and closer collaboration among government, academia and industry to shape Pakistan’s digital future.