Pakistan opens Indus AI Week 2026 to accelerate digital transformation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday opened Indus AI Week 2026, a government-led national artificial intelligence initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI across public and private sectors and aligning technology development with national priorities, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja said.

Addressing the opening ceremony in Islamabad, Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the week-long event marks “a new chapter” in Pakistan’s digital transformation, positioning the country to actively develop its AI ecosystem rather than merely observe global technological change.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government has laid groundwork with earlier digitisation efforts and the National AI Policy launched in September 2025. Khawaja said 2026 will focus on implementing that policy in practical terms, with the week serving as a launchpad for broader engagement and outcomes.

The event features collaboration between universities, global technology firms, startups and defence institutions, with demonstrations of AI applications and policy dialogues aimed at tangible results. It also includes training programmes and efforts to expand AI education and workforce capacity, she added.

Khawaja said projects on display highlight the role of AI in enhancing governance, economic competitiveness and public service delivery, and stressed the government’s commitment to inclusivity, ethical use of technology and private-sector leadership.

She announced plans for a National AI Fund to accelerate adoption and invited international technology companies and partner governments to pursue long-term strategic engagement with Pakistan.

What Indus AI Week means for Pakistan

Indus AI Week 2026 is Pakistan’s official national platform for artificial intelligence, designed to unify policy, innovation, talent development and industry adoption under a single framework. The initiative, running from February 9 to February 15, includes the Indus AI Summit – a high-level policy dialogue – followed by an Innovation, Learning and Engagement Arena expo and nationwide activities hosted by universities, technology firms and institutions across Pakistan.

The platform aims to accelerate AI adoption, strengthen talent, enable startups, position Pakistan as an emerging AI hub and democratise access to AI knowledge for the public, students, and underrepresented groups such as women. Organisers say the initiative will help embed AI into governance, economic development and social systems, moving Pakistan from AI discourse toward practical implementation and global collaboration.