Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, in partnership with Google for Developers, Telenor Pakistan, and Innovista, launched AI Seekho 2026, a nationwide AI upskilling initiative. The programme targets youth and early-career professionals, introducing them to hands-on AI development using Google AI Studio and agent-driven application building (described as “vibe coding”).
The initiative follows a two-phase structure. Phase 1 (April 11 to May 3) is an online challenge where participants build applications or games using Google AI Studio. Phase 2 consists of physical hackathons in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, with shortlisted participants competing for a PKR 2.5 million prize pool. Participants gain access to free cloud credits, expert mentorship, and connections to National Incubation Centres supporting over 1,900 startups.
AI Seekho is part of Pakistan’s broader AI policy implementation, which targets 90% AI awareness among internet-connected citizens by 2026 and 1 million trained learners by 2027.
Who it affects: Pakistani youth and early-career professionals, primarily those with internet access and basic technical skills. The hackathon locations in three major cities limit physical participation but the online phase is nationally accessible.
What is notably missing: The programme is competition-based and time-limited, not a standing public education resource. It targets technical skill-building rather than broad AI literacy. No government funding is disclosed; the initiative appears primarily industry-sponsored.