Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved the National AI Policy 2025 on July 30, 2025, published by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom (MoITT). The policy sets quantifiable human-capital targets: 90 percent public AI awareness by 2026, one million learners trained by 2027, and 10,000 new AI trainers developed over the same period. It commits to establishing Centers of Excellence in AI in major cities, upskilling the workforce through bootcamps and MOOCs, and conducting public campaigns to reach underserved populations. The policy also outlines a risk-based governance framework and proposes a national AI coordination body to oversee implementation.
Who it affects: The policy spans the general public, students, workers, and government employees. The 90-percent-awareness target implies broad public-facing campaigns rather than targeted professional training. The workforce upskilling commitment applies to both IT and non-IT workers. A scholarship programme via the Higher Education Commission, in partnership with universities in China, is included for advanced study.
What is notably missing: The policy does not mandate AI literacy training for employers or require companies to train their workforce. AI ethics is mentioned in general terms but no minimum curriculum standard or ethics-specific training obligation is established. The governance body proposed is advisory in nature; no enforcement mechanism is created for training obligations. The 90-percent-awareness target lacks a defined measurement standard, and no independent verification mechanism is specified.