Punjab Makes AI Mandatory in Schools, Governance Drive

Punjab has made artificial intelligence mandatory in schools as part of a major digital reform push. The province will establish a Google Tech Valley advisory board to guide AI-driven governance. The initiative aims to modernise education, policy making, and public service delivery.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the mandatory use of artificial intelligence in Punjab’s schools, marking a landmark step in the province’s education and digital governance reforms. She described AI as essential for modern policymaking, institutional reform, and improving service delivery.

As part of the initiative, the Punjab government will establish a Google Tech Valley Digital Transformation Advisory Board to guide digital reforms, governance innovation, and the integration of advanced technologies across government departments. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, provincial ministers have also received formal AI training, attending a workshop titled Empowering Punjab with AI, inaugurated in Lahore.

During the sessions, cabinet ministers were briefed on the use of Google Gemini and other AI tools for governance, policy analysis, decision-making support, and operational reforms. Experts from Google for Education shared global best practices in AI-powered learning systems and digital transformation.

Officials said over 300,000 student IDs have been created under the School Education Department, while 200,000 students and 2,000 teachers have already received digital training. An additional 3,000 teachers are undergoing advanced training. The government has also announced 1,000 scholarships to promote digital journalism.