National AI Policy: A Review

Ministry of IT and Telecom, in its efforts towards realization of the Digital Pakistan vision of the Government of Pakistan, introduced its first ever AI policy of Pakistan. This policy streamlines Ministry’s aims to ensure that people of Pakistan are provided with efficient and timely opportunities by embracing cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.

Crux of the AI policy:

The National AI Policy identifies the needs to channel the young human capital of the country into productive and proactive technologies. The policy, very comprehensively, streamlines the entire AI ecosystem for the country through the following four drivers:

1. Enabling AI through Readiness and Awareness
2. Market Enablement
3. Building Progressive and Trusted Environment
4. Transformation and Evolution

Furthermore, the policy proposes setting-up dedicated bodies for gathering funds and ensuring all legal and regulatory requirements are met and followed.

National Artificial Intelligence Fund: body responsible for arranging funds for research, development, and awareness programs on AI. Multiple organizations would financially contribute to the fund such as PSDP and Ignite.

Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Directorate: body tasked with ensuring all regulatory and legal parameters are according to the set requirements.

Center of Excellence in AI and Allied Technology: body accountable for the expeditious and responsible development of AI and allied technologies.

Positive Developments in the Policy for Digital Pakistan:

1. It strongly emphasizes the need to document all data (both private and public) to fasten the process of digitization, a basic pillar for digitalization.
2. It supports the necessity of creating awareness campaigns to educate and ensure increased digital literacy via extensive training and educational programs.
3. The skills uplift program aims to train 1 million IT graduates in high-impacted applied skills in AI and Allied Technology, known as the “Train the Trainer” scheme.
4. The policy is inclusive by proposing specialized measures for including marginalized women and PWDs.
5. Under the “High-Tech Scholarship & Financing Program” around 3000 scholarships would be given to women from marginalized backgrounds, 500 seats would be set for PWDs and 20,000 internships would be opened annually.
6. Around 200,000 globally recognized certificates and courses on Al and Allied Technology would be arranged.
7. State Bank of Pakistan will devise eligibility criteria for educational loans under which around 15,000 interest-free loans would be imparted to deserving individuals.
8. The policy set clear-cut guidelines and timelines for achieving its goals with strict procedures and policy derivatives.
9. The targets are highlighted across all industries, ensuring greater socio-economic impact.
10. The policy ensures that its aims and visions are aligned with the Digital Pakistan Policy, Pakistan Cloud Policy, Personal Data Protection Act, and Pakistan IT Policy, creating a synchronized ecosystem.

Conclusion:

The policy is a positive and historical achievement on the part of MoITT to harness the benefits of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and to ensure improved national welfare is the topmost consequence of all technological developments. However, practical implementation and timely provision of the policy by all relevant stakeholders are crucial for its success.