He commended LUMS for hosting the AI Championship and praised participants for their innovative contributions, underscoring Pakistan’s shift from textiles to technology as part of its export strategy.

At the closing ceremony of the 3rd International AI Championship at LUMS, the speaker highlighted AI’s transformative potential across healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance, and warned that those who master AI will lead the 21st century.

Iqbal congratulated LUMS for jointly hosting the event with FAST University and again praised participants for their innovative work.

As part of the Uraan Pakistan agenda, the government aims to transform the country into a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy anchored in digital public infrastructure, science and technology capacity, human capital development, and a robust innovation ecosystem.

The broader objective of Uraan Pakistan is to build a knowledge-based, innovation-led economy with strong digital infrastructure and a focus on human capital and innovation ecosystems.

This year Pakistan plans to establish the National Centre for Quantum Computing, the National Centre for New Manufacturing, and the National Centre for Nanotechnology.

Upcoming national centers include Quantum Computing, New Manufacturing, and Nanotechnology as part of the country’s tech roadmap.

CPEC 2.0 will stress technology cooperation, smart trade, and industrial modernization, with a plan to train 300,000 Pakistanis annually in AI and digital skills in collaboration with China.

Under CPEC 2.0, emphasis will be on technology collaboration and upskilling through a target of 300,000 youths trained each year in AI and digital skills.

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan’s youth are the nation’s most valuable asset and must be equipped with digital and AI skills to build a smart, secure nation.

Iqbal stressed that empowering the youth with AI and digital skills is essential for Pakistan’s smart and secure future.

Pakistan’s security and strategic readiness increasingly rely on data and AI, with mentions of the Marka-i-Haq initiative and AI-enabled situational awareness to create a smart nation.

The Marka-i-Haq initiative and AI-driven situational awareness are cited as elements boosting national security and readiness within a smart nation framework.

Global economic trends favor creativity and innovation over commodities, and Pakistan should diversify exports from textiles to technology.

Universities should evolve into innovation powerhouses, with Uraan Pakistan empowering youth to shape the country’s digital future.

Highlights include the National AI Policy and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence, building on Vision 2025 foundations in areas like Cyber Security, Automation and Robotics, Big Data and Cloud, and GIS/Satellite Tech.