Pakistan Opens Indus AI Week 2026 with Landmark AI Summit and USD 1 Billion Commitment

Pakistan launched Indus AI Week 2026 from 9 to 15 February, marking the country's most ambitious national engagement with artificial intelligence. The week-long programme, led by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication under Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, brought together government leadership, international industry pioneers, academia, and youth to accelerate AI awareness and practical adoption across the country.

The programme opened with the Indus AI Summit on 9 February at the Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad, attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif as Chief Guest. Over 1,000 participants, including 150 international delegates, gathered as the Minister formally unveiled the Islamabad AI Declaration, articulating Pakistan's position on sovereign, inclusive, and responsible artificial intelligence across eight strategic pillars covering public value, human accountability, data privacy, safe AI, and a private-sector-led AI ecosystem.

The Innovation, Learning and Engagement Arena at Pakistan Sports Complex hosted over 40 specialised events across 11 thematic pavilions, including a National AI Training Bootcamp, the URAAN AI Techathon, the AI for HER Pavilion promoting gender-inclusive innovation, GovTech and DefenceTech showcases, and AR/VR and Robotics demonstrations. Jazz and PTCL Ufone led private-sector participation as primary sponsors, complemented by partnerships with SIFC, P@SHA, the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, and Ignite National Technology Fund.

For the UK–Pakistan technology partnership, Indus AI Week 2026 represents a significant acceleration of Pakistan's AI ecosystem maturity. UPTECH is working to identify partnership and investment opportunities emerging from the week's commitments, particularly in AI infrastructure, enterprise adoption, and talent development programmes that align with UK technology capabilities.