Pakistan Aims for 7-12% GDP Boost by 2030 Through National AI Policy

A recent conversation between Bilal bin Saqib MBE, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, and Emad Mostaque, CEO of Stability AI, has shed light on Pakistan's ambitious strategy to leverage Artificial Intelligence for national development. The discussion, titled "The Next 1000 Days: Emad Mostaque on Pakistan, AI & The Coming Economic Shock," highlighted AI's transformative potential across governance, economy, and military, with a focus on defining Pakistan's future over the next five decades.

The dialogue underscored a critical "1,000-day warning," emphasizing the urgency for Pakistan to embrace AI. According to the National AI Policy, Pakistan aims to increase its GDP by 7 to 12% by 2030, projecting an economic value of $10-15 billion and the creation of approximately one million new jobs. This policy, formulated through extensive consultation, seeks to foster an innovation economy led by AI, ensuring economic, social, and technological inclusiveness.

Emad Mostaque, a prominent global AI leader, shared insights into the disruptive nature of AI, stating that "call centers are finished" and touching upon the concept of "the degree bubble." He also discussed the significance of "sovereign compute as national power" and how AI can be instrumental in "eliminating governance leakages" and "ending corruption." Mostaque further speculated on "the only jobs that will survive" in an AI-driven future and the role of "AI in warfare."

Bilal bin Saqib MBE, a British-Pakistani entrepreneur and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, emphasized Pakistan's commitment to harnessing emerging technologies. He highlighted the policy's ethical objectives, which include ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability, protecting personal data and human rights, and preserving Pakistan's cultural identity through context-sensitive AI. The policy also outlines six pillars, including innovation ecosystem, awareness and readiness, secure AI, infrastructure, transformation, and international collaboration.

The comprehensive policy addresses critical areas such as strengthening domestic capacity, promoting indigenous R&D, and supporting the AI ecosystem through fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. It also focuses on integrating AI into education from school to university levels and reforming IP laws to foster a better AI innovation culture. The government plans to establish a national AI fund and centers of excellence, moving beyond reliance on imported technologies to drive local innovation and global partnerships.