Pakistan sets target of one million AI professionals by 2030
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal told a Pakistan-Russia IT webinar that seven new AI centres and 75,000 yearly IT graduates underpin the goal.
Pakistan aims to develop one million artificial intelligence professionals by 2030, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal told a Pakistan-Russia IT cooperation webinar on Thursday, linking the target to the country's push for a larger digital economy and closer technology trade with Moscow.
Iqbal, who holds the planning, development and special initiatives portfolio, addressed the third Pakistan-Russia IT cooperation webinar on November 5. Pakistani participants attended in Islamabad while Russian speakers joined remotely from Moscow. The Pakistan Software Export Board organised the session with Moscow's University of World Civilizations, and the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication supported it, Daily Times reported.
The minister said the national economic transformation plan, Uraan Pakistan, lists e-Pakistan among five key priorities and aims to expand the economy to $1 trillion by 2035. He cited more than 75,000 IT graduates produced in the country each year and said seven new AI centres would connect research with industry.
Iqbal pointed to NADRA's digital identity system and the Raast instant payment platform as openings for cooperation, saying Raast processed 646 million transactions in a single quarter. Russia's scientific expertise, he said, could complement Pakistan's technology workforce in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
Pakistan's IT and telecom exports reached a record $4.6 billion in 2025-26, roughly 20 percent up on the previous financial year, according to figures the minister gave the webinar.
Russian Deputy Minister Bella Cherkesova also spoke, covering policy, investment and emerging digital technology opportunities. Pakistan's ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, described digital trade as a possible pillar of bilateral economic relations and said the embassy in Moscow would work with the PSEB to support Pakistani companies.
PSEB Chief Executive Faisal Jeddy set out a process for converting business discussions into agreements: identifying opportunities, selecting suitable companies and developing joint pilot projects. Federal IT Secretary Zarar Hasham Khan pledged support in removing regulatory barriers and improving market access.
The webinar's sessions covered artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital governance and quantum computing, along with IT trade, investment and workforce development. Government officials, industry representatives and technology companies took part, and officials said progress would be reviewed regularly to move companies towards commercial partnerships.
How the reports differ
APP led on the one million AI professionals target and the minister's remarks, presenting the event as part of a strategy to expand cooperation with Russia. Daily Times led on the wider Pakistan-Russia technology relationship and alone reported that this was the third such webinar, organised by the Pakistan Software Export Board with Moscow's University of World Civilizations. Daily Times also carried the $4.6 billion export figure for 2025-26, the Raast transaction number, and the names of Russian Deputy Minister Bella Cherkesova, ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, PSEB chief executive Faisal Jeddy and IT secretary Zarar Hasham Khan. Both reports give the same 2030 target.
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