Alveena Ahmad
The Global AI Surge: A Wake-Up Call for Developing Nations
The rapid evolution and mainstream adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm — and many developing countries are struggling to keep up. Still grappling with basic digital infrastructure, these nations are now faced with an even bigger challenge: the disruptive power of AI.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted this urgency during the first-ever Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in February 2025, warning that the world “may not even be ready for the present, let alone the future.”
Pakistan’s Digital Divide: A Major Roadblock
Pakistan, home to nearly 250 million people, still faces massive hurdles in providing equitable access to digital technologies — especially for women, who make up half of the population. Despite these challenges, the country has shown promising signs of progress in the tech space.
Shining Examples of AI Innovation in Pakistan
Pakistan has emerged as the fourth-largest market for freelancers globally. Institutions like the National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) at NUST have developed cutting-edge AI healthcare solutions that detect:
- 98% of tuberculosis cases
- 91% of brain tumors
Young innovators are also making headlines. One standout example is Mahrose Zufran, a 16-year-old student from Rehan Allahwala AI School in Karachi, who developed a Sindhi calculator within three days — a tool aimed at helping illiterate Sindhi-speaking businessmen.
The UNDP and the NHDR 2024: Milestones in Digital Development
In 2024, UNDP Pakistan launched the National Human Development Report (NHDR) titled “Doing Digital for Development.” It revealed alarming inequalities in digital access:
- 50% of Pakistan’s districts rank low in digital development.
- Half of the population lacks access to smartphones, internet, or computers.
- Pakistan ranks low on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index, with only 19% of targets on track.
Yet, there are bright spots — for instance, 61% of women in Pakistan now use mobile wallets as their primary bank account, showcasing digital empowerment at the grassroots.
Can AI Be the Great Equaliser? Not Yet.
Contributors to the latest issue of Development Advocate Pakistan (DAP) agree: Pakistan’s digital landscape is far from being inclusive. Without targeted policies, AI risks widening the inequality gap rather than bridging it.
A Global Digital Compact: Pakistan’s Commitment
At the UN Summit of the Future (September 2024), Pakistan endorsed the Global Digital Compact, a framework aimed at shaping inclusive digital futures by:
- Closing digital divides
- Building a safe and open digital environment
- Governing data and AI for the public good
National AI Policy 2024: A Step in the Right Direction
Pakistan’s Ministry of IT & Telecommunications introduced a National AI Policy 2024 that:
- Promotes AI integration in education
- Offers fiscal incentives to startups and SMEs
However, this policy must be accompanied by a nationwide commitment to universal internet access and investments in rural digital infrastructure to have real impact.
The Urgent Need for Reskilling and Education Reform
AI will create specialized jobs but may also lead to the automation of routine roles — which currently employ 42% of Pakistanis, such as clerks and machine operators. To prepare for this shift, Pakistan must:
- Invest in AI-related skills and training
- Improve basic digital literacy
- Reform education to emphasize STEM disciplines
Governance for the Future: The 4As Framework
The UNDP’s approach to embedding AI in governance is guided by the 4As Framework:
- Access – Ensuring equal opportunities to digital tools
- Adopt – Embracing AI in everyday functions
- Anticipate – Preparing for future disruptions
- Accelerate – Scaling innovations for faster impact
Pilot projects are already integrating AI-driven data systems into planning, budgeting, and real-time monitoring.
Conclusion: 2025 as the Turning Point
With just five years left to meet the Agenda 2030 targets, Pakistan must move quickly to make AI a national priority. The foundations are there — now is the time for ambition, investment, and action.
Let 2025 be the year Pakistan realizes its AI potential.
