Is Pakistan’s AI Policy Strong Enough to Face the Tech War?

Pakistan has entered the global AI race with a new national policy. This move builds on the Digital Pakistan Policy (2018) but shifts from broad digital enablement to targeted leadership in AI. The new plan rests on six connected pillars, designed to drive growth, protect rights, and ensure the rule of law.

The six pillars are

1. AI Innovation Ecosystem

2. Awareness and Readiness

3. Secure AI Ecosystem

4. Transformation and Evolution

5. AI Infrastructure

6. International Partnerships and Collaborations

Technology and Geopolitics

While most pillars focus on local needs, the sixth pillar looks outward. It reflects the growing link between technology and geopolitics. The U.S. and China are locked in a great-power tech rivalry. This has split supply chains, standards, and alliances. Middle states like Pakistan now face pressure to pick sides.

The policy notes that AI is a “determinant of national power.” It stresses Pakistan must benefit from multiple ecosystems without dependence on any single bloc. This is digital non-alignment in action.

Global Cooperation and Sovereignty

Through the sixth pillar, Pakistan can sign bilateral and multilateral tech deals. It can join global AI forums, share best practices, and adopt interoperability standards. The policy also aims to build sovereign datasets, scalable computing, and indigenous AI models. These steps reduce vulnerability to export controls or technology denial regimes.

A key clause highlights “AI ecosystem interoperability.” This means Pakistan will work with both open-source frameworks and proprietary platforms. In practice, this allows quick adoption of Chinese AI tools while still taking part in Western AI safety and ethics initiatives.

The policy embeds data residency, algorithmic transparency, and ethical AI into governance. This creates room to maneuver while aligning with global norms.

Risks in Standards and Supply Chains

Pakistan’s weak presence in global standards bodies like the ITU, ISO, and 3GPP is a risk. These groups set the rules on AI ethics, 5G security, and quantum encryption. Without representation, Pakistan could end up as a consumer of other nations’ rules.

At home, the telecom sector is preparing for a 5G spectrum auction in 2025. But high spectrum fees could hurt adoption. Open RAN could offer vendor diversity, but it also brings interoperability and security challenges.

Pakistan’s dependence on imported semiconductors and chipmaking tools is another vulnerability. Much of this supply chain falls under U.S. export controls, similar to the 2023 restrictions on China’s AI chip sector.

Cybersecurity is also weak. Without a national CSIRT and sector-specific ISACs, banking, energy, and government systems remain open to attack.

Military and Strategic Alignments

The stakes rise higher in military tech. In 2025, Pakistan announced the purchase of 40 Chinese J-35 stealth fighters, adding to earlier J-10C jets and missile systems. This shows deepening alignment with China.

Yet Islamabad has not turned away from Washington. In 2025, Field Marshal Asim Munir visited the U.S. to renew cooperation on counterterrorism. Talks also covered oil and rare-earth investments. Pakistan continues to hedge between powers, a pragmatic but delicate balance.

Ambitions and Opportunities

The AI policy sets bold goals:

• Create 3 million AI-related jobs by 2030

• Dedicate 2,000 MW of power to AI data centers and crypto mining

Pakistan is also exploring new partners. Talks with Romania and other European countries signal diversification. On the ground, many initiatives are underway:

• The China-Pakistan AI Smart Agriculture Lab in Faisalabad

• Huawei’s ICT Talent Programme is training 200,000 professionals

• PAF-IAST building ties with Chengdu University and European institutions

• CENTAIC is collaborating with Chinese defense AI for the Air Force

• The Digital Dera program uses AI to guide rural farmers

The Challenge Ahead

If done well, the sixth pillar could deliver more than tech transfers. It could blend Chinese infrastructure with Western governance, embed domestic skills, and make Pakistan a bridge in global AI governance.

But risks are real. Washington and Beijing may see Pakistan’s policy as strategic hedging. Defense-linked AI may invite Western scrutiny. Differences in privacy laws may complicate Chinese cooperation. And weak governance could leave Pakistan as a tech consumer, not a creator.

In the 21st century, technological sovereignty depends on both domestic capacity and smart diplomacy. For Pakistan, digital non-alignment may be the only way to balance growth, security, and independence.

FAQs

1. What are the six pillars of Pakistan’s AI policy?

The pillars cover innovation, awareness, secure systems, transformation, infrastructure, and international partnerships.

2. Why is the sixth pillar important?

It focuses on global cooperation, allowing Pakistan to partner with both China and the West while keeping independence.

3. How does geopolitics affect Pakistan’s AI goals?

The U.S.-China tech rivalry shapes supply chains, standards, and alliances. Pakistan must navigate without losing sovereignty.

4. What targets has Pakistan set in AI?

The policy aims to create 3 million jobs by 2030 and dedicate 2,000 MW of energy to AI and data centers.

5. What risks does Pakistan face in AI adoption?

Risks include dependence on imports, weak cybersecurity, exclusion from global standards, and exposure to geopolitical tensions.