PM Shehbaz Sharif Pushes AI and Alibaba Partnership to Boost Pakistan’s Economy
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated during an Islamabad meeting that “the secret to Pakistan’s development lies in artificial intelligence and digitalisation,” calling for the swift implementation of trade and technology partnerships with global marketing company Alibaba. According to dawn.com, the premier reviewed progress on integrating modern technology into the economy and governance, emphasizing its potential to boost national exports, agricultural yields, and public service delivery.
Alibaba Strategic Partnership Targets Exports and Agriculture
The high-level review meeting focused heavily on translating memorandums signed at Alibaba’s Hangzhou headquarters into concrete administrative milestones. Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed the Chinese firm’s ongoing cooperation in facilitating Pakistani agricultural exports to Chinese markets, noting that agricultural modernization remains critical for national development. These digital initiatives aim to strengthen the national trade balance over the long term, though immediate fluctuations in gold or currency exchange rates are not anticipated.
Ministries received direct instructions to finalize cooperative projects by November. Current collaborative efforts feature track-and-trace technology for tobacco products, alongside dedicated digital platforms designed to streamline the export of olives and citrus fruits. A specialized Pakistan pavilion is already operational on Alibaba’s digital platform to elevate the international visibility of local merchandise, while trade document verification has integrated with the Pakistan Single Window framework.
Government Agencies Deploy AI to Monitor Supply Chains and Healthcare
Administrative bodies received strict timelines to deploy advanced technological tools across critical public sectors. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) is slated to receive artificial intelligence and business intelligence platforms to monitor petroleum product supply chains. Meanwhile, the Federal Board of Revenue and Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited are developing an advanced central data hub.
وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیر صدارت معیشت اور گورننس میں مصنوعی ذہانت (AI)، ڈیجیٹائیزیشن اور اس حوالے سے علی بابا کے ساتھ تعاون کی پیش رفت پر جائزہ اجلاس آج اسلام آباد میں منعقد ہوا. وزیرِ اعظم نے کہا کہ ڈیجیٹلائزیشن، مصنوعی ذہانت اور جدید ٹیکنالوجی کا مؤثر استعمال پاکستان… pic.twitter.com/U99U2xVdyv
Other operational directives issued during the session include:
- Implementing an AI-assisted cancer early-detection system in collaboration with Alibaba.
- Launching a 15-day AI training program for IT graduates under the Ministry of IT’s Ignite initiative.
- Partnering with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority on a two-year program to integrate small businesses into global e-commerce.
- Advancing digital and artificial intelligence integration across higher education, railways, postal services, and urban administration.
Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, and several other senior officials attended the briefing. The push follows Pakistan’s formal entry into the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation as a founding member earlier this year, reinforcing a broader national strategy to invest $1 billion in artificial intelligence by 2030.