The recently appointed Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, visited the National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) on Wednesday.
The purpose of the visit was to assess the progress of NC AI and other national centers focusing on robotics, cybersecurity, big data, and cloud computing, established under the minister’s supervision.
During the visit, the Minister received a detailed briefing on the progress made by NCAI and the other national centers. He stressed the importance of guidance from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in enabling these centers to contribute to the nation’s economy through product commercialization and digital exports, ultimately promoting economic growth.
“The backbone of economies globally is technology, with countries heavily investing in AI for national transformation,” remarked the Minister.
The Minister’s visit not only underscores a strategic commitment to advancing technology-focused national centers but also highlights his keenness for swift progress, recognizing the vital role of these institutions in shaping Pakistan’s technological and economic future.
Professor Dr. Yasar Ayaz, Chairman of NCAI, provided an overview of the National Center of Emerging Technologies and focused on NCAI’s pivotal role in shaping the nation’s technological landscape.
The economic activity generated through research and industry projects, the development and deployment of products across various sectors, such as safe cities, crime mitigation, agriculture, climate, education, judiciary, and disaster management, were highlighted.
The Minister instructed NCAI to conduct 2 to 3 days of AI training for federal secretaries and senior public servants to help them understand how AI can transform their domains and bring about the necessary changes. He emphasized the significant role of AI in good governance and stressed the importance of adapting to future technological changes for economic growth and a knowledge-based economy.
Additionally, he urged NCAI to reconvene the Task Force meeting and include AI experts from corporate sectors, both international and Pakistani, to maximize their input and facilitate the initiation of the roadmap as soon as possible. Professor Iqbal commended the achievements of the centers and urged them to focus on sustainability.
The Minister was briefed that NCAI proposed mechanisms for sustainability in 2019 in the form of two policies – one on sustainability and one on spin-off policies. However, these policies were still pending approval with HEC. Recognizing the critical need for sustainability, the Minister emphasized the importance of revisiting the existing decisions made by the National Steering Committee members and policies proposed by NCAI. He directed HEC to address these issues promptly and develop an operational plan focusing on commercializing tech products, leveraging support, and fostering industry collaboration for all the national centers.
Furthermore, he urged HEC to engage in direct discussions with him, highlighting HEC’s central role as the guiding force behind the collaborative approach with all centers. The Minister emphasized the crucial influence HEC holds in ensuring the success of these initiatives.
The Minister reiterated the importance of collaboration between academia and industry for the commercialization of tech products, curriculum reforms, including the national centers for accreditation and standardization, and the potential of AI to drive advancements across various sectors in Pakistan. He commended NCAI for its dedication to advancing AI in Pakistan.
Highlighting sustainability through endowment, the Minister referenced a mechanism proposed during the last day of his previous tenure. He urged HEC to expedite the release of promised funds, address delays, and reinforce the crucial role of technology in Pakistan’s economic growth.
The Planning Minister instructed HEC to expedite the release of the long-delayed promised funds of Rs 500 million and the overdue revision of salaries for HR in FY 2023-2024. He demanded prompt submission of the revised PC-1s of the national centers in accordance with CDWP decisions. Director General P&D HEC assured the Minister of fast progress and submission of the pending documents within one week. The Minister specifically urged Chief S&T MoPD&SI to diligently follow up and swiftly resolve this pressing issue.
Earlier, NCAI also shared updates on its Memorandum of Agreement with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), an international-level collaboration agreement approved by the federal cabinet and in the process of signing. Other collaborative initiatives/projects with government and non-government bodies, hospitals, malls, and startups were discussed.
During the briefing, the officials briefed the Minister about NCAI’s latest training modules for leaders and professionals, which Prof Ahsan Iqbal suggested during his maiden visit to NCAI in his previous tenure right after the oath-taking ceremony.
During the briefing, the officials also presented on the achievements of the National Center of Robotics and Automation (NCRA), highlighting its collaborations in agriculture and healthcare, as well as advancements in advanced robotics for industries. The National Center of Cyber Security (NCCS) highlighted the launch of over 50 products, international partnerships with Saudi Arabia, and its role in improving Pakistan’s global ranking.
The center’s initiatives include cyber audits for 30+ national bodies, launching degree programs, and contributing to the security evaluation of cyber and non-cyber products under the Common Criteria Lab framework.
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