The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has unveiled plans to establish seven National Artificial Intelligence Hubs in a sweeping push to anchor Pakistan’s digital innovation ecosystem, with facilities slated for Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.

The initiative, launched under the National AI Policy and branded the National AI Advancement Initiative, aims to incubate 560 AI startups over the next two years, according to official documents. Of those, 150 startups will receive seed grants to help convert early-stage ideas into commercially viable ventures, while all selected startups will be connected to venture capital firms, incubators, and international technology networks.

Each hub will be equipped with modern office infrastructure, high-speed internet, and advanced laboratories designed to support research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. A Request for Proposals has already been floated for the establishment of the seven centres.

The hubs will focus on developing artificial intelligence solutions across five priority sectors: healthcare, agriculture, education, fintech, and smart cities. The project also mandates the inclusion of women and individuals from underserved regions, making broader participation in the AI economy a non-negotiable component rather than an afterthought.

The initial operating contract for each hub will run for one year, with a performance-based extension of an additional year. Beyond incubation, the programme will stage two national AI hackathons and four AI awareness sessions aimed at fostering collaboration and public engagement in the field.

The move signals Islamabad’s intent to move beyond policy papers and into bricks-and-mortar infrastructure for artificial intelligence, as the country races to carve out a foothold in a technology that is reshaping economies globally.