Pakistan Launches Nationwide AI Upskilling Program for Faculty
The Government of Pakistan has officially launched a major AI Upskilling Program aimed at strengthening artificial intelligence education in the country. In collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Meta, and the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC), the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT) has developed a two-track program to train university faculty across Pakistan.
The goal of the AI Upskilling Program is to prepare faculty members with the essential knowledge, tools, and certifications needed to support AI learning and digital transformation in higher education institutions.
Details of the AI Upskilling Program
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja chaired a high-level meeting where the full structure of the AI Upskilling Program was presented. According to the Ministry, the initiative is designed to meet the evolving needs of Pakistan’s education system and to bridge the digital skills gap.
Two Key Tracks of the AI Training
AI Soft Skills Track
This track is focused on non-technical university faculty. More than 1,000 teachers will be trained on how AI can be integrated into non-STEM disciplines. The training will cover ethical use, AI concepts, and practical applications relevant to social sciences, education, and humanities.
AI Hard Skills Track
Designed for technical faculty, this certification-based track will train 250–500 teachers in core AI technologies. The curriculum includes Meta’s advanced AI certification—such as LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI)—provided via Coursera and other global learning platforms.
This structure ensures that both technical and non-technical educators become familiar with how AI impacts their teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities.
Vision Behind the AI Upskilling Program
Minister Shaza Fatima emphasized that the AI Upskilling Program is a key part of Pakistan’s broader “Digital Pakistan” vision. It is not just about learning to use AI tools but about creating a workforce that can drive innovation across multiple sectors, including:
Education
Healthcare
Agriculture
Finance
Public Governance
She stressed that AI is a cross-sectoral tool that can help Pakistan leap forward in its digital journey. By investing in faculty training, the government aims to ensure that students across Pakistan receive up-to-date, industry-relevant education.
Partnership with Meta and HEC
This AI Upskilling Program is a model example of collaboration between government bodies, academia, and private-sector tech leaders. Meta has provided access to resources, AI certifications, and training support, while HEC and NCEAC are overseeing the rollout in educational institutions.
Meta’s delegation, led by Sarim Aziz (Director, Public Policy for South and Central Asia), confirmed that Meta is committed to supporting Pakistan’s digital growth. The collaboration includes:
Curriculum development
Access to Meta AI tools and labs
Certification pathways for faculty
Monitoring dashboards to track training impact
Future Plans Under the AI Upskilling Program
The Ministry of IT has laid out a multi-phase roadmap for the AI Upskilling Program:
Localized Content: The curriculum will be translated into Urdu and other regional languages to ensure broader reach.
AI Ethics & Safety: Modules will be added to promote responsible use of AI and teach ethical practices.
Student-Centric Phases: After faculty training, the government plans to roll out student-focused AI learning modules at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
AI Development Fund: A proposal is underway to create a long-term development fund to support AI faculty growth, research, and innovation.
Public Awareness: National awareness sessions and webinars will help build understanding and reduce fear around artificial intelligence.
Why AI Upskilling Matters for Pakistan
AI is no longer a future technology—it’s already changing the way industries operate. For Pakistan to stay globally competitive, the country must develop a digitally literate workforce. That starts with faculty, who are responsible for shaping the next generation.
By implementing the AI Upskilling Program, Pakistan is making a bold investment in its human capital. Trained educators will lead the charge in updating university curricula, conducting local research in AI, and mentoring students who want to build careers in AI, machine learning, robotics, and data science.
Conclusion
The launch of Pakistan’s AI Upskilling Program marks a transformative step in building a digital education ecosystem. With support from Meta, HEC, and other partners, the program aims to train thousands of faculty members and modernize how AI is taught and understood in Pakistan.
This initiative is not just about keeping pace with global trends. It’s about giving Pakistan a competitive edge in the future digital economy—one skilled educator at a time.
