ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Wednesday said that Pakistan will own the full value chain of robotics and artificial intelligence because achieving advanced technological self-reliance is a national decision, and the country is now ready to realise that vision.
Addressing the two-day Indus RAS (Robotics and Autonomous Systems) Expo 2026, she said that, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the government has embraced a clear direction for Digital Nation Pakistan.
“A Pakistan where technology is not simply another lever of the economy but the true engine of productivity, employment and national competitiveness. This vision recognises that digital transformation is no longer optional,” she said.
The minister said that, as the world moves from the digital era into the intelligent era, artificial intelligence is itself moving into the physical world.
“It is becoming the foundational building block of value creation. Robots are moving from factories to warehouses, farms, roads, critical infrastructure, disaster areas and even national security.”
She said countries that lead these technologies will define the future economy, while those that remain mere consumers will continue to depend on others. Pakistan, she added, has chosen to lead.
“It is the foundational building block of sustained economic growth. Only yesterday, the Prime Minister launched the AI-enabled, evidence-led Prime Minister’s Office system, which is going to completely transform how the country is governed.”
Furthermore, she said the country’s defence leadership has transformed the military from a purely kinetic force into a robust cyber-centric institution.
“As the Ministry of IT and Telecom, we stand for the execution of this vision. We invest in digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship, digital skills and emerging technologies.”
“We are creating an environment where innovators can build, startups can scale, investors can grow, young Pakistanis can compete globally and, most importantly, where the government serves as the ultimate enabler.”
She said the results were already visible.
“The export figures show that ICT exports grew by almost 21% this year. This is a testament to the resilience of our industry and the effectiveness of our policies.”
She said Pakistan’s progress was also reflected in international rankings.
“Pakistan today ranks among the top-tier countries in cybersecurity according to the ITU. We have moved up 14 places in the E-Government Development Index and 27 places in the ITU’s ICT Development Index.”
She said artificial intelligence has become the defining technology of the current generation, with robotics serving as its physical arm.
“The question is not simply whether Pakistan will use these technologies. The question is whether Pakistan will own them. Building indigenous capabilities and developing talent that will shape our future and safeguard our sovereignty is absolutely critical.”
She said sovereignty is increasingly measured not only by the ability to defend territorial boundaries but also by a nation’s ownership of and command over advanced technologies.
