Rawalpindi (Muzaffar Ali Butt): A significant Artificial Intelligence (AI) conference was held at Shalimar Hotel, Rawalpindi, aimed at presenting Pakistan’s vision for climate change, good governance, and business development by 2047. The event was organized by renowned political and social leader, former Senator Mian Atiq Ahmed.
The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran and the national anthem, which filled the atmosphere with patriotism. In his keynote address, Mian Atiq Ahmed, also known as the “Digital Senator” for his past contributions to IT development, emphasized that artificial intelligence is the driving force behind the rapid progress of developed nations. He stressed that Pakistan must urgently integrate AI into its education system and national policies.
He added that future economic power will not rely on oil or mineral resources but on digital resources and AI technology. With AI-based models, Pakistan can forecast rain, floods, and droughts to better plan agriculture and dams. In governance, AI can bring transparency, reduce corruption, and strengthen decision-making, while also revolutionizing education, healthcare, and the business sector.
Presenting his “Vision 2047,” Mian Atiq Ahmed proposed practical steps to transform Pakistan into a digital, self-reliant, and technology-driven economy. He asserted that if AI is prioritized today, Pakistan could emerge as a regional digital powerhouse within the next 25 years.
Former Additional Director FIA Ammar Jaffri, in his address, highlighted that Pakistan faces major threats from cyberattacks. AI-powered systems, he noted, can help develop automated defense mechanisms to immediately detect suspicious activity. He warned that terrorist organizations and criminal networks are increasingly using digital tools, and AI could be Pakistan’s strongest weapon against them.
He further stressed that institutions like NADRA could enhance speed, security, and transparency in services by incorporating AI into data processing and verification systems. He urged the establishment of an AI-based cyber defense system in Pakistan, which could serve not only its citizens but also as a model for regional countries.
Other IT experts at the conference also underscored AI’s critical role in tackling climate change, ensuring good governance, improving agricultural efficiency, and driving industrial growth through automation. They highlighted AI’s potential for timely weather predictions, efficient water usage, e-governance to curb corruption, and robotics for industrial advancement.
The conference served as a reminder that if Pakistan aspires to join the ranks of developed nations in the future, artificial intelligence must become an integral part of its national policies.
