An initiative to train over one thousand university faculty members in Artificial Intelligence is being undertaken in Pakistan. The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication is leading this project, in partnership with Meta, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC). Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque, chaired a high-level meeting at the Ministry to discuss the program and emphasized its revolutionary potential in sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and governance.

Under this collaborative project, over one thousand non-technical faculty members will be trained in AI soft skills, and specialized Coursera courses, including Meta’s LLA MA certification, will be offered to 250-500 technical faculty. Amin Ul Haque termed the initiative a prime example of public, private, and academic collaboration, aligning with the Ministry’s National AI Policy and digital skills development goals.

Key figures attended the meeting, including the Chairman HEC, Chairman NCEAC, CEO PSEB, Atomcamp representatives, and a Meta delegation led by Director for South and Central Asia, Sarim Aziz. The meeting addressed key training elements, including providing content in Urdu and regional languages, student-centered instruction, and incorporating ethical considerations.

Minister Amin Ul Haque proposed the establishment of an “AI Faculty Development Fund” and shared performance monitoring tools to further support the program. Equipping faculty with generative AI expertise is considered crucial for Pakistan’s participation in the global digital economy. Amin Ul Haque commended the efforts of HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed and the NCEAC team.