LAHORE: Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister of Planning & Development, Terming the use of artificial intelligence as need of the hour, he said that those who master AI will lead the 21st century, and those who ignore it will be left behind.

He spoke at the closing ceremony of Pakistan’s biggest AI showdown — 3rd International AI Championship — through a video link in Lahore and said all resources are being utilized to attain a leading position in global AI rankings.

Ahsan iqbal asserted that AI-based solutions would inevitably enter critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, traffic management, healthcare, and education. “The youth of this country are the biggest strategic asset; therefore, it is extremely important to arm them with digital skills and tools,” said Ahsan, adding: “The country’s brightest minds were not just competing but also imagining, creating and leading the way forward.”

Ahsan Iqbal said, “AI is reshaping the contours of nations in every field. It saves lives through early diagnostics in healthcare, enhances productivity by helping farmers in agriculture, and makes learning more accessible in education, while introducing efficiency and transparency with better services for citizens in governance.”

He explained that the global economy has shifted, and countries are no longer competing in commodities but in creativity, intelligence, and innovation. He emphasized the need to expand Pakistan’s exports from textiles to technology.

The minister said that in today’s world, national security is no longer defined by weapons alone but by intelligence and data. Under the initiative “Marka-i-Haq”, Pakistan has showcased its defence and strategic preparedness through integrated data systems and AI-enabled situational awareness for quick and effective responses, he said, adding: “A smart nation is a secure nation today.”

Under the “Uraan Pakistan,” it is the mission of the government to turn Pakistan into a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy, said Ahsan, adding: “We are building the foundation of a digital Pakistan through digital public infrastructure, science and technology capacity, human capital development, and a robust innovation ecosystem.”

He said the major initiatives include the National AI Policy for responsible and inclusive AI growth, as well as the establishment of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence. He recalled that, under Vision 2025, the foundations of many advanced research centres were laid in 2017, including the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence, National Centre for Cyber Security, National Centre for Automation and Robotics, National Centre for Big Data and Cloud Computing, and National Centre for GIS and Satellite Technology, in order to make sure that Pakistan transitions toward a modern economy.

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Ahsan Iqbal announced that they are setting up the National Centre for Quantum Computing, the National Centre for New Manufacturing, and the National Centre for Nanotechnology this year. He further said that “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0” is also focusing on technology cooperation, smart trade and industrial modernization. “With China, we have agreed to train 300,000 young Pakistanis every year in AI and other digital skills,” he disclosed. He said that Pakistan would become a true digital nation when educational campuses become centres of creativity and innovation.