ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are deepening their digital cooperation through a new AI Hub initiative that will connect Pakistani freelancers, software houses, and tech firms with Saudi companies seeking digital services. The initiative aims to link digital skills training directly to employment and joint tech ventures, rather than offering isolated training programs.
In an interview with Arab News, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the project reflects a shift in Pakistan’s workforce strategy: “The Prime Minister has changed the KPIs for us — it is no longer how many children have been trained, but how many of those trained are actually employed.”
Under the AI Hub, Pakistan will form joint ventures with Saudi firms and attract private sector investment. “We’re not talking about aid or loans,” Khawaja said. “We’re talking about value creation on both sides.”
The initiative follows Saudi Arabia’s GO Telecom launching an AI hub in Islamabad — its first major tech venture in Pakistan, expanding beyond its petroleum roots. The company is expected to support cloud, AI, and data service collaborations between the two nations.
Highlighting Pakistan’s competitive advantage, Khawaja said, “Our young, talented, quality human resource is very cost-competitive. We’re leveraging the best parts of both our countries to bring about the best possible outcomes.”
The AI partnership builds on the newly signed Economic Cooperation Framework, agreed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. The framework will promote joint projects, public-private partnerships, and investment expansion in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and trade.
Khawaja noted that Saudi Arabia’s investment appetite in Pakistan is “unprecedented,” signaling a shift toward sustainable, value-driven collaboration.
On the domestic front, she addressed concerns about slow Internet speeds, attributing them to “spectrum choking” and limited bandwidth. “We’ve already vacated 600 megahertz of spectrum,” she said. “We’re looking to auction it early next year. That will change the overall Internet experience for citizens.”
She added that Pakistan is working to expand submarine cable connections and increase fiber-optic penetration, which will significantly boost connectivity nationwide.
