Pakistan is introducing regulatory sandboxes for artificial intelligence (AI) to help companies test and develop new ideas in a secure setup. According to documents from the Ministry of Information Technology, at least 50 firms are expected to benefit from these controlled trials by 2027.
The move is part of the government’s larger AI strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem. These sandboxes will be managed through Centres of Excellence, which will provide a safe environment for businesses and also make rules more flexible for innovation.
At the heart of the plan is the creation of a national AI compute grid, powered by High-Performance Computing (HPC) centres with specialised hardware. In addition, private data centres will support research, training, and adoption across different industries. More than 100 universities will gain access to these resources, enabling large-scale experiments, advanced model training, and processing of huge datasets.
The government also intends to establish national and provincial data banks to ensure reliable, high-quality information for both research and industry. Dedicated AI hubs in major cities will serve as meeting points for academics and businesses, helping to turn research into practical solutions.
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Cloud-based services and open-source AI tools are being encouraged, while Pakistan also plans to join hands with global partners to create around 50 new AI models every year. Officials say this will improve access to modern technology while boosting international cooperation.
Together, these steps underline Pakistan’s commitment to making AI a strong part of its digital future and positioning itself on the global technology map.
