Islamabad, 15, May, 2025: Zahanat AI the chatbot recently introduced as Pakistan’s first locally developed GPT has stirred confusion over its origin.
However, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MOITT) has issued an official clarification denying any government involvement in its creation.
The Ministry, in a formal statement to the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, confirmed that Zahanat AI is entirely a private initiative and not backed or owned by the state.
According to the Ministry, the remarks made earlier by the Federal Minister for IT regarding the launch of Zahanat AI referred solely to an independent product developed by the private sector.
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The government, it stated, holds no formal association with the application. MOITT emphasized that while it supports technological innovation and welcomes advancements in AI, credit for Zahanat AI must remain with its private creators.
The statement aimed to eliminate any misunderstandings stemming from the minister’s earlier comments, particularly concerning the nature of the government’s role.
In the same briefing, MOITT underlined its commitment to fostering local AI capabilities through official channels.
A separate government-led project is underway for the development of a homegrown Large Language Model (LLM), under a partnership between the National Information Technology Board (NITB), the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), and Jazz.
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This state-supported AI initiative is intended to advance digital solutions and drive innovation within public institutions.
While Zahanat AI has attracted attention as a promising technological development, MOITT reiterated for the third time that it remains a private enterprise and is not affiliated with any government AI project.
The Ministry stressed the importance of accurate information in public discourse, especially as Pakistan ventures further into the realm of artificial intelligence.
