The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), Pakistan's main IT industry representative body, has pledged private sector support for the government's plan to invest $1 billion (€920 million) in artificial intelligence by 2030. The commitment was announced during Indus AI Week in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif outlined plans to fund AI development, including scholarships and workforce training.

Arab News reported that P@SHA, representing IT exporters and technology firms, will play a central role in implementing the national AI strategy.

The government initiative includes funding for 1,000 PhD scholarships in artificial intelligence and a federal mandate to train one million non-IT professionals in advanced technology skills. The programme aims to position Pakistan as a competitive player in emerging technologies whilst supporting foreign exchange earnings through IT exports.

Sajjad Syed, chairman of P@SHA, said: "The IT sector is no longer merely a participant in Pakistan's economy. It is the fundamental engine of our future growth. The commitments made at the Indus AI Summit provide a much-needed, evidence-based structural framework."

Syed added that P@SHA "stands fully prepared to translate this policy into export-driven, practical realities," describing AI integration as "a matter of global survival and economic sovereignty."

Pakistan's IT exports reached $2.2 billion (€2 billion) in July–December FY26, marking a 20 percent year-on-year increase. The Indus AI Week event drew participation from local and international technology companies, universities, and investors, including technical bootcamps and industry panels aimed at accelerating AI adoption.

The association's backing demonstrates how industry bodies serve as implementation partners for national technology strategies, bridging government policy with private sector execution and ensuring workforce development aligns with market demands.

Read the full details on Pakistan's $1 billion AI investment strategy and industry association commitments.