WR Desk: Pakistan became a founding member of the newly established World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), as the country seeks to play a greater role in global artificial intelligence governance while strengthening technology cooperation with longtime ally China. The agreement establishes WAICO as a multilateral organization aimed at promoting international cooperation on artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on collaboration among developing countries.

Pakistan has been accelerating its digital transformation through international partnerships following the adoption of its National Artificial Intelligence Policy last year and a series of initiatives to expand AI infrastructure, skills development and regulatory frameworks.

“As a founding member of WAICO, Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to advance international cooperation in the area of Artificial Intelligence, especially from the perspective of Global South,” the Foreign Office said after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement on Pakistan’s behalf in Shanghai.

“Pakistan looks forward to working closely with fellow WAICO member states in efforts to help bridge the global AI divide and to promote equitable access to AI to advance development for all,” it added.

On the sidelines of the event, Dar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss bilateral ties, highlighting the growing importance of artificial intelligence and the digital economy in Pakistan-China relations beyond their traditional focus on infrastructure and energy under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to the Foreign Office, the two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the countries’ strategic cooperative partnership and agreed to expand cooperation under CPEC 2.0 in trade, investment, science and technology, the digital economy and artificial intelligence.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments and reaffirmed close coordination on issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Office said.

Pakistan has increasingly sought to establish itself as a participant in global AI governance while leveraging the technology to support economic growth.

The government last year approved a comprehensive artificial intelligence policy that envisages an investment of Rs278 billion (about $1 billion) by 2030, a nationwide AI Seekho 2026 training program for one million people, expanded AI infrastructure and a regulatory framework promoting the ethical use of artificial intelligence.