Pakistan to Establish Seven AI Hubs, Back 560 Startups Under National AI Initiative

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has launched an ambitious nationwide programme to establish seven Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hubs across Pakistan under the National Artificial Intelligence Advancement Initiative (NAAI).

The initiative, unveiled as part of the implementation of Pakistan’s National AI Policy, seeks to create a unified ecosystem connecting startups, academia, industry, investors, and government institutions while positioning Pakistan as a regional center for AI-driven technological development.

According to official documents, AI Hubs will be established in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit. The ministry will appoint a single company or consortium to design, develop, operate, and sustain the innovation centers.

Each hub will feature dedicated startup workspaces, modern office infrastructure, high-speed internet connectivity, collaboration areas, multimedia facilities, mentorship rooms, and hybrid meeting spaces to support AI entrepreneurs.

The two-year program aims to incubate 560 AI startups, with each hub hosting 20 startups per cohort and two cohorts annually, enabling a total of 280 startups each year across the seven centers.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the selected operator will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive innovation ecosystem, including incubation and accelerator programs, AI boot camps, thematic challenges, hackathons, and mentorship initiatives.

A key component of the program is the distribution of 150 non-dilutive seed grants for AI startups. While the ministry will provide the funding separately, the appointed operator will oversee outreach, application processing, technical evaluations, grant administration, and post-award monitoring through a transparent, merit-based framework.

The government has directed that grant disbursement be linked to clearly defined milestones and performance indicators to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes.

To encourage wider adoption of artificial intelligence, the program also includes two national AI Hackathons and four AI Awareness Sessions, alongside structured capacity-building initiatives targeting students, entrepreneurs, researchers, public-sector officials, and technology professionals.

The operator will also be tasked with developing long-term financial sustainability models through commercial partnerships, sponsored programs, training services, and industry collaborations, reducing dependence on government funding over time.

The initiative further requires strategic partnerships with universities, research institutions, technology companies, and international AI research networks to facilitate collaborative research, pilot projects, and commercialization opportunities.

MoITT has also instructed bidders to ensure meaningful participation of women and individuals from rural and underserved communities, aligning the program with Pakistan’s broader digital inclusion goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Initially awarded for one year with the possibility of a one-year extension based on performance, the project represents one of Pakistan’s most comprehensive efforts to build institutional AI infrastructure.

If successfully implemented, the initiative is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s emerging AI ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurship, attracting investment, developing local talent, and accelerating the country’s transition toward a knowledge-based digital economy.

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