TIMES REPORT
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed relevant ministries to complete, by November, all necessary measures for projects being undertaken with Alibaba Group to advance artificial intelligence, digitalisation, exports and public service delivery.
He issued the directives while chairing a review meeting on progress in AI, digitalisation and cooperation with Alibaba Group in Pakistan’s economy and governance sectors.
The prime minister said the effective use of digitalisation, AI and modern technology could improve trade, exports, agricultural productivity, ease of doing business and the quality of public services.
He welcomed Alibaba Group’s cooperation in facilitating the export of Pakistani agricultural commodities to Chinese markets and called for the modernisation of the agricultural sector. He also endorsed collaboration on agricultural automation.
PM Shehbaz directed to implement an early cancer detection system with Alibaba Group’s cooperation and ordered the launch of an AI training programme for IT graduates under the Ministry of Information Technology’s Ignite programme in collaboration with the company.
He also directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to introduce an analytics system, in partnership with Alibaba Group, to monitor the petroleum products supply chain. The Export Promotion Board was instructed to work with Alibaba Group to increase Pakistan’s exports.
The prime minister said a memorandum of understanding had been signed with Alibaba Group at its headquarters in Hangzhou during his visit to China, adding that AI and digitalisation were central to national development.
The government’s priorities included fully benefiting from the strategic partnership with Alibaba Group, providing small and medium-sized enterprises access to global markets and creating new opportunities for technology-driven development, he said.
The prime minister directed that all projects under the partnership should be implemented with clear targets, timelines and effective monitoring to ensure tangible results. He asked the relevant ministries to submit a progress report after completing the required measures by November.
The meeting was briefed on progress in several areas under the strategic cooperation between the government and Alibaba Group. It was informed that work was under way on AI-based agricultural models, track-and-trace technology for tobacco, and a digital platform for exporting citrus fruits and olives.A dedicated Pakistan pavilion had also been established on a special Alibaba Group website to promote Pakistani products for export.
The meeting was further informed that a system for digitally verifying trade documents through the Pakistan Single Window had been activated. A two-year programme was also being launched in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority and Alibaba Group to provide small and medium-sized businesses with access to global markets, training and e-commerce opportunities.
Progress on developing a modern data platform and central data hub for the Federal Board of Revenue and PRAL was also reviewed. The meeting discussed a proposed pilot project for AI-assisted cancer diagnosis in the health sector.
In the energy sector, OGRA was being provided with AI and business intelligence tools to analyse fuel supply chain data. Initiatives involving digital technology and AI in higher education, railways, postal services and urban management were also nearing completion.
Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Jam Kamal Khan, Dr Musadik Masood Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Syed Mustafa Kamal and Abdul Aleem Khan; Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani; and senior officials concerned attended the meeting.
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