ISLAMABAD; With Pakistan racing to harness the power of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication met on Wednesday to tackle urgent regulatory and operational gaps threatening the country’s tech future.
Chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan at Parliament House, the committee reviewed the “Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill, 2024,” debated the selection process for Pakistan’s first indigenous Large Language Model (LLM), examined progress in semiconductor design, and received a hard-hitting briefing on a nationwide crackdown on illegal call centers.
Lawmakers warned that without a clear legal framework, Pakistan risks falling behind in global tech innovation. Senator Afnan Ullah Khan, who introduced the AI bill, called for immediate legislative action to guide ethical AI development. The Ministry of IT briefed members on the creation of a new Emerging Technology Wing to drive innovation in AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies—backed by Rs. 16 billion in government funding under the FY2024–25 Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
The session grew heated when Senator Dr. Mohammad Humayun Mohmand questioned the ministry’s lack of transparency in the development of the national LLM, being led by Jazz and NUST without a formal selection process. Ministry officials clarified that no public funds were involved, and that both entities had self-initiated the project. The Secretary assured the committee that a public call for proposals is now being extended to all universities.
The committee also heard disturbing revelations from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which reported the dismantling of 54 illegal call centers and the arrest of 254 suspects across Pakistan. These centers, particularly active in Islamabad, used fake online profiles—often posing as women—to defraud people via social media and Telegram. Officials said the stolen funds were routinely converted into cryptocurrency and laundered abroad.
Senators urged broader inclusion in tech initiatives and tighter legal safeguards against digital fraud. They stressed transparency in all public-private tech collaborations and called for nationwide digital skills training to prepare the next generation for AI-driven industries. The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge to ensure effective oversight, fair access to innovation opportunities, and robust digital governance in Pakistan’s rapidly evolving technology landscape.
