PM gives ministries until November to turn the Alibaba partnership into results
A review meeting on 28 October asked for an AI cancer detection system, a 15 day AI course for IT graduates and a fuel supply chain analytics system for OGRA.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave ministries until November to show results from Pakistan's partnership with Alibaba. He chaired a review of the partnership in Islamabad on 28 October, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.
Ten federal ministers attended, among them Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja. Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani and senior officials also took part. The Prime Minister's Office said the meeting covered artificial intelligence and the digitalisation of the economy in governance, together with the Alibaba collaboration. The memorandum of understanding with Alibaba was signed at the company's headquarters in Hangzhou during the prime minister's visit to China in May.
“The secret to Pakistan's development lies in artificial intelligence and digitalisation.”
What was asked for
The prime minister asked for an AI assisted cancer early detection system to be put in place with Alibaba at the earliest. A proposed pilot for AI assisted cancer diagnosis was also reviewed at the meeting.
He asked for a 15 day AI training programme for IT graduates to be launched soon under the IT ministry's Ignite programme, with Alibaba. No start date, cost or number of places was given.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) was told to introduce an analytics system with Alibaba to monitor the petroleum products supply chain, and OGRA is receiving AI tools for the purpose. The Export Promotion Board was told to work with Alibaba to raise exports. Ministries were asked to set targets and timelines and to monitor their projects, so that the results can be measured.
What is already running
Officials told the meeting that a Pakistan pavilion on Alibaba's platform promotes Pakistani products abroad and that digital verification of trade documents through the Pakistan Single Window is operational. A two year programme between the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority and Alibaba is meant to give small businesses access to international buyers, training and ecommerce.
Work continues on AI models for agriculture, track and trace technology for tobacco, and digital platforms for citrus and olive exports. The Federal Board of Revenue and Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited are building a modern data platform and a central data hub. Digital and AI projects in higher education, railways, postal services and urban administration are in their final stages.
The prime minister said effective use of digitalisation could play a vital role in improving trade, exports and agricultural productivity. Ministries must complete the necessary measures by November and submit progress reports.
