Pakistan has signed on as one of 29 FOUNDING MEMBERS of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) — the new intergovernmental AI body headquartered in Shanghai.
DPM/FM Ishaq Dar signed the founding agreement in Shanghai on Thursday, alongside China, Russia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and others. UN Secretary-General António Guterres attended the ceremony.
Why it matters for Pakistan:
✅ A seat at the table where global AI rules will be shaped — from day one, not as a latecomer
✅ Islamabad says it will push the Global South agenda: narrowing the AI divide and fairer access to the technology
✅ Builds on a busy year — National AI Policy, $1 billion committed to sovereign computing by 2030, and PM Shehbaz Sharif’s May visit to China where Pakistan first backed the WAICO proposal
“It is a very positive step for Pakistan to join WAICO. It will further strengthen Pakistan-China collaboration in AI,” NCAI chairman Prof. Yasar Ayaz said in a media interview.
From CPEC to compute — the Pakistan-China partnership is entering its AI chapter. 🤖
