In a landmark step for its digital landscape, Pakistan has officially become a founding member of the newly established World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO).
The historic agreement was signed in Shanghai, China, by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, during his official visit to the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC).
What is WAICO?
Originally proposed by China, WAICO is an independent, intergovernmental organization headquartered in Shanghai. The organization is designed to:
- Foster Global Governance: Create safe, beneficial, and fair standards for AI development globally.
- Encourage International Collaboration: Strengthen partnerships between member states, tech industries, academic institutions, and United Nations agencies.
- Bridge the Digital Divide: Ensure that developing nations are not left behind in the rapidly advancing AI race.
Pakistan is one of 29 founding members of the organization, joining other nations such as China, Kazakhstan, Laos, Russia, and Indonesia. The high-profile signing ceremony was also attended by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
Why This is a Huge Win for Pakistan
1. Elevating the Voice of the Global South
By securing a seat as a founding member, Pakistan is positioning itself to advocate for the interests of developing nations. In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Pakistan emphasized its commitment to bridging the global AI divide and ensuring equitable access to AI technologies.
2. Aligning with National AI Ambitions
This international milestone aligns perfectly with Pakistan’s domestic goals:
- National AI Policy: Following the approval of its National AI Policy, Pakistan has made sovereign technology development a national priority.
- Targeted Investments: The government has committed to investing $1 billion by 2030 to expand local research, sovereign computing infrastructure, and nation-wide skill-building initiatives.
3. Boosting Pakistan-China Tech Collaboration
This alliance paves the way for deeper technological exchange between Islamabad and Beijing. Dr. Yasar Ayaz, Chairman of Pakistan’s National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) at NUST, highlighted that joining WAICO will drastically strengthen bilateral joint research, academic exchanges, and technology transfers under high-quality initiatives like CPEC 2.0.
The Road Ahead
Representing Pakistan on the global stage, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar held bilateral discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The leaders reaffirmed their joint commitment to pushing the boundaries of the digital economy, scientific collaboration, and responsible AI governance.
