Pakistan Adopts the Islamabad AI Declaration and Establishes Its Sovereign AI Position

On 9 February 2026, Pakistan took a landmark step by formally adopting the Islamabad AI Declaration on sovereign, responsible, and capability-driven artificial intelligence.

The Islamabad AI Declaration defines the national stance on AI and marks a pivotal transition from policy to execution. It was presented by the Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, at the Indus AI Summit 2026, and it establishes a private sector led, government enabled framework that will advance Digital Society, Digital Economy, and Digital Governance.

The Declaration has 9 foundational principles that will help create an AI ecosystem with sovereign infrastructure, trusted governance and human accountability. The proposed AI framework will have a use-case first approach, and support inclusive and responsible innovation to deliver measurable public value.

Dr. Sohail Munir, Chairperson of the Pakistan Digital Authority, the national authority responsible for AI governance, regulatory oversight, and supervisory coordination in Pakistan said:

“The Declaration establishes the foundations for AI governance and supervision in Pakistan and reflects a disciplined commitment to sovereignty, public trust, and measurable national value. Pakistan will adopt AI responsibly, govern it rigorously, and build domestic capability with accountability.”

The Pakistan Digital Authority played a central role in shaping the declaration and it was finalised through deliberation with more than 40 global technology leaders. PDA’s mandate under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025 is to build the systems, institutions, and safeguards that translate this declaration from policy into practice.

The Islamabad AI Declaration is not an aspiration. It is the beginning of structured execution.