Pakistan has officially launched the UN Women Gender-Responsive AI School Pakistan, a national initiative aimed at promoting the ethical, inclusive, and gender-responsive use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the country.
The initiative has been launched by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) in collaboration with UN Women Pakistan, with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The program is designed for policymakers, parliamentarians, government officials, UN agencies, academia, civil society organizations, businesses, and community leaders.
AI Training Focuses on Ethics and Inclusion
The AI School combines theoretical learning with practical training to equip participants with the knowledge needed to develop and implement responsible AI solutions.
Its curriculum includes AI fundamentals, ethical and gender-responsive AI, governance frameworks, prompt engineering, AI agents, public administration, and the use of artificial intelligence to support inclusive development.
Training activities had already begun before the official launch, with specialized sessions conducted for government officials, parliamentarians, UN personnel, academics, and civil society representatives. These sessions aim to build a nationwide network of professionals capable of promoting responsible AI adoption.
The broader regional AI School also addresses key issues such as privacy, algorithmic bias, digital safety, and the responsible use of generative AI. Pakistan hosted Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions earlier this month as part of the initiative.
Pakistan Leads South Asia
Pakistan has become the first country in South Asia to complete the full national Training of Trainers (ToT) track under the UN Women AI School program.
According to the organizers, the regional initiative has trained more than 5,000 policymakers, UN officials, civil society representatives, and young innovators across Asia and the Pacific since 2024.
UN Women Pakistan Country Representative Jamshed M. Kazi said Pakistan’s program is also the first in the region to provide national training pathways covering the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, alongside civil society and the private sector.
Promoting Women in AI
A major objective of the initiative is to increase women’s participation in AI policymaking and digital transformation.
UN Women noted that only around two dozen of nearly 140 national AI policies worldwide currently include gender considerations. The AI School aims to help bridge that gap by integrating gender equality into AI governance, policy development, and innovation.
Pakistan’s National AI Policy also supports the inclusion of gender perspectives in AI development while promoting specialized digital skills programs for marginalized women and persons with disabilities.
MoITT and UN Women Sign Agreement
During the launch ceremony, the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication and UN Women Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalize the AI School and ensure its long-term implementation under national ownership.
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said artificial intelligence is transforming every sector of society and emphasized that Pakistan wants women and girls to play a leading role in the country’s digital future.
KOICA Pakistan Deputy Country Director Sodam Baek said the initiative would strengthen responsible AI adoption while expanding digital skills and economic opportunities for women and girls.
The launch ceremony also showcased outcomes from the Training of Trainers program, highlighting practical AI applications in governance, parliamentary research, education, and community engagement.
The initiative marks another step in Pakistan’s efforts to build an inclusive AI ecosystem while preparing institutions and policymakers for the responsible use of emerging technologies.
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