Pakistan is planning to develop an artificial intelligence-based trade intelligence system aimed at turning the country’s trade data into new export opportunities and helping businesses identify potential international markets.
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan discussed the proposed system during separate meetings with representatives of the Pakistan Digital Authority and Sky 47.
The initiative would bring together trade-related information from the Ministry of Commerce, its attached departments, chambers of commerce and Pakistani trade officers stationed in more than 55 countries.
AI to Identify New Export Markets
According to the government, artificial intelligence could be used to analyse the combined trade data and identify emerging trends, potential export opportunities and markets where Pakistani products could have greater demand.
The system is expected to provide policymakers and exporters with more detailed and timely information for making trade and investment decisions.
Jam Kamal said Pakistan’s trade data is a valuable national asset and stressed the need to protect it while making more effective use of the information available across government institutions and overseas trade offices.
Focus on Secure Data Infrastructure
The Pakistan Digital Authority briefed the minister on data governance, secure data exchange and the National Digital Master Plan during the discussions.
Sky 47 also presented proposals related to data centers, cybersecurity, disaster recovery and sovereign cloud infrastructure.
The government is considering sovereign cloud solutions to ensure that sensitive and critical government information can be securely managed within Pakistan.
Jam Kamal stressed the need to increase local data center capacity so that important government data can be stored securely inside the country.
Government Raises Concerns Over Foreign AI Platforms
The commerce minister also expressed concerns about the use of foreign public artificial intelligence platforms for handling confidential government matters.
He directed officials to prepare practical proposals for secure data integration and the development of a sovereign cloud infrastructure capable of supporting sensitive government operations.
The proposed AI trade intelligence system would be designed around secure data-sharing mechanisms while allowing authorised users to benefit from advanced analytics.
Open Network for Digital Commerce Under Consideration
The government also discussed the possible development of an Open Network for Digital Commerce tailored to Pakistan’s requirements.
Officials were directed to explore ways to make cloud procurement for government institutions faster and more transparent while strengthening the country’s overall digital infrastructure.
The initiative reflects the government’s broader push to combine technology, data and artificial intelligence with economic policymaking.
If implemented successfully, the proposed trade intelligence system could help Pakistan better understand global market trends, identify new buyers and strengthen its export strategy through data-driven decision-making.
Also read: Pakistan’s AI Initiative to Get New Digital Equipment
