Pakistan will establish a new generation of centres of excellence to strengthen research and innovation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced technologies, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal announced on Thursday.
Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, the minister said the initiative aims to prepare Pakistan for the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
New National Centres Planned
Ahsan Iqbal said the government plans to establish several state-of-the-art national centres this year, including:
- National Center for Quantum Computing
- National Center for Nanotechnology
- National Center for New Manufacturing
According to the minister, these institutions will strengthen Pakistan’s scientific research, industrial development, and technological capabilities.
Building Pakistan’s Innovation Ecosystem
The minister said the new centres will help accelerate innovation while supporting the country’s transition toward a knowledge-based economy.
Moreover, he emphasized that investment in emerging technologies is essential for improving industrial competitiveness and preparing the workforce for future technological changes.
Earlier Investments in Technology
Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that the previous PML-N government established several national centres between 2016 and 2017 to promote research in emerging technologies.
These include:
- National Center for Artificial Intelligence at NUST Islamabad
- National Center for Cyber Security at Air University Islamabad
- National Center for Automation and Robotics at EME College Rawalpindi
- National Center for Big Data and Cloud Computing at LUMS Lahore
- National Center for GIS and Satellite Technology at the Institute of Space Technology
- National Center for Applied Mathematics in Islamabad
He noted that these institutions were created before artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity became mainstream priorities.
Geospatial Technology and National Security
The planning minister also stressed the growing importance of geospatial technologies in national development.
Furthermore, he said geospatial capabilities are now a critical pillar of national security, supporting situational awareness, border management, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
He added that strengthening scientific and technological institutions will help Pakistan respond more effectively to future security and economic challenges.
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