FAISALABAD: Chinese companies will provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) training to over 200,000 Pakistanis, enabling them to thrive in the digital economy.
This will also help transform Pakistan’s digital sector.
During his recent visit to China, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inked Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Chinese companies in this respect.
Muhammad Irfan, an AI researcher and teacher at a state-run university, believes that Pakistan’s digital future hinges on AI. “We have to prepare our youth to cash in on the opportunity.”
Talking to Media, he said AI was crucial for all segments of society as it was transforming everything due to its core ability of automation. He said due to AI, companies and even small businesses were automating their tasks and improving efficiency.
“Rapid innovations are changing our way of life. AI training by Chinese professionals will enable youth to thrive in the digital economy, which is growing rapidly around the world, and Pakistan must follow suit. Without training our youth on AI, we cannot secure their future,” he stressed.
Irfan said China’s AI training programmes could make a tremendous contribution to youth capacity building. He said China had attained excellence in the AI domain, and Pakistani youth stand to benefit from this to have cutting-edge knowledge.
Irfan stressed the need for establishing educational institutions in Pakistan that specialise in AI. He argued that without establishing dedicated institutions, Pakistan couldn’t harness the potential of AI and keep pace with the rapidly changing information technology landscape.
“We should also launch knowledge transfer programmes with Chinese institutions to develop a thriving research culture in Pakistan,” he suggested.
Ahsan Ali, a software developer, said that AI was changing every aspect of information technology. He said it’s heartening that Chinese companies would train more than 200,000 youngsters in the AI field.
“Through AI, we can earn much-needed forex for Pakistan and strengthen its economy. We need to develop business-to-business contacts with different countries, particularly China,” he suggested.
Emphasising the importance of the digital sector, Ahsan said youth needed to be well-versed in AI-related applications.
Muhammad Kamran, chief executive officer of a tech company, told Media that his firm was generating a significant income by serving clients globally. He said the local youth had vast opportunities to showcase their skills both domestically and internationally.
Elaborating on his point, he explained that AI could enable youth to render their services in digital marketing, graphic designing, website and app development, content writing, marketing, and others. He said youth can take agriculture, engineering, e-commerce and healthcare to the next level by assessing issues and finding solutions through AI.
Kamran said demand for AI-skilled people was surging globally. –INP
