In various YouTube videos, university students in Pakistan were asked about their exam preparation methods. The response was overwhelming. It was not the books or self-study, but ChatGPT, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool. From Karachi to Lahore, students confessed that AI tools were not just study aids but “go-study buddies.”
This phenomenon is not confined to classrooms. Across the board from public offices to private firms, AI has become indispensable, streamlining bureaucratic processes and automating workflows. The National Artificial Intelligence Policy 2025, presented by the federal government in August, aims to employ AI in e-governance projects across agriculture and healthcare, reportedly reducing processing time by up to 40 per cent in early trials.
According to Arab News, Google’s AI solutions generated an estimated PKR 3.9 trillion in economic benefits for Pakistan last year, supporting everything from forecasting analysis in banks to chatbots in e-commerce. Yet, while these tools promise improved efficiency, a troubling question lingers: Is AI amplifying human potential, or is it quietly turning our minds into passive passengers? With over 60 per cent of Pakistan’s population under 30 now part of this technological tide, the answer could redefine education, work, and innovation for generations to come.
Transformation through AI and the Hidden Costs
Pakistan has enthusiastically adopted AI in education and the workplace, but at what cost? For students, AI has become a game-changer. In YouTube interviews, many credited AI tools with improving their exam preparation by 25 per cent. However, educators warn of a darker side: overreliance on AI can weaken critical thinking. Global studies show a 10–15 per cent decline in independent task performance among students who depend heavily on AI. One student from Islamabad admitted that her exam answers were generated by AI and that she struggled to explain them without its help.
AI’s footprint is equally strong in institutions, supported by government initiatives such as the National Artificial Intelligence Policy 2025 and private sector collaborations that have boosted economic productivity. Yet the risks are significant. Around 60 per cent of Pakistan’s workforce faces automation threats, particularly in clerical and routine jobs, potentially eroding analytical and cognitive abilities. A bureaucrat in Islamabad noted, “AI helps me speed up reports, but I’m forgetting how to analyse data myself.”
We must teach students to question AI, not copy it
The digital divide further deepens this dilemma. Only 20 per cent of students in rural areas have access to AI tools, compared with their urban counterparts who benefit from 5G networks and thriving tech hubs. Women face additional barriers—only 15 per cent use the internet daily. As AI reshapes Pakistan’s $3.5 billion IT sector, rural youth and women remain on the margins. In India, similar disparities have emerged, showing mixed outcomes of AI adoption. A female student from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remarked, “My brother gets to use the smartphone for AI tools, while I’m stuck with textbooks.” Equal access can transform lives, but unequal access will only widen the gap.
AI Landscape in Pakistan: Opportunities Meet Obstacles
The National AI Policy 2025 aims to position Pakistan as a technological hub, focusing on industry and education. In schools, AI’s potential is undeniable; personalised learning could help bring education to 22 million out-of-school children. However, limited access remains a major obstacle. Only 20 per cent of urban students have access to AI tools. As Ali, a student from rural Sindh, explained, “My school has just one computer for fifty students.” Alarmingly, many schools in rural Sindh lack basic facilities such as computers or the internet. For them, using AI tools like ChatGPT remains a distant dream.
Cultural and gender barriers add to the problem. Women are frequently excluded from AI training workshops in male-dominated workplaces. As Sana, a clerical worker in Peshawar, shared, “My boss thinks AI is too complex for me to understand.”
The workforce faces similar challenges. As Pakistan’s $3.5 billion IT sector expands, automation threatens routine employment. Research also warns of declining memory retention due to overdependence on AI. Without proactive policy intervention, the AI boom could end up empowering only the urban elite, while deepening inequalities for rural women and youth.
A Path Towards a Balanced Framework
Pakistan needs a mindful and inclusive approach, one that utilises AI without undermining human potential. The first step is to integrate compulsory AI literacy programmes into schools and workplaces. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Digital Skill Development Programme, which trained 10,000 young people in 2024, can be scaled up nationwide, with a focus on rural regions and women to reduce the digital divide.
Secondly, the government should subsidise internet access and devices, following the example of the Punjab Information Technology Board, which provides free Wi-Fi in 23 districts, or Bangladesh’s initiative of offering free data for educational platforms.
Thirdly, it is essential to implement and enforce ethical AI guidelines, as advocated by UNESCO, ensuring that AI complements human skills rather than replacing them. Public-private partnerships between telecom companies such as Zong, Telenor, and Jazz, in collaboration with non-governmental organisations, can help fund rural tech hubs similar to Punjab’s e-Rozgar centres.
Ultimately, training is key. Officials and educators must learn to integrate AI as a tool for learning and creativity, not as a substitute for human reasoning. As one university professor aptly put it, “We must teach students to question AI, not copy it.” Hybrid frameworks that combine human creativity with AI efficiency can help Pakistan remain competitive against countries like India, whose IT sector is worth over $200 billion.
A Call to Act Now
Pakistan stands at a crossroads in the AI revolution. With its youth driving a $3.5 billion IT sector, the nation cannot afford a future where only the urban elite prosper. AI has the power to amplify human potential, enhancing governance, empowering students, and transforming industries, but only if access and literacy are made inclusive.
In 2025, Pakistan must commit to AI literacy, equitable access, and ethical use. Our classrooms and offices deserve tools that lift minds rather than limit them. The global tech revolution will not wait. Pakistan must act now to ensure every citizen rides the wave, not drowns in it.