As the world rapidly moves toward artificial intelligence, Pakistan remains significantly behind in AI usage. While the country has begun introducing AI technology across several sectors, its adoption rate is still low.
The “AI Diffusion Report 2025,” released by Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute, analyzed 170 countries and found that AI usage in Pakistan’s workforce and industries is under 15 percent. This is far behind countries like the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, where over 50 percent of people regularly use AI in daily activities.
Experts cite several reasons for Pakistan’s slow adoption. Limited internet access, a shortage of digital skills, and a lack of AI tools in Urdu and regional languages are major barriers. The report emphasized that expanding AI support in local languages could greatly increase AI usage across the country. Countries offering AI services in native languages, such as English or Arabic, are seeing much faster adoption.
IT expert Umair Arif, speaking on ARY News’ “Bakhabar Savera,” called Pakistan’s 15 percent AI usage rate alarming. He noted infrastructure issues, power shortages, and low public awareness as key challenges. He explained that while AI may reduce some jobs, it also creates new opportunities for those who adapt quickly.
Arif advised professionals from all fields, including doctors and engineers, to dedicate two to three hours per week to learn AI tools and prompt engineering. Doing so can make them proficient within a year and help them leverage AI as a supportive tool rather than a threat.
While praising the Government of Pakistan’s AI policies, Arif expressed concern over the lack of sufficient budget and resources to implement these initiatives effectively. He stressed that without urgent efforts to improve infrastructure, training, and public awareness, Pakistan risks falling further behind in global AI development.
As AI continues to transform industries worldwide, experts warn that embracing AI technology is essential for both professional growth and national competitiveness.
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