ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched the UN Women Gender-Responsive AI School Pakistan to promote the ethical, inclusive, and gender-responsive use of artificial intelligence nationwide. The initiative aims to strengthen responsible AI adoption across public institutions and society.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication launched the programme in partnership with UN Women Pakistan and with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency. The initiative targets policymakers, parliamentarians, government institutions, UN agencies, academia, civil society, businesses, and community leaders.
AI training focuses on ethics and governance
The programme combines theoretical knowledge with practical training to develop AI skills. Its curriculum includes AI fundamentals, ethical and gender-responsive AI, governance, prompt engineering, AI agents, public administration, and inclusive development.
Moreover, training activities had already started before the official launch. Separate sessions prepared government officials, parliamentarians, UN personnel, academics, and civil society representatives to expand expertise in responsible AI.
Pakistan also became the first South Asian country to host the complete national Training of Trainers programme under the UN Women AI School. Since 2024, the wider regional initiative has trained more than 5,000 participants across Asia and the Pacific.
Initiative promotes women in AI policymaking
UN Women Pakistan said the programme offers national training pathways for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches alongside civil society and the private sector.
Furthermore, the initiative seeks to address the limited inclusion of gender in global AI policies. It also supports Pakistan’s National AI Policy by promoting women’s participation, inclusive governance, and specialised AI skills for marginalised women and persons with disabilities.
