Tech Desk 
Jun 10, 2025
During the announcement of budget 2025-26, Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted developments in Pakistan's Information Technology (IT) sector and disclosed the budget allocated for this vital sector.
In just 10 months of the current financial year, ICT exports soared to $3.1 billion, a remarkable 21.2% increase from the previous year.
The government is also making notable investments in higher education, with a budget of Rs39.5 billion allocated for 170 projects to create an educated workforce. It is especially important to consider access to education with plans to give electric wheelchairs, customised laptops and audiovisual aids to students with disabilities.
In addition, while tackling the problem of 26 million out-of-school kids, the government will also be establishing 11 new Daanish Schools in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Islamabad for talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The new Daanish University, Islamabad, is also aiming to offer free higher education at an international standard in emerging technologies, engineering, health and IT for students from isolated areas.
Introducing Artificial Intelligence in Pakistan's education sector
In addition to education, Pakistan is starting a crucial digital integration process of its economy and tax system. Digital production will be tracked through a variety of industries, e-invoicing will be done nationwide, and Artificial Intelligence will be used for tax audits.
For the first time in Pakistan, AI is being utilised in sales and income tax audit selection systems to detect fraudulent claims and enhance tax compliance.
In addition to this unique use of AI, the government is partnering with the private sector for a variety of digital initiatives already underway, including monitoring production in the cement, beverages, fertilisers, and textiles industries, e-invoicing for business-to-business transactions nationwide, and e-way billing to monitor goods movement.
