Pakistan Seeks Greater Role in Global AI Economy After Bilal Bin Saqib Meets Sam Altman
Pakistan is looking to strengthen its position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) sector after Minister of State and Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib met OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at the United Nations.
Saqib shared details of the meeting in a post on LinkedIn, highlighting the potential for Pakistan to play a larger role in the rapidly developing AI economy.
Focus on Pakistan’s Digital Potential
According to Saqib, the discussion covered Pakistan’s young and growing talent pool, energy resources and expanding digital capacity.
The meeting focused on how these resources could be developed to help Pakistan participate more actively in the international AI ecosystem rather than remaining limited to adopting technologies developed elsewhere.
Saqib said Pakistan should set broader ambitions for its technology sector.
“Our ambition must be bigger than AI adoption,” he wrote, adding that the country should aim to contribute to what he described as the emerging “Intelligence Age.”
Shift From AI Adoption to AI Development
The meeting comes as countries around the world are increasing their focus on AI infrastructure, talent and regulation.
Saqib has previously emphasized that developing economies should move beyond simply adopting emerging technologies. He has argued that countries such as Pakistan should also work toward developing the infrastructure, standards and systems needed to participate in shaping these technologies.
For Pakistan, greater participation in the AI economy could involve expanding its skilled workforce, strengthening digital infrastructure and making better use of its available energy and technology resources.
Sam Altman’s UN Engagement
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had addressed the United Nations Security Council a day before meeting Saqib, joining other senior figures from the global AI industry to discuss issues surrounding the rapidly evolving technology.
The engagement with Altman provides an opportunity for Pakistan to present its technology and human-resource potential at an international level.
However, Saqib’s LinkedIn post did not mention any specific agreement, investment plan or formal partnership between Pakistan and OpenAI following the meeting.
For now, the discussion appears to have focused on Pakistan’s potential role in the wider global AI economy and how the country can position itself as AI continues to expand across different sectors.
