Every era has had its own definition of power. For centuries, it was land, then industrial capacity and oil, and more recently, data and digital infrastructure. Today, artificial intelligence is emerging as another foundation of power. The front-runners in this domain will shape the future, while those who rely on foreign systems will risk long-term dependency on external powers.

For Pakistan, artificial intelligence is a fundamental necessity rather than a superficial trend or an easy route to modernisation. Relying on foreign AI tech is a trap. Eventually, it hands outsiders control over defence, economy, and governance. Pakistan is now working on its own cloud systems, local data centres, and AI technology. However, the construction of physical infrastructure is a necessary prerequisite, but it is by no means sufficient in itself. True digital independence will depend on whether Pakistan can develop the human capital, energy capacity, cybersecurity, technological resilience, and institutional capabilities needed to maintain it.

Data centres can be constructed, and computing power can be imported, but expertise is not a commodity that can be imported along with servers and processors. It requires sustained investment in human capital over time. Pakistan, therefore, needs to invest not only in AI education but also in specialised fields such as machine learning, semiconductor engineering, cloud architecture, cybersecurity, and data science.

This requires strengthening universities,........

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